One of the most legendary African American figures in broadcasting history has been selected to receive the 2018 Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America.
Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of what is now known as Urban One, will be presented with the award at the Broadcasters Foundation’s annual breakfast at 7am Pacific on Wednesday, April 11 during the 2018 NAB Show.0
Hughes began her career in her hometown of Omaha, at KOWH-AM. In 1980 she founded what was launched as Radio One, which became the largest African-American owned and operated broadcast company in the nation. When Radio One went public, in 1999 she became the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded company.
In May 2017, Radio One’s name was changed to Urban One to best reflect the market it serves.
Today, Urban One is also the owner of African American-centric cable network TV One, and Reach Media, which presents syndicated radio programs including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
The Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award is bestowed annually on an individual in broadcasting whose work exemplifies innovation, community service, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. It salutes its namesake, Clear Channel Communications founder Lowry Mays, and is underwritten by The Mays Family Foundation.
The breakfast is complimentary to all, although pre-registration is required. To register, or to obtain information on reserving a page in the Program Guide, please contact the Broadcasters Foundation at 212-373-8250 or [email protected].
This year’s event is sponsored by AccuRadio, Marketron, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Association of Media Brokers (NAMB), Nielsen, Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB), U.S. Trust, and vCreative.
The Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in aid to broadcasters who have lost their livelihood through a catastrophic event, debilitating disease or unforeseen tragedy. Personal donations can be made to the Foundation’s Guardian Fund, corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative, and bequests can be made through the Foundation’s Legacy Society. For more information, please visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org, call 212-373-8250, or email [email protected].
The mission of the Broadcasters Foundation of America is to improve the quality of life and maintain the personal dignity of men and women in the radio and television broadcast profession who find themselves in acute need. The Foundation reaches out across the country to identify and provide an anonymous safety net in cases of critical illness, advanced age, death of a spouse, accident and other serious misfortune. The Broadcasters Foundation of America is a 501(c)3 Public Charity.
