ADRIENNE CLARKSON JOINS RTNDA CANADA TO RECOGNIZE DIVERSITY IN CANADIAN NEWS BROADCASTING RTNDA Release RTNDA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists is pleased to announce the new RTNDA Canada Award for Diversity will be named after the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.
The Adrienne Clarkson Diversity Award will be awarded for the news story, feature or series on television or radio that best exemplifies or explores an issue of diversity.
RTNDA Canada is committed to promoting diversity in Canadian news broadcasting and Adrienne Clarkson personifies that goal, says Bob McLaughlin, RTNDA's President. "During her career as a journalist, television host, writer and most recently as Canada's Governor-General, she has broken down barriers and been a role model for many Canadians - especially journalists."
Ms. Clarkson is well known from her work in broadcasting. She started as a freelance book reviewer on CBC’s Take Thirty and within a year became co-host and one of the first members of a visible minority to host a prominent program on Canadian airwaves. She went on to become a novelist and regular contributor to publications such as Maclean’s magazine. When CBC created The Fifth Estate in 1975 – they called on Ms. Clarkson to be its first co-host.
Ms. Clarkson has received numerous awards including a Gemini, a Gemeaux and a Donald Brittain award for best social/political documentary program. In October 1999, Adrienne Clarkson was sworn in as the 26th Governor-General of Canada. After leaving Rideau Hall, Ms Clarkson founded the Institute for Canadian Citizenship for the purpose of helping new citizens participate in mainstream civic and social life."
Ms. Clarkson will personally hand out the first Adrienne Clarkson Diversity Awards at the RTNDA Canada National Conference in Vancouver during the President’s gala on June 22, 2007 at the Sutton Place Hotel.
RTNDA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTNDA Canada recognize the responsibility of broadcast journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTNDA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our profession. |