AFTRA Entertainment and News Media Icons Honored at 2010 AMEE Awards

Posted February 23, 2010

NEW YORK (Feb. 23, 2010)—The AFTRA Foundation last night honored five entertainment and news media icons, all members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), at the 2010 AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Awards (The AMEES) held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Receiving honors were Spanish-language recording artist Juanes, broadcast journalist Robin Roberts and the past and present cast members of “Sesame Street.”
 
Broadcast veteran Charles Osgood and music legend Sam Moore were honored with AMEE Lifetime Achievement Awards for decades of excellence in their respective fields.

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The gala dinner event brought in more than 320 guests and raised money for the AFTRA Foundation, a charitable and education organization funded through tax-deductible contributions, grants and bequests to support projects outside the scope of normal AFTRA activities, including fundraising events, special conferences, studies, seminars and other endeavors critical to AFTRA members, such as the International News Safety Institute, the only global organization solely dedicated to the safety of journalists and other news professionals.

In her opening remarks, AFTRA Foundation President Shelby Scott thanked attendees for supporting the work of the AFTRA Foundation which is directed at “finding creative ways for AFTRA members make a living and thrive in our industries.” She praised the five honorees saying, “They represent the vast array of media in which AFTRA members work and the long tradition of professional excellence that is synonymous with organized labor and AFTRA talent, in particular.”

Roberts, who received the AMEE Award in Broadcasting, is an anchor of ABC News’ “Good Morning America.” She thanked the AFTRA Foundation saying, “These awards remind us that we all have a purpose, and that we have a chance to have an impact on the world with what we do. And I want to thank AFTRA, keeping more than 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters and recording artists actively in the game, pursuing their passions, making a difference.”

The cast members of "Sesame Street” received the AMEE Award in Entertainment which was presented to them by Sesame Workshop CEO Gary Knell. Longtime cast and AFTRA member Bob McGrath accepted the award on the cast’s behalf.

Singing legend Tony Bennett and broadcast journalist Jorge Ramos (WNJU-TV’s “Noticiero 47”) presented the AMEE Award in Sound Recordings to Latin music superstar Juanes. In receiving his AMEE honor, Juanes said, “I am truly flattered to have received the 2010 AMEE for Sound Recordings. I cannot begin to express the emotions that filled my heart upon receiving the honor from such an icon and personal mentor as Tony Bennett, and his kind words are something I will never forget. I also have not stopped smiling since getting the opportunity to meet the cast of ‘Sesame Street.’ My sincere thanks to AFTRA for a genuinely special night.”

“CBS News Sunday Morning” contributor Bill Geist presented his friend and CBS News colleague, Charles Osgood, with the AMEE Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcasting. Accepting his honor, Osgood spoke about the changes in news and entertainment media that began just before he started his career in broadcasting, more than 40 years ago and that continue even today. He said, “When I joined AFTRA, it was a time of great change in broadcasting. Just the year before, AFRA as it was named, slid in that letter ‘T’ between the ‘F’ and the ‘R’ to make room for that new medium: television.”

Osgood concluded his remarks by observing the importance of modern-day radio and television broadcasting saying, “Did you know there are more people listening to radio these days than in its so-called ‘hey day.’ And just a few weeks ago, more people watched the Super Bowl on television than had ever watched anything on television ever before. That’s because it is a great story, and story-telling is what our business is all about.”
 
Ending the evening, radio personality Don Imus presented his longtime friend, Sam Moore, with the AMEE Lifetime Achievement Award in Sound Recordings. Moore, along with his now-deceased duo partner, Dave Prater, revolutionized R&B and gospel music with songs like “Hold On I’m Coming,” “I Thank You,” “When Something is Wrong with My Baby” and the monster hit “Soul Man.” Moore has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Song Hall of Fame, and he has also been honored with the NARAS Heroes Award and the first-ever British MOBO'S Lifetime Achievement Award. Moore thanked AFTRA Foundation President Shelby Scott and AFTRA President Roberta Reardon among others, including AFTRA members Robert Woods and Linda Dano, for having had a significant impact on his life.

The AMEES recognize members of AFTRA, the people who entertain and inform America, who have made a significant contribution to American culture. The AMEES were created in 2003 to honor AFTRA members for excellence in their craft and their contributions to the fields of media and entertainment. Proceeds from the 2010 AMEE Awards go to benefit the AFTRA Foundation.

About the AFTRA Foundation
Founded by the AFTRA National Board of Directors in 1997 as a separate legal entity from the union, the AFTRA Foundation is a charitable and educational organization funded through tax-deductible voluntary contributions, grants and bequests—not AFTRA member dues—to support projects outside the scope of normal activities at AFTRA, including charitable endeavors, special conferences, studies, seminars and other events.  For more information, visit http://www.aftra.com/AFTRAFoundation.htm.

About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, journalists, singers, dancers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audiobooks, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet, and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives, and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society. Visit AFTRA online at http://www.aftra.com.

 

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