wfn.org | UCC / Two Washington media leaders honored

[powellb@ucc.org]

Sept. 8, 1999
Office of Communication
United Church of Christ
William C. Winslow, press contact
(212) 870-2137
<winsloww@ucc.org>
On the Web: <http://www.ucc.org>

Two Washington media leaders to be honored

     WASHINGTON -- Two long-time advocates for the
public's rights in broadcasting will be honored at the 17th
Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications
Lecture in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22.
     Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Erwin G.
Krasnow, former general counsel for the National Association
of Broadcasters, will receive their awards at the luncheon and
lecture at National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle.
The event begins at 12:00 noon.
     Markey is the recipient of the Parker Award, given to
an individual whose work embodies the principles and values
of the public interest in telecommunications.  As chair of the
House subcommittee on telecommunications, and now
ranking minority member, he was responsible for legislation
mandating the V-chip in television sets, which enables parents
to block programming they do not want their children to see.
And this summer, through his efforts, the networks have put in
place a ratings system that indicates whether a program
contains violence, sex or adult language.  In the current U.S.
Congress, Markey is pressing for an "Electronics Privacy Bill
of Rights" to prevent marketeers and others from collecting
"digital dossiers" on individuals without their knowledge or
permission.
     Erwin Krasnow will receive the Donald H. McGannon
Award, named in honor of the former CEO of Westinghouse
Broadcasting, given to an individual or organization in
recognition of special contributions in advancing the role of
women and people of color in the media.  While at the
National Association of Broadcasting, Krasnow devised a tax-
certificate program that deferred capital gains taxes for
broadcast owners who sold to minority-owned businesses.  He
also helped form Broadcast Capital Inc., which provided $11
million from the industry, and matching funds from the Small
Business Administration, to finance low-interest loans.
Although he is now in private practice, he keeps a watchful
eye on the progress of people of color and women through the
Washington advocacy group, the Minority Media
Telecommunications Council.
     Federal Communications Commission chairperson
William E. Kennard will present the awards to Markey and
Krasnow.  The keynote speaker is Michael D. McCurry,
former White House press secretary.
     The Parker lecture honors the Rev. Dr. Everett C.
Parker, founder and director emeritus of the Office of
Communication of the United Church of Christ, for his
pioneering work in broadcast reform.  It is co-sponsored by
the UCC Office of Communication, the National Council of
Churches Communication Commission and TRAC
(Telecommunications Research and Action Center), a
Washington-based defender of the public interest in
communications.

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