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CBS NEWS HONORED WITH FIVE 2009 NABJ AWARDS
CBS News has been honored with five 2009 Salute to Excellence Awards by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in recognition of journalism that best covered the black experience or addressed issues affecting the worldwide black community during 2008. THE EARLY SHOW received two awards, while the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC, 60 MINUTES and SUNDAY MORNING were each honored with one award. In all, CBS News garnered five out of a total of 11 awards in the "Network Television" categories; no other broadcast or cable network received more than one award.
"I am exceedingly proud of CBS News' extraordinary performance at the NABJ awards," said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports. "I congratulate all the fine CBS journalists who contributed to these reports."
THE EARLY SHOW received an award for "African American Firsts," a report by anchor Harry Smith and Producer Paige Kendig on the morning after Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States. Smith's report featured great African-American firsts in our nation's history. THE EARLY SHOW also received an award for "Early Awareness - Mammograms," in which Dr. Debbye Turner Bell shared the story of her sister's breast cancer and promoted annual mammogram screenings for women at risk or over 40 years-old. Erika Josephson was the producer.
The CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE COURIC received an award for Correspondent Byron Pitts and Producer Andrew Wolff's profile of "Willie O'Ree," the first African-American man to play in the National Hockey League.
60 MINUTES was honored with an award for "Exonerated," Correspondent Scott Pelley's report about the effort of the Dallas County District Attorney's office and the Innocence Project of Texas to re-examine cases, which has resulted in several inmates being freed. Tom Anderson and Jennie Dubin were the producers.
SUNDAY MORNING received an award for "Works in Progress," White House Correspondent Chip Reid's report on the success of the Works Project Administration (WPA) and the prospect for a similar program succeeding today. Steve Glauber and Mary Lou Teel were the producers.
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Press Contact: Karima Henderson 212-975-5460 karima.henderson@cbs.com