Media Invitation - RTNDA President's Gala honours best in broadcasting

EDMONTON, June 18 /CNW/ - The Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) wishes to invite the media to the 'President's Gala' on Friday, June 18 at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Edmonton. RTNDA will pay tribute this year to Eric Morrison CEO of The Canadian Press who will receive the President's Award. RTNDA's highest honour is presented annually to recognize individuals or groups that have brought distinction to, or made major contributions to broadcast journalism.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council will receive the Bill Hutton Award of Excellence which is presented to a "friend" of RTNDA for their work with the association.

The annual award for best videography has been renamed this year to honour Hugh Haugland, a longtime CTV cameraman killed in a helicopter crash in 2009. Hugh's father Bill, a former anchor for CTV Montreal, will be on hand in Edmonton to hand out the first Hugh Haugland Award for Creative Use of Video.

In addition the RTNDA will honour Robert McLaughlin with its Distinguished Service Award.

    
    DATE:        Friday, June 18

    TIME:        7:30pm

    LOCATION:    Westin Hotel, Downtown Edmonton
    

This year's conference program is sure to be one of the best ever with a stellar lineup of networking opportunities, workshops and panel discussions including:

    
    -  Battlefield Dispatches: Coping with the Realities of Covering War and
       Disaster.
    -  Going Local in a New Direction - More local news all day - can it work
       for TV?
    -  The Flaming Chainsaw Test: How to Keep Viewers Glued to Your
       Newscast - Highlight and sell the unique qualities of a story.
    -  Broadcast Voice: Finding and Fixing the Four Fatal Flaws - Learn what
       the most common vocal problems are and how to fix them.
    -  Social Networking Boot camp & Cools Tools for Journalists - Create and
       connect with your audiences in unique ways using social media.
    -  RTNDA will also honour CP24 Vice President & General Manager Bob
       McLaughlin during the President's Gala with the RTNDA Distinguished
       Service Award on Friday evening
    -  RTNDA national awards will recognize the best in broadcast journalism
       on Saturday evening.
    

Media planning to attend should RVSP via e-mail.

For further information: about the RTNDA Conference, media are asked to contact: Sherry Denesha, RTNDA Operations Manager, [email protected]; Peter Angione, Chair, RTNDA National Conference, 613-762-7992 (cellular), [email protected]