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[Monday at NAB]
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RTNDA Celebrates, Honors Legendary Sam Donaldson
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by Sharon Rae Pettigrew,
~ April 14, 2008
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RADIO WORLD
Fifty years. Half a century. A lifetime for some.
The Radio and Tele-vision News Directors Association is commemorating Sam Donaldson’s 50-year career with the presentation of its prestigious Paul White Award, tonight, 5:30–7 p.m., as part of RTNDA@NAB.
For 41 years, Donaldson has worked for ABC News not only in television, but also in radio and several emerging digital media platforms. In 1999, he made history as host of the first regularly scheduled Internet webcast produced by a television network — “SamDonaldson@abcnews.com.” Past interviewees on the show include former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, along with other newsmakers.
Donaldson’s career is wide-ranging and impressive. He has co-anchored television programs including “PrimeTime Live,” “This Week With Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts” and “World News Sunday.” In the radio arena, Donaldson hosted a daily news/talk show on ABC News Radio.
Donaldson’s background also includes a pair of gigs as White House correspondent, covering former Presidents Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
Donaldson can now be seen as host of the ABC News digital network’s “Politics Live” program, moderating a daily half-hour discussion show covering top political news stories.
“[The Paul White] award is one of the most distinguished individual honors in our industry,” said RTNDA Past Chairwoman Angie Kucharski, who chaired the group that picked the Paul White honoree this year. “It recognizes those rare individuals who embody the very best in our profession — a dedication to our craft, a commitment to service and a passion for excellence.”
The word “commitment” appears to almost be an understatement when it comes to Donaldson’s career. He made his start in the media business as a college student working for local radio stations in El Paso, Texas. He served active duty with the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959.
Upon his return, he joined KRLD(TV) in Dallas. Two years later he served as a part of the news team at WTOP(TV) in Washington, D.C., covering the local news beat as well as some of the most critical news events of our time, from the Cuban missile crisis to the Senate hearings on the Vietnam War. Donaldson joined ABC News in 1967.
THE FORCE
Kucharski called Donaldson a “guiding force” in broadcast journalism for the past 50 years.
“His devotion to seeking the truth and holding the most powerful accountable can serve as a model to all of us in the political year, and always.”
The Paul White Award was established by RTNDA in 1956 and named for the broadcast news pioneer who served as the first news director at CBS. This honor recognizes an “individual’s lifetime contribution to electronic journalism,” according to RTNDA. Past recipients include Christiane Amanpour, Charles Gibson, Charles Osgood, Ted Koppel, Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Ed Bradley, Bob Schieffer, Jane Pauley, Pauline Frederick and Edward R. Murrow.
In 2002, RTNDA honored Donaldson with the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award. He has also picked up four Emmy Awards and a trio of George Foster Peabody Awards. He was named the “Best Television White House Correspondent in the Business” by The Washington Journalism Review in 1985, and the “Best Television Correspondent in the Business” each year from 1986–1989. The National Press Club bestowed the “Broadcaster of the Year” award upon him in 1998.
Donaldson received his Bachelor’s degree from Texas Western College and went on to graduate work at the University of Southern California. His 1987 autobiography, “Hold On, Mr. President,” was an international best seller.
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