Feedback May 2002 (Vol 43 No 2)

SEARCHBroadcast Education Association Honors Norman J. Pattiz withDistinguished Education Service AwardThe Broadcast Education Association is proud to announce that its highest award,the Distinguished Education Service Award, will go to Westwood One founder andchairman, Norman J. Pattiz. The award was presented at the BEA’s 47th AnnualConvention Awards Luncheon Banquet in Las Vegas. Applauded for his leadership rolein helping to bridge the gap between academia and the broadcast industry, Pattiz waschosen for the honor in recognition of years of commitment and having had a significantimpact on broadcast education. “Norm’s dedication to radio and his encouragementand fostering of BEA member students to become radio professionals is unparalleled,”says Louisa Nielsen, BEA Executive Director. “He has not only created betterlines of communication between our members and professionals in the industry but hastaken an active role with students and provided years of important guest lectures atBEA member colleges and universities.”Criteria for nomination and selection of the DESA honoree includes havingprovided a significant and lasting contribution to the American system of electronicmedia education by virtue of a singular achievement or continuing service for or onbehalf of electronic media education. Contributions in research, pedagogy, curriculumdevelopment, fundraising support, and consulting services are considered as well asparticipation in BEA and other media education and professional associations. Pastrecipients include such outstanding professors as Joe Foote, Arizona State University,Lynne Gross, California State University, Fullerton, legendary broadcaster VincentWasilewski and well-known communications attorney, Erwin Krasnow. The first DESAhonor was given in 1982.Pattiz serves as a Regent of the University of California, and on the Board of theAnnenberg School for Communication at USC. He is past President and currentExecutive Board member of the Broadcast Education Association. In 1998, Pattizreceived an honorary doctorate from Southern Illinois University in recognition of hiscontribution to broadcast education. He is also the primary benefactor of the HamiltonHigh School Academy of Music, the Los Angeles magnet school for music and theperforming arts whose concert hall bears his name, and he is a Trustee of the Museumof Television & Radio and a Director of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society.Pattiz is also an appointed Governor of the United States Broadcasting Board ofGovernors. The BBG is an independent agency created in 1999 to supervise U.S. internationalbroadcasting, which includes the Voice of America, the Office of CubaBroadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), WORLDNET Television, Radio FreeEurope/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. The bipartisan board is comprised of ninegovernors, eight of whom are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.The ninth is the Secretary of State who is an ex-officio member. As chairman of theMiddle East subcommittee for the USBBG, Pattiz has been working to dramaticallyexpand the VOA’s presence in the Middle East by setting up 24-hour radio network inthe region.BEA—Educating tomorrow’s electronic media professionals 49