Barbara Cochran Receives Awards from RTNDA, NAB

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NAB and the Radio-Television News Directors Association honored RTNDA President Barbara Cochran with two awards during the 2009 RTNDA@NAB Convention. At a joint session on Tuesday morning, NAB President David Rehr presented Cochran with an NAB Recognition Award, to thank her for her years of service to the industry. Cochran is retiring in June, after 12 years as President of RTNDA and RTNDF.

"From her tireless efforts to push for reporter shield laws and cameras and microphones in the courts, to protecting journalists' access in post-9/11 America, to her commitment to promoting diversity in the newsroom, Barbara Cochran has been an inspiration to many of us in the radio and television business," said Rehr. "Barbara has shown time and time again her dedication to advocating for the causes important to RTNDA's members."

In addition to the award from NAB, Cochran also has received RTNDA's John F. Hogan Award for Distinguished Service, selected by the association's board of directors.

In her tenure as RTNDA president, Cochran has worked to help the association evolve into a digital organization to serve journalists of the future. She also advanced press freedom issues on behalf of the industry, such as the abolishment of the last vestiges of the Fairness Doctrine, the release of the U.S. Supreme Court's audio in the 2000 Bush v. Gore case, and the reform of the Freedom of Information Act.

"Barbara has been a tireless advocate on behalf of all electronic journalists. Her passion for our craft, her dedication to excellence and her commitment to our organization are unparalleled. We are a better and stronger organization because of Barbara's leadership these past 12 years," commented RTNDA Chairman Ed Esposito.

The Hogan Award is named for the founder and the first president of RTNDA. It recognizes an individual's contributions to journalism and freedom of the press. Past recipients include Walter Cronkite, Brian Lamb, Hugh Downs and Stanley S. Hubbard.