Patty Steele to Receive 2022 MIW Airblazer Award

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Patty Steele

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW), an organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, has announced that Patty Steele, co-host of the WCBS-FM/New York morning show with Scott Shannon, will recieve the 8th annual 2022 MIW Airblazer Award. The MIW Airblazer Award stems from an alliance formed in 2015 between MIW and Morning Show Bootcamp (MSBC).

The recipient is carefully selected, as is tradition, by the prior year's recipient and is recognized for her dedication and contributions to the broadcast industry and to the communities she serves. The 2022 Airblazer Award will be presented to Patty Steele, during Morning Show Boot Camp on Thursday, August 18 at Swissotel in Chicago. To register for 2022 MSBC visit morningshowbootcamp.com.

A legendary figure in the broadcast industry, Steele has worked alongside some of radio's most iconic personalities such as Elvis Duran, Scott Shannon, Danny Bonaduce and John Lander at many of the most well-known radio stations in America. Among them, New York's Z100, WPLJ, WOR and currently at WCBS-FM and WCBS Newsradio 880. At WCBS-FM, she is once again teamed up with Radio Hall of Famer Scott Shannon.

"I can't tell you how proud and delighted I am to be chosen as this year's recipient of the Airblazer Award," said Steele. "My passion for radio and for the young women coming up in this business make this a truly special honor. And being chosen by DeDe is icing on the cake. She is a survivor and a thriver in our ever-changing business."

MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff added, "It's such a privilege to be the conduit for this very special award recognizing top on-air talent. Congratulations to Patty Steele. A wonderful talent and an even better human."

2021 MIW Airblazer DeDe McGuire, host of syndicated "DeDe in the Morning" commented, "It is my honor to select Patty Steele as the next recipient of the MIW Airblazer Award. Patty has worked on some of the most successful radio shows alongside some of the biggest names in our industry, but it is her voice, her humor, and insights that were key to the successes of these shows on some of the country's most legendary stations. So many of us in the industry admire her ability to always be the best and work through difficult times both personally and professionally. She always comes out on top."

In addition to DeDe, previous MIW Airblazers include Angela Yee (2020), Kellie Rasberry (2019), Mercedes Martinez (2018), Roula Christie (2017), Angie Martinez (2016) and Ellen K (2015).

In April, Steele was one of 13 podcasters to receive a 2022 Gracie Award for her series "The Deep 6." The award-winning two-part episode featured Steele's interview with her 26-year-old son Jake about his heroin addiction and his journey to recovery. It has generated such significant audience response, that three Audacy-owned radio stations also aired the show.

Steele is very active in charity endeavors. As a five-year cancer survivor, she regularly speaks at events and fundraisers in the fight against breast cancer. In 2017, she was honored by the TJ Martell Foundation, a music industry cancer charity. In 2018, she was the keynote speaker for the Breast Cancer Alliance in Westchester and Greenwich, CT helping raise a record $1.7 million dollars. In 2019, Steele was the featured speaker for National Cancer Survivors Day at the Danbury, Connecticut Medical Center. In addition, she is a passionate speaker and Mom, involved with a variety of addiction causes.