NEW YORK — From a Big Apple weather icon to the leader of CBS News and Stations, and from one of the radio industry’s legendary programmers to a longtime station owner in the Pacific Northwest, a collection of “Giants” were honored at a Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) lunch reception Tuesday at Gotham Hall.
With attorney Jack Goodman and Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael offering welcome remarks (pictured, top left), the honors began with Al Roker, the TODAY meteorologist and co-anchor on the NBC morning show who first rose to fame as a WNBC-4 weatherman.
Serving as emcee of the affair: Bill Whitaker, of CBS News’ 60 Minutes, a 2018 Giant. He began by celebrating Roker — “a modern-day Renaissance man.”
“You know you’re old when you are 10 years older than the organization honoring you,” the SUNY Oswego graduate quipped. He honored the late Willard Scott, and noted his experience in Cleveland before joining WNBC-4.
Whitaker then saluted actor Christine Baranski, a prolific theater, film and TV star known for “Cybil” and “The Good Wife,” as well as season two of “Nine Perfect Strangers.”
Baranski shared how she was raised in Cheektowaga, N.Y., and is grateful to have learned and lived in “a truly golden age” for television.
From there, the LABF turned to the “Sherpa” of Radio: Mike McVay, who spent decades in key programming roles at companies including Cumulus Media. He’s also a noted voice of the industry.
McVay saluted his family and his “very special connection” to Al Roker, thanks to their shared Cleveland experience.
Patsy Smullin, the longtime broadcast TV station owner in Southern Oregon, was then saluted by the LABF.
Smullin entertained the crowd with her tales of career highlights and humorous episodes.
For Stephen A. Smith, who didn’t feel deserving enough to be named a “Giant,” joked he wasn’t thinking about giving it back. The ESPN superstar remarked of how he was fired, only to return for “First Take.” He saluted fellow Giant Mike McVay, and “how he took me from ashes of my career to where I am now,” serving as a key mentor. And he saluted his sister, Carmen, and his late mother.
The Foundation then turned its spotlight on Hearst Television’s archival project, which RBR+TVBR shared details of in its Summer 2024 magazine. Accepting the honor: Michael J. Hayes, who leads the Hearst unit under Jordan Wertlieb.
The spotlight was then placed on Skyview Networks’ President/CEO Steve Jones, with the honors concluding with honors bestowed upon Wendy McMahon, the CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures to conclude the elegant affair.
Jones shared how he wanted to be in-studio at the former WPIX-FM in New York, and was chosen as an intern. He then went to the legendary WLIR on Long Island, a New Rock pioneer in the 1980s, under Bob Waugh ahead of a lengthy tenure at ABC Radio. He then talk about broadcast journalism and its high level of accountability and ethics, reinforcing the credibility of broadcasters.
McMahon noted that never before has the work of a journalist been more precarious, discussing how “news deserts” and a lack of trust in journalism presents challenges. “It is in those moments where we excel, and where we elevate,” she said. And with a focus on fact-based journalism, she believes broadcasters will prevail at a time when technology is creating more silos than ever.
The “Star” sponsor of the Giants ceremony is CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.
Dave “Chachi” Denes, of Benztown; Forecast 2025 emcee Juliet Huddy, Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR President and Publisher Deborah Parenti; and RAB head Mike Hulvey
