CNN Host Anderson Cooper to Receive Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award at 21st Annual NAMIC Conference

CNN Host Anderson Cooper to Receive Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award at 21st Annual NAMIC Conference

David Cohen And Andrew Heller Named Honorary Co-Chairs

NEW YORK, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Multi- ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) has named veteran journalist Anderson Cooper, host of CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," as the recipient of the 2007 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award. The announcement was made today by Alicin Reidy-Williamson, board chair, NAMIC and senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs for MTV Networks. David L. Cohen, executive vice president, Comcast Corporation and Andrew T. Heller, president of Domestic Distribution for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are the 2007 Honorary Co-Chairs. Scheduled for September 16-18, 2007, the 21st Annual NAMIC Conference will be held in Manhattan at the Hilton New York.

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Presented in conjunction with the Annual NAMIC Conference, the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award was established in 1992 in memory of the late Congressman from Texas and his lifelong advocacy of social justice and equality for people around the world. By recognizing Cooper, NAMIC continues its tradition of honoring individuals and organizations affiliated with the communications industry that demonstrate a commitment to advancing the causes and concerns of people of color. "NAMIC is pleased to honor such a worthy recipient," said Reidy-Williamson, "It is a privilege to pay homage to a member of our industry that has fostered a sense of humanism in today's media."

Past award recipients include Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television; George Herrera, former president and CEO, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Bill Richardson, former ambassador, United Nations; Soledad O'Brien, award-winning journalist; Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP president; and Christina Saralegui, host of the Galavision/Univision "Christina Show" among others.

An Emmy award-winning journalist, author and television personality, Cooper has covered major world events such as post-Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast, the Afghanistan War post-September 11, South Asia tsunami, the Iraqi elections in Baghdad, the funeral of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City and the famine in Somalia for which he was awarded a Bronze Telly.

"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized by NAMIC and to honor the important work they do promoting diversity in the communications industry," commented Anderson Cooper. "I am humbled to be receiving an award that pays tribute to Congressman Leland's legacy, and will do my best to live up to it in all my journalistic endeavors."

Held in conjunction with cable's Diversity Week, the theme for this year's conference is Diversity 2.0: The New Protocol. The Annual NAMIC Conference is the premiere forum for professionals at every level to share their perspectives on corporate diversity and inclusion, digital media, ad sales, leadership development, multi-ethnic markets and other timely topics that drive business growth today in the communications industry. Marsha J. Conaway, regional vice president, Human Resources, Midwest Region, Time Warner Cable, Charisse R. Lillie, vice president, Human Resources, Comcast Corporation and senior vice president, Human Resources, Comcast Cable Communications and Sandra Murillo Weber, vice president, Multicultural Market Development, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. will serve as the event planning Co-Chairs.

For more information or to register for the 21st Annual NAMIC Conference visit http://www.namic.com/ or call Sandra Girado, meeting and events manager, NAMIC, Inc. at the NAMIC national headquarters, (212) 594-5985.

About NAMIC

NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of nearly 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of 17 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve.

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CONTACT: Daphne Leroy, Director of Marketing & Communications of NAMIC,
+1-212-594-5985, daphne.leroy@namic.com; or Charmaine Chapman of BTB
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Web site:

http://www.namic.com/

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