WYFF-TV, Greenville, Honored with NAB Service to America Television Award

WYFF-TV, Greenville, Honored with NAB Service to America Television Award

National award, among broadcasting's highest honors recognizing outstanding community service, marks WYFF 4 parent Hearst-Argyle Television's 3rd consecutive Service to America Television Award and 11th NAB public-service honor in 10 Years for a Hearst-Argyle station

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- WYFF 4, a Hearst-Argyle Television station and NBC affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, is the 2008 recipient of the broadcast industry's most prestigious national community service award. The National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Television Award recognizes one television station in the country for the totality of its efforts in serving the local community. Local television stations are judged on their commitment to excellence as evidenced by the extent and consistency of ongoing community service initiatives.

"The roots of our television station are planted in serving our community through a daily commitment to excellence," said Michael J. Hayes, President and General Manager. "I am proud of our team at WYFF 4 who have embraced our mission in serving our diverse community today, leading toward a better tomorrow."

WYFF 4 makes a concerted effort daily to focus on relevant issues that affect the local communities in the Carolinas and Georgia. At the core of the station's outreach is its Community Task Force program, involving monthly meetings with community leaders to discuss local issues, concerns and ideas. More than 12 years ago, WYFF 4 led the way in local public service by establishing community task force groups involving leaders from 6 upstate counties and 16 local cities.

According to the judges, during 2007, WYFF 4 worked with more than 48 local community organizations on public service and community initiatives. The station has long established relationships with the American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, The Urban League and The United Way. Other station efforts include the Holiday Sunshine Fund, Virtual Toy Drive, South Carolina Shrinkdown and Safe Kids Upstate. Through the forging of these relationships, WYFF 4 has been the go-to station in local communities, far exceeding other local media outlets in the coverage of important events.

WYFF 4 aired more than 8100 local and national public service announcements at a value of $1.8 million dollars in donated airtime during 2007. These announcements were devoted to children, education, volunteerism, and helping those in need. The focus on these issues came directly from meeting with community leaders monthly in Community Task Force Meetings to determine how to best impact and help local neighborhoods.

The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) will present the tenth annual Celebration of Service to America Awards at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC on Monday, June 9, 2008.

The NAB Service to America Award is among the highest honors given a broadcast station for community service. WYFF 4's honor marks the 11th NABEF award earned by a Hearst-Argyle station. This is the third consecutive year, and fourth since 2002, that a Hearst Argyle television station has been honored with the top award. WPBF-TV, in West Palm Beach, Florida was honored in 2006 and WLKY-TV, in Louisville, Kentucky was recognized in 2007. WGAL-TV, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, won in 2002.

About WYFF

WYFF 4 is the most watched television station for news in the nation's 36th largest television market, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson. WYFF 4 is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television, which owns 26 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company's television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of the largest U.S. television station groups. Hearst-Argyle Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV." The company's Web address is www.hearstargyle.com.

About The Celebration of Service to America Awards

The Celebration of Service to America Awards are sponsored and produced by NABEF with major support from Bonneville International Corp. and the National Association of Broadcasters. This year's Service to America Leadership Award winner is entertainment industry icon Quincy Jones for his humanitarian work in establishing the Listen Up Foundation and the We Are the Future project, both dedicated to helping underprivileged youth. In recent years, legendary rock star Sir Elton John, former President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter, and former First Lady Nancy Reagan have been honored with the Leadership Award at the event. Details about the Celebration of Service to America Awards are available at www.nabef.org/ServicetoAmerica.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Hearst-Argyle Television

CONTACT: Marsa Jarrett, Creative Service Director, +1-864-240-5310

Web site:

http://www.hearstargyle.com/
http://www.nabef.org/ServicetoAmerica

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