Hearst Television Receives Sixth Consecutive Walter Cronkite Award for Political Journalism

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hearst Television Inc. has earned its sixth consecutive USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism, in recognition of coverage of the 2010 election season.

The Cronkite Awards, named for the legendary CBS newsman, were established at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication following the 2000 election season to recognize excellence in television coverage of politics and political issues, quickly becoming the industry's most recognized honor in the field.  They have been issued six times – following the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 election seasons.

The Hearst station group has received the Cronkite for the Station Group category each time; its six consecutive honors surpass the total of Cronkite Awards to any other single entity in any category during the life of the awards.

Judges commended Hearst Television for its "clear, well-edited and comprehensive" reporting. They cited coverage of topics including bipartisanship, campaign expenditures and the accuracy of campaign ads.  Judges said issues were clearly discussed and audience-friendly, adding that "Hearst continues to be a consistent success in this arena."

Also honored, in the Local Broadcast Station category, was Hearst's WISN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, which earned a Special Commendation for its political "town hall" programming.

The panel of eight judges was chaired by Geneva Overholser, director of the USC Annenberg School of Journalism.  Entries were screened by 19 Annenberg faculty and alumni with experience in broadcast journalism.

The awards will be presented on the USC campus in Los Angeles on April 26.

Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism (www.annenberg.usc.edu) is among the nation's leading institutions devoted to the study of journalism and communication, and their impact on politics, culture and society. With an enrollment of more than 1,900 graduate and undergraduate students, USC Annenberg offers degree programs in journalism, communication, public diplomacy and public relations. The mission of The Norman Lear Center (www.learcenter.org) is to study and shape the impact of media and entertainment on society. For more information about the Cronkite Awards, visit www.cronkiteaward.org.

Hearst Television Inc. is a leading local media company comprising 29 television stations and two radio stations. The Company's television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America's largest television station groups. It also owns more than two dozen websites and multicasts more than two dozen digital channels providing news, weather and entertainment programming. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation.  The Company's Web address is www.hearsttelevision.com.

SOURCE Hearst Television Inc.

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