Pressroom
For Immediate Release December 9, 2003
Ritajean Butterworth (second from left) is presented with CPB's Lifetime Achievement Award by Board chair Ken Tomlinson, member Katherine Anderson, and vice chair Frank Cruz.
CPB Board Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Ritajean Butterworth
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9 - The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors today presented longtime public broadcasting leader Ritajean H. Butterworth with the CPB Lifetime Achievement Award. Butterworth, who has served on the CPB board since 1992, is the fourth person to receive this award.
During a ceremony honoring her 25 years of work in public broadcasting, she received sustained applause, a standing ovation and multiple heartfelt tributes from board colleagues, as well as industry leaders Kevin Klose, President and CEO of National Public Radio, Bill Kling, President of Minnesota Public Radio, Steve Salyer, President of Public Radio International, and Skip Hinton, President of the National Education Telecommunications Association.
"Through her work at CPB, Ritajean has helped lay the groundwork for a new century of public broadcasting service to America," said CPB Chair Ken Tomlinson in presenting the award. "Your colleagues throughout the public broadcasting thank you for everything you have done."
Butterworth was CPB board chair from 1995 to 1996 and has played a leadership role on a number of board committees, including education, policy and planning, and audit and finance. In addition, she is a former member of the council of the Annenberg/CPB Project. Her second term on the CPB board expires in January, 2004.
A long-time participant in the public broadcasting industry, Butterworth served on the board of National Public Radio (NPR) from 1977 to 1985, during which she was elected secretary and vice chairman. She served on every board committee, including the membership committee where she managed the first major revision of NPR's bylaws. She also served three years on the Board of KUOW-FM in Seattle and she has been an Advisory Board Member of KCTS-TV in Seattle since 1989. Since 1990 she has been a Board Member of the Discovery Institute. As a trustee for Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, from 1969 to 1977, Butterworth served as secretary, vice chairman, and chairman of the board. Butterworth also spent seven years as Washington State Director for Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA).
"I have confidence in public broadcasting and faith in the thousands of determined people who work in it," said Butterworth citing remarks from her 1992 senate confirmation testimony. "I add my special thanks to my board colleagues, the CPB senior management and staff. Public broadcasting is unique because of the people in it -- and those who listen to it and watch it. This has been the most fulfilling work that I can imagine."
In other business, the board adopted resolutions reaffirming its commitment to the CPB code of ethics for directors and employees; of appreciation for the work and contributions of Ritajean Butterworth, and for the Lilly Endowment support of the acclaimed newsmagazine, "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly," which is produced by Thirteen WNET in New York.
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CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,100 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.