Orlando, FL -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today named Laura Walker, the president and CEO of WNYC, the recipient of the 2008 Edward R. Murrow Award.
"Laura's leadership and perseverance transformed WNYC from a city owned-agency to a station with the largest audience in public radio," said president and CEO Pat Harrison, who presented the award to Walker at the Public Radio Development and Marketing Conference in Orlando, Florida. "Her creativity and willingness to take risks have made WNYC one of the foremost radio stations in the country."
Highlights of Walker's 11-year tenure at WNYC include the dramatic expansion of the station's news and documentary units, and the creation and launch of several national programs including Studio 360, Radio Lab and The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji, a morning news show for public radio co-produced by WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC World Service, The New York Times and WGBH Boston. Under Walker's leadership, four of the station's programs received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award.
This year, WNYC completes its $57.5 million capital campaign to finance its move to a new headquarters and fund new programming initiatives.
Earlier in her career, Walker was a journalist and producer at NPR. She launched AT&T Presents Carnegie Hall Tonight and spent eight years in programming and development at Sesame Workshop.
Walker has received numerous honors and awards including a Peabody Award for Broadcast Excellence, Public Radio International's Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and, in October 2007, she was named by Crain's New York as one of the '100 Most Influential Women in NYC Business.'
About the Murrow Award: Since 1977, CPB has presented the Murrow Award to individuals who foster public radio's quality and service and shape its direction. The award is named for the legendary reporter, producer, executive and government official, who championed responsible, courageous and imaginative uses of the electronic media during his distinguished 30-year career. It's the industry's most prestigious award.
About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 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.