Amplify Chairman to Receive Prestigious Donald H. McGannon Award

Washington, D.C. – Samuel A. Simon, Chairman of Amplify Public Affairs, will be receiving the Donald H. McGannon Award, a life time achievement award for his media advocacy work. The Award will be presented at the 27th Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and Awards Reception on September 30, 2009.

The annual event, hosted by the Office of Communication, Inc. (OC, Inc.) of the United Church of Christ, is intended to inspire a thoughtful discussion on telecom and the media in the digital age from an ethical and moral perspective. This year’s event also marks the 50th Anniversary of the office, which was formed in 1959 to support the work of Dr. Everett Parker, then head of the Office, to challenge the racist practices of southern television and radio stations.

Mr. Simon began his work in media advocacy in 1978 when he took over as director of what was then called the National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting. In 1983 the organization transformed to address emerging media and was called the Telecommunications Research and Action Center. In 1986 Mr. Simon founded a public affairs firm, Issue Dynamics, Inc, which was devoted to building bridges between public interest and private, corporate organizations on policy issues. While at IDI, Mr. Simon facilitated negotiations that resulted in land mark public interest provisions in the 1996 Telecommunications Act around the E-Rate, disability access and broadband deployment. More recently he has supported the work of the Office of Communications in re-opening its Washington offices.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. It has been my privilege to have known Dr. Parker for more than 30 years and work with him on these causes over that time. Donald McGannon showed us how from within business and industry it is possible to make a difference. Any small comparison between my work and that of Donald McGannon’s is a great honor.”

The evening’s other honorees include:

• Patti Miller, Vice President of Public Policy, Sesame Workshop, who will be recognized with the Everett C. Parker Award
• Ben Popken and Meghann Marco, Co-Executive Editors, The Consumerist, who will be recognized with the Consumer Education Leadership Award

Over the years the event has honored some of the nation’s leading telecommunications advocates who have fought for diversity. Past honorees include: Senator Olympia Snowe, who advocated on behalf of more diverse programming; Randall Pinkston, a New York-based CBS News correspondent whose excellent investigative journalism helped advance the role of minorities in media; and Newton Minnow, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who fought for public broadcasting, and brought attention to children's programming issues.

If you will be in the New York City area and are interested in attending the event, please contact Dawn Violette at 202-263-2906.

###

Amplify is the next generation in public affairs, leading the way in the integration of new media and traditional communications strategies. With unequalled expertise in aligning allies, connecting voices, and promoting action, Amplify serves as a relationship builder, creating and sustaining win-win collaborations to move issues forward and influence targeted audiences. Through the blending of innovative communication technologies, credible coalition building, grassroots and top-tiered public affairs expertise, Amplify leverages connections to achieve targeted objectives in the public, private, and political arenas.