Arts & Humanities Society & Culture

Peabody Awards creates advisory board for the first time in organization’s history

Prominent entertainment and media industry leaders selected to provide counsel to Peabody's future initiatives

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia’s George Foster Peabody Awards has created its first Board of Advisors, comprised of prominent entertainment and media industry leaders who will provide guidance and support to the Peabody program’s future initiatives. Jeffrey P. Jones, Peabody director, made the announcement today.

The Board of Advisors will be distinct and separate from the Peabodys’ traditional Board of Jurors that each year evaluates entries and bestows the prestigious awards for excellence in electronic media.

The 24 Board of Advisors members will provide counsel to Jones and his staff. In conjunction with the formation of the board, five committees have been established: Branding and Mission; the Peabody Archives and Endowments; Original Content and Programming; Internationalization; and Events (including the Awards Show and 75th Anniversary Celebration). Members of the board will sit on the various committees.

“When I was selected as director of the Peabody Awards, I recognized a need to align our organization more closely with the extraordinarily experienced and talented leadership of the entertainment and media worlds,” Jones said. “They have resources and knowledge that will help us realize the exciting plans we have for Peabody. I am deeply appreciative of their desire to serve our organization and contribute their valuable time and insight.”

The members of the Board of Advisors in alphabetical order are:
• Dick Askin, president and CEO, Askin & Company Inc. (former two-term chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences).
• Neal Baer, principal, Baer Bone Inc. (television producer).
• Kevin Beggs, chairman, Lionsgate Television.
• Emerson Coleman, chairman, programming, Hearst Television.
• Stephen Davis, executive vice president and chief content officer, Hasbro Studios and Global Entertainment.
• Nancy Dubuc, president and CEO, A&E Networks.
• Michele Ganeless, president, Comedy Central.
• Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, senior partner, Ziffren Brittenham LLP.
• Bob Greenblatt, chairman, NBC Entertainment.
• Paula Kerger, president and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service.
• Roma Khanna, president, television group, MGM.
• Isaac Lee, president, news, Univision.
• Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group.
• Michael Lombardo, president, programming, HBO.
• Steve Mosko, president, Sony Pictures Television.
• David Nevins, president, Showtime Networks Inc.
• Bruce M. Ramer, partner, Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown.
• Rick Rosen, board member, head of television, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.
• Ted Sarandos, chief content officer, Netflix.
• Bradley Siegel, president, TVOne.
• David Stapf, president, CBS Television Studios.
• Dana Walden, co-chairman/CEO, Fox Television Group.
• Joe Uva, chairman, NBC Universal, Hispanic Enterprises and Content.
• Cyma Zarghami, president, Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids & Family Group.

Peabody Awards
The Peabody Awards, the oldest in electronic media, are considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes. The Peabodys recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. The 18-member Peabody Board of Jurors is a distinguished panel of television critics, industry practitioners, scholars and experts in culture and the arts. Selection is made by the board following review by special screening committees of media experts at UGA and other universities around the country. For more information regarding the Peabody Awards program, see www.peabodyawards.com or follow @PeabodyAwards on Twitter.

Grady College
Established in 1915, the UGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers undergraduate majors in journalism, advertising, public relations, digital and broadcast journalism and mass media arts. The college offers several graduate degrees and is home to the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, see www.grady.uga.edu or follow @UGAGrady on Twitter.