The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation honored its 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electric Arts honorees on Friday with its annual luncheon and awards ceremony.
2018 honoree and 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker served as the emcee for the event.
“The Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards are a true celebration of the visionaries and innovators whose work continues to shape the future of our industry,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Communications Officer Heidi Raphael and longtime D.C.-based communications attorney Jack Goodman, Co-Chairs of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation.
“This year’s honorees embody excellence, creativity, and perseverance,” the statement continued. “Their achievements stand as an enduring reminder of the power of broadcasting to inform, entertain, and inspire generations.”
The awards presentation celebrates the remarkable creators, innovators, leaders, performers, and journalists who have blazed trails in the radio and television broadcasting industry.
The 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts honorees include:
DAVID MUIR
Anchor and Managing Editor
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Co-Anchor of ABC’s 2020
LYNN BEALL
Visionary Strategist and Innovator, Retired Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer of Media Operations
TEGNA Inc.
RICK DEES
Legendary Radio Icon, Entertainer and Entrepreneur
JOHN FEORE JR.
Esteemed Communications Attorney and Trusted Advisor
DICK FERGUSON
Distinguished Radio Executive and Retired EVP, Cox Radio Group
NBC
Celebrating 100 years in Broadcasting – award accepted by Chief White House Correspondent and co-anchor of “Weekend Today”, Peter Alexander
GARY SANDY
Acclaimed Stage, Screen and Television Icon
Beloved for his role as “Andy Travis” on WKRP in Cincinnati
LESLEY VISSER
Trailblazing Hall of Fame Sportscaster
First Woman Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Additionally, the 2025 LABF Excellence in Preservation Award was presented to ABC News’ Steven Portnoy.
The organization also announced its 2026 Board of Directors. Serving as co-chairs of the organization are Deborah Parenti and Dave “Chachi” Denes. They will succeed Raphael and Goodman, who will complete their five-year commitments.
“Serving as Co-Chairs of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has been an incredible honor, and we are proud to pass the torch to Deborah and Chachi,” said outgoing Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman. “Their passion, leadership, and creativity will ensure the LABF continues to preserve and celebrate our industry’s rich history while inspiring future generations. We know their dedication will strengthen the Foundation’s mission to honor broadcasting’s legacy and advance its future.”
Parenti and Denes both joined the LABF board in 2021.
Hope Media Group President Tim Dukes and Entravision President/CEO Jeff Liberman were selected to the board.
Meanwhile, Hubbard Radio Chair and CEO Ginny Hubbard is set to transition from the Executive Committee, while Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan and BMI VP of Industry Relations and Licensing Dan Spears are concluding their terms.
LABF Executive Committee members elected to additional two-year terms include Heather Birks, Harry Jessell, Jim Morley, Heidi Raphael, Joyce Tudryn and Dennis Wharton. In addition, retired Katz Television President Leo MacCourtney has been elected to serve as Treasurer of the organization.
The following LABF Board members were elected to new three-year terms include Sally Brown, April Carty-Sipp, John Dille, Jack Goodman, Patricia Smullin and John Taylor.
Other current board members include Sam Bush, Pierre Bouvard, Sally Brown, Mike Carter, Gary Chapman, Chandra Clark, Heather Cohen, Tony Coles, Dr. Mike Conway, John Dille, Erica Farber, Dr. Caroline Frick, Kathleen Kirby, David Kennedy, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Leo MacCourtney, Jim Morley, Ernesto Mourelo, Brian Phillips, Mike McVay, Walter Podrazik and Julie Talbott.
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