Distinguished Service Award

Tennessee radio and television broadcasters continued their 65th annual convention at Murfreesboro's Embassy Suites Hotel. The highlight of the gathering was Wednesday (8/7/2013) at the noon luncheon when the Distringuished Service Award (DSA) was presented.

McDermott Receives TAB's Highest Honor

Deb McDermott, the CEO of the holding firm that operates WKRN-TV 2 in Nashville was the 2013 recipient. She was earlier the general manager of the Nashville TV station. Her duties now include overseeing all of the properties in San Francisco, Nashville, Albany and Knoxville.

She also serves on the board of Leadership Nashville, Nashville Band and Trust Company, and a member of the South Dakota State University Foundation Council of Trustees.  

Almost 40-years ago the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters established the Distinguished Service Award. Each year it is presented to an outstanding male or female broadcaster who makes significant contributions to their profession and communities. In addition, their peers across the state believe that they have also worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of over the air broadcasting.

After the presentation, all of the earlier DSA recipients who were in the audience met with McDermott. Those include (L-R below photo) Bud Walters (Cromwell Media, Nashville), Paul Tinkle (Thunderbolt Media, Martin), Bart Walker (WGNS, Murfreesboro), Deb McDermott (WKRN TV, Nashville), Johnny Shaw (WBOL-WOJG, Bolivar), and George DeVault (Kingsport, Holston Valley Broadcasting). 

MTSU's Paulson Keynote Speaker

The keynote speaker was the Dean of MTSU's College of Mass Communications Dean Paulson. You may not
realize it, but our local university has the fifth largest mass communication colleges in the entire United

States. His Wednesday afternoon talk focused on change and how the broadcast industry has dramatically changed over the years. 

Paulson was named dean at MTSU five weeks ago. Prior to this time, he was president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University. Along those lines, he said, "One of the greatest rights in America is what broadcasting is build: freedom of speech."

He discussed how different age groups desire different information and how broadcasters gather, edit for public consumption and then transmit news, music and information to the public. 

He will continue to research, write and speak for that group, along with being a part of national public television and radio. He has also served as president of the Newseum in Washington, DC. He was earlier the editor-in-chief of USA Today.

A Time For Flag Waving 

In addition to the education presentations and discussions, there was flag waving at the Tennessee Association of Broadcaster's 65th Annual Convention. The Tennessee Army National Guard presented our colours while the National Anthem was being played and the audience was at attention. 

Learning Experience

Federal Communication Commission representatives were present to help Tennessee radio and television broadcasters avoid infringements when inspected by the Broadcast Bureau. There were also sessions on legal and regulatory issues as well as a look ahead at pending legislation that will impact the industry. 

Classes included ways to better and more quickly inform the public when emergency situations arise, along with training in simply how to operate the business better. 

In addition, one of the large ballroom spaces was filled with exhibitors who were demonstrating digital audio controls, television cameras, EAS complete systems, broadcast transmitters,  and programming services.

Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame

In addition, the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, that has also claimed Murfreesboro's Embassy Suites as the site of its annual gala presentations for the past two years, was there answering questions about inductees and encouraging membership among the radio broadcasters.  (photo below) Murfreesboro's Ralph Vaughn is the president of this state's organization to honor and remember broadcasters across the state who have made a difference in their communities. 

For more information about the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame CLICK HERE.