20th Anniversary Gala - Media Research Center

The Media Research Center’s
20th Anniversary Gala
Featuring
The DisHonors Awards
and the
William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, D.C. • March 29, 2007
The Media Research Center’s
20th Anniversary Gala
featuring the
The DisHonors Awards
and the
William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence
Welcome & Dinner
Master of Ceremonies
Cal Thomas
Invocation
Father John Hopkins
Pledge of Allegiance
Rear Admiral James J. Carey
Presentation of the DisHonors Awards
Neal Boortz, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity,
Mary Matalin, Joe Scarborough
Presentation of the William F. Buckley Jr.
Award for Media Excellence
L. Brent Bozell III
Dessert Reception immediately following program
Media Research
and 2007 DisH
Roasting the Most Outrageously Bia
God, I Hate America Award
Presented by Ann Coulter & Sean Hannity
Nominees
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr ....................... New York Times
Keith Olbermann....................MSNBC’s Countdown
Andy Rooney ................................CBS’s 60 Minutes
Dan Rather Memorial Award for
the Stupidest Analysis
Presented by Ann Coulter & Sean Hannity
Nominees
Katie Couric ..................................CBS’s 60 Minutes
Keith Olbermann....................MSNBC’s Countdown
Bryant Gumbel .............................HBO’s Real Sports
The I’m Not a Political Genius
But I Play One on TV Award
Presented by Joe Scarborough
Nominees
Bill Maher ..................................... HBO’s Real Time
Rosie O’Donnell ............................ ABC’s The View
Harry Belafonte ......................... Has-been entertainer
h Center’s Gala
Honors Awards
ased Liberal Reporting of the Year
Tin Foil Hat Award for Crazy
Conspiracy Theories
Presented by Neal Boortz & Mary Matalin
Nominees
Keith Olbermann...................... MSNBC’s Countdown
Jack Cafferty .................... CNN’s The Situation Room
Katie Couric .................................. CBS Evening News
Puppy Love Award
Presented by Neal Boortz & Mary Matalin
Nominees
Terry Moran ....................................... ABC’s Nightline
Meredith Vieira ....................................... NBC’s Today
Charles Gibson .............................. ABC’s World News
Quote of the Year
Cal Thomas, L. Brent Bozell III, Ann Coulter,
Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz, Mary Matalin, and special guests
~ Audience Participation ~
1st Annual William F. Buckley Jr.
Award for Media Excellence
William F. Buckley Jr. is the intellectual
cornerstone of the modern conservative movement.
His founding of National Review magazine in 1955
provided the home-base for conservatives in an
America seemingly overrun by liberalism. With NR,
and as host of television’s Firing Line for 33 years,
William F. Buckley Jr. spread the cause, helped rally
conservatives during the Cold War, was instrumental
in helping Ronald Reagan win the presidency – twice –
and continues to provide the intellectual ammunition,
along with grace and wit, to strengthen conservatives
in the on-going battles to preserve liberty, peace, and
justice in America.
In addition to NR, Mr. Buckley has written 40 books, publishes a regular column syndicated
to 300 newspapers, and pens longer articles for magazines and other outlets. He has educated
and inspired thousands of conservatives, especially young men and women through his articles,
books, and TV appearances. These young conservatives have followed Mr. Buckley’s example
and relayed the conservative message across the country and
through various media, particularly the New Media: cable
TV, talk radio and the Internet.
Fifty-seven years ago, William F. Buckley Jr.
circumvented the liberal media’s “Berlin Wall” of
bias with imagination and tenacity. His intellectual
progeny today now populate the airwaves and
cyberspace, leaving the old liberal media in the
dustbin of history. To recognize and honor very
the best of these new conservative leaders, the
Media Research Center is proud to announce the
annual William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media
Excellence.
20th Anniversary Gala Co-Chairs
Foster and Lynn Friess*
Conrad Hock, Jr.
T. Boone Pickens
Richard M. Scaife
Loydee and Glen Stonebrink
The Honorable Curtin and Ann Winsor, Jr.
*Unable to attend
Media Research Center Board of Directors
William A. Rusher
Chairman of the Board
L. Brent Bozell III
Founder and President
Michael L. Keiser
Harold Clark Simmons
The Honorable Leon Weil
The Honorable Curtin Winsor, Jr.
Distinguished Panel of Judges
Tony Blankley ★ Neal Boortz ★ Ann Coulter ★ Steve Forbes
John Fund ★ Mark Levin ★ Rush Limbaugh
Mary Matalin ★ Robert Novak ★ Kate O’Beirne
Cal Thomas ★ Walter E. Williams ★ Thomas S. Winter
The Master of Ceremonies
Cal Thomas
Cal Thomas is one of the most highly regarded voices on the American
political scene. With a twice-weekly column appearing in nearly 500
newspapers nationwide, he is America’s most widely syndicated op-ed
columnist, and will soon celebrate 23 years in syndication. He is a contributor to the Fox News Channel.
This Evening’s Award Presenters
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is the co-host and executive producer of FNC’s Hannity &
Colmes. Known for his provocative style and free-wheeling, passionate
commentary on politics and the American agenda, he’s also the host of a
highly-rated, nationally-syndicated ABC Radio afternoon talk show, The
Sean Hannity Show. Mr. Hannity has been named “Talk Show Host of
the Year” and one of the “Top 100 Talk Hosts in America.” by Talkers
magazine. He is the author of Deliver Us from Evil: Defeating Terrorism,
Despotism, and Liberalism, and Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of
Liberty over Liberalism
Ann Coulter
Ann Coulter is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. Ms Coulter
is the legal correspondent for Human Events and writes a popular syndicated column for Universal Press Syndicate. She is a frequent guest on many
TV shows, including Hannity & Colmes, Your World with Neil Cavuto,
Kudlow & Co., At Large With Geraldo Rivera, Scarborough Country,
Real Time with Bill Maher, The O’Reilly Factor, the Today show, Good
Morning America and has been profiled in numerous publications.
Joe Scarborough
Former Congressman Joe Scarborough is the host of MSNBC’s
Scarborough Country. He also provides on air political commentary for
MSNBC, CNBC, and NBC’s Today show. First elected to the U.S.
Congress in 1994, Scarborough was then re-elected three more times, in
landslide victories. He served on the Armed Services Committee, the Judiciary Committee, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Education
Committee. In 1998, he was named Chairman of the Civil Service Committee. Mr. Scarborough published the critically acclaimed Rome Wasn’t Burnt
in a Day, which gives an insider’s view what goes on behind closed doors in
Washington, and how that contributes to reckless federal spending.
Neal Boortz
Neal Boortz is a host on NewsTalk 750 WSB in Atlanta from 8:30AM to
1PM (ET) Monday through Friday, three hours of which are syndicated
with nearly 4 million listeners nationwide. Born in 1945, Mr. Boortz
graduated from Texas A&M University. He also earned a law degree in
1977 and practiced the law until he signed with WSB in 1992. Mr. Boortz,
a libertarian, is the author of four books including, The Terrible Truth
About Liberals, Somebody Has To Say It, The Commencement Speech
You Need to Hear and The Fair Tax Book.
Mary Matalin
Mary Matalin formerly served as assistant to President George W.
Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney. Before joining the
Bush Cheney White House, she hosted CNN’s Crossfire. Ms Matalin is
the former founding co-host of CNBC’s Equal Time. She is a frequent
political commentator on television and has written for various periodicals.
One of her best-selling books includes, All’s Fair: Love, War and Running for President, written with her husband James Carville. She now runs
Threshold, a new conservative publishing imprint at Simon & Schuster.
L. Brent Bozell III
Lecturer, syndicated columnist, television commentator, debater, marketer,
businessman, author, publisher and activist, L. Brent Bozell III, is one of the
most outspoken and effective national leaders in the conservative movement
today. Founder and President of the Media Research Center, Mr. Bozell runs the
largest media watchdog organization in America, the MRC has made “media
bias” a household term. His most recent book, Weapons of Mass Distortion:
The Coming Meltdown of the Liberal Media, was released in July of 2004. Mr.
Bozell is also the founder of CNSNews.com, Culture and Media Institute, and
the Business & Media Institute. Mr. Bozell has also launched a number of other
websites including www.mrc.org, www.TimesWatch.org, www.MRCAction.org, and the MRC’s official
blog, www.NewsBusters.org. Mr. Bozell is also the founder of the Parents Television Council.
The Media Research Center would like to thank the following
sponsors of the 20th Anniversary Gala
Diamond
Foster and Lynn Friess*
Conrad Hock, Jr.
T. Boone Pickens
Richard M. Scaife
WINREP Foundation – Loydee and Glen Stonebrink*
Platinium
Hickory Foundation
Liz and Dick Uihlein*
Gold
Altria
Eagle Publishing
Silver
Bayer
UST Public Affairs
Wal★Mart Stores
The Honorable and Mrs. Curtin Winsor, Jr.
Bronze
American Conservative Union
Richard Collins
Creative Response Concepts
James M. Deaver
DISCUS
DonorsTrust
ExxonMobil*
Fund for American Studies
Grassfire.Net
Jerry and Jackie Grossman
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
National Review Institute
National Rifle Association
ProsumerQuest, 21st Century E-Commerce
Visa U.S.A.
Chris Winiecki
Young America’s Foundation
Friends
American Spectator
American Target Advertising
American Values
Patricia Bozell
Brown & Brown
Capital Research Center
Clouse & Associates
Dezenhall Resources
Family Research Council
Hillsdale College
Lawrence Direct Marketing
Herman J. and Betty Nan Obermayer
Parents Television Council
Patrick Henry Center
Richard Norman Company
Shirley & Banister
Sonitrol Security Systems
Virginia Institute for Public Policy
Washington Scholars
* Sponsors of the Military and Future
Conservative Leaders Table
Special thanks to Eagle Publishing for donating more
than one thousand copies of The Politically Incorrect
Guide to Science by Tom Bethell.
All video footage for tonight’s program is from
the MRC’s News Archive. The awards video
presentation was produced by Tim and Leeza
Donner of Horizons Television.
Special thanks to UST Public Affairs Inc. for
generously donating this evening’s wine.
The following
Gala Sponsors
Would like to
Congratulate the
Media Research Center
on 20 years!
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Smart giving. Convenient giving. Principled giving.
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CONGRATULATIONS
To Brent Bozell and the Media Research Center
On Your 20th Anniversary
From the Officers and Senior Scholars of
THE WASHINGTON SCHOLARS
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
“Training Tomorrow’s National Leaders Today”
www.washingtonscholars.org
Washington Scholars at their Annual Formal Dinner ~ June, 2006
Back Row [L to R]: John Michael Poreba of Penn State University, Brian Scott Eaton of Penn State University,
Robert Francis Trombley of the University of Michigan,, Nicholas Anthony Domingues of the University
of Maryland, Andrew Marzzacco of Penn State University, Anthony Roman Napolitano of the University of
California Los Angeles, MacLane Colin Key Esq. of Harvey Mudd College, John Robert Vehmeyer Jr. of the
University of Illinois, {Upper} Brian Albert Foderaro of the University of Connecticut, {Lower} Michael
Brooks Stackhouse of the University of Notre Dame, Ryan Christopher Diller of the University of Maryland,
Christopher Joseph Bond of Tulane University, Brian Clarke McManus Esq. of the University of Massachusetts;
Middle Row: Jonathan Robert Stott of the University of Pennsylvania, Scott Brandon Galla of the University
of Wisconsin, John Joseph Herzog of the University of Illinois, Founder & Washington Scholars Cotillion
Chairman Rear Admiral James J. Carey of Northwestern University, Washington Scholars Program Chairman
Brian Scott Phillips of the University of Texas, Christopher Jordan Guarda of the University of Maryland, Mark
Benjamin Williams of Tulane University; Front Row: Yangzhi “Z” Zhao of the University of Michigan, Gary
Andrew Mitchell of Seton Hall University, Darren Raymond McDade-Littell of the University of Washington,
Brian Alan Christiansen of Yale University, Joseph David Kotalik of the University of Illinois
Congratulations to the
Media Research Center for 20 years
as “America’s Media Watchdog”
THE
Intercollegiate Studies
Institute
invites all friends of the MRC to attend
T he Second Annual Dinner for
WESTERN CIVILIZATION
featuring
Bernard Lewis
Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern
Studies at Princeton University and author of more than
two dozen books, including What Went Wrong: The Clash
Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East.
Thursday, May 3
Hotel du Pont • Wilmington, Delaware
For tickets or additional information, contact Erica Ford at
(800) 526-7022 or [email protected] or visit www.isi.org
Conrad (Jim) Hock, Jr.,
Williams Foods, Inc.
and Its
Family of Brands
Salute the
Media Research Center
and
L. Brent Bozell III
For 20 Years of
Bull-Dogged
Determination to
Expose and Eradicate
Liberal Media Bias
NATIONAL REVIEW
215 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Tel. (212) 679-7330
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR.
Tribute to L. Brent Bozell III From William F. Buckley, Jr.
I am so intimidated by the Media Research Center that I begin these words with
full disclosure, lest they have me up next year as worthy of a Dishonors Award.
My disclosure is that I am prejudiced in behalf of the honoree tonight. The
reason for this is in part that I first laid eyes on him when he was ten days old. His
expression bore a serenity which he never recomposed once reading the first public
print. It was easy enough to remove the newspaper from him, but that hardly
eliminated the other source of irritation and poison, which was of course television.
His father attempted to shield him from it, but finally gave up, and simply threw the
television set away.
It happens — remember, that full disclosure is my objective! — that his father
was my best friend. We had gone to school together where we discovered each
other’s unique qualities, and when I founded a magazine, he came aboard as Washington Editor, until he discerned in my magazine certain frailties which his son
Brent spotted in other perspectives when he undertook to found the Media Research
Center. We should add to the extraordinary complexity of my self-avowal, that the
honoree’s mother has been my dearest all-time friend since we discovered each
other in adjacent cradles.
Brent’s achievements are enormous. It was so easy to simply deny that there
was bias in the media — until he came along, armed with his extraordinary diligence, his patient and generous friends, and his devoted and resourceful staff.
Since then, his Center has documented the deep tendentiousness of so much
of what we receive that attempts to pass itself off as straightforward and unbiased.
This being the Center’s twentieth anniversary, as record our gratification at their
work, and our gratitude for their perseverance and continued devotion to American
ideals, among them, full disclosure.
The Media Research Center
is truly America’s Media
Watchdog. They don’t just
growl ... they bite!
THE HONORABLE ZELL MILLER
Former United States Senator
Thank you for joining us this evening.
Video clips of tonight’s event may be viewed
tomorrow on the MRC’s Web site:
www.MRC.org
Media Research Center
325 South Patrick Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 683-9733