Radio Television Digital News Association

For the Canadian organization, see RTNDA Canada.

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), formerly the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA), is a United States-based membership organization of radio, television, and online news directors, producers, executives, and educators. Among its functions are the maintenance of journalistic ethics and the preservation of the free speech rights of broadcast journalists.

History

The RTDNA was founded in 1946 (as the National Association of Radio News Editors) as an industry group to set standards for the nascent field of broadcast journalism, and to defend the First Amendment in instances where broadcast media was being threatened. It adopted its current name in early 2010. The organization has over 3,000 members.

The RTDNA is known for the Edward R. Murrow Award, given annually since 1971 for excellence in electronic journalism, and the Paul White Award, presented annually since 1956 as its highest award, for lifetime achievement.

Murrow famously gave a speech at an RTNDA event held in his honor in 1958. The speech was harshly critical of the network television establishment of the day, and its emphasis on popular entertainment rather than news and public affairs programming. This speech was the cornerstone of the plot of the 2005 motion picture Good Night, and Good Luck.

Journalism scholarships and fellowships

RTDNA's educational and philanthropic arm, the Radio Television Digital News Foundation, recognizes outstanding students and young professionals pursuing careers in electronic journalism with a number of scholarships and fellowships offered each year.

Scholarships for Graduate and Undergraduate Students:

• The Ed Bradley Scholarship
• The Carole Simpson Scholarship
• The Pete Wilson (broadcaster) Scholarship for students from the Bay Area
• The Presidents Scholarship in recognition of past RTDNA Presidents
• The Lou and Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship
• The George Foreman Tribute to Lyndon B. Johnson Scholarship for students at the University of Texas at Austin
• The Mike Reynolds Scholarship
• The Abe Schechter Scholarship for graduate students

Fellowships for Young Professionals (with fewer than 10 years as a professional journalist):

• The N.S. Bienstock Fellowship
• The Michele Clark Fellowship
• The Vadna and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship
• The Jacque I. Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship

External links

• Official website