FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org
WU
Award-winning journalist and co-host of WCVB-Boston‘s “On The Record,” Janet Wu will emcee the 2019 New England First Amendment Awards luncheon on Feb. 15.
The New England First Amendment Coalition’s ninth annual awards luncheon, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, will honor individuals who have advocated for the First Amendment and the public’s right to know.
Stephen Engelberg, editor-in-chief of ProPublica, will receive the Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award, given annually to an individual who has promoted, defended or advocated for the First Amendment throughout his or her career.
NEFAC will also present the Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award and the Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award.
The FOI Award is given each year to a New England journalist or team of journalists for a body of work from the previous calendar year that protects or advances the public’s right to know under federal or state law.
The Citizenship Award is given to an individual from one of the six New England states who has fought for information crucial to the public’s understanding of its community or what its government is doing – or not doing – on its behalf.
Nominations for both awards can be found here.
Wu, a member of NEFAC’s Board of Directors, served as WCVB’s NewsCenter 5 Massachusetts political reporter for more than 30 years. During that time, Wu was a key member of WCVB’s political unit and received a prestigious Emmy at the 2015 Emmy Awards presented by the National Academy of Televisions Arts and Sciences Boston/New England chapter. The award, in the Continuing Coverage – No Time Limit category, recognized Wu’s work on the station’s political coverage during the 2014 campaign season, an ongoing initiative entitled “Commitment 2014.”
In 2015, Wu received the ‘Inspiration Award’ from the Asian Community Development Corporation for her consummate work as a political reporter. She was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Emerson College at the 2011 commencement, and in 2010, she was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Wu was a member of the team at WCVB honored on multiple occasions with the coveted Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism. The station was recognized for its candidate-orientated reporting and its effort to cover issues important to the local community.
In 1998, she was awarded top honors in the Associated Press Investigative/ Enterprise category and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting for her report entitled “Public Property, Private Lies.”
Before coming to Channel 5, Wu was the State House reporter for WGBH-TV, Boston’s public television station. She also worked as a reporter for United Press International.
Sponsors, contributors and table hosts include The Boston Globe, Boston University, Roger Williams University, Emerson College and the New England Newspaper & Press Association.
More information about the 2019 New England First Amendment Awards can be found here. Tickets can be purchased here. Organizations interested in purchasing a VIP table should email NEFAC’s executive director, Justin Silverman, at justin@nefac.org.
NEFAC was formed in 2006 to advance and protect the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment, including the principle of the public’s right to know. We’re a broad-based organization of people who believe in the power of an informed democratic society. Our members include lawyers, journalists, historians, academics and private citizens.
Our coalition is funded through contributions made by those who value the First Amendment and who strive to keep government accountable. Please make a donation here.
Major Supporters of NEFAC include the Barr Foundation, The Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, The Robertson Foundation, The Boston Globe, WBUR and Boston University.