3rd Annual National MADD Media Awards Winners Announced

3rd Annual National MADD Media Awards Winners Announced

Eighteen Awards for Outstanding Coverage of Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking Issues: The Charlotte Observer and WFXT-TV Earn MADD's Highest Honors

DALLAS, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced today the 18 winners of its 3rd annual national MADD Media Awards program. The 2005 MADD Media Awards, sponsored by Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Nationwide Insurance, are in recognition of outstanding media coverage advancing MADD's mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.

"Throughout MADD's 25-year history, the media has played an integral role in informing and educating the public about the dangers and consequences of drunk driving and underage drinking," says Wendy J. Hamilton, MADD national president. "The MADD Media Awards program allows us to celebrate the media who share stories of victimization and survival, heartache and triumph."

MADD's top honor -- the Award of Excellence -- goes to WFXT-TV in Dedham, Mass., for broadcast media and to The Charlotte Observer in Charlotte, N.C., for print media. This year's special award bestowed by MADD -- The Spotlight Award -- goes to longtime consumer safety news correspondent Julie Vallese with CNN Newsource.

The 2005 MADD Media Awards Winners:

Award of Excellence -- Broadcast -- WFXT, Dedham, Mass. Award of Excellence -- Print -- The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C. Spotlight Award -- Julie Vallese, CNN Newsource National Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- Dateline NBC National Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- Talk Show -- The Dr. Phil

Show National Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- Public Affairs Show -- Sesno

Reports, WETA Local Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- KRQE, Albuquerque, N.M. Local Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- WDIV, Detroit, Mich.

Radio Broadcasting: Drunk Driving Issues -- KMOX, St. Louis, Mo. Radio Broadcasting: Underage Drinking Issues -- Mediatracks, Inc., De Plaines,

Ill. Newspaper: Drunk Driving Issues -- Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis. Newspaper: Underage Drinking Issues -- The Post-Star, Glens Falls, N.Y. Magazine: Drunk Driving Issues -- Teen People Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues -- Parents Spanish-Language Media: Television -- KDTV, San Francisco, Calif. Spanish-Language Media: Radio -- Radio Hispana 1470, San Diego, Calif. Community Awareness: National -- U.S. Department of Education Community Awareness: Local -- K-USA, Denver, Colo.

The 2005 award winners will be honored at a luncheon as part of MADD's 25th anniversary National Conference on September 30 in Washington, D.C. Carole Simpson, veteran ABC News journalist, will emcee the event.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. is the 2005 MADD Media Awards Presenting Sponsor. "Volkswagen is committed to safety and increasing awareness of the dangers of impaired driving," says Marijke Smith, public affairs manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "We are proud to sponsor the 2005 MADD Media Awards spotlighting journalists who continually report on the risks and devastating effects of drinking and driving."

Nationwide Insurance is a second-year MADD Media Awards sponsor and MADD National Gold Sponsor. Timothy Hoyt, vice president of safety for Nationwide Insurance, adds, "We strongly value safety, and an important part of protecting motorists is raising awareness of drunk driving and underage drinking. We are honored to sponsor the 2005 MADD Media Awards and to honor journalists who shine a light on people and information that help keep the driving public safe."

Each year, about 17,000 people are killed and half a million others are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. MADD continues to advocate for proven effective laws, stronger enforcement and science-based alcohol use prevention programs for youth. In 2004, MADD served more than 31,000 victims/survivors of drunk driving.

The call for entries for the 2006 MADD Media Awards will be announced this fall. Stories broadcasted or published between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006 are eligible to enter the program. For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/media-awards .

Founded in 1980, MADD is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the nearly 300,000 lives the grassroots organization has helped save. MADD is a 501(c) 3 charity with approximately 600 affiliates and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/MADDLOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving

CONTACT: Amy George of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, +1-469-420-4493

Web site: http://www.madd.org/ http://www.madd.org/media-awards

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