BET News Scores 2 Awards for Excellence in Journalism From The National Association of Black Journalists

BET News Scores 2 Awards for Excellence in Journalism From The National Association of Black Journalists

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , announced that BET News received two Salute to Excellence awards at the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists in Las Vegas on August 11, 2007. The network was also nominated for a third award.

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The "Black Ice" segment from THE CHOP UP was named Best Feature/Long Form in the network television category, for its insightful examination into the spread of crystal meth along the East Coast and into our neighborhoods. Traci Curry was the producer and Selwyn Hinds served as executive producer.

"SOS: Saving Ourselves -- One Year Later," the poignant BET News special that took a probing look at the Louisiana and Mississippi region in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, was named Best Documentary in the network television category. Grant Clark was the producer, and Keith Brown was executive producer.

Additionally, the "Blood Ice" segment from THE CHOP UP was nominated in the International category for its exploration of Liberia's diamond trade. Greg Branch served as producer, with Jeff Johnson reporting and Selwyn Hinds as executive producer.

"It's exciting and gratifying to have BET News' amazing work recognized by the NABJ, especially since the News team has made such a concerted effort to ramp up its coverage of the broad range of issues facing the Black community," said Reginald Hudlin, President of Entertainment, BET. "Over the past year alone, BET News has produced more than 50 hours of news programming that has explored major hot-button topics, including gun violence, homophobia, the state of Black marriage and police brutality.

"It's also important to note that BET employs more Black journalists than any other news organization, and they do award-winning work," Hudlin added. "I'm very proud of what Keith Brown has accomplished in a very short time here at BET, and we are dedicated to producing news series, specials and briefs with a unique point of view."

"BET News is committed to informing our audiences about the subjects that matter most to them, and presenting that news in the most compelling and enlightening way possible," said Keith Brown, Vice President, News and Public Affairs, BET. "With upcoming specials like HIP HOP VS. AMERICA, SOS: TWO YEARS AFTER THE STORM, SUDAN: FROM THE FRONTLINE OF CONFLICT, BROWN ON BLACK, and the first-ever BET News sex quiz, BET News will continue to deliver news programming that speaks directly to our viewers and makes a difference."

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 85 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

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Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Jeanine Liburd, +1-212-846-7437, jeanine.liburd@bet.net,
or Bernadette Simpao, +1-212-846-6722, bernadette.simpao@bet.net, both of
BET Networks

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment