Chantilly, VA- Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) today announced that Star Jones, host of Star Jones on Court TV, will emcee the 23rd Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala. The Gala will be held Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington.
The highlight of the Gala will be the presentation of the 2007 Accolades, WICT’s most prestigious awards. Honorees include:
Woman of the Year: Lynn Yaeger
Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs
Time Warner Cable
Woman to Watch: Wonya Lucas
Executive Vice President and General Manager
The Weather Channel Networks
Tribute Accolade: “Vietnam Nurses with Dana Delany”
WE tv
Tribute Accolade: “The Closer”
TNT/ Warner Bros. Television
In addition, the results of the WICT Foundation’s PAR Initiative, an examination of Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities, and Resources for Work/Life Support will be announced. WICT will honor the Best Operator for Women in Cable and the Best Programmer for Women in Cable with this year’s Forerunner Accolades.
Star Jones
Star Jones, a lawyer and former prosecutor, is best known to television viewers for her candor, confidence and uncanny ability to clarify muddy legal and social issues. Her knowledge of the law and talent for television has won her critical acclaim as a news and legal correspondent.
Jones was recently named the executive editor and host of her new Court TV Daytime talk show, Star Jones which will focus on the mix of law, justice, pop culture and entertainment. The show, which premiered in August, will offer a fresh perspective to the day’s most talked about crime and justice stories from news and pop culture.
Jones has had an amazing television career spanning more than 15 years. After her initial debut on Court TV in 1991, she became the NBC legal correspondent for Today and Nightly News; hosted her own syndicated talk show, Jones & Jury; was senior correspondent and chief legal analyst for Inside Edition; hosted Live from the Red Carpet for E! Entertainment Television; and was a co-host of the Emmy®-winning talk show The View for nine years. During her television career, Jones has covered, reported on or provided commentary regarding the latest developments in every major criminal and civil trial of the last decade. She has obtained exclusive and/or personal interviews with everyone from Mike Tyson, Rodney King and O.J Simpson to a host of celebrities, entertainers and captains of industry, politicians and lawyers, as well as several former United States presidents.
As a lawyer, she gained attention in court with a number of highly publicized victories. In one case she became the first New York Assistant District Attorney to obtain the maximum sentence for a 13-year-old defendant tried as an adult for the murder of another teenager. In another case, she won a 66-year prison term for a serial sex abuser known as the “Bicycle Rapist” after other lawyers had failed to get convictions in four other cases. As law is still Jones’ first love, she has been for the last 20 years and still is a licensed attorney in the state of New York.
Jones is the author of two best-selling books, a featured guest on numerous television shows and, most important to her, heavily involved in numerous philanthropic efforts. As the goodwill ambassador for First Star, Jones is the voice of the effort to give basic rights to children in America’s foster care system. She is on the Board of Directors/Trustees of The East Harlem School, The G&P Foundation for Cancer Research,, God’s Love We Deliver. Additionally, she is on the National Advisory Boards of Girls, Inc. and Dress for Success. In 2002, Jones launched her own not-for-profit foundation The Starlet Fund, which makes financial grants to individuals and organizations that are dedicated to the support and encouragement of women, girls and families in need.
WICT Foundation Benefit Gala
The WICT Foundation Benefit Gala, at which the Accolades will be presented, showcases outstanding industry achievements and commitment to developing women leaders who transform our industry. The 2007 WICT Foundation Benefit Gala is presented by the WICT Leadership Circle: Comcast, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Time Warner Cable, MTV Networks/BET Networks and Charter Communications. For more information on this event, visit www.wict.org .
About WICT
For more than twenty years, WICT has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide leadership programs and services, and create professional advancement opportunities for women. With over 6,000 members, Women in Cable Telecommunications is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. WICT develops women leaders who transform our industry through highly regarded professional events, educational programming and networking opportunities. WICT has 20 local chapters and satellites across the country. For more information, visit www.wict.org .
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