WICT ANNOUNCES 2006 ACCOLADES WINNERS
-Zarghami, Sangston, WE tv, Lifetime Television Garner Honors-
Chantilly, VA- The Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Foundation today announced the recipients of the 2006 Accolades, WICT’s most prestigious awards. A committee comprised of industry leaders selected the 2006 Accolades honorees from among a strong pool of nominations. WICT has named Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family President Cyma Zarghami as the 2006 Woman of the Year and Cox VP Legal Affairs and Associate General Counsel Robin Sangston as 2006 Woman to Watch. WE tv is the winner of the Tribute Accolade in the Documentary/Biographical category for “Tammy Faye: Death Defying” and Lifetime Television is the winner of the Tribute Accolade for the Drama/Music/Variety category with its production “Human Trafficking.” The Forerunner Accolades, presented to the Best Programmer for Women in Cable and the Best Operator for Women in Cable as determined by the WICT Foundation PAR Initiative, will be announced during the week of November 13, 2006.
The 2006 Accolades will be presented at the 22nd Annual WICT Foundation Benefit Gala, which will be held on November 15, 2006 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC. The 2006 WICT Foundation Benefit Gala is presented by the WICT Leadership Circle: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., MTV Networks and BET Networks, Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable & Charter Communications.
Woman of the Year- Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids & Family Group Cyma Zarghami oversees the overall business operations for Nickelodeon Television, Nick at Nite, Nick Online, Nick Movies, Noggin/The N, Nicktoons Television, Nickelodeon Games and Sports (Nick GAS), as well as Nickelodeon’s magazine and recreation divisions and Nickelodeon’s new digital businesses, including Neopets. Under her leadership, Nickelodeon has introduced such beloved characters as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora, The Explorer and major events such as the Kids' Choice Awards, and has been the number one rated cable network for 11 straight years. Ms. Zarghami has positioned Nickelodeon to continue to lead and innovate as the pre-eminent producer of original content for kids on numerous platforms ranging from television, digital, feature films, international, online, publishing and more. An advocate for kid’s issues, under Ms. Zarghami, Nickelodeon continued its leadership position by committing $30 million to its Let’s Just Play campaign to encourage healthier lifestyles and combat childhood obesity. Ms. Zarghami began her career with Nickelodeon in 1985.
Woman to Watch- Robin Sangston, VP Legal Affairs and Associate General Counsel, Cox Communications Robin Sangston is Vice President, Legal Affairs for Cox Communications, Inc. She joined Cox Communications in 1995 as its fourth attorney. She was promoted to Senior Counsel in 1998. In 2000, she was promoted to Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. Currently, she oversees all of the operations of the Legal Department. In 2004, Sangston served as the national Chair of WICT. Prior to serving as Chair, she held numerous other leadership positions in the organization, including President of the Atlanta Chapter in 1999. In addition, Sangston is an alumna of Class 8 of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, WICT’s flagship executive development program. In addition to her work with WICT, Sangston supports a number of other organizations and initiatives dedicated to supporting women and minorities, including previously serving on the board of the Atlanta Chapter of Cable Positive. She actively participates as a mentor in the Cox Mentoring Program; the Women’s Mentor Program of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, and the WICT mentoring program run by the Atlanta Chapter of WICT.
Tribute Accolades
Tribute Accolade- Documentary/Biographical- WE tv for “Tammy Faye: Death Defying” Tammy Faye: Death Defying is a 90 minute documentary taped over a six-month period in 2004 and explores former televangelist Tammy Faye Messner’s battle with inoperable stage 4 cancer. Following Tammy from diagnosis through treatment, to remission "the show offers viewers a personal look at one woman’s courageous fight to survive.” Regarding the special Tammy said “I’m glad that WE is showing the documentary now because there are so many people out there facing diseases like Cancer and Aids and if my story can help them get through it then I want to do it "no matter the outcome.”
Tribute Accolade- Drama/Music/Variety/Comedy- Lifetime Television for “Human Trafficking” A young, single mother from Prague falls for a handsome stranger while waitressing. A beautiful teen auditions in Ukraine to be a model. In the Philippines, a 12-year-old American girl is intrigued by a local boy peddling bracelets. What do these three unsuspecting individuals have in common? They're being lured into an international sex-trafficking ring run by ruthless criminals. The lives of these victims and others who have been abducted will never be the same; while locked away they'll be forced into prostitution, see their families threatened and worse. It's up to a rookie Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, her seasoned boss and his team to bust this operation and rescue these people.
About the WICT Foundation
The WICT Foundation is responsible for the advocacy initiatives of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable telecommunications industry. The WICT Foundation serves as a catalyst for industry change through research, development, advocacy and education. Its current effort, the PAR Initiative, measures and supports the advancement of industry women against the following standards: Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities and Resources for Work/Life Support. Groundbreaking programs such as the PAR Initiative, and other WICT Foundation research on issues such as work/life balance and the business case for gender diversity, have inspired industry-wide advancements for women.
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