School of Communication and Media honor will be presented at a free public ceremony on October 27

On October 27, the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University will present the inaugural “Media Leadership Award” to Rashida Jones, President of MSNBC. 

The award will be presented at a ceremony that is free and open to the University community and general public. Tickets can be reserved via Eventbrite.

The award builds upon the legacy of the previous “Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award” which for 30 years honored luminary figures such as Lester Holt, Hallie Jackson, Ian Eagle, Deborah Norville, and many others. The new Media Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have had a significant national impact in the media industry across platforms and genres.

According to Keith Strudler, director of the School of Communication and Media, nobody better exemplifies the spirit of excellence of this award than Rashida Jones. “In creating this award, we knew our inaugural winner had to embody innovation and excellence across a diverse media ecology, someone who leads across an expansive breadth of content forms and distribution platforms. That is Rashida Jones. She is a shining exemplar of our School’s pursuit of excellence.”

Jones became the first Black executive to lead a major television news network when she was named president of MSNBC. She is responsible for oversight of all programming, editorial units, business development and technical operations as well as MSNBC Films, a division of MSNBC that produces and acquires documentary features and short films for distribution across the NBCUniversal News Group platforms. Jones also oversaw the launch of the MSNBC hub on Peacock marking the expansion of MSNBC’s streaming footprint.

Before becoming president of MSNBC, Jones served as senior vice president, NBC News and MSNBC. Earlier in her career, she was the news director for the No. 1 NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina. She was also director of live programming at the Weather Channel, where she led coverage of some of the nation’s most historic weather events, including Hurricane Katrina. Jones has been recognized with countless awards, including this year being named one of the “Most Powerful People in New York Media” by The Hollywood Reporter and receiving Hampton University’s 2022 Outstanding Twenty-Year Alumnus Award.

The October 27 event will be held in the School of Communication and Media’s Presentation Hall. The presentation of the award will be followed by a conversation between Jones and Strudler where they will discuss her career, the state of American news, and her perspectives on the industry’s continued evolution. The event will also be streamed live on the University’s new streaming service Hawk Plus (hawkplus.tv).

About the School of Communication and Media: Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,500. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include WMSC Radio, The Montclarion newspaper, Hawk Communications PR Agency, the Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ OTT streaming platform, and News Lab, as well as the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Recent national School recognitions include an Edward R. Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

About the Media Leadership Award: The Media Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have had a significant national impact in the media industry. Their work is broadly recognized, universally respected and enduring in impact. Award winners may come from a wide range of industry sectors, including entertainment, news and sports, and also encompass a diverse media ecology, from traditional networks to streaming platforms to social and emerging networks. Honorees may occupy an extensive range of roles – including executives, talent and entrepreneurs – and individually and collectively represent the pinnacle of the industry. The award builds on the storied legacy of the previous Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award, which has honored some of the industry’s most accomplished and significant media professionals.