Stephanie Medina Rodriguez (CBS2 and KCAL9) took home the 2009 Golden Buccaneer Award while Michael Arvizu (Glendale Community College) was introduced as the 2009 Lisa Davidson Memorial Scholarship Award Winner. (Photo Left ID: Stephanie Medina Rodriguez, 2009 Golden Buccaneer Award Recipient and Robin Gee, PIRATES President and Cable TV Manager of CityTV of Santa Monica.)
The Golden Buccaneer Award is given to an individual in communications that has demonstrated: an ongoing commitment to the
community, a professional manner in media, and is regarded as an admired media representative and role model for students.(Photo Left ID : Richard Guiss, Director PR & Development, Goodwill SOLAC and Michael Arvizu, 2009 Lisa Davidson Memorial Scholarship Award.)
Stephanie Medina Rodriguez is the Director of Public Affairs for KCBS and KCAL television stations in Los Angeles. She has more than 25 years professional experience in broadcast journalism, and community relations.
Before the merge of KCAL and KCBS in 2002, Medina Rodriguez was the Public Affairs Director for KCAL9 in Los Angeles.
Prior to that, she was News Assignment Manager, News Segment Producer and Assignment Editor covering local news, breaking news, special assignments locally, across the nation and Mexico. In addition, she produced, for two seasons Emmy nominated, “Crosscheck”, a public affairs, point-counter-point program for KCAL. Medina Rodriguez is one of the few remaining staffers who joined KCAL when it began its groundbreaking newscasts in primetime in 1990.(Photo Left ID: Genevieve Riutort, Director of Development Westside Food Bank; MC, Brent Seltzer, KSRO/Santa Rosa, " Brent Seltzer Still at Large"; Meg McDonald (APR) Owner/CEO, McDonald Media Services.)
Medina Rodriguez began her career as at KNXT (now known as KCBS) while attending California State University, Northridge where she graduated with a B.A. in Journalism. She also worked for KNBC before graduating and spent 6 years at KABC before moving to KCAL.
As a broadcast journalist, she has been honored with 4 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Mikes and an Imagen Award. She has also been honored by the California School Board Foundation, The Best of the West, Comision Femenil, San Fernando Valley Chapter, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, The Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Press Club, the Los Angeles County Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and several other non-profit organizations.
In 2008, she was appointed by Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the Transportation Board of Commissioners. Medina Rodriguez serves on the board of Heal
the Bay as chair the marketing committee and won two Emmy awards for the production of the one-hour environmental specials H2O Heroes, and Heal the Bay. She also sits on the boards of the American Heart Association, Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Asian American Pacific Legal Center is and on the marketing committee for the American Cancer Society. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, California Chicano News Media Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and is a Deputy Registrar of Voters for Los Angeles County. A native of Los Angeles, she lives in the San Fernando Valley with her husband and two children.Since 1972, PIRATES has been sponsoring the Lisa Davidson Memorial Scholarship program for current sophomores and juniors majoring in communications, journalism, radio or television at a four-year Southern California college or university. This scholarship is named in memory of Lisa A. Davidson, a gifted public service coordinator at KNBC-TV and PIRATES member, who died tragically at a young age in an automobile accident. The purpose of this scholarship program is to recognize outstanding students who have excellent potential for improving the lives of people in Southern California through a communications career. Lisa Davidson Memorial Scholarships are supported by contributions to the Ruth Collander Endowment Fund.
Michael Arvizu, will be graduating from Glendale Community College next fall. He also serves as a reporter for the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and La Cañada Valley Sun newspapers.
Los Angeles County Office of Education "Santa for a Day Campaign," was PIRATES Toy Drive Beneficiary.
I BIG THANK YOU TO OUR TABLE SPONSORS:
A Special Thanks To Our MC Brent Seltzer for volunteering his time and comedic talents to bring laughs to the guests! Brent Seltzer, who is back on the air doing a 2 minute commentary in morning drive on KSRO in Santa Rosa, " Brent Seltzer Still at Large", entertained us as our MC. “Still At Large” is based on Brent’s quick wit…and total lack of respect for all things that are…well, all things.
Check out his audio blog: Click here to listen...
"My thanks to all of you for your efforts, talents and generosity in making the event a success. I think we raised a nice amount of money for the scholarship fund, it was really nice to have everyone together. Have a great holiday season!" Robin Gee, PIRATES President.
PIRATES (Print Interactive Radio & Television Educational Society) is dedicated to helping nonprofits to more effectively work with the media. It is the only L.A. area association that offers regular opportunities for nonprofits, the media, and other communications professionals to network. For more information: http://www.piratesla.org/
