NBC’s Lester Holt, ABC’s Robin Sproul and CBS’ Bill Plante are among the 2014 winners of the RTDNF’s annual First Amendment Awards.
Holt, the weekend anchor of “Nightly News” and “Today” as well as the anchor of “Dateline,” is the winner of the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award, given annually to someone who has made a”major contribution to the protection of First Amendment freedoms.” Sproul, the longtime vice president and Washington Bureau Chief for ABC News, wins the First Amendment Service Award, given to someone who works in an off-air, behind-the-scenes capacity.
“It is a tremendous privilege to work every day in a field that treasures our first amendment rights, and I am honored to receive the award on behalf of the terrific team working with me at ABC News,” Sproul tells TVNewser.
Plante will be honored with the organization’s lifetime achievement award for his “outstanding contributions to journalism and press freedom.” Plante has worked at CBS since 1964 and has covered every Presidential campaign since 1968.
The Associated Press and Gannett Broadcasting president David Lougee will also be honored with First Amendment Awards. The group will be presented their awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in March.