NBC News Makes Its Presence Known at This Year’s Matrix Awards

By A.J. Katz 

The New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) hosted its annual Matrix Awards today — an event which honors extraordinary women who are trailblazers in the media industry.

Hosted by IPG, the 2018 Matrix Awards luncheon took place Sheraton New York Times Square, and was emceed by Today Show co-anchor (and past Matrix Award honoree) Savannah Guthrie.

One of Guthrie’s NBC News colleagues was honored at this year’s event — MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host; Founder, Know Your Value Mika Brzezinski. Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough presented Brzezinski with the honor.

Betsy Kenny Lack, wife of NBC News chairman Andy Lack, was honored at today’s ceremony as well. Betsy Lack is head of global strategy of Snap Inc.

Guthrie, Brzezinski and Scarborough (and Halle Berry) were just a few of the big names in attendance.

In fact, Matrix Awards attendees included a veritable who’s who of NBC Newsers, as well as a number of high-profile NBC female execs.

Mike Barnicle; Errol Cockfield; Jared DiPalma; Dylan Dreyer; Phil Griffin; Bonnie Hammer; Kasie Hunt; Rashida Jones; Sheinelle Jones; Alex Korson; Andy Lack; Libby Leist; Dafna Linzer; Cynthia McFadden; Victoria Neidigh; Noah Oppenheim; Janelle Rodriguez; Jesse Rodriguez; Savannah Sellers; Cory Shields; Marc Siry; Richard Stengel; Jonathan Wald; Brian Williams; Linda Yaccarino and Ali Zelenko.

In addition, NYWICI presented its first-ever, Matrix Incite Award to three women who, “through their writing and body of work, incited action and change for their coverage on sexual misconduct in the workplace.”

They were a trio of New York Times reporters: Jodi Kantor, Emily Steel and Megan Twohey.

Previous Matrix Award winners include Arianna HuffingtonSheryl SandbergTina FeyDiane Sawyer, Meryl Streep, Gretchen Carlson and Joanna Coles. Proceeds from the Matrix Awards go towards a range of scholarships and educational programs for women. To date, NYWICI’s Foundation, the largest for communications scholarships for women in the country, has given more than $1.5 million dollars in scholarships.

The scholarship winners stopped by the Today show this morning:

Guthrie and Brzezinski received support from fellow NBC Newsers. Today Show Weekend’s Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones attended the event.

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