MTVNI’s Bill Roedy to Be Honored by UNCA

NEW YORK: The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA)’s 14th annual Awards Dinner and Dance, to be held on December 4, will recognize Bill Roedy, the chairman and chief executive of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), for his work in HIV/AIDS outreach.

“I am very honored and humbled to accept the UN Citizen of the Year award on behalf of MTV Networks, especially given tonight’s distinguished recipients,” said Roedy. “The world is more complex than ever and communication and education are vital to facing its huge challenges. At MTVN, our connection with different cultures has the ability to make a difference around the world. We will continue to work in partnership with the UN to reflect our key beliefs of unity, diversity and tolerance to try to make the world a better place."

Added Ian Williams, UNCA Awards Chair: “The annual UNCA Awards recognize those who have made a real difference to the work of the UN. This year we are thrilled to name Bill Roedy ‘Global Citizen of the Year’ for his and MTV’s endeavors in HIV/AIDS outreach as well as outreach concerning other key issues facing young people.”

Guest of Honor UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will present awards with prizes totaling over $40,000 to journalists from all over the world for the best media coverage of the UN and its agencies.

The Prince Albert Foundation/UNCA Global Prize for coverage of Climate Change will go to Nathanial Gronewold of E&E Publishing; John Heilprin of the Associated Press; and Ilya Gridneff of Australian AP. The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize, for written media coverage of the UN and its agencies, sponsored by the Alexander Bodini Foundation goes to Louis Charbonneau of Reuters and Stephen Stecklow and Andrew Higgins of the Wall Street Journal, as well as James Reinl of The National, UAE and Betsy Pisik of the Washington Times.

The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize for broadcast coverage of the UN, and its agencies, sponsored by the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations will be awarded to Barbara Angopa of National TV in Uganda; Andrew Geoghan and MaryAnn Jolly for Foreign Correspondent of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; and Samuel Agyemang of Metro TV and Ghana and Duilio Giammaria of RAI Italy. The United Nations Foundation Prize for any entry in any medium that best covers the humanitarian and development aspects of the U.N. and its agencies goes to Gloria Chang of Guatevision in Guatemala, as well as Yvonne Ndege of Al Jazeera English and Silvia Bessa.