EIGHTY-THREE NEW STUDENTS JOIN THE FOUNDATION IN 2008 -Twenty-five of the Foundation's corporate partners selected 83 new students from across the country to participate in the Foundation's multi-year work/study program. Our newest scholars where selected from more than one thousand applicants and join over 200 other students currently participating in the program. Students work each summer at broadcast stations, cable systems, cable program networks, public broadcast stations, advertising firms, and other industry organizations.

SPANISH LANGUAGE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT CREATED BY FOX TELEVISION 30-second Spanish language PSA was developed by WNYW-Fox New York to assist the Foundation with its recruiting efforts. Broadcast stations, cable systems and cable programmers ran both the English and Spanish PSA's in specific markets where the Foundation was recruiting this spring. The Foundation will continue using the PSA's to help with our recruiting efforts and to raise awareness about our program and the opportunities it provides for our students and graduates.

SUMMER CONFERENCE 2008 New York City was again the site for the Emma Bowen Foundation's annual conference on June 18-21, 2008. More than 200 students attended this year's conference from around the country. Included on the agenda of the 2-1/2 day conference was a session covering the issues and impact of the recent Writers' Guild strike. The discussion was lead by Day Krolik, Senior Vice President of Labor Relations and Employment Contracts for NBC Universal. Our annual graduate panel, a favorite with the students, featured Kameko Jones, Associate Producer at NBC News, Christine Portela, Associate Producer with WTVJ-NBC Miami and Mike Robles, HR Info Systems Analyst with Insight Communications. Ron Claiborne, News Anchor for ABC's Good Morning America Weekend Edition was the keynote speaker for the Foundation's annual Board / Student Luncheon.

"Politics and the Media" was the topic of our Thursday afternoon panel. Dari Alexander, News Anchor for the WYYW-Fox 5 at 6 p.m., Ron Allen of NBC News, and Steve Scully, Sr. Executive Producer and Political Editor for C-SPAN discussed the upcoming Presidential Election and the media's impact on that process.

Time Warner, Inc. hosted our "corporate day" during the conference. Issues such as financial, digital, multi-cultural and global strategies, corporate culture and branding, and helpful information on the transition from "backpack to briefcase" were discussed by Time Warner executives including Richard Plepler, co-President of HBO, Sanjay Prasad, Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions, Time Warner, Alina Cho and Lola Ogunnaike of CNN, actor, Isiah Whitlock of 'the Wire,' Dan Riess, VP Marketing for Turner Broadcasting, Oliva Smashum, EVP of Affiliate Marketing for HBO, and Peter Stern, Chief Strategy Officer for Time Warner Cable, Shelley Fischel, VP HR for HBO, Kerry Davis, SVP for Programming at HBO, Jamal Dawkins, Sr. Counsel, Labor, Time Warner Cable and Christine Lew, Manager Network Strategy at Turner. The day's agenda was developed by a team from Time Warner headed by Seth Feit, Vice President of Talent Acquisition for Time Warner Cable and a member of the Foundation Board of Directors.

A professional development session on "Managing Your Performance" was conducted on the last day of the conference. The workshop was facilitated by Wris' Booker of Reid Dugger Consulting Group with the help of Bob Apter, ABC (retired) and a Foundation board member, Terri Moore of Time Warner Cable and Eldra Gillman of CBS. Other conference events included an orientation for students attending the conference for the first time, a reception hosted by Time Warner for all students working at Time Warner businesses, a Link orientation for those students participating in the 2008 Link Mentoring Initiative, a dinner honoring the Class of 2008 with special guest, Rudy Brioche, Legal Advisor for Media Issues for FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, and our annual conference party held at the Paley Media Center.

MILLENNIALS' PERSPECTIVES IN A DIGITAL AGE Foundation students Peter Martinez (KCET), Giovani Benitez (CBS), Michelle Redberg (CBS), Britney Empty (Comcast), James Presha (Turner) and Rebecca Wangard (Time Warner Cable) offered their perspectives on the digital age to the Foundation's Board of Directors during the Board's June board meeting. Students discussed their television viewing habits, use of the Internet, and technology in general. It was an excellent opportunity for the board to ask questions of the students and for the students to interact with the board.

CLASS OF 2008 - We are pleased to report that many of our seniors have already secured full-time positions in the media. Included are: Giovani Benitez, investigative producer, WFOR-CBS Miami; Gabriela Bird, producer, Emerging Media, Comcast; Stephanie Carter, British Sky Broadcasting in London; Mesfin Fekadu, Production Coordinator, Entertainment News, Associated Press; Tiana Garcia, production assistant, ESPN; Peter Martinez, Desk Assistant, ABC News; Laila Silva, Creative Services Specialist, Advertising Sales, Bright House Networks; Dillon Stevenson, technical operator, NY1, Time Warner Cable, Freddy Sessoms, business services representative, Time Warner Cable; Jackie Burgos and Jeanine Mendez, GE's (NBC Universal) two-year financial management program; Glen Thompson, Digital Service Representative, Ad Sales, Turner Broadcasting ; Debbie Origho, CNN.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - We especially want to acknowledge the Walter Kaitz Foundation for their ongoing commitment to the Foundation and sponsorship of the 2008 Summer Conference; they have been the major sponsor of the Conference since 2004. In addition, the following companies, organizations and individuals helped in a variety of ways to make this conference possible: The Association of Cable Communicators (for their tenth year of contributions from the proceeds of ACC's annual Silent Auction), the Bresnan Family Foundation, the Motorola Foundation, Fordham University, Dr. Phil Napoli, Seth Feit and his team from Time Warner, and all our Conference speakers. The following companies also donated gift items for our students: Arbitron, Bright House Networks, Cartoon Network, CBS, Charter Communications, CNN, Cox Communications, Hallmark Channel, HBO, HGTV, ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Procter and Gamble Productions, TBS, Time Warner Cable, Travel Channel, Turner Broadcasting and TVB.

2008 STUDENTS OF THE YEAR HONORED - Giovani Benitez and Stephanie Carter were named the co-recipients of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation's 2008 Student of the Year Award at the annual Board of Directors/Student Luncheon held in conjunction with the annual Summer Conference in New York City. The award recognizes the achievements of an outstanding male and female senior and serves as an incentive to other Foundation students to continue to strive for excellence. Criteria for the award include: outstanding work quality; noteworthy professional and personal growth and integrity; academic excellence; creativity and initiative; and special contributions to his/her company, college and/or community. Giovani is a graduate of Florida International University where he earned degrees in Sociology and Anthropology. His corporate sponsor was CBS-WFOR in Miami, FL. Giovani continues to work at WFOR as an investigative producer. Giovani was the recipient of an Emmy for his work on a 17-part series called "The Forgotten Floor." Giovanni was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences. Stephanie Carter is a graduate of the University of Utah where she earned a degree in Communications. Her corporate sponsor was KSPU-Fox 13 in Salt Lake City. Stephanie will be working for British Sky Broadcasting in London. Twenty-six students were nominated by their corporate partners for the Award. A special thanks to Henry Rivera, Esq. of Wiley Rein, Reginald Ragland of the DC Chapter of the Journalism Education Association and Parthavi Das of Women in Cable Telecommunications for serving as our 2008 judges.

ACADEMIC AWARDS PRESENTED - 39 students were presented with the Foundation's top academic award for earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher during the 2007-2008 school year. There was a 25% increase in award recipients over the previous year. Each award winner received a certificate and a cash award during the Foundation's Awards Luncheon. Following is a list of the award recipients:

Lindsey Alston, Emerson College, Time Warner Tiffany Bain, Florida A&M University, Comcast Nicole Barden, Spelman College,Comcast Candace Barnes, Montclair State University, Comcast Tiffany Blevins, Univ. of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Fox Matthew Braham, Georgia State University, Comcast Ashley Brown, Evangel University, Media General Re-Essa Buckels, St. Xavier University, Charter Javier Burgos, MIT, Nielsen Michele Byrd, Hampton University, Turner Zyanya Chan, Barnard College, TVB Stephanie Claytor, Syracuse University, Fox Adrianne Cordero, New York University, Comcast Samantha Ealy, Howard University,Comcast Joseph Flowers, Univ. of MD , CPB Alejandro Fonseca, Miami Dade College,NBC Patricia Gamus, Cal State Long Beach, ABC Rhana Gittens, University of Florida, Comcast Shardae Givan, Univ.of AL, Media General Amirah Heath, Penn State, Comcast

Lauren Jackson, Hampton University, NABEF Adrienne Lucas, University of Pittsburgh, Fox Brittany Moncrease, Howard University,Comcast Dorea Novaez, Rice University, Tribune Success Okoronkwo Towson University, C-SPAN Maria Pacheco, Purdue University, Comcast Kimberly Quan, UC-Berkeley, Comcast Michelle Redberg, University of Minnesota, CBS Christopher Robinson, George Mason University,Fox Monique Robinson, Rutgers University, NBC Universal Raquel Rodriguez, University of Central Florida, Fox Sofia Sheth, New York University, NBC Universal Savannah Squires, Lee University, Scripps Networks Vanessa Velez, Iona College, Comcast Jane Walton, Bennett College, Cox Alexandra West, University of MN-Twin Cities, Comcast Jessica Wright, St. Augustine's College, Comcast Jane Wu, Carnegie Mellon University, Comcast Ian Yue, Wheaton College, CPB

KATHY SHEPHERD COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS NAMED - The Kathy Shepherd Community Service Award was created to encourage student involvement in community service activities and recognize those who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others. In 2008, the Foundation recognized Erica Edwards (WNYC) and Stephani Ruiz (Time Warner Cable). Erica worked with the Organization of the United Black Family to help feed the homeless in Brooklyn and Harlem at Thanksgiving. Stephani's sorority, Lambda Theta Nu, sponsors a variety of programs to promote leadership, education and community awareness in the Latino community. Each organization will receive a $500 contribution on behalf of Erica and Stephanie. Kathy Shepherd was Vice President of Production and Community Affairs at WPIX in New York and a member of the Foundation's Board of Directors until her untimely death in 2001. This award was created to honor her commitment to community service.

CO-FOUNDER OF THE EMMA L. BOWEN FOUNDATION HONORED - Dr. Everett C. Parker was honored at this year's Summer Conference. In addition to helping him celebrate his 95th year, a video highlighting Dr. Parker's contributions to the civil rights movement and diversity in the media industry was produced by Melvin McCray of ABC News. ABC Correspondent Deborah Roberts and a group of Foundation students and graduates interviewed Dr. Parker for the video about his life. A clip of the video was shown at the 2008 Board / Student Luncheon and the full video was shown at a conference event at the Paley Media Center. Mr. McCray introduced the video to the students. Everett C. Parker served as director of the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ from 1954 until 1983. He is better known, however, for two other contributions: his leadership in the development of an influential media reform and citizen action movement in broadcasting; and his activism directed at improved broadcast employment prospects for women and minorities. Dr. Parker worked with Emma Bowen to form the Foundation for Minority Interests in Media (which was later renamed for Emma Bowen after her death in 1996). Dr. Parker continues to serve as an officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Emma Bowen Foundation as well as the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council.

2008 ILINK MENTORING PROGRAM - For the sixth consecutive year, the Walter Kaitz Foundation funded our Link Mentoring Program. In 2008, we conducted four workshops in New York and Washington, DC for nearly 100 mentees. Each Link Intensive workshop is a 2-day professional development session that brings together industry executives with Foundation students to introduce such concepts as diverse work styles (utilizing the DiSC assessment tool), group dynamics, unspoken corporate rules, managing up, leadership when you are not in charge, and the challenges of professionals of color in the workplace. Guided by a professional facilitator, Wris' Booker of Reid Dugger Consulting Group, mentors work with teams of 3-5 students to answer their questions and concentrate on strategies that build strong careers.

EMMA BOWEN FOUNDATION STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD ELECTS NEW REPRESENTATIVES - The Foundation established a Student Advisory Board in 2007 to better serve the students and insure that the programs developed by the Foundation for students remain relevant both in topics and technology. The Advisory Board was instrumental in developing the 2008 Conference agenda. Each class elects two representatives for a two-year term. The 2008-2009 Advisory Board includes:
Class of 2009 - Rebecca Wangard (Time Warner) and James Presha (Turner)
Class of 2010 - Arnell Davis (Arbitron) and Kenneth Wright (Comcast)
Class of 2011 - Taylor Tomczyszyn (C-SPAN) and Steven Martinez (Katz Media)
Class of 2012 - Shauna Bennett (CBS) and Jasmine Rushum (Comcast)
The Advisory Board will be actively involved in helping to develop the Foundation's 20th Anniversary year activities.

FOUNDATION GRADUATE HELPS TO CREATE NEW NAMIC CHAPTER AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY - Michael Alvarez, a 2008 graduate of DePaul University and the Foundation's work/study program, was instrumental in establishing a NAMIC (National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications) chapter at DePaul. Michael worked closely with Kathy Johnson, NAMIC's national president, as well as DePaul faculty to make this a reality. The chapter was launched in April, 2008 and Tiffany Saxon-Davis will serve as the first DePaul chapter president. Both Michael and Tiffany attended NAMIC Leadership Conference in Miami in May, 2008. Currently, DePaul's chapter is the only university-based chapter of NAMIC. Michael's Foundation corporate sponsor was CBS.

EMMA BOWEN FOUNDATION STUDENTS HEAD TO BEIJING FOR THE OLYMPICS - Five Emma Bowen Foundation students were selected by NBC Universal for a unique opportunity to work at the Beijing Olympics during the month of August. Denise Horn, Joseph Sutton, Michelle Jackson, Jenna Hanchard and Michael Benjamin were the lucky selectees. Watch for an upcoming report on their experiences.









OTHER FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES TVB MARKETING CONFERENCE - For the sixth year, the Foundation was invited to participate in the Television Bureau of Advertising's Annual Marketing Conference in New York City. Students and graduates attending the conference had the opportunity to meet executives in television broadcasting and learn about the latest research and trends.

ASSOCIATION OF CABLE COMMUNICATORS LAUNCHED ANNUAL FORUM WITH SILENT AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE EMMA BOWEN FOUNDATION - For the tenth consecutive year, the ACC (formerly the Cable Television Public Affairs Association) sponsored a Silent Auction to benefit the Emma Bowen Foundation. Foundation student, Denise Horn, had the opportunity to attend the Auction and meet members of the ACC. Nickelodeon hosted the Auction reception.

FOUNDATION STUDENTS PURCHASE BOOKS FOR NEW ORLEANS STUDENTS - Through a joint effort of professional organizations within the cable television industry, a book drive to restore school libraries and classroom books in New Orleans' schools was launched in conjunction with the 2008 National Cable Show in New Orleans in April. Foundation students and the Emma Bowen Foundation contributed $2,500 to purchase schoolbooks for their fellow students in New Orleans. The total industry effort raised nearly $30,000 for schools books.

FOUNDATION STUDENTS ATTEND MSNBC'S MEETING DAVID WILSON PREMIER AND TOWN HALL MEETING AT HOWARD UNIVERSI UNIVERSITY. - Foundation students at Howard University were invited to attend MSNBC's premier screening of "Meeting David Wilson" and the town hall meeting with Brian Williams that followed on April 11th at the Howard University campus. (Meeting David Wilson is a feature length documentary about the enduring legacy of slavery in today's young black society. David Wilson, a 28-year-old African-American journalist, journeys into his family's past to find answers to America's racial divide. Along the way he meets another David Wilson, the descendant of his family's slave master. This discovery leads to a momentous encounter between these two men of the same name but whose ancestors were on the opposite sides of freedom. - MSNBC.)

AMERICAN WOMEN IN RADIO AND TELEVISION'S GRACIES - Seven Foundation students had the opportunity to participate in the American Women in Radio and Television's (AWRT) Gracie Allen Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on May 28, 2008. Erica Edwards (CPB), Erin Johnson (Hallmark), Tiffany Lee (The Weather Channel), Steven Martinez (Katz Media), Karina Roa (CBS), Raven Suttles (Court TV), and Kellee Blades (ABC) directed guests on the 'red carpet,' assisted backstage and distributed Awards. It was a star-studded evening all around!

FOUNDATION STUDENTS ATTEND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK-OWNED BROADCASTERS EVENT - Foundation students Aaron Sinclair and Pierre Roache were guests of Arbitron at NABOB's 24th Annual Communications Awards Dinner on March 5, 2008 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Marilou Legge, a Foundation board member representing Arbitron hosted the students and Foundation president, Phylis Eagle-Oldson.

EMMA BOWEN FOUNDATION STUDENT INCLUDED AMONG WINNERS OF NAMIC'S EXCELLENCE IN MULTI-CULTURAL MARKETING AWARDS (EMMA) - The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications sponsors a multi-cultural marketing competition each year for cable operators and program networks. The competition is comprised of a case studies element and a marketing tactics element. Stephanie Jane Martin, a Foundation student working with Comcast in San Ramon, CA was named among the Comcast team winners for a direct mail piece, a table tent piece, and a custom CD focused on Filipino viewers and a preview piece focused on South Asian viewers. Our congratulations to Stephanie Jane and our thanks to Comcast for providing this wonderful opportunity for Stephanie.

TV-ONE STUDENT ATTENDS DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION - Victoria Fortune, an Emma Bowen Foundation student sponsored by the Walter Kaitz Foundation and TV-One, attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver with the TV-One crew. 'For a minute I had to pinch myself and remember that some odd years ago African Americans couldn't dare dream of climbing such heights. An African American network, airing the Democratic Convention consisting of the first African American Democratic Candidate and first lady, is nothing less then an accomplishment.' TV-One carried the proceedings live from 8 to 11 each evening during the convention.