Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 15:50:33 +0100
From: javier@glaad.org (Loren R. Javier)
Subject: GLAAD PRESENTS FIRST-EVER "EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA" AWARD TO BARBARA WALTERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
contact:  Mark F. Johnson
212-807-1700
Tamra King
213-658-6775


GLAAD PRESENTS FIRST-EVER "EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA" AWARD
TO BARBARA WALTERS

NEW YORK, NY and LOS ANGELES, CA -- February 12, 1996 --  The Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will present a new award, for
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA, to Barbara Walters at the 7th annual Media Awards in
New York City on March 7, 1996 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Veteran journalist Barbara Walters will be honored for her commitment to
covering gay and lesbian issues, culminating with her interview of Olympic
gold-medalist Greg Louganis.  Walters' ground-breaking interviews have made
her one of the most highly acclaimed journalists on television, and GLAAD
is proud to acknowledge her achievement.

Walters joined ABC News in 1976 as the first woman to co-host the network
news.  She joined the newsmagazine "20/20" in 1984.  Prior to her tenure
with ABC she appeared on NBC's "Today Show" for 15 years, where she became
that show's first female co-host.  Walters' numerous and timely interviews
appear regularly on the "20/20," "The Barbara Walters Specials," and ABC's
"Turning Point."

Founded in 1985, GLAAD works for fair, accurate, and inclusive
representation in all media as a means of challenging discrimination based
on sexual orientation or identity.  The GLAAD Media Awards were created in
1990 to celebrate the organization's successes and to congratulate those
whose work exemplifies the tremendous improvements that have been made in
media coverage of the communities GLAAD represents.

In New York, the Media Awards event includes cocktails, dinner, and both a
silent and live auction.  In Los Angeles, the event will be held on Sunday,
March 10 at the Century Plaza Hotel.

The GLAAD Media Awards are underwritten in part by a generous contribution
from Absolut Vodka.

###

******************************************************************************
Loren R. Javier
Director of Information Systems
javier@glaad.org
http://www.glaad.org

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, is a national
organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of
individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and
all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
****************************************************************************
**