New York, November 10-WFUV Radio (90.7 FM/wfuv.org) honored CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl and ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Brent Musburger at “On the Record: A Celebration of Achievement in News and Sports Broadcasting” in a jam-packed Costantino Room at the Fordham University School of Law on Wednesday night, November 9.
Distinguished WFUV alumnus Connell McShane, looking fresh despite his marathon Election Night coverage on Fox Business Network and then morning duties on the WABC Radio Imus in the Morning program, served as Master of Ceremonies and moderator of an armchair discussion with Brent Musburger and CBS’s Anthony Mason.
Stahl, a 12-time Emmy Award recipient, accepted the Charles Osgood Award for Excellence Broadcast Journalism in a video message. The award is named for legendary broadcaster, WFUV alumnus, and 1954 Fordham graduate, who took the stage for the presentation, joined by Fordham University President Fr. Joseph M. McShane, SJ, Provost Dr. Stephen Freedman and station General Manager Chuck Singleton.
“I am grateful and humbled to receive an award that bears Charles Osgood’s name,” said Stahl. “Only a news assignment would have kept me from coming.”
Musburger, one of the most recognized voices is sports broadcasting and a member of the National Sportsbroadcasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame, accepted the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting, named after the Hall of Fame broadcaster, play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and alumnus of WFUV and Fordham (1949).
In a video message, the inimitable Mr. Scully acknowledged Musburger’s distinguished career, and as he has done with all prior seven sports broadcasting greats to receive the award that bears his name: “We’re delighted to have you! Welcome to ‘the Club!’”
ESPN anchor, host and commentator Chris Berman presented his colleague Musburger with the Scully Award, highlighting a career that has included pioneer efforts on the NFL Today on CBS in the mid-seventies to calling virtually every major sport from the NBA to college football and basketball on ABC and ESPN. “I salute the man who made CBS Sports a must watch. He’s done it all, and no matter what the game, he’s thrilled to be there.”
Berman acknowledge Musburger as so willing to assist a young student sportscaster when he was the Voice of the Brown Bisons – “whatever I can do to help!” – and encouraged the WFUV broadcasters to “go for it.”
“Vin Scully commands our admiration,” ” said Musburger in accepting the Scully Award, accompanied by his wife of 53 years, Arlene. “I grew up in Montana, a skip off the mountain, and would listen to Vin Scully’s radio welcome: ‘a very pleasant evening to you wherever you may be.’ There is nothing like it. Years later, I got to broadcast a World Series game with him on CBS Radio. Now to receive an award with the name Vin Scully on it, there’s nothing like it.”
Musburger told the aspiring WFUV student broadcasters, a dozen strong in the audience, to “follow the dream.”
Scully retired in October after 67 seasons as the Dodgers’ voice, while Osgood retired as host of CBS Sunday Morning on September 25, but continues with The Osgood File on CBS Radio. WFUV is the noncommercial, member-supported public media service of Fordham University for nearly 70 years, which both used as launching pads to their illustrious careers in broadcasting.
WFUV’s exceptional student broadcasters who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing media careers, Drew Casey (FCRH ’17), who was in attendance to accept the Bob Ahrens Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism, and Jake Shore (FCRH ’17,) unable to attend because he is studying abroad, were spotlighted for sports and news, respectively.
CBS This Morning Saturday Co-host and National correspondent Anthony Mason, another involved in gavel-to-gavel Election Night coverage into the morning’s wee hours, and Musburger reflected on the news and sports broadcast industries and their careers in an armchair discussion moderated by Connell McShane.
WFUV program director and popular host Rita Houston, who shapes the eclectic musical direction of the station, deejay Dennis Elsas, a music legend in New York radio whose career has spanned four decades, news director George Bodarky, and sports director Bob Ahrens were also among the station’s staff members at the benefit.
WFUV alumni in attendance included Tony Reali, host of ESPN’s Around the Horn and Good Morning America contributor, Spero Dedes, CBS Sports NFL and college basketball play-by-play man, and John Martin, ESPN Radio executive producer spearheaded the sports luminaries present, which also included former Mets World Champion and current SNY Mets analyst Ron Darling and ESPN writer and commentator JA Adande.
Previous Osgood Award recipients have included inaugural honoree Osgood (2008), Jim Lehrer (2009), Bob Schieffer (2010), Tom Brokaw (2011), Christiane Amanpour (2012), Sam Donaldson (2013), Scott Simon (2014), and Charlie Rose (2015).
Previous Scully Award recipients are inaugural honoree Scully (2008), Dick Enberg (2009), Ernie Harwell (2010), Pat Summerall (2011), Al Michaels (2012), Bob Costas (2013), Verne Lundquist (2014), and Mike “Doc” Emrick (2015).
The benefit supported WFUV (90.7 FM or www.wfuv.org), New York’s source for music discovery, and a noncommercial, member-supported public media service of Fordham University for nearly 70 years. All proceeds will be used to support WFUV’s one-of-a-kind training programs for Fordham University students. Each year, FUV provides 70 to 85 paid internships; workshops for 120 to 150 students – in news and sports multiplatform journalism, engineering, and production; and 40,000+ hours of training and public service. Participants and graduates of this hands-on education go on to receive awards in all areas of broadcasting. Since 2010, alone, WFUV has won more than 150 national and local awards for news and sports. Student stories are often highlighted on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
For further information, please contact Alexis Harrigan, Senior Director of Development for WFUV, at [email protected] or 212-636-6508.