The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) has named Paula Williams Madison, chairman and chief executive officer of Madison Media Management LLC, the 2014 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award recipient.
Among the diversity association's highest honors, the award was established in 1992 in memory of the late congressman from Texas for his lifelong advocacy of social justice and equality for people around the world. Madison will be honored as part of the NAMIC Annual Awards Breakfast scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 8-9:30 a.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center in conjunction with Cable Show 2014.
Since the inception of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award, NAMIC has continued its tradition of honoring individuals and organizations affiliated with the communications industry that demonstrate a commitment to advancing the concerns of people of color. A longtime philanthropist, Madison champions many social causes and community outreach initiatives. She serves as a board member for the Greater Los Angeles United Way, the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, the California Science Center Foundation and Vice Chair of National Medical Fellowships. Madison also chairs The Nell Williams Family Foundation and is a member of the executive committee supporting the capital campaign for the Bronx New York's Cardinal Spellman High School. In August 2013, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Madison to the Los Angeles Police Commission, where she serves as vice president.
"As we pay tribute to the late Congressman on the 25th Anniversary of his passing, NAMIC is honored to recognize the achievements of Paula Williams Madison, an esteemed industry trailblazer, whose commitment to humanitarianism exemplifies Congressman Leland's legacy," Alicin Wiliamson, interim president of NAMIC and principal, Raben Group, said in a release.
In 2011, Madison retired from NBCUniversal, where she had been executive vice president of diversity as well as a VP of the General Electric Co., the former parent company of NBCU. During her 22 years with NBCU, Madison held a number of successful leadership roles, including president and general manager of NBC4 Los Angeles, Los Angeles regional general manager for NBCU's Telemundo TV stations and VP and news director of NBC4 New York. Her career as a journalist led to a 1996 Peabody Award for NBC4 New York's investigation, "A License to Kill." Madison's continued dedication to quality journalism helped NBC4 Los Angeles earn numerous Emmy, Golden Mike and Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Madison also served as CEO of The Los Angeles Sparks, a WNBA professional women's basketball team, from 2011 to 2014, when she sold her family-owned business to Magic Johnson and the Guggenheim Group.
The NAMIC breakfast also will feature the presentation of the Next Generation Leaders Awards honoring emerging executives of color for their professional acumen and achievements in fostering multiethnic diversity within the communications industry. Online registration can be accessed at http://www.namic.com.
