Norman Lear to Speak at NAMIC Conference

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Television industry icon Norman Lear will serve as a guest speaker at NAMIC’s annual conference in September.

Lear, who produced such groundbreaking TV series as All In The Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude and Sanford & Son, will speak at the The L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program luncheon Sept. 29, said NAMIC officials.

The 29th annual NAMIC Conference is scheduled to take place Sept. 29-30 in New York City.

“Mr. Lear is among our industry's foremost visionaries and a trailblazing champion of television diversity," said Eglon Simons, president and CEO of NAMIC in a statement. "It is an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate his pioneering genius and career achievements in creating landmark programming while addressing complex and sensitive social issues."

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.