PRESS RELEASE New Production Team, Venue And Categories For Namic Vision Awards Record Number Of Entries Submitted For 12th Annual Presentation Honoring Cable's Best In Multi-Ethnic Programming Los Angeles Mayor The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa To Give Keynote Address LOS ANGELES, CA - Feb. 7, 2006 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) today announced plans to unveil a new look for its NAMIC Vision Awards. Now in its twelfth year, the Vision Awards is the only entertainment industry program honoring diversity in cable television programming. "Spotlight on A Brighter Vision" is the theme for this year's black-tie gala scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 2006. Los Angeles Mayor, the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa will give the keynote welcome address. Beverly Hills' prestigious Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel will be the production's new home, providing the foundation for the show's design and style. Los Angeles based Ruby Red Inc., has been tapped by NAMIC to shape the show's new look-and-feel. A full service television company specializing in urban lifestyle content, Ruby Red, Inc. is headed by veteran producer Gina M. Holland ("BET's 2004 Comedy Awards" "Celebration of Gospel"). Holland is the former Senior Vice President of Production and Programming Operations, Black Entertainment Television (BET). Prior to joining BET, during her tenure at NBC Entertainment, Holland produced specials such as "Garth Brooks: Double Live," which aired live in three time zones on the same night. Presented in partnership by the NAMIC Foundation and NAMIC - Southern California, Inc., the Vision Awards has evolved into one of the organization's premiere events showcasing achievements in diversity on the creative side of the cable and telecommunications arena. By spotlighting networks committed to diversity, as well as independent content creators and on-screen talent of color, the NAMIC Vision Awards continues to be unique in its reflection of the full spectrum of the global marketplace. A portion of the proceeds from the 12th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards will go to the Digital Bridge Alliance (DBA) Project. Launched in 1999 by the NAMIC Foundation, the mission of the DBA is to bridge the digital divide and communicate the value of being a part of the digital revolution to African Americans, Asians and Latinos. In addition to the new production team and venue, inaugural awards will be presented in two categories, Lifestyle and Real Life Stories. A record number of submissions (up 32% over 2005) were received in the eleven programming categories, which also include Comedy, Drama, Music/Variety, News/Informational, Children's, Documentary, Foreign Language, Comedic Performance and Dramatic Performance. Vision Award winners are selected by a panel of judges representing the entertainment, media, education and civic communities. "Since the show was launched in 1994, the amount of original programming on cable television has grown exponentially, and it's crucial that the show evolves in order to keep in step with the industry's changing landscape," said Kathy Johnson, Executive Vice President, NAMIC Inc. "With the support of the cable networks, the show has reached many milestones and we felt that year twelve was a pivotal juncture for augmenting the production." Annual corporate sponsors include Comcast, MTV Networks, Disney & ESPN Media Networks, Lifetime Entertainment Services, Time Warner Cable, Turner Broadcasting System, Showtime Networks, Inc., Advance Newhouse Communications & Bright House Networks, A&E Television, BET, Cox Communications, Discovery Communications, Fox Cable Group, HBO, Scripps Networks, Starz Entertainment Group and The Weather Channel. About NAMIC NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a nonprofit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of nearly 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention give to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve. # # # NEWS SOURCE: NAMIC Foundation MEDIA CONTACT(S): [ not for publication or the public ] Charmaine Chapman of BTB Communications, Inc. for NAMIC Foundation char @ btbcommunications.com +1-310-902-8617 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Plain Text Copies of This Release: TXT: http://www.Send2Press.com/mediadrome/2006-02-0207-LOC1.txt -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Information from Send2Press Newswire may be redistributed in part or in whole by members of the media. Send2Press(R) is the originating wire service for this story. Copr. (c) Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope(R). All rights reserved. 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