Hudson Mack to receive RTDNA President's Award

TORONTO, May 15, 2013 /CNW/ - RTDNA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists - is pleased to announce that Hudson Mack, News Director / Senior News Anchor at CTV News Vancouver Island, is this year's recipient of the RTDNA President's Award. RTDNA's highest honour is presented annually to individuals or groups that have brought distinction to, or made major contributions to, electronic journalism.

"Hudson Mack has been part of the fabric of the community on Vancouver Island, and after close to 35 years on the air, is an enduring figure who has made a significant contribution to Canada's broadcasting industry," said RTDNA Canada President Ian Koenigsfest. "I remember vividly the warm welcome Hudson gave me when I joined this organization nearly 20 years ago and I've witnessed his ongoing passion and dedication to our craft and the RTDNA." Hudson has been covering news on Vancouver Island since coming to Victoria in 1985. He joined CTV News in 2004 as Senior Anchor and Director of News and Information Programming, after 19 years as Senior Anchor and Assistant News Director at CHEK TV.  In September 2012, he was also named News Director at CFAX 1070, 'Victoria's News Authority.' Hudson's career began in the BC interior in 1980 at CJFC TV and Radio in Kamloops. He also worked at CKPG TV and Radio in Prince George.

Since joining CTV News, Hudson has led the team to close to 50 industry awards. Among them, Best Newscast from RTDNA Canada, five years running, and more than two dozen international Edward R. Murrow Awards from RTDNA International, including Overall Excellence, Best Newscast, and Best Investigative Reporting six straight years.

Hudson has played a definitive role in RTDNA Canada serving nearly two decades, from 1990 until 2008, on the Board of Directors, including two terms as RTDNA Canada President, from 1995 through 1997.  He represented Canada on the Board of RTDNA International in Washington, DC, from 2002 until 2008 and has served since 1997 as BC Regional Vice-Chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

Broadcasting is in Hudson's DNA.  His father, Clarence Mack, posthumously inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, had the long-running Calgary morning radio show 'Toast and Marmalade' at CFAC radio, and his late brother Gary Mack (a.k.a. Byron MacGregor) pioneered '20/20 News' during his ground-breaking career in radio at CKLW 'The Big 8' in Windsor/Detroit.

Hudson's commitment to the community is reflected in his participation with numerous charities including Cops for Cancer.  He was a member of the 2009 Tour de Rock team and personally raised more than $146,000 for children's cancer programs and research.

The RTDNA President's Award will be presented to Hudson Mack at the President's Awards Gala Friday, June 14 during RTDNA Canada's National Conference at Toronto's Metropolitan Hotel, June 13-15, 2013.

RTDNA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada.  The members of RTDNA Canada recognize the responsibility of electronic journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTDNA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in the profession.

SOURCE: RTDNA Canada