On A Personal Note
By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 11/22/2004
It is said that a reporter is never supposed to be part of the story, yet based on the coverage of the National Electronics & Appliance Industries Division Anti-Defamation League annual dinner on p. 90 and 91, I guess I've broken that rule. And I've broken it happily, I may add.
Earlier this month I was proud to accept the Torch of Liberty award from an organization that fights for justice and fair treatment for all, and that has been supported by the consumer electronics and major appliance industries for years.
I was also very pleased that on the same evening three executives who have done a lot for the industry were also honored: Don Iwatani, long-time chairman of U.S. operations for Panasonic, who returned to Japan in June, received the S. David Feir International Humanitarian Award; Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, received the American Heritage Award; and Dave Workman, president and CEO of Ultimate Electronics, received the Patricia Rienzi Legacy Award.
Those are just three of the many people I have met, interviewed and learned the business from, since I attended my first Consumer Electronics Show in January 1982.
One of the reasons why I think I received this award is that I've been relatively successful in covering the news and events of this industry over the years. While stories have bylines, journalism is a collaborative effort. And it is often said that a reporter is only as good as his or her sources. So my thanks to industry executives who, for the most part, have always provided me with relatively honest answers to my questions, and shared their expertise.
And, of course, I'd like to thank the journalists and publishing executives I have worked with over the years, starting with the electronics/appliance staff at the old Home Furnishings Daily of the mid-1980s through 1993, including Manning Greenberg, whom many of you remember.
In the spring of 1993 I was fortunate to join TWICE, working with founding editor and CE Hall of Famer, Bob Gerson, and our publisher, Marcia Grand, who presented me with that award and has a great love for this business, and our parent company Reed Business Information.
My special thanks to the editorial members of TWICE over the years, especially our current staff: Greg Tarr, John Laposky, Amy Gilroy, Doug Olenick, Joe Palenchar, Greg Scoblete, Alan Wolf, Jeff Malester, Lisa Cervini and long-time freelancers Desiree Nunez and Alan Perlman. I'd also like to thank our group publisher Larry Oliver, associate publisher Bruce Alpert, account executive Toni Ingenito and classified account executive Tiffany Ashitey. (By joining TWICE, I have also had the pleasure of working with Alpert, Malester, Tarr and Wolf for the second time in my career.)
And of course I thank you, our loyal readers, who have over the years provided vital feedback so we can report the news and events of this business more effectively.
Well, enough about me. Let's go back to work. I do have one question for all of the thousands of manufacturers exhibiting at International CES in January: Where is your new product information? Follow the directions below!
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