Jack Abernethy To Receive Broadcasters Foundation Golden Mike Award

Jack Abernethy, chief executive officer of Fox Television Stations, will be the 2023 honoree of the Broadcasters Foundation of America Golden Mike Award. The award will be presented during a black-tie fundraiser on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Abernethy has been at the helm of Fox Television Stations since 2004, overseeing 29 Fox-owned stations in the nation’s largest television markets. The stations are industry leaders based on the growth and success of locally produced programming, which have more than doubled under Abernethy’s leadership, with over 1,000 hours of locally produced news per week, more than any other owned-and-operated broadcast group.

“I would like to thank Scott Herman, Tim McCarthy and the Broadcasters Foundation board of directors for this prestigious Golden Mike Award and for their tremendous commitment to helping and supporting broadcasters in need across the country,” Abernethy said. “Now, more than ever, we must help those in our industry who are facing challenging times so we can continue to encourage and foster the entrepreneurial spirit and journalistic dedication of local newsrooms, which are making an immeasurable impact in their respective communities.”

“We’re proud to honor Jack for his distinguished career, and the success his leadership has brought to the Fox Television Stations,” said Scott Herman, chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation of America. “A champion of local news and live events, Jack’s vision has propelled the Fox group of stations to the forefront in their markets, earning recognition across the industry.”

Tim McCarthy, president of the Broadcasters Foundation, said: “This is the perfect time for this announcement when we are all giving thanks and grateful for others who impact our lives. Jack is one of the most respected and admired individuals in broadcasting. We’re grateful for his support of the charitable mission of the Broadcasters Foundation, and we’re delighted to have an opportunity to recognize his many contributions to our industry.”

An esteemed broadcaster, in 2018, Abernethy was awarded Broadcasting & Cable’s “Broadcaster of the Year” and named a “Giant of Broadcasting” by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. In 2017 and 2018, he was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “35 Most Powerful People in New York Media” and was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2012. Under Abernethy’s leadership, TVNewsCheck named FTS “TV Station Group of the Year.”

A graduate of Georgetown, Abernethy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and received his MBA degree from New York University.

The Broadcasters Foundation Golden Mike Award is presented annually to an individual for their excellence in and commitment to broadcasting, and their ongoing service to the community at large. The award ceremony and dinner attract a who’s who of broadcast media executives and celebrities.

Previous recipients include entrepreneur and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Bob Pittman chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia; Gordon Smith,former Senator from Oregon and president of the National Association of Broadcasters; Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar Media Group; and Hilton Howell Jr., chairman and co-CEO of Gray Television,  among others. This year’s host, presenters, and performer will be announced shortly.

For information, or to reserve a seat or table, please contact the Broadcasters Foundation at 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org.

The Broadcasters Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in aid to broadcasters who have lost their livelihood through a catastrophic event, debilitating disease or unforeseen tragedy. Personal donations can be made to the Foundation’s Guardian Fund. Corporate contributions are accepted through the Angel Initiative, and bequests can be made through the Foundation’s Legacy Society. For more information, please visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org, call 212-373-8250, or email info@thebfoa.org.