Personal Award: Dr. Frank Stanton

The freedom of written journalism in a democratic society has been affirmed by law, but the similar right of the video journalist is still in jeopardy. Recently, the public air, and television news in particular, has been subjected to surveillance by politicians and has faced the persistent threat of government control. The personal risks in making an honorable stand against such formidable pressures obviously are great. But the stakes are nothing less than the people’s right to know. In this precarious area, television’s one, consistently gallant spokesman has been Dr. Frank Stanton. An appropriate measure of his value to television is the fact that few of equal courage are yet in sight to whom he can pass the torch. In recognition, a special Peabody Award to Dr. Frank Stanton.