Gayle King Receives Inaugural Dove Real Beauty Award From American Women in Radio and Television and Dove(R)

NEW YORK, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) and Dove(R), the global beauty brand, announced last evening that Gayle King, Editor-at-Large of O, The Oprah Magazine, is the first recipient of the Dove Real Beauty Award. The award was presented at the 2005 AWRT Gracie Allen Awards at New York's Marriott Marquis.

Together, AWRT and Dove created the Dove Real Beauty Award to honor an AWRT member who best embodies the "substance and spirit" of real beauty and expresses them through her life and career. Gayle King serves as the inaugural recipient of the award and as a great example of a media figure who is committed to challenging the definition of beauty and utilizing her power to bring this issue to the public's attention. As Editor-at-Large of O, the Oprah Magazine, King empowers women to live their best lives. The magazine strives to be a useful resource and personal growth guide to help women become more of who they really are.

"It's a great feeling of accomplishment to be recognized by my colleagues in the media," said Ms. King. "Like Dove, we want the readers of O, The Oprah Magazine to focus on their inner beauty because that is where a person's true happiness lies."

A three-time Emmy Award winner, Gayle King started her career as a television production assistant and eventually became a news anchor and on-air television host. Ms. King has been an active member of AWRT for more than a decade, serving as host of the Gracie Awards in 1998 and as an award presenter for the last seven years. Under Ms. King's leadership, O, The Oprah Magazine has grown into one of today's top women's lifestyle publications with an audience of over 13 million.

Since 2004, AWRT has partnered with Dove on the Campaign for Real Beauty, a global effort by Dove intended to serve as a starting point for societal change and act as a catalyst for widening the definition and discussion of beauty. The Dove Real Beauty Award is part of this effort and will be given out on an annual basis to celebrate an individual best deserving of recognition based on the award criteria.

"The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty aims to change stereotypes about beauty, and we believe Gayle King exemplifies the campaign's ideals," said Philippe Harousseau, marketing director for Dove. "We are pleased to present this award to a leader who uses her influence and the powerful impact of the media to spread positive messages about self-esteem to women throughout the world."

Chickie Bucco, 2005 president of AWRT and president of Katz Media Direct Marketing Group, commented, "We are proud to honor Gayle King with the first Dove Real Beauty Award. Her successful career in the media and longstanding commitment to AWRT and other worthy organizations make her the ideal recipient."

For more information abut the 2005 Gracies, please visit http://www.awrt.org/. For more information about the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, please visit http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/ .

About AWRT

The year 2001 marked the 50th Anniversary and a golden highlight for American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) Inc., the longest established professional association dedicated to advancing the impact of women in the electronic media and allied fields. Headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, AWRT carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry at large. Founded in 1951, AWRT works to improve the quality of electronic media; promote the entry, development and advancement of women in the media; serve as a medium for communication and idea exchange; and become active in community concerns.

About the Foundation of AWRT

The Foundation of AWRT is the philanthropic arm of American Women in Radio and Television, supporting educational programs, charitable activities, public-service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation of AWRT has created partnerships and joint-initiatives with the National Middle School Association, the Emma Bowen Foundation, the American Red Cross and other organizations that are philosophy aligned with the mission of the Foundation of AWRT. The Foundation supports several public-service campaigns, including most recently AWRT Empowering America, which pays tribute to many of America's most pioneering and inspiring women. Through this initiative, the Foundation of AWRT has adopted needy urban middle schools around the country and provided educational donations derived from collateral based on the Empowering America program. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Allen Awards, a live, New York-based gala that awards exemplary programming created for, by, and about women.

About the Campaign for Real Beauty

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is a global effort that is intended to serve as a starting point for societal change and act as a catalyst for widening the definition and discussion of beauty. Employing various communication vehicles -- advertising, a Web site, billboards, events and a Self-Esteem Fund -- the campaign will invite women to join in the discussion about beauty and share their views of it with women around the world.

About Dove

The Dove mission is to make women feel more beautiful every day by challenging today's stereotypical view of beauty and inspiring women to take great care of themselves. Dove, manufactured by Unilever, is the No. 1 personal wash brand nationwide. One in every three households uses a Dove product(1), which includes beauty bars, body washes, face care, anti- perspirant/deodorants, hair care and styling aids. Dove is available nationwide in food, drug and mass outlet stores.

(1) AC Nielsen (2004)