Left to Right: Abbe Raven, A&E Television Networks president and CEO ;
Dr. Lynda Bergsma, MEZCOPH assistant professor; Elana Rosen, executive director, Just Think Foundation;and Mishaela Durán, Director of Govt. Affairs, National PTA.

We live in an age where video, internet, and print media greatly affect our everyday choices, from the decision of whether to smoke to what we eat at each meal.  How do we learn to make positive, healthy choices?

In answering that question,  Lynda Bergsma, PhD, has received a 2009 Cable's Leaders in Learning Award from Cable in the Classroom, one of two awards given in the Media Literacy Education category.  This prestigious national recognition from cable television professionals was awarded for her leadership in media literacy education for health promotion.  Dr. Bergsma, an assistant professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH), states that her work is "dedicated to empowering citizens of the media age to make better-informed, healthy choices."    Accomplished educators, school administrators, college faculty, volunteers and community leaders were considered from across the nation for these awards.

Abbe Raven, the president and chief executive officer of the A&E Television Networks, presented the award to Dr. Bergsma on June 10 at a gala in the nation’s capitol.  See photo above. 

Dr. Bergsma was honored in partnership with Cox Communications.  Catherine Locke, Community Relations Manager of  Cox Southern Arizona, said, “Cox Communications is excited to have been a part this year’s Leaders and Learning award and congratulates Dr. Bergsma on this very deserving recognition.”

""I'm extremely honored to receive this award," said Dr. Bergsma.  "I take advantage of every possible venue to advance the cause of media literacy education and public health."  Focusing on media literacy education for at-risk children, youth, and families, Dr. Bergsma’s projects, teaching, research, writing, speaking, consulting, and leadership efforts have helped thousands of educators, health professionals, youth workers, students and parents in the U.S. and worldwide, and inspired them to incorporate critical thinking about the media into their daily lives.   Samples of her work includes speaking at the International Media Literacy Research Forum in London, presenting at American Public Health Association Conferences, conducting workshops for many media-literacy conferences, and special-interest presentations on cruise ships. 

"Dr. Bergsma's dedication to including public health considerations in media literacy is highly commended," said Iman Hakim, MBBCH, PhD, MPH, the dean of the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health.  "Congratulations to Dr. Bergsma on receiving this important national award."

Congratulations, Dr. Bergsma!

2009 Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards Winners with Chef Alton Brown

of the Food Network (center, arms crossed).  Dr. Bergsma is in the red jacket. 

Dr. Bergsma and the other nine national Cable’s Leaders in Learning Award honorees each received a $3,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. There they were honored at a lavish awards ceremony and luncheon on June 10, 2009, hosted by Food Network Chef Alton Brown.  "That ceremony was the closest I'll ever get to the academy awards!" she said of the gala.  For more information on the awards and a list of all of the 2009 winners, please visit www.leadersinlearningawards.org.

It's interesting to note that the second Leaders in Learning Award in the Media Literacy Education category was presented to Elana Rosen, co-founder and executive director of the Just Think Foundation in San Francisco. "Elana is an old friend of mine and close, valued colleague," Dr. Bergsma said.  (See photo at top of article.)   Just Think teaches young people to lead healthy, responsible, independent lives in a culture highly impacted by the media.

Click Here for More on Dr. Bergsma's Background - Page Two