Thursday, July 21, 2005

Freedom Forum promotes two long-time broadcasters to top positions

ARLINGTON, Va. — Two veteran broadcast executives have been promoted at the Freedom Forum, according to an announcement made today by Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of the Freedom Forum.

They are:

• John A. Hurley, promoted to senior vice president of broadcasting, responsible for all video and electronic productions at the Freedom Forum and the Newseum.

• James D. Updike, promoted to vice president of technology, overseeing engineering and systems.

"Jack's overall management skills are exceptional, and his oversight of all video-related activities is crucial to the development of the Freedom Forum's plans for the future," Overby said. "Jim is good at anticipating the future and helping the staff to understand current technology in a non-threatening way."

The Freedom Forum is moving its operations from Arlington to 555 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., in 2007, along with the expanded Newseum. Both Hurley and Updike are playing key leadership roles in the development of the 250,000-square-foot Newseum, which will offer 130 films, videos and interactive experiences

Hurley, 63, established the broadcasting department when he joined the Freedom Forum in 1993 as vice president. He manages the production, editorial and technical operations of three groups: Freedom Forum broadcasting, Newseum productions and Broadcast/Newseum operations. Newseum productions have received multiple awards from major film and video festivals and professional organizations, including the International Monitor Awards, the New York Film Festival, the Columbus International Film and Video Festival, the Cine Golden Eagle and the International Film and Video Festival.

Before the Freedom Forum, Hurley spent 30 years in broadcast news. During 11 years with Gannett Co., he was news director of Gannett News Service/Television, manager of news operations at WUSA-TV in Washington, executive editor of the nationally syndicated "USA TODAY on TV" and news director at WXIA-TV in Atlanta. Hurley was with Cox Broadcasting for 13 years as a reporter, anchor, editorial director and news director at WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio. Before Cox, he was an anchor and reporter for WHAS-TV and radio in Louisville, and news director at several New England-area radio stations.

Hurley and his wife, Jacqueline, live in McLean, Va.

Updike, 48, joined the Freedom Forum in 1995 as director/engineering and systems. He was in charge of broadcast and technical operations of the Freedom Forum and Newseum, responsibilities that continue with his promotion. He also is supervising project manager for the $40 million technology budget for the new Newseum.

Updike spent 16 years with NBC News in a variety of positions, including assisting in the design and installation of news-production facilities throughout the world. At many of those locations, Updike served as engineer-in-charge of major news events and as technical liaison to the NBC News bureaus and affiliated stations. Updike was an early proponent and supporter of electronic-news gathering and established many of the early operational principles. He built and operated some of the earliest portable satellite news-gathering equipment and vehicles.

Updike lives in Alexandria, Va., with his wife, Lundy, and three sons.

The Freedom Forum, based in Arlington, is a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation focuses on three priorities: the Newseum, First Amendment and newsroom diversity.

The Freedom Forum funds the operations of the Newseum, an interactive museum of news under construction in Washington, D.C.; the First Amendment Center; and the Diversity Institute. The First Amendment Center and the Diversity Institute are housed in the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. The First Amendment Center also has offices in Arlington.