Cable News Program Recognizes Founder

Old Westbury, N.Y. October 30, 2000.
LI News Tonight, New York Institute of Technology's (NYIT) award winning cable news program, recognizes Dr. Adrienne O'Brien, Professor of Communication Arts, as its 2000 Distinguished Honoree at its second annual Gala at the Huntington Town House on November 1, 2000.

LIN Tonight,the student staffed, quarter-hour nightly program, the longest running local cable news operation on Long Island, was established in 1983 by Dr. O'Brien, then Dean of the NYIT's School of Media and Arts.

"Dr. O'Brien had the vision back then, before Newsday's televised news and before News 12 was established, to design this learning experience for students that would serve the community as well as develop professional electronic journalists," says Professor Anthony Piazza, Vice President of LIN Tonight and Gala II committee member.

Piazza points out there are over a thousand NYIT graduates of the news operation working in more than 40 states from Alaska to Maine. "Lee Tyrell of News 12 is one of ours," Piazza proudly offers, "along with Patty Ann Brown of Fox News, Ray Lambiase of CNN and too many successful journalists to list."

A Hunter College graduate with masters degrees from Villanova and a Ph.D. from Syracuse, Dr. O'Brien has held national offices in the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and in Women in Instructional Technology. She has published, presented and won awards at national and regional communications conferences including the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) here in New York.

Dr. O'Brien initiated the program, serving as its first Executive Producer, but claims It was "the talented faculty, superb professional staff and really motivated students that convinced NYIT's Board of Trustees and the administration to go with the idea."

Under the guidance of professional staff, including Ken Eckhardt, Anchor and Carol Pack, Assignment Editor, three student news crews cover the Island each weekday from the Queens border to Montauk.

The news airs on Cablevision's channel 25 at 7:15 PM through the good graces of Telecare's Director, Msgr. Thomas Hartman.

The November Gala will raise funds to enhance a state-of-the-art digital equipment studio for students enrolled in the LI News Tonight program. The Gala Dinner Committee and the NYIT Communication Arts Alumni Chapter expect hundreds of journalists and news personnel who began their careers in the program, to return to support the fundraiser.

Besides over 25 years commitment to NYIT, Dr. O'Brien is well known for her service to the community including an advisory role at the Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, charter board membership at a Black and Hispanic high school and a leadership position in Women on the Job, a Long Island advocacy group. Her direction of NuVision, a student staffed PR Agency at NYIT has provided PR support for a long list of Long Island not-for-profits.

Dr. O'Brien is married to Dr. David G. Salten, Chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; they reside in Port Washington.

" I am honored to be recognized by LI news Tonight for an idea and the 'start-up', but remember, it's the eighteen years of the news operation itself, that demonstrates its value as award winning electronic journalism and an ideal professional training ground," says the honoree.

For information of the LI News Tonight Gala II and the news operation please call 516-686-7632.

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