McPherson
ABC Entertainment topper Steve McPherson has been awarded the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences' first diversity-themed Televisionary Award.
The TV org elected to honor McPherson for his work in bringing a wider range of voices to the small screen. The Alphabet web has recently made waves in airing more series with multicultural casts, including "Lost," "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy," as well as upcoming skeins such as "Freddie."
McPherson has also promoted a cross-cultural team of execs under his watch, and ordered several shows from minority showrunners and scribes.
ATAS chairman/CEO Dick Askin said the award reflected McPherson's "dedication to diversifying his network and leading the way for the industry."
McPherson previously earned the Directors Guild of America's 2005 Diversity Award for his work in hiring women and minorities in DGA categories.
Askin said the Televisionary Award was created following the org's conference "Television's Challenges in Black, White and Multicolor" last fall, in order to "further recognize the contributions that industry executives are taking to create diversity in television -- in executive and creative ranks as well as on screen."
McPherson's award will be presented as part of ATAS' Televisionary Salon & Awards at the Beverly Hills Country Club on Aug. 16. The org's committee on diversity is behind the event, which will be hosted by "Access Hollywood" correspondent Shaun Robinson.
The first salon will focus on fiction programming, which the academy said "an exchange of ideas will identify ways to advance diversity in the industry." Future salons will tackle reality TV and performers.
Contact Michael Schneider at
mike.schneider@variety.com