The Ralph Lowell Medal
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements to public media by presenting the Ralph Lowell medal.
Ralph Lowell was a Boston philanthropist and banker and founder of the WGBH Educational Foundation, licensee of WGBH-TV, serving as its first president from 1951 until he became chairman in the mid-1970s. He was instrumental in the formation of the Carnegie Commission on Educational Television, which led to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 and the establishment of CPB. Lowell was chairman of the board of directors of the National Educational Television and Radio Center during its formative years.
The Ralph Lowell Award was created by the Lowell family in 1970 to commemorate the pioneer public broadcaster's 80th birthday. CPB presents the award on behalf of the Lowell family.
2016
Jennifer Lawson
Senior Vice President, Television and Digital Video Content, CPB
PBS’ First Chief Programming Executive
» Jennifer Lawson's Acceptance Remarks
» Press release
2011*
Rebecca Eaton
Executive Producer, MASTERPIECE!
2010*
Earl Blumenauer
U.S. Congressman, Oregon
2009*
David Fanning
Executive Producer and Founder, FRONTLINE
2008*
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University
Director, W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research
2007*
Henry Becton, Jr.
Former President and General Manager, WGBH, Boston
2006*
Mary G.F. Bitterman
Veteran public television executive
Chair, PBS Board of Directors
2005*
Frederick L. DeMarco
Executive Vice President, CPB
2004*
Maynard Orme
President and CEO, Oregon Public Broadcasting
2001*
Peter S. McGhee
Vice President for National Programming, WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston
» Press release
2000*
David J. Brugger
Former President and CEO, Association of America's Public Television Stations (APTS)
» Press release
1999*
Thad Cochran
U.S. Senator, Mississippi
Edward M. Kennedy
U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
» Press release
1997
Jac Venza
Director of Cultural and Arts Programs, WNET/New York
Executive Producer, Great Performances
1996
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell
Former President, WETA/Washington, D.C., and Vice President for Community Affairs
» Press release
1995
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker
1994
Bruce Christensen
Former President, PBS
1993
Henry Hampton
President, Blackside, Inc.
1992
Chalmers H. Marquis
Former Public Television Representative to Congress
1991
Alistair Cooke
Host and Narrator, Masterpiece Theatre, WGBH
1990
Ward B. Chamberlin, Jr.
Former President and CEO, WETA/FM-TV, Washington, DC
1989
Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer
Co-anchors, The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
1988
Ernest F. Hollings
U.S. Senator, South Carolina
1987
Sharon Percy Rockefeller
Former Board Chair, CPB
1986
Barry M. Goldwater
Former U.S. Senator, Arizona
1985
David O. Ives
Vice chairman, Board of Trustees
Former President. WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston
1984
Lawrence K. Grossman
Former President, PBS
1983
Walter H. Annenberg
Founder, The Annenberg/CPB Project
1982
Newton N. Minow
Former PBS Board Chairman
1981
Fred W. Friendly
Former Communications Adviser, Ford Foundation
1980
Warren G. Magnuson
Former U.S. Senator, Washington
1979
James A. Fellows
Former President, National Association of Educational Broadcasters
1978
Ralph Rogers
Former Board Chairman, PBS
1977
John O. Pastore
Former U.S. Senator, Rhode Island
1976
James R. Killian, Jr.
Former Board Chairman, CPB
1975
Fred Rogers
Creator and Host, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
1974
Bill Moyers
Journalist and producer
1973
Hartford N. Gunn, Jr.
First PBS President
1972
Jonathan Rice
Former Director of Programming, KQED-TV
1971
Joan Ganz Cooney
Founder and President, Children's Television Workshop
*Award presented in the following year