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The Paley Center for Media’s Annual Gala in New York Honors Ken Lowe & Sir Martin Sorrell on February 24, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

New York, NY-The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) will honor Scripps Networks Interactive Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer Ken Lowe and WPP's Chief Executive Sir Martin Sorrell at its annual Gala Evening in New York, which will take place on Tuesday, February 24 at Cipriani 42nd in Manhattan. Proceeds from the Gala Evening will benefit the Paley Center's ongoing efforts to increase the public's understanding of the media and its growing significance in today's society through public and industry programs.

"Ken Lowe and Sir Martin Sorrell are innovative leaders, highly respected for the energy, focus, and direction they provide at the helm of businesses with far-reaching assets and impact," said Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of The Paley Center for Media. "Ken quite literally changed the cable landscape with the launch of the successful Scripps Networks, and Sir Martin created the world's largest advertising conglomerate, which sets the pace for the global marketplace. Both men are dynamic and entrepreneurial individuals who continue the legacy that William S. Paley established The Paley Center for Media to honor and celebrate."

Under Ken Lowe's stewardship, Scripps Networks Interactive has become one of the nation's fastest growing and most successful creators of unique lifestyle brands for television and the Internet. He founded and launched HGTV and oversaw the acquisition and transformation of the Food Network into an American pop culture phenomenon.  Ken, who has been a Paley Center Trustee since 2006, also presided over the launches of DIY and Fine Living Networks and oversaw the acquisitions of Great American Country (GAC) and leading online comparison shopping services Shopzilla and uSwitch.

WPP Chief Executive Sir Martin Sorrell is widely respected as a visionary in the world of communications services, a formidable deal maker and trendsetter. Sir Martin transformed WPP into what today is the world's largest advertising and marketing services company, employing 131,000 people in over 106 countries and providing communications services to clients that include 340 of the Fortune Global 500, over one half of the NASDAQ 100 and over 30 of the Fortune e-50. Companies in the WPP family include JWT, The Ogilvy Group, Young & Rubicam Brands, Grey Group, GroupM, 24/7 Real Media, Millward Brown, Research International, TNS, Hill & Knowlton, Burson-Marsteller, Landor, TNS, CommonHealth, Sudler & Hennessey, and Wunderman.

Past Paley Center gala honorees include Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Steven Bochco, Kevin S. Bright, David Brinkley, Tom Brokaw, Jerry Bruckheimer, Carol Burnett, James Burrows, Sid Caesar, Marcy Carsey, Peter Chernin, David Crane, Ted Danson, Dick Ebersol, the cast and writers of Everybody Loves Raymond, Kelsey Grammer, Merv Griffin, Marta Kauffman, David E. Kelley, Leslie Moonves, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Paar, Dan Rather, Sumner Redstone, Carl Reiner, the cast and writers of Saturday Night Live, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Martin Sheen, Showtime Networks Inc., Sony Corporation, Sir Howard Stringer, Barbara Walters, John Wells, Dick Wolf, Bob Wright, and Jeff Zucker.

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The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry.  For more information, please visit /.