Mike
Riksen
Vice President for Policy and Representation, NPR
Each year the Public Radio Regional Organizations present the PRRO award to an individual whose work has significantly contributed to the health and growth of Public Radio. The Award is a fully restored and working vintage radio especially selected for its recipient. This
year's model is an Emerson 1938 AM radio, with a built-in antenna in a 2-piece wood cabinet.
Not a lot of people know that this year's recipient is a card-carrying HOG - that is, an avid motorcyclist, and a member of the Fairfax chapter of the Harley Owners Group.
We tend to think of bikers as reckless, and even a little scary. While our recipient MAY have a devil-may-care attitude on the bike, he IS very cautious and careful about proper riding gear and motorcycle maintenance. When bikers part company they always say "Ride Smart - Ride Safe." And we know he does both, whether it's taking care of motorcycle issues, or taking care of public radio issues.
The Annual PRRO Award honors the "unrecognized and unsung heroes" of public radio - people who are mostly off the air, and so can sometimes be off the radar - but who have work hard to make our industry better, and who deserve recognition from the system. This year's PRRO Award recipient has been instrumental in developing and implementing regulatory and legislative positions in policy areas including tax, trade, appropriations, and telecommunications.
Since 2003, our recipient has been responsible for policy development, advocacy, and community engagement plans for the public radio system. His primary focus is on the development of plans to increase the effectiveness of public radio's community service and outreach. He and his team identify and address areas of concern to the public radio system, including digital distribution, federal
appropriations and copyright legislation.
This year's recipient earned a Bachelor's Degree in Religion from Hope College, which may account for our occasional saintly perception of him. Please join me in congratulating Michael Riksen, NPR's Vice President for Policy and Representation, as The Public Radio Regional
Organizations present him with the 2010 PRRO Award, in appreciation for all of his contributions to public radio stations nationwide.
Jeanne Fisher, Eastern Region Public Media; Christina Kuzmych, Public Radio in Mid America; Paul Stankavich, Western States Public Radio; and Frank Lanzone, California Public Radio (represented by Georgette Bronfman, Eastern Region Public Media).