De Niro Out Of Service… To America Awards

• As in all things, timing is everything, and if you, like us, are keeping abreast of current events, you know that a lot has transpired in the 24 hours since the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) announced actor Robert De Niro as the recipient of the 2024 Service to America Leadership Award — NABLF’s highest individual honor, presented in recognition of charitable work and public service.

On Wednesday, NAB SVP of Communications Alex Siciliano released this statement regarding De Niro’s attendance — or lack thereof — at the Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 4: “The Celebration of Service to America Awards is dedicated to honoring the vital local journalism and public service that local radio and television stations provide to their communities. This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners.

“While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize. To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”

In closing, the statement says, “We look forward to a night of celebration honoring the exceptional work of broadcasters and our partners who make a difference in their communities every day.”