AWC-DC Honors Eleanor Clift with the 2008 Matrix Award for Professional Achievement

Business Wire, May 15, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Eleanor Clift, contributing editor at Newsweek, regular panelist on "The McLaughlin Group" and author, is the 2008 Matrix Awards honoree at the annual Matrix Awards luncheon held today by the Washington, DC Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC-DC) at the National Press Club.

Clift became contributing editor at Newsweek in 1994, where she writes on the Washington power structure and the influence of women in politics. She also writes the "Capitol Letter" column for Newsweek.com. She began her career as a secretary to Newsweek's National Affairs editor. She is a regular guest on "The Diane Rehm Show's" Friday News Roundup on WAMU. Clift and her late husband, Tom Brazaitis, wrote War Without Bloodshed: The Art of Politics and Madam President: Shattering the Last Glass Ceiling. Her most recent book is Founding Sisters.

"We are so proud to be honoring Eleanor Clift, a woman who has truly led the way for other women in journalism," said Lynn Osborne, AWC-DC president. "She exemplifies everything our organization looks to promote to women in all fields of communication."

A past Matrix Award winner and ABC-7 news anchor Maureen Bunyan was the emcee for the annual event. Helen Thomas, 2007 Matrix winner, veteran news service reporter, a Hearst Newspapers columnist, member of the White House Press Corps and author, introduced Clift at the luncheon.

AWC-DC also honored Michelle Cardoso, a sophomore studying communications in the public relations track at the University of Maryland Honors Program, with a $1,000 student scholarship award, sponsored by PRofessional Solutions, LLC. Cardoso is the daughter of Camille and Vital Cardoso of Baltimore.

The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) is a professional organization that champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era.

The national association has approximately 100 student and professional chapters, of which AWC-DC (www.awcdc.net) is one of the largest and most active.