Black PR Wire Power Profiler on Catherine L. Hughes

Hughes' dedication to minority communities, entrepreneurial spirit, and mentoring of women are manifested in every aspect of her work and life. As such, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Area Broadcasters Association and The Seventh Congressional District Humanitarian Award. In 2001, she received the National Association of Broadcasters' Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Advertising Club of Metropolitan Washington's Silver Medal Award. Most recently, Hughes was presented with the highly coveted Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters' Foundation, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and a 2002 Essence Magazine Award.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she moved to Washington, D.C. in 1971 and became a lecturer in the newly established School of Communications at Howard University. She entered radio in 1973 as general sales manager at WHUR, Howard University Radio, increasing station revenue from $250,000 to $3 million in her first year. In 1975, Hughes became the first female vice president and general manager of a station in the nation's capital and created the format known as the "Quiet Storm" -- the most listened to nighttime radio format, heard in over 50 markets nationally. Purchasing her first station in 1980, WOL-AM (D.C.), Cathy Hughes pioneered yet another innovative format -- "24 hour Talk from a Black Perspective." With the theme, "Information is Power," WOL is the most listened to talk radio in the nation's capital.

Radio One's newest venture, TV One, Inc. launched on January 19, 2004 in partnership with Comcast, the nation's largest pay- television provider. TV One caters to the adult lifestyles of African Americans by offering quality programming such as "227", "Good Times", "B. Smith with Style" and an array of original programming. Cathy Hughes sits on the board of TV One, is the Executive Producer of "The Gospel of Music with Jeff Majors", and also host TV One's newest show, "TV One on One".

Cathy Hughes founded Radio One in Washington, D.C., and though it is now a public company, for Cathy Hughes, the foundation of Radio One is still based on the spirit of a family that strives to reach the heart of community and remain the nation's #1 urban radio specialist!