NEW YORK: The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) has awarded CNN four Gracie Allen awards. It has recognised senior international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and anchor Connie Chung as individual achievement winners along with CNN Productions and Larry King Live for programming excellence. The felicitation takes place at the 28th annual gala to be held on 17 April in New York City at the New York Hilton Hotel.

 
Amanpour won in the Best Reporter/Correspondent category while Chung won in the Anchor/News Magazine category for her June 2002 interview with Luciano Pavarotti in which the opera icon discussed for the first time his retirement plans.

Larry King Live won in the Programming/Information Talk Show category for host Larry King's July 2002 interview with former Texas first lady Nellie Connally. The foundation also honored CNN Productions' People in the News in the News Documentary/30 minutes or less category for its February 2002 profile of US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

AWRT is a US nonprofit organisation that extends membership to qualified professional women and men, in the electronic media and allied fields. AWRT's mission is to advance the impact of women in the electronic media and allied fields by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry. Founded in 1951, AWRT has worked to improve the quality of the electronic media; to promote the entry, development and advancement of women in the electronic media and allied fields; to serve as a medium of communication and idea exchange; and to become involved in community concerns.