Schurz Communications president Marci Burdick was presented with the First Amendment Service Award at RTDNF’s 22nd annual First Amendment Dinner and Awards in Washington, DC last night.

In her speech, Burdick, who is a former news director of Springfield’s KYTV, praised local television, saying stations’ contributions to local communities “should not be overlooked.”

“On this dais tonight, I consider myself the representative of local television,” she said. “I am thankful to accept the First Amendment Service award in honor of those men and women who do this work everyday.”

Shurz Communications is the owner of 13 local stations in nine markets. Burdick was introduced by Jeffrey Marks, general manager of Roanoake’s WDBJ.

For more on the awards dinner, visit TVNewser.