FOX News Channel entertainment producer Ashley Dvorkin was presented the 2011 CMA Media Achievement Award backstage in the media center during the "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" by CMA Board member and industry publicist Jessie Schmidt.
"It is such an honor to receive this Award from the CMA member publicists," said Dvorkin. "Thank you to everyone involved. It's a true pleasure to work with you, and I'm very proud to be part of this Country Music community."
"Ashley has proven what a valuable asset she is to Country Music and its artists in the past few years," said Schmidt. "She's always eager to work out great story angles, whether it's with a proven artist or a brand new act. She is certainly a pro and one of the most-well prepared interviewers I've ever encountered."
Dvorkin is the entertainment producer for FOX News Channel and FOX News Edge (the FOX affiliate feed); and both host and producer of FOX 411 Country. She was raised in Saddle River, NJ, and attended Northern Highlands High School in nearby Allendale. After graduating from Penn State University with a major in telecommunications, she worked for a few months as a music publicist before becoming a production assistant at FOX News Channel. Through the years, she moved up the network ranks as a writer, guest booker, and segment producer. In 2006, Dvorkin was promoted to field producer for entertainment stories.
In her current role, she covers the entire field of entertainment from music to movies, hosting segments for FOXnews.com including the live-streaming show, "FOX 411 Live." Earlier this year, Dvorkin helped create FOX 411 Country, a section on FOXnews.com devoted exclusively to Country Music news. Every week, she produces and hosts a Country Music news round-up that is posted on FOX 411 Country and distributed through the FOX affiliate feed. In addition, she regularly posts features on Country artists at all career levels, music profile pieces, and event coverage. She is a regular presence on the CMA Awards red carpet and in the media areas at CMA Music Festival.
The CMA Media Achievement Award was established to recognize outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music. Print and Internet journalists, columnists, authors, and editors; television writers, producers and bookers; and syndicated radio reporters are eligible to win this award.
CMA member publicists nominate media candidates for consideration. The top five nominees are collected and sent to the publicist panel for a second round of voting. The overall winner is presented to the Awards and Recognition Committee and then approved by the CMA Board of Directors.
Past winners of the Media Achievement Award include:
1982 Jack Hurst
1983 Neil Hickey
1984 Dolly Carlisle
1985 Red O'Donnell
1986 No Award
1987 David Zimmerman
1988 Robert K. Oermann
1989 Bob Claypool
1990 Dick Heard
1991 No Award
1992 Mark McEwen
1993 Lynn Lester
1994 Judy Massa
1995 Clay Smith
1996 Tisi Aylward
1997 Jay Orr
1998 Chet Flippo
1999 Hazel Smith
2000 Neil Pond
2001 Harry Chapman
2002 Jim Patterson
2003 Denise Quan
2004 Alanna Nash
2005 Mark Bracco
2006 Donna Hughes
2007 Storme Warren
2008 Monica Escobedo
2009 Cynthia Sanz
2010 Beville Darden