FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

The top broadcast executives at Chicago’s CBS and NBC affiliates, Joe Ahern and Larry Wert, joined their Italian American colleagues January 27 at the NIAF’s media networking luncheon for American journalists of Italian heritage. The luncheon was underwritten by the Hilton Chicago and held in its Imperial Suite. The event was co-chaired by Vince Gerasole, feature reporter at CBS 2 News andAllison Rosati, news anchor/reporter at NBC Channel 5 News.

Attendees included journalists from the print and electronic media including: WGN-TV, Channel 9; ABC 7 Chicago; Fox News Channel; Fox Chicago and the Chicago Tribune.

Robert Allegrini, NIAF area coordinator and regional director of public relations at the Hilton, greeted the guests and opened the luncheon with an overview of NIAF’s goals and activities. Allegrini was joined by Giacomo Maggiolino, a NIAF scholarship recipient, who is a third year medical student at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine. During the luncheon, Lucia Mauro, a freelance arts writer for the Chicago Tribune, presented her recently –published book “Frieze Frame: Texture & Colors of Italy” containing 50 of her photographs of Italy with original text.

NIAF media events give journalists an opportunity to take a break from their hectic schedules to meet with colleagues and celebrate their shared heritage and culture. The events also introduce the Foundation as the “one-stop” source for information about Italian Americans and issues important to the Italian American community. One issue discussed at the luncheon was the need for more news from Italy including its ranking as the 7th largest economy in the world and having the third largest contingency of troops assisting the coalition in Iraq.

NIAF continues to keep in contact with the media by forwarding its news releases, publications and calendar of events. The communications department recently published a second edition of a directory of Italian Americans in the media throughout the U.S., and correspondents in Italy. Similar media events are planned for San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix in February and New York City in March.

<img alt="(l-r) Joe Ahern, President and General Manager at Chicago’s CBS affiliate WBBM-TV; Allison Rosati, News Anchor/Reporter at NBC Channel 5; and Larry Wert, President and General Manager at Chicago’s NBC affiliate Channel 5, at the NIAF media networking luncheon on Thursday, January 27, at the Hilton Chicago & Towers. " src="
(l-r) Joe Ahern, President and General Manager at Chicago’s CBS affiliate WBBM-TV; Allison Rosati, News Anchor/Reporter at NBC Channel 5; and Larry Wert, President and General Manager at Chicago’s NBC affiliate Channel 5, at the NIAF media networking luncheon on Thursday, January 27, at the Hilton Chicago & Towers.