Hughes, who will be the recipient of McDonald’s 365 Black Award at the upcoming Essence Music Festival, said she hopes to get started on the book before the end of the year.

The media tycoon said her new website, Christian5xTimers.com, played a significant part in her decision to share her story.

“Everyone said, ‘Write about your career in Black radio, but it wasn’t until we launched [the site] that I really felt this need,” Hughes said. Christian5xTimers seeks to enjoin Christian believers to pray for peace for a minimum of five times a day.

“[I] realized praying five times a day has opened my eyes to the fact that maybe I do have information that I need to share in writing.”

In 1980, Hughes started Radio One in Washington with only one station. Today, Radio One owns 53 stations in 16 cities. The company, which owns TV One and Interactive One, partnered with Joyner’s Reach Media, becoming one of the leading African-American media companies in the country.

On air, Hughes venerated the partnership’s precedence in media and Black culture.

“For Reach Media and Radio One to form a partnership was very significant in Black History, period, but totally a defining moment in Black radio,” she said. “Future students of the communications industry will study the merger between [these two companies].”

Hughes will be honored on the Essence Music Festival stage alongside Mary J. Blige, Ruby Dee and NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous.

*NewsOne is also owned by Radio One.

Listen To Audio On RnBPhilly.com

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Cathy Hughes Speaks On Images Of Black Women In Film

From our sister site HelloBeautiful.Com

Radio One CEO/Founder Cathy Hughes has been named #2 in an impressive lineup of 30 Black women in media. Congratulations also goes out to the following from our Radio One family: 93.9 WKYS program director Neke Howse, Majic 102.3 and Praise 104.1 program director Jamillah Muhammad and the rest of our Radio One family who made Radio Fact’s Top 30 Black Women in Media list. Other heavy hitters on the list included, Oprah Winfrey, Wendy Williams, Sylvia Rhone and Soledad O’Brien.

Click here to view the entire list

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In this exclusive video for NewsOne, Radio One founder Cathy Hughes (who is the daughter of original Sweethearts band member Helen Jones Woods) discusses the legacy of these “freedom riders and freedom fighters,” and even reveals that Beyoncé found inspiration in their example:

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First female interracial band celebrated at Smithsonian

WASHINGTON, DC — The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, America’s first all-female racially-integrated band, are being interviewed onstage today at the Smithsonian Institution from 11 a.m. to noon ET as part of the launch of the museum’s Jazz Appreciation Month.

In this onstage conversation (and webcast), members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm discuss the history of women in jazz and the legacy of the Sweethearts. Moderated by Frank Alkyer (publisher, Down Beat and Music, Inc.) and David Baker (maestro, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra).

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Return to NewsOne over the next few days to see more behind-the-scenes of this historic event.

Click on the video below to begin watching:

Video streaming by Ustream

This week the Smithsonian Institution celebrates the Sweethearts’ legacy as part of the launch of the museum’s Jazz Appreciation Month.

ALSO: Why Is Race Still A Factor When It Comes To Dating?

The Sweeethearts’ exhibit will be on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC from March 25 to May 31. Members of the Sweethearts, which included Black, white, Latino and Asian women, will participate in several events on March 29 and 30 at the museum. Radio One founder Cathy Hughes, whose mother Helen Jones Woods was an original band member, will also be a participant [NewsOne is a division of Radio One]:

Hughes, the Piney Woods School and Roz Cron (she had the largest collection) will participate in a “Donation Ceremony” to highlight their collection.  And then Ms. Hughes will facilitate an brief (10 minute) onstage discussion with six of the original Sweethearts who will participate in programming at the Smithsonian:  They are Helen Jones Woods (trombonist), Ms. Hughes’ mother; Willie Mae Wong Scott (saxophonist), the child of a Chinese father and mixed race Native American mother, she grew up on Mississippi in 1920s; Sadye Pankey Moore (trumpeter), African American; Johnnie Mae Rice Graham (pianist), African American; Lillie Keeler Sims (trombone), African American woman who played with the Sweethearts their first year but later served as an educator and administrator in the NYC school system 40 years;  and Roz Cron, one of the first white woman to join the band. On March 30th, the Sweethearts and Cathy Hughes will participate in a 60 minute discussion on the Sweetheart’s legacy that will be webcast via UStream.

NewsOne will provide continuing coverage and a deeper look into the Sweethearts’ history in the coming week.

ALSO: Are You Really Pursuing The Right Goals?

Photo courtesy of Michael Buchner/Getty Images

Mayor of Baltimore City Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has proclaimed October 26, 2010 “Cathy Hughes Day” in Baltimore City.

Mayor Blake called into WOLB 1010AM’s Larry Young Morning Show this morning to declare the official proclamation. The Mayor said that Hughes’ continued success over the years throughout 53 radio stations nationwide in 16 urban markets has provided growth within the African-American community.

Cathy Hughes responds to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s proclamation.

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Radio One and Radio One Baltimore is celebrating our 30th anniversary by completing 30 consecutive days of community service.

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The Links honored Radio One Founder & Chairperson Cathy Hughes and Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN. The organization also honored Dr. Dorothy Height, the civil rights icon who died April 20. Dr. Height, chair and president emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, was to have received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Check out our gallery of Black entrepreneurs:

This year, the organization is the founding sponsor for the Focus: Hope Family Learning Center, which will provide computer training, tutoring, assistance with homework, ongoing financial workshops, and a credit union.

In a press release, Focus: HOPE co-founder Eleanor Josaitis called the Family Learning Center a dream come true.

“Our community needs access to resources that many of us take for granted,” she said.

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Radio One Founder, Cathy Hughes, Receives Humanitarian Award

PREVIEW: Cathy Hughes Interviews Farrakhan

Last month, TV One’s Cathy Hughes did an exclusive one-on-one interview with the renowned and controversial Minister Louis Farrakhan. In case you missed the critically acclaimed TV One on One special the first time, TV One is giving you several more chances to watch. Catch the interview Sunday, June 13th at 10pm and 3am, or Sunday, June 20th at 2:30pm.

Check out a preview of the two-hour special:

Text continues after gallery …

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Check out this exclusive preview of Cathy Hughes’ exclusive TV One on One interview with Minister Louis Farrakhan, which re-airs Sunday, June 13 at 3AM and 10PM (ET) and Sunday, June 20 at 2:30PM on TV One:

On Sunday, an historic episode of TV One-On-One with Cathy Hughes will debut a two-hour special with Min. Louis Farrakhan at 9pm EST. The controversial leader of the Nation of Islam sat down with the Radio One founder and chairwoman to discuss a full range of topics from the state of black leadership and the maintenance of African-American culture, to interracial marriage and President Barack Obama.

“There is a drain of black genius,” Ms. Hughes says. “The passing of Dr. Dorothy Height reminded me that our elders are dying, and I am not confident that we have done enough to document their thinking.

“Whether you love him or hate him, Min. Farrakhan is one of the great thinkers and orators of our time.  It is anti-intellectual not to hear what someone with a gift has to say. If you’re not a member of the Nation, or don’t buy his tapes or videos, you don’t get to really hear this man.”

For the first time ever, Reverend Farrakhan allowed cameras into his private home, a grand and idyllic farmhouse far away from the Chicago headquarters of the Nation.

“This is not an interview, this is more a conversation. I wanted to have a conversation with a man named Louis.”

Ms. Hughes first interviewed Min. Farrakhan over thirty years ago, shortly after he took over the Nation of Islam. She worked for three years to solicit the 79-year-old leader’s approval on this inspired sit-down.

“Min. Farrakhan never mastered the art of controlling his media coverage, and he has often been a victim of soundbites slanted to make him controversial.  But Min. Farrakhan is truly a teacher and this piece is consistent with what I’ve tried to do throughout my media career, and that is to provide a voice for the members of the African-American community, whether you’re a leader or a listener or a viewer,” says Ms. Hughes.

TV ONE will air the special this Sunday at 9p with re-runs expected throughout the year.

Text continues after gallery …

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Farrakhan Says “Don’t Be Pacified By Obama Election”

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From WashingtonPost.com:

The Lanham company said it earned $14.2 million (25 cents a share) in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $266.1 million ($2.81) a year earlier. The results for the year-ago period were affected by a one-time write-down of $337.9 million on the value of its broadcasting licenses.

Shares of Radio One jumped more than 27 percent on the news, gaining 39 cents to close at $1.83.

“It’s a pretty decent result,” said industry analyst Mark R. Fratrik of BIA Financial. “They are moving in the right direction. But like every other radio company, there are both long-term and short-term challenges.”

Founded in 1980, Radio One owns and operates 53 radio stations across the United States aimed at African American and urban listeners. The company has struggled in recent years, and the recession has magnified its difficulties.

However, this summer, Radio One ended a six-quarter losing streak by reporting a $7.2 million profit for the April-through-June period, as it reduced operating expenses.

Click here to read more.

[Disclosure: NewsOne.com is part of the Interactive One family of websites, which are owned by parent company Radio One.]

Radio One, Inc. Founder & Chairperson, Cathy Hughes received the Kappa Alpha Psi Humanitarian Award along with President Barack Obama, Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), and Dr. Ian Smith at the Kappa Annual Convention in Washington, DC on August 4, 2009.

It was standing room only in the main ballroom of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in the Nation’s Capital with over 5000 Grand Kappa Fraternity Brothers and their Sweethearts and fellow Pan Hellenic Members for the opening session of the largest annual convention in Kappa Alpha Psi history. Opening night ceremonies provided the occasion for the awarding of the highest honors that the 98-year old Fraternity bestows.

The Laurel Wreath Awards, which are the highest honor for the members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, this year, were awarded to Dr. Carl Anderson, Ralph J. Bryson, Nathaniel R. Jones and Thomas A. Moorehead. Humanitarian Awards (the highest honor for non-members) were bestowed upon President Barack Ohama, Senator Mary Landrieu, Dr. Ian Smith and Cathy Hughes. The President came to the convention to personally receive his Humanitarian Award from the Kappas. Also in attendance at the convention was the Kappa Mayor of Washington, DC, Adrian Fenty and the current Kappa members of Congress, Alcee Hastings, Lacy Clay, Sanford Bishop, and John Conyers and former Kappa members of Congress, Representative Walter Fauntroy and Louis Stokes.
In accepting her Humanitarian Award from Kappa Alpha Psi, Cathy Hughes thanked the Fraternity for their ongoing support of the Piney Woods School. The 100-year old school in Piney Woods, Mississippi was the recipient of a $1 million dollar contribution from Kappa Alpha Psi during their fundraiser on August 6, 2009. The Founder of the school, Dr. Laurence C. Jones, was one of the very first African American college graduates in this country and one of the early members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is the maternal grandfather of Cathy Hughes. The presentation to Piney Woods School was made by Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray who noted that the four presidents of Piney Woods School have all been Kappa Alpha Psi active members. Cathy Hughes credited much of her success to the Kappa men whom she “had been blessed to have in her life.” She also expressed her gratitude to the Fraternity for including her in the distinguished company of the President of the United States, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, and Dr. Ian Smith of the 50 Million Pound Challenge.

The evening’s Award presentations were spectacularly handled by Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray, Executive Director/COO Richard Lee Snow and National Committee Chairman Kevin J. Johnson. The evening’s Public Meeting was perfectly staged with dramatic sound, light and video effects. Live performances included the vocal artistry of Kappa Brother Jonathan Hicks and comic great Cheryl Underwood brought the house down when she protested her two minute limit on remarks as the International Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta, proclaiming that “there is nothing a Zeta sister can do with a Kappa brother in two minutes” and then demanded that they “reset the clock,” which they graciously did. However, when other speakers started to run “well” over their allotted time – Academy Awards sounding music started to play softly in the background and the audience loved the reactions of the speakers who sometimes just as graciously ignored it.

Cathy Hughes described her view from the stage of the Public Meeting as “a sea of strong, brilliant, committed, college educated, good looking black men, from all walks of life, nattily attired in varying shades of Crimson and Cream with creases in their trousers and a shine on their shoes that paled in comparison to the illuminating smiles on their faces.” “Awesome is the right description of the entire Kappa Convention,” she went on to add.