For decades, television journalist Judy Woodruff has watched the face of media and politics change.
An industry that once had a stronghold on its audience now is struggling to keep up with emerging technologies, and the cordial days of politicians working together instead of against one another seem to be over, she said.
The senior correspondent and co-anchor of "PBS NewsHour" came to Chattanooga on Wednesday to speak at the inaugural Be More Awards luncheon, hosted by local PBS affiliate station WTCI-TV. During her address, she focused on how politics in the United States has developed into a "take-no-prisoners style."
"We seem to be in the worst gridlock that we've ever been in in my 33 years in Washington," she said. "The two political parties just don't work together anymore. It's like two enemies facing each other across the battlefield, and I don't think that's the best way to get things done for the American people."
Since the early 1990s, Ms. Woodruff has noticed shifting attitudes and behaviors in the nation's capital. Dinner meetings, family outings and casual hallway conversations once regularly crossed party lines, she said, but now there is a stark divide.
"If you stray from the party line, you're not just seen as disloyal, you're sometimes painted as a traitor to the cause," Ms. Woodruff told the crowd of more than 400. "The party has taken on a much bigger importance, even I would argue, than country in some instances -- and I don't underestimate
how serious a statement that is."
Ms. Woodruff said WTCI's work as a PBS affiliate and the opportunity to recognize local nonprofit organizations' efforts led her to take two days from her busy schedule at "NewsHour" for Wednesday's event.
LIST OF WINNERSBe More ... Collaborative: Partnership Award -- Children's Advocacy Center of Hamilton CountyBe More ... Creative: Innovation Award -- Orange Grove Center, Inc.Be More ... Impactful: Local Service Award -- Blood AssuranceBe More ... Enriched: Educational Outreach Award -- Ballet TennesseeBe More ... Courageous: Individual Leadership Award -- Jack FishBe More ... Engaging: People's Choice Award -- Blood Assurance
At the luncheon, WTCI recognized nonprofit organizations across the area in six award categories, including partnership, innovation, local service, educational outreach, individual leadership and people's choice. More than 3,800 people voted online to choose the group they felt best represented a community connection, said WTCI spokeswoman Jennifer Hoff.
The winner of that award, regional blood center Blood Assurance, also received the local service award recognizing the organization responding to a recognized community need.
Lacey Wilson, spokeswoman for the organization, said the amount of people it takes to collect and distribute blood to more than 2,000 patients sets Blood Assurance apart from other nonprofit groups in Chattanooga.
"I think it's the fact that we're able to make that connection and keep them coming back," she said. "We never expected to win, because we're in such great company, and all the other organizations are so deserving, too. It kind of reminds you of how important the nonprofit sector is in a community."