John Taylor '80 Honored by Academy of Digital Television Pioneers
April 5, 2004
April 5, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - John I. Taylor, a 1980 graduate of DePauw University, has been honored as the industry leader most influential in advancing digital high-definition television (HDTV). The Academy of Digital Television (DTV) Pioneers awarded its 2003 DTV Industry Leadership Award to Taylor, vice president of public affairs for LG Electronics USA Inc. and for LG's Zenith subsidiary, a long-time DTV leader and primary developer of the U.S. DTV broadcast standard.
The annual DTV Awards are independently bestowed by the Academy for excellence in all aspects of digital content development and delivery, analog-to-digital transition leadership and the promotion of high-definition television (HDTV) products and services. More than half DTV Academy members are individuals outside the consumer electronics industry.
“As one who has been involved in the digital TV transition since before it was digital, I find the current momentum behind HDTV truly amazing and gratifying,” Taylor said. 
“I take special pride in LG's important role in making HDTV a reality today,” he added, thanking his company for the opportunity to participate in the DTV process and praising his many industry colleagues for their cooperation, support and encouragement.
The awards, presented during a special luncheon honoring the DTV Academy, recognized achievements made throughout 2003 in 13 categories, including industry leadership, government leadership, best HDTV programming, and the "People's Choice Award" for the best HDTV program -- the first and only Digital Television Academy Award voted on by the public.
Credited with countless high-profile demonstrations of DTV technology over the years and recognized for driving inter-industry DTV collaboration and consensus,
Taylor has been involved in digital television for 17 years, since Zenith launched its HDTV research efforts in 1987. A charter inductee into the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers, Taylor represents LG Electronics on the board of directors of the Video Division of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and serves as chairman of its HDTV Promotion Committee. He is a director of the ATSC Forum and the Home Recording Rights Coalition.
Previously, he also served as chairman of the CEA Communications Committee, chairman of the public affairs group of the “Digital HDTV Grand Alliance” and promotion chair of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). Taylor co-chaired the joint HDTV promotion efforts between CEA and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and has been active in HDTV activities in conjunction with the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA). He is an associate member of the North American Broadcasters Association and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission.
Taylor has been an LG employee since 1999 when LG Electronics merged with Zenith. He joined Zenith in 1981 and has been the 
company's senior public affairs and communications executive since 1987 and a corporate officer since 1993. A 1980 graduate of DePauw University, Taylor also earned his mater's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in 1981. While at DePauw, Taylor was a Rector Scholar and Pulliam Scholar as well as editor of The DePauw and chair of the Publications Board.
The Academy of Digital Television Pioneers is a select group of 203 individuals who have played a significant role in the decade-long effort to make digital television a reality for consumers. The DTV Academy includes representatives from the broadcasting, program development, consumer electronics industries, as well as present and former government officials and members of the media. The DTV Academy is dedicated to recognizing today's DTV leaders and to continued collaboration on the DTV transition. For more information on the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers, click here.
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