Ella Fitzgerald and Al Jarreau in Ford Freedom Award Special Airing Saturday, May 21, on WXYZ-TV

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 16, 2005 -- WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 will present a half-hour special honoring the 2005 Ford Freedom Award recipients, the late "First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald and musical song stylist Al Jarreau. "Ford Freedom Awards: The Songstress and The Stylist" airs Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7. An encore presentation will air on Sunday, June 5th at 12:30 p.m.

Hosted by WXYZ-TV Editorial and Public Affairs Director Chuck Stokes, the special features interviews with educators, musicians and close associates of the late Ella Fitzgerald and Al Jarreau. Stokes traveled to Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C., to profile the individual story of each honoree. The interviews include Ray Brown, Jr. (Ella Fitzgerald's son), Keter Betts (Ella Fitzgerald's bass player of 23 years), Kem (Recording Artist), Skitch Henderson (Founder and Director of the New York Pops), and singer Patti Austin.

The Ford Freedom Award was launched in February 1999 to recognize, posthumously, distinguished individuals whose contributions have made a significant impact on improving the African American community and the world at large. The 2005 Ford Freedom Award honors Ella Fitzgerald for her distinctive voice in the field of jazz, blues and orchestra music and her influence on African Americans with musical talents, including the late Edward K. "Duke" Ellington.

This year's award program includes a lecture by the Ford Freedom Scholar, an individual who has excelled on a national or international level in the field of the Freedom Award recipient. This year, the Ford Freedom Scholar is Al Jarreau. The award program includes an in-depth interview and lecture by Mr. Jarreau, an innovative performer and Grammy Award winner in three different categories (Jazz, Pop, and R&B).

This year's Ford Freedom Award celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at 6 p.m. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Tickets to the event are available by calling (313) 494-5885.

WXYZ-TV's telecast is produced in cooperation with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Ford Motor Company. Previous Ford Freedom Award specials have been honored with prestigious broadcast awards, including an Emmy and Best Documentary from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

WXYZ is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company , a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks, interactive media and television retailing. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations and six national television brands, including Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY Network, FINE LIVING, Shop At Home and GAC-Great American Country. Scripps also operates Scripps Howard News Service and United Media, the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT, and 31 websites, including HGTV.com, foodnetwork.com, diynetwork.com, fineliving.com and comics.com.