AN HONOR!

Wow! Last night, I received word that I was re-inducted for my 5th year in the periodical, "Who's Who in America?" pictured above. This is such a wonderful Honor for me. I am humbled more than you know! Further, I am receiving an inclusion in "Who's Who in the World?" This is really quite a surprise. I address this in a one-minute videotaped interview on my REEL Page at http://www.michaelmanning.tv/. Many years ago, in one of her acceptance speeches, Comedienne Carol Burnet once stated extemporaneously, "Well, you know something? We all come into this world wanting to be accepted". As a young kid then, I sort of bookmarked that observation because I knew that later in life it would hold meaning for me no matter what field I chose. I think one of the most wonderful experiences that comes to us daily in life is to feel validated and accepted. Anything less, to quote Steve McQueen ..."is just waiting".

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I stepped away from hard news in 2004 because frankly, I needed a break at the time after a wonderful stint at NBC TV and 12 years before that at ABC and CBS affiliates. Like any other field, change is a constant. Today, so much boils down to who you know. And I don't mean that to sound snarky or ungrateful in any way. In fact, there are some wonderful national producers in the News Magazine format and in Cable Television who have always been "in my corner". We've just never found the right "fit" for me (I mention this in more detail in my REEL Page segment on "When Dreams Come True"--a program that was designed for cable or a 4 minute segment inclusion within an existing TV News Magazine show format that needs a good home). Has it been a perfect life or career without "bumps in the road"? Certainly not. We filmed my unscripted interview during late Winter of last year, when I was not feeling my best and certainly not in peak form. But I chose to push myself forward because I had been battling delays for more than a year and I wanted to "keep it real". I must say that I have no complaints at all. I've been very lucky in my life to have met many interesting film personalities; I've emceed film award shows, charity benefits and more. Today, my time in Arizona is spent quite heavily on physical conditioning four nights a week after work, then practicing guitar with a terrific teacher. Always room to grow! There are always Media projects ahead. The most recent arrives on September 30th with my cover story in Airways magazine coming to Borders Books and Barnes & Nobles bookstores in the U.S. featuring an interview I conducted with an aviation legend in Latin America. lt will be released in the U.S. first, then in the U.K. and worldwide markets by October 7th. All good stuff on the road ahead! That is also my wish for all of you! Take care and...

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See you all on Thursday!

Michael