NEWSROOM Actress Margaret Judson to Host 37th Annual Mid-America EMMY Awards

Judson stars alongside Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterson and Emily Mortimer in the freshman HBO show from Executive Producer Aaron Sorkin. She plays associate producer Tess Westin. Judson was hand-picked by Sorkin for the role, her first as an actress. Judson consulted with Sorkin on research for the pilot and the first season of the series. She began her career in broadcasting at NBC where she started as a Page and worked with BrIan Williams, Lorne Michaels and Jimmy Fallon. Before leaving for HBO, Judson was a research assistant at MSNBC working with Keith Olbermann on the news show "Countdown."

"It is an honor to have an actress with Margaret Judson's credentials as our host this fall," said NATAS Mid-America Chapter President Angie Weidinger. "Her experience from one of the largest cable newsrooms in the world to the set of a hit TV drama is incredibly unique. She will add a dynamic perspective to this year's gala."

Judson has a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated in 2008.

"I have a unique outlook on the TV industry, having worked for MSNBC and now acting on a fictional TV drama for HBO," said Judson. "There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into the news every single day. The Emmy Awards Gala is an opportunity to honor the work of the best of the best. I look forward to the opportunity to come to St. Louis and host the show."

The 2013 Mid-America EMMY Awards will be held Saturday, October 5, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis. The black-tie affair is open to the public. A limited number of gala tickets are now on sale for $125, including dinner. They are exclusively available by calling (314) 533-2993.

The Mid-America chapter of NATAS includes television markets primarily in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and surrounding DMAs.

About NATAS Mid-America Chapter:
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted EMMY Award. For more information visit www.emmymid-america.org. You can also follow @EMMYMidAm on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.