I know when they read this people are going to point to the Imus incident and Jackson/Sharpton’s criticisms of NBC, particularly Jackson’s. NBC Universal announced that it was promoting Paula Madison to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Diversity…

UPDATE: FTVLive speculates that Madison was kicked upstairs by NBC to get her out of KNBC…

Paula Madison has been named Executive Vice President for Diversity at NBC Universal. The announcement was made today by NBC Universal’s President and CEO Jeff Zucker, to whom Paula will report. This is the first time in the company’s history that a senior executive has had diversity as his or her sole responsibility, and signals Zucker’s commitment to make measurable progress in this area. Madison had previously served as both Executive Vice President, Diversity, and President and General Manager of KNBC and Regional General Manager of KVEA and KWHY. She will continue to serve in these roles until her replacement at the stations is named.

As the leader of NBC Universal’s diversity efforts, Madison will be the liaison between the company and key national and local leaders, and the chief spokesperson on diversity. Within NBC Universal, she will be responsible for working with business executives to make sure the company is an industry leader in developing the programs and culture that will enable the company to better reflect the makeup of its increasingly diverse and global customers, clients, and audiences.

“We are a company wholly committed to diversity and to a culture that stands for respect, tolerance, and inclusiveness,” said Zucker. “As one of our key business imperatives, diversity deserves the attention of a full-time dedicated executive. Paula’s experience, relationships, and understanding of these opportunities make her the right person to drive measurable progress.”

As part of her mandate, Madison will work with NBC Universal’s film, television and studio teams, providing guidance to executives to help them meet the company’s diversity objectives. She will work closely with the newly instituted NBC Universal Diversity Council, which is made up of top executives across all of NBC Universal’s businesses and corporate staff areas. She will continue to be based in Los Angeles.

Madison was named President and General Manager of KNBC in November 2000, becoming the first African American woman to have this role at a network-owned television station in a top five market. She added responsibility for the Telemundo television stations in Los Angeles, KVEA and KWHY, after NBC acquired Telemundo in April 2002. She served as Senior Vice President of Diversity from February 2000 to May 2002, and then as Executive Vice President of Diversity beginning in February 2006.

Madison joined KNBC from WNBC in New York, where she had been the station’s Vice President and News Director since March 1996. She joined WNBC in 1989 as assistant news director. From 1982 to 1989, Madison worked at KHOU-TV in Houston, KOTV-TV in Tulsa, and WFAA-TV in Dallas. After graduating from Vassar College, Madison began her career as reporter and editor at newspapers in New York and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Madison has frequently been recognized for her corporate leadership and community outreach. In 2005, she was named one of the 75 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America by Black Enterprise Magazine. She is also consistently included in the Hollywood Reporter’s “Power 100,” the magazine’s list of most powerful female executives in Hollywood.