NBCs Tom Brokaw to speak at The University of South Dakota
Brokaw, a native of Yankton, S.D., and a 1964 graduate of The University of South Dakota, will deliver an address at the Al Neuharth Media Center at 10 a.m. entitled, "Campaigns, Citizens, Challenges." This event is free and open to the public; however, limited seating is available.
One of the most respected figures in broadcast journalism, Brokaw has distinguished himself as a political reporter, news anchor and best-selling author. As anchor and managing editor of "NBC Nightly News" for 21 years, Brokaw received numerous honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and he was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Association of the U.S. Army honored him with their highest award, the George Catlett Marshall Medal, first ever to a journalist; and he was the recipient of the West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award, in recognition of devoted service to bringing exclusive interviews and stories to public attention. His insight, ability and integrity have earned him a dozen Emmys and two Peabody and duPont awards for his journalistic achievements.
The best selling author of "The Greatest Generation" (1998), "The Greatest Generation Speaks" (1999), "An Album of Memories" (2001), "A Long Way from Home" (2002) and "BOOM! Voices of the Sixties," Brokaw began his journalism career in 1962 at KMTV in Omaha, Neb. He anchored the late evening news on Atlanta's WSB-TV in 1965 before joining KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Brokaw was hired by NBC News in 1966 and from 1976-1981 he anchored NBC News' "Today" program. He has interviewed every president since Lyndon Baines Johnson and has covered every presidential election since 1968. Brokaw was NBC's White House correspondent during the national trauma of Watergate (1973-1976). Brokaw has served as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press" since June. He will hold this position through the 2008 presidential election as well as continue to report as a special correspondent for NBC News. A photograph of Brokaw is available for download at www.usd.edu/urelations/images/Tom_Brokaw.jpg.
For more information about this event, please contact the Department of Political Science at The U by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (605) 677-5242.