Edward R. Murrow Symposium, 2003

AS AMERICANS WATCHED live coverage of America’s war on Iraq, a panel of representatives from major international news agencies and the state department gathered for the 29th Edward R. Murrow Symposium to discuss the challenges of embedded journalism and difficulties facing the U.S. government in providing access and information without compromising security.

Prior to the panel discussion, Bryan Gruley, a friend and former co-worker of journalist Daniel Pearl, accepted the Murrow Award for Distinguished Achievement in Journalism on behalf of Pearl’s family. Pearl, chief reporter in the Wall Street Journal’s South Asia Bureau, was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan, in January 2002 while tracking down leads connected to a story on terrorism. A few weeks later came news of Pearl’s brutal execution by his abductors.

Edward R. Murrow Symposium, 2004: Preview

PETER JENNINGS, anchor and senior editor of ABC News’ “World News Tonight,” will visit Washington State University’s Pullman campus April 14 to accept the Edward R. Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting.

“There are strong similarities between the commitment and dedication of Edward R. Murrow and Peter Jennings,” said Alexis Tan, director of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at WSU. “Our faculty believes the journalistic standards Peter Jennings has exhibited throughout his career are the very qualities we try to instill in our students and the attributes we celebrate with the Murrow Award.”

Edward R. Murrow, a 1930 graduate of Washington State College (now Washington State University), is regarded as broadcasting’s most illustrious journalist. His reporting work for CBS during World War II is credited with making broadcast journalism respectable, courageous, and sincere. Many journalists credit Murrow with establishing the standards to which broadcast professionals still aspire.

The Edward R. Murrow Symposium began more than 30 years ago as a panel discussion and lecture series that attracted well-known communication professionals. In the 1990s, the Murrow School faculty began to recognize the achievements of top communication leaders by honoring them with Edward R. Murrow Awards for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Lifetime Achievement in Journalism; Achievement in International and Intercultural Communication; and Distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting. These awards have been presented to a select few whose careers have demonstrated the standard of excellence set by Murrow. Previous award winners include: Daniel Pearl (2003), Distinguished Achievement in Journalism; Sir Howard Stringer (2002), Achievement in International and Intercultural Communication; Daniel Schorr (2002), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Christiane Amanpour (2002), Distinguished Achievement in Broadcasting; Bernard Shaw (2001), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Ted Turner (2000), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Keith Jackson (1999), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Al Neuharth (1999), Lifetime Achievement in Journalism; Walter Cronkite (1998), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting; Frank Blethen (1998), Lifetime Achievement in Journalism; and Sam Donaldson (1997), Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting.

“This University, through the Edward R. Murrow Symposium and numerous other programs and events, has a reputation for celebrating excellence,” said V. Lane Rawlins, president of Washington State University. “Most people know by now that we strive for world-class quality and involvement for our students. What could possibly be a better example of that than our students learning from Peter Jennings?”

Jennings joined ABC News in 1964 and has covered the biggest national and international stories, including reports from every European nation formerly behind the Iron Curtain. He served as chief foreign correspondent for ABC News and as the foreign desk anchor for “World News Tonight.” He was the network’s bureau chief in Beirut, Lebanon, for seven years. Jennings was named anchor and senior editor of “World News Tonight” in 1983, with responsibilities that include breaking news, election coverage, and special events.

Jennings will accept the Murrow Award April 14 in a 7:30 p.m. presentation at Beasley Coliseum. The event is free and open to the public. The symposium also includes a Career Day, which gives students and prospective students a chance to connect with industry professionals. Prior to the public award presentation, there is a private celebration of academic excellence at a scholarship award dinner. For more information on the symposium, visit www.wsu.edu/murrow.