Brian Williams to Receive Cronkite Award

By Chris Ariens 

Brian Williams has been named this year’s recipient of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Williams will receive the 26th Cronkite Award from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at a ceremony Nov. 18.

Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan called Williams “a great journalist who covers the news with depth and understanding in the best tradition of Walter Cronkite.”

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“As someone who grew up idolizing Walter and having come to know him in adult life, I know that there is no greater name in our profession,” Williams said. “I only hope I am worthy of the meaning and tradition of this honor. Walter Cronkite is the only reason I entered the field of television journalism.”

Previous Cronkite Award recipients include Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Katharine Graham, Bob Woodward, Al Neuharth and Ted Turner.

Just last month, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric won another award named for Cronkite – the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism from USC’s Annenberg School.

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