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Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist to Speak at OU

Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist to Speak at OU

Judy Woodruff will discuss “The Impact of the Presidential Election on America’s Future” at a President’s Associates dinner at OU.

Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent and co-anchor for the PBS “NewsHour,” will discuss “The Impact of the Presidential Election on America’s Future” at a President’s Associates dinner at the University of Oklahoma on Monday, Nov. 12.

Also while she is in Oklahoma, Woodruff will be honored with the 2012 Gaylord Prize for Excellence in Journalism and Mass Communication at a Nov. 12 luncheon at the Oklahoma City Sheraton Hotel. The Gaylord Prize honors a nationally recognized journalism and mass communication professional and is awarded by the OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and is made possible by an endowment established by the Edward L. Gaylord family.

“Judy Woodruff is one of the most highly regarded journalists in our nation,” said OU President David L. Boren. “She is known for her objectivity and keen analysis of contemporary events. She will give all of us a thoughtful look back at the presidential election and a look forward at its potential impact.”

Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. A senior correspondent at the “NewsHour” since 2007, she also regularly co-anchors the program.

During the upcoming presidential election, Woodruff will co-anchor with Gwen Ifill the convention coverage, including daily debriefings live on the “NewsHour” website each morning. This will mark the return of the dual-anchor format established on PBS with Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, and it will be the first time that a broadcast news channel’s election coverage is anchored by two women.
Woodruff also anchors a monthly program for Bloomberg Television, “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.”

In addition, Woodruff has produced several documentaries for PBS, including “Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime” and “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard.”

For 12 years, Woodruff served as anchor and senior correspondent for CNN, anchoring the weekday political program, “Inside Politics.” Woodruff also played a central role in the network’s political coverage and other major news stories.

At PBS from 1983 to 1993, she was the chief Washington correspondent for “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.” From 1984 to 1990, she also anchored PBS’ award-winning weekly documentary series, “Frontline with Judy Woodruff.”

At NBC News, Woodruff served as White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982. In the following year, she served as NBC’s “Today” show chief Washington correspondent. She wrote the book, “This is Judy Woodruff at the White House,” published in 1982.

Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide. She serves on the boards of trustee of the Freedom Forum, the Newseum and the Urban Institute. She also serves as a member of The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

Woodruff is the recent recipient of the Cine Lifetime Achievement award, a Duke Distinguished Alumni award, the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcast Journalism/Television and the University of Southern California Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, among others.

Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita.

Limited seating is available by reservation for OU students, faculty and staff, with overflow seating available to the public. For reservations, more information and accommodations on the basis of disability, please call the OU Office of Public Affairs at (405) 325-3784.