Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw (born
February 6,
1940) is a
television journalist and the
anchorman and managing editor of the
NBC News program
NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. He also hosts, writes and moderates special programs on a wide range of topics, and has received many awards and honors. He has been married to Meredith Lynn Auld since 1962.
Besides writing for television, Brokaw also writes for periodicals and books. He serves on the Howard University School of Communications Board of Visitors and on the boards of trustees of the University of South Dakota, the Norton Simon Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History.
Born in Webster, South Dakota, Brokaw studied political science and worked as a radio reporter at the University of South Dakota from 1958 to 1962. His journalism career began at KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska.
In 1965 he became an editor and anchorman of the late-evening news on WSBA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. The following year he joined NBC News, reporting from California and anchoring for KNBC in Los Angeles. From 1973-1976 he was NBC News' White House correspondent, covering the Watergate scandal.
In 1976 Brokaw became NBC News' Today Show host. He was also the floor reporter for the two major parties' presidential nominating conventions. In 1983 he became the anchor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
In 1987 he wrote The Arms, the Men, the Money, investingating Contra rebels. That same year he conducted the first one-on-one American TV interview with Mikhail Gorbachev, and won an A.I.duPont-Columbia University Award. He also moderated the debates among all declared presidential candidates of both parties.
In 1989 he reported the collapse of the Berlin Wall. From 1992-1993 he anchored The Brokaw Report series of prime-time "critical issues" specials. He was also host, with Katie Couric, of a prime-time news magazine.
In 1995 Brokaw reported from the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. The following year he reported from the scene of the TWA flight 800 tragedy. In 1997 Interviews Charlie Trie and Johnny Chung, key figures in the campaign finance abuse scandal.
In 1999 Brokaw conducted the first North American TV interview with Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, in Moscow. He also traveled to Tirana, Albania during NATO airstrikes in Yugoslavia.
In 2000 he conducted the first American TV interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. He was also Master of Ceremonies at the opening of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Books
- 1998 The Greatest Generation ISBN 0375502025 (hardback) ISBN 0385334621 (paperback) Depicts the Americans who came of age during the Great Depression and fought World War II, and went on to build America.
- 1999 The Greatest Generation Speaks ISBN 0375503943 (hardback) ISBN 0385335385 (paperback)
- 2001 An Album of Memories ISBN 0375505814 (hardback) ISBN 0375760415 (paperback)
- 2002 A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland ISBN 0375507639 (hardback) ISBN 0375759352 (paperback)
Awards
Public and Industry Awards
- Peabody Award for a report called To Be An American
- Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism for Dateline NBC documentary special, Why Can't We Live Together on hidden realities of racial separation in suburban America
- Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism for his interview with Mikhail Gorbachev
- seven Emmy Awards including one for China in Crisis special report
- 1990 National Headliner Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews for advancing the understanding of religion, race and ethnicity.
- 1992 Emmy award for reporting on floods in the Midwest
- 1995 Dennis Kauff Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism from Boston University
- 1995 Lowell Thomas Award from Marist College.
- 1997 University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism
- 1997 inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame
- 1998 Fred Friendly First Amendment Award, a tribute to those "individuals whose broadcast career reflects a consistent devotion to freedom of speech and the principles embodied in the First Amendment."
- 1998 American Legion award for distinguished public service in the field of communication.
- 1998 Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America's President's Award recognizing "devotion to helping young people through scholarships."
- 1999 Congressional Medal of Honor Society's "Tex" McCrary Excellence in Journalism Award
- 1999 Emmy award for international coverage of the Kosovo conflict
Honorary degrees
External Links