“Anchoring 9/11: The Day and the Decade” on the Season Premiere of The Kalb Report, September 9, 8 p.m.
Charles Gibson, Dan Rather, Brit Hume and Frank Sesno Join Marvin Kalb to Commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Sept. 11 Attacks and Discuss the Decade that Changed the World
Aug 25, 2011
WASHINGTON – On Sept. 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as two towering symbols of American pride and prosperity crumbled to the ground. Now, 10 years later, we ask a daunting question: what have we learned? On the next edition of “The Kalb Report,” moderator Marvin Kalb will delve into the decade that changed the world with the panel of network anchors who covered the chaos. The forum will take place on Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. in the main ballroom of the National Press Club (529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.).
“For years, at crisis time, Americans have received their information from television anchors who have been their ‘first responders,’” said Mr. Kalb. “What the anchors see and say often represents the first impression of the crisis—all subsequent information based on those initial impressions. What did the anchors see and say about 9/11? Were there another 9/11 now, how would it be covered? It will be my pleasure to talk to four of the best anchors in the business on September 9. Can't wait.”
“The Kalb Report” is produced by the GW Global Media Institute in partnership with the National Press Club and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School. For the ninth consecutive season, the series is underwritten by a grant from Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. Since 1994, the partnership has produced 72 forums with guests including Rupert Murdoch, Walter Cronkite, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Bill O’Reilly, Bob Costas, Ken Burns, Roger Ailes and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel. All forums offer open media coverage.
“The world has changed in so many ways since the tragedy of Sept.11 from how we communicate with each other to the way we gather, sort and report our news,” said Michael Freedman, GW professor of media and public affairs and executive producer of “The Kalb Report.” “This forum presents a unique opportunity for our students to hear from those we turned to 10 years ago and get their take on the transformation that has brought us from television to Twitter. Our sincere thanks to Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, an organization that is playing a pivotal role in the education of aspiring journalists—we are deeply appreciative they have once again included ‘The Kalb Report’ among the projects they support.”
“The Kalb Report consistently offers insightful forums on the core values of journalism and the vital role of the press in our democracy,” said Bob Ross, president and CEO of Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. “By reaching students, journalists and the general public, the series serves to educate and enlighten a wide-ranging audience on the importance of maintaining a strong, free press in our free society. We are pleased to have our name associated with such an exemplary program.”
In addition to the underwriting support from Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, the series will be distributed nationally by American Public Television with Oklahoma Educational Television Authority serving as the presenting station. “The Kalb Report” will also air on the public radio channels of Sirius-XM Satellite Radio, and on Federal News Radio in Washington, D.C. (1500 AM). Each program is streamed live online.
Charles Gibson brings more than 40 years of journalistic experience to the table, more than 30 of those at ABC News. Mr. Gibson served as the host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” from 1987 until 2006, and was the anchor of “World News with Charles Gibson” from 2006 to 2009. At “Good Morning America,” Mr. Gibson reported on many of the pivotal events that have shaped our world. Co-anchoring the morning broadcast on Sept. 11, 2001, Mr. Gibson, along with Diane Sawyer, began the network’s award-winning coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Mr. Gibson has received numerous awards over the course of his distinguished career, including the prestigious Paul White Award from the Radio Television News Directors Association, and the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award from Quinnipiac University.
Dan Rather is the anchor and managing editor of the award winning documentary series “Dan Rather Reports” on HDNet. Prior to his current position, Mr. Rather served as anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” from 1981 to 2005, the longest such tenure in broadcast journalism history. Among the landmarks of his 44-year career at CBS was his critically acclaimed live reporting on the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Mr. Rather spent 53 hours and 35 minutes on the air over less than four days beginning the morning of the attacks. Mr. Rather has received virtually every honor in broadcast journalism, including numerous Emmy and Peabody Awards and citations from critical, scholarly, professional and charitable organizations.
Brit Hume has 43 years of journalism experience, and currently serves as a senior political analyst for FOX News Channel (FNC). He is also a regular panelist on FOX’s weekly public affairs program, “FOX News Sunday.” Mr. Hume stepped down as anchor of “Special Report” in December of 2008 after more than 10 years at the helm of the program. Under his leadership, “Special Report” was the highest rated political program on cable television. He was in the anchor chair on Sept. 11, 2001. Mr. Hume has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2003 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism from the National Press Foundation, and a 1991 Emmy Award for his coverage of the Gulf War.
Frank Sesno is the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University, a professor of journalism and host and creator of Planet Forward, a ground-breaking web-to-television program seen on PBS. Mr. Sesno’s diverse career spans over 30 years of experience, including 21 years at CNN where he served as White House correspondent, anchor and Washington bureau chief. On Sept. 11, Mr. Sesno was responsible for coordinating CNN’s Washington coverage and served as the network’s liaison with the White House and the Pentagon. He also provided live reports from Washington. Mr. Sesno has won several prestigious journalistic awards, including an Emmy, several cable ACE awards and an Overseas Press Club Award.
Moderator Marvin Kalb is a Fellow at the George Washington University and Edward R. Murrow Professor Emeritus at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Over the course of his distinguished 30-year career in broadcast journalism, Mr. Kalb served as chief diplomatic correspondent for both CBS News and NBC News, and moderator of “Meet the Press.” He went on to serve as the founding director of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Among his many honors are two Peabody Awards, the DuPont Prize from Columbia University, the 2006 Fourth Estate Award from the National Press Club and more than a half-dozen Overseas Press Club awards. Mr. Kalb has authored or co-authored 12 nonfiction books and two best-selling novels. His latest book, co-authored with his daughter, Deborah, is “Haunting Legacy: Vietnam and the American Presidency from Ford to Obama.”
Executive Producer Michael Freedman is a professor in the GW School of Media and Public Affairs and executive director of the GW Global Media Institute. A 30-year broadcast journalist, network executive, university administrator and professor, Mr. Freedman served as general manager of CBS Radio Network News, managing editor for the broadcast division of United Press International and vice president for communications at George Washington University. Mr. Freedman is the recipient of more than 85 honors for journalistic excellence including 14 Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Producer Heather Date serves as associate director of the GW Global Media Institute. Ms. Date is a former CNN producer and a graduate of the GW School of Media and Public Affairs. She is the recipient of the Alliance for Women in Media’s 2011 Gracie Award for Outstanding Producer of a News Program for her work on “The Kalb Report.”
Lindsay Underwood, a 2011 graduate of the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs, is the associate producer of “The Kalb Report.”
“The Kalb Report” series is directed by Robert Vitarelli, a 39-year CBS News veteran and a Directors Guild of America Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
The George Washington University Global Media Institute explores the evolving roles and responsibilities of the media in our society and the transformation of journalism in the 21st century. In addition to “Kalb Report,” the institute produces the weekly network radio programs “This Just In!” and “GW Presents American Jazz.” The institute is also the administrative home to the POLITICO-George Washington University Battleground Poll.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jill Sankey - 202-994-6466 - jpsankey@gwu.edu
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