Journalist Marilyn Berger to speak, sign books

Berger

PULLMAN, Wash. – Acclaimed print and broadcast journalist Marilyn Berger will present “Adventures and Escapades, A Life in Journalism and Beyond,” the 2012 Charlotte Friel Memorial Communication Lecture, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, in Communication Addition (CADD) 21 at Washington State University Pullman.

The free, public event will feature a book signing at 4:30 p.m. and follow with a reception.

With more than 40 years as a newspaper and television reporter, Berger will be honored for her achievements. She is a contributing writer for The New York Times and recently published “This Is a Soul,” documenting the inspirational journey of humanitarian aid worker Dr. Rick Hodes.

Berger has been a diplomatic correspondent for Newsday and The Washington Post, United Nations correspondent for ABC News, and White House correspondent for NBC News. She was a moderator for the public affairs program, “The Advocates,” and anchored PBS-affiliated WNET’s “City Edition.” Her articles have been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker and New York Magazine.

She is the widow of television journalism pioneer Don Hewitt and has donated his extensive memorabilia to The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at WSU.

The biannual Charlotte Friel Memorial Communication Lecture is named after a WSU alumna and Pullman native. Friel was a manager of research administration for the CBS Corporate Affairs staff with oversight for research on speeches and articles for CBS management and publications.

She joined CBS in 1954 and worked at the broadcast company until her death in 1971 from Hodgkin’s disease. Before working at CBS, Friel was director of the Olympia High School Department of Broadcasting and Drama. She graduated in 1951 from WSU.

Friel’s parents, Jack and Catherine Friel, established an endowed lecture in 1973 in her honor to focus on trends in the media.

Berger’s lecture will be the first night of The Edward R. Murrow Symposium Communicators Summit, which will include three days of seminars, workshops and events Tuesday-Thursday, April 3-5. The event is sponsored by The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and hosted by The Association for Women in Communications-WSU Chapter.

Contacts:
Tallie Mattson, Association for Women in Communications, tallie.mattson@email.wsu.edu
Roberta Kelly, Murrow College of Communication, rkelly@wsu.edu