She’s interviewed kings, dictators and communist leaders. She’s reported from global hot spots and won an enviable list of journalism awards and honors.
She’s Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, who has been recently covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. Amanpour will visit Washington State University on Thursday, May 23, to accept the 2002 Award for Distinguished Achievement in Broadcast Journalism from the Murrow School of Communication.
The presentation is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Bryan Hall Auditorium, three and a half hours after the Murrow Addition groundbreaking. Following her award presentation, Amanpour will speak and answer questions.
Amanpour, whose office is based in London, has worked in many of the world’s most tense regions since the 1990s. Her most recent assignments include Israel, Palestine, Iran, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Algeria and Rwanda.
Amanpour earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island, graduating summa cum laude.
Her assignments have included exclusive interviews with a broad variety of world leaders:
• Iranian President Mohammed Khatami.
• Mikhail Gorbachev (Nov. 1999) for the 10th anniversary of the fall of communism.
• Jordan’s new monarch, King Abdullah (May 1999).
• King Hussein of Jordan, days before his death.
• Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf (Sept. 2001) regarding his country’s tense position after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
For her reporting from the former Yugoslavia, Amanpour received a News and Documentary Emmy Award, two George Foster Peabody Awards, a George Polk Award, a Courage in Journalism Award, a Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival Gold Award and the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. She also was named 1994 Woman of the Year by the New York Chapter of Women in Cable and Telecommunications. Recently, Amanpour was named a Fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists. This honor recognizes significant contributions to journalism. She also has worked in CNN’s New York and Frankfurt bureaus. She is also a contributor to CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
Amanpour began her CNN career in 1983 as an assistant on CNN’s international assignment desk in Atlanta. Before joining CNN, she worked at WJAR-TV, Providence, R.I., as an electronic graphics designer. From 1981 – 1982, she worked as a reporter, anchor and producer for WBRU-Radio, also in Providence.
Daniel Schorr, senior news analyst for National Public Radio, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award in April from the Murrow School of Communication. This is the first year both awards have been given. Recipients exemplify the kind of professionalism, integrity and courage exhibited by Murrow, one of WSU’s most distinguished alumni.
Those who are unable to attend Amanpour#s presentation will be able to view it live and later via the Internet. The event will be available at experience.wsu.edu. Simply type “Amanpour” in the video search box.
