Tom Brokaw (original) (raw)

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

Awards

Public and Industry Awards

Honorary degrees