March 28, 2024

Renowned journalist Tom Brokaw to speak at Baker Center

Brokaw (2) Tom Brokaw will be coming to University of Tennessee as the third speaker in the biannual Baker Distinguished Lecture Series Wednesday, Nov. 13 in the Cox auditorium of the Alumni Memorial Building.

“He is an advocate for a media that delves into the issues, checks the facts, and reports likewise. He has made a mark for bringing attention to various issues,” said Nissa Dahlin-Brown, the associate director of the Baker Center.
Currently Brokaw works as a special correspondent for NBC News and works on documentaries for other outlets. He is best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004.

“We don’t always want a politician or somebody in government. We wanted to get somebody outside and the media is a definite interest of Senator Baker,” Dahlin-Brown said.
After the lecture, there will be the BDLS Patrons Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 in the Toyota auditorium in the Baker Center. Senator Baker, Senator Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, along with Brokaw will be attending the luncheon. It is a $150 per person and $1,000 for a table of seven. This is the fundraising portion of the event in order to keep attendance to the lecture series free.

“I hope they come away inspired by what he says and convinced that we just have to keep working and we have to make sure our media is responsible and they report the news and not their opinions and that we keep going,” said Dahlin-Brown.
The event received an overwhelming response and the event had to be moved from its original location. The doors will open at 1 p.m.

The Baker Distinguished Lecture Series began in 2012 by Senator Howard H. Baker Jr. It is a biannual forum that brings in speakers to discuss different issues such as political parties, media, the role of government, societies, and many others. Senator George Mitchell and Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan are two speakers the Baker Center has had in the past.

Edited by Zach Dennis

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