The Cronkite Award Luncheon

The annual Cronkite Luncheon has grown into one of the biggest events in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Each year about 1,000 media leaders, business executives, politicians, civic leaders and Cronkite School supporters join Cronkite students and faculty for the presentation of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.

The annual celebration, which includes the induction of distinguished alumni into the Cronkite Alumni Hall of Fame, concludes with the presentation of the award to a leading journalist. Past recipients have included Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Katharine Graham, Bob Woodward, Helen Thomas, Ben Bradlee and George Will.

The event raises important funds that enable the school to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for student use, offer innovative and interactive journalism courses, and bring world-renowned journalists and media experts to campus.

For many years, the luncheon coincided with Walter Cronkite’s annual visit to Arizona State University. In addition to presenting the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, Cronkite has lectured in journalism classes, met with the school's faculty and staff, and attended special receptions and dinners to personally thank the school’s many generous supporters.

Cronkite Award Luncheon attendees greet 2011 honoree Christiane Amanpour.