Honoring impact and integrity in journalism
Each year, the Cronkite School presents a leading journalist with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, one of journalism’s most prestigious honors. Walter Cronkite himself presented the first award in 1984, and winners join the ranks of David Muir, Anderson Cooper, Robin Roberts, Lester Holt, Judy Woodruff, Gwen Ifill, Tom Brokaw, Al Michaels and Katharine Graham.
Known as one of the most anticipated media events in Phoenix, the Cronkite Award luncheon draws leaders from the worlds of media, business and education to celebrate journalism’s very best and support student success.
Celebrate Wolf Blitzer
The Cronkite School is proud to present the 41st Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism to Wolf Blitzer, anchor of CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” During his 51-year career in journalism, Blitzer has earned a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. DuPont Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, an Emmy Award and more for his outstanding, impactful coverage of international events; on Feb. 4, he’ll add the Cronkite Award to his accolades. Join us!
The Cronkite Award Luncheon, honoring Wolf Blitzer
Feb. 4, 2025, 11:30 a.m.
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
Sponsorship package are available; contact Ruben Olmedo, Ruben.Olmedo@asufoundation.org or 602-496-5142.
Your Impact
Thank you to our sponsors! Your support of the Cronkite Award nurtures the next generation of journalism and media leaders. Each year, more than 70 media outlets, communication agencies and individual industry leaders sponsor the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, bringing meaningful awareness and support to student success initiatives like these:
Scholarships that enable students to complete their education
A journalism contest that recognizes top reporting on underserved communities
Travel support for students to accept awards and report abroad
Community engagement reporting on critical health issues
A visiting professorship that brings professional visual journalists to Cronkite
Election and Olympics coverage opportunities for students
Our 2024 winner
The 40th Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism honored David Muir, anchor and managing editor of “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir” and co-anchor of ABC’s “20/20.” Accepting his award, Muir told Cronkite students: “I’m here to tell you there is no more important path than the one you have chosen in this moment: journalism. A hunger for the truth, the pursuit of storytelling in a time of so much noise out there.”
Past recipients
Recipients of the Cronkite Award (with their positions at the time of the award) include:
2023 David Muir, anchor and managing editor of “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir”
2022 Gayle King, anchor, CBS Mornings
2021 Al Roker, anchor, NBC News’ TODAY
2020 Dean Baquet, executive editor, The New York Times
2019 Lester Holt, anchor, “NBC Nightly News” and “Dateline NBC”
2018 Anderson Cooper, anchor, “Anderson Cooper 360”
2017 Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill, co-anchors and managing editors, “PBS NewsHour”
2016 Scott Pelley, anchor and managing editor, “CBS Evening News”
2014 Robin Roberts, anchor, “Good Morning America”
2013 Bob Schieffer, moderator, “Face the Nation”
2012 Bob Costas, host, “Football Night in America”
2011 Christiane Amanpour, anchor, “This Week with Christiane Amanpour”
2010 Diane Sawyer, anchor, “World News with Diane Sawyer”
2008 Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, longtime PBS news anchors of “The MacNeil/Lehrer Report”
2007 Jane Pauley, former anchor of NBC’s “Today Show” and founding co-host of “Dateline NBC”
2006 Tom Brokaw, former anchor, “NBC Nightly News”
2005 Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist of The Miami Herald
2004 Charles Osgood, host of “The Osgood Files” and “CBS News Sunday Morning”
2003 Andy Rooney, “60 Minutes” correspondent
2002 Al Michaels, sportscaster, ABC Sports
2001 Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Washington Post
2000 Cokie Roberts, ABC News correspondent1999 Tom Johnson, president of CNN
1998 Ben Bradlee, executive editor of The Washington Post
1997 Roone Arledge, chairman of ABC News
1996 Charles Kuralt, former host of “On the Road” and “CBS News Sunday Morning”
1995 Bill Moyers, PBS host and producer
1994 Bernard Shaw, CNN anchor
1993 Helen Thomas, White House bureau chief of United Press International
1992 Don Hewitt, creator and executive producer of “60 Minutes”
1991 George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist and author
1990 Ted Turner, chairman and president of Turner Broadcasting System and founder of CNN
1989 Malcolm Forbes, publisher and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine
1988 Allen H. Neuharth, chairman of Gannett Co. and founder of USA TODAY
1987 Katharine Graham, chairwoman of the board of The Washington Post Co.
1986 Otis Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times
1985 Bill Mauldin, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist
1984 William Paley, founder of CBS, and Frank Stanton, former president of CBS