Katie Couric, a former anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News,” co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show and Yahoo Global News Anchor, kicked off Lehigh’s 2024-2025 Compelling Perspectives series September 17 at Baker Hall in Zoellner Arts Center. For nearly 45 minutes, Couric discussed a range of topics with President Joseph J. Helble ’82, including her advocacy and work in cancer research, the role of media today, the use of generative AI in journalism and fact-checking in reporting. The last 15 minutes of the event was reserved for questions from the audience. Couric, the first of three speakers slated for the Compelling Perspectives series this academic year, also held a question and answer session with students prior to the event. Among the questions Helble asked Couric, one inquired how journalists balance the need for fact-based reporting while not being seen as “presenting a particular political point of view.” Couric referenced interviewing former presidents and said she always wanted to have a strong policy debate, but what’s difficult today is when falsehoods are perpetuated. Couric’s appearance marked her second visit to campus. The first came in 1999 when she was the speaker at Lehigh’s 131st Commencement ceremonies. Helble opened this discussion by mentioning her speech, and Couric fondly recounted her time in Bethlehem. She shared that she gave the speech—her first Commencement address—thanks to the persistence of a number of Lehigh students who repeatedly visited the plaza outside the “Today” show studio with signs asking her to speak at their graduation. Couric even brought along the honorary degree presented to her during the Commencement ceremony, which she recently found while cleaning her office. Before Helble invited audience members to ask questions, he closed his discussion with Couric by asking her what she thinks about her own legacy. “I hope that people will think of me as somebody who tried to tell stories and cover the world—events like 9/11— with humanity and heart, and that I respected people’s intelligence,” Couric said. “I didn’t always get it right. I’m a human being; nobody always gets it right 100% of the time. I hope they also see me as someone who used my platform and my relationship with the audience to take my personal losses and give people information that would help them live longer, healthier, happier lives.” Prior to the program, Couric met with students who were members of various campus groups, majors and courses, including Student Senate, United Nations Partnership, those from the journalism department and others.—Stephen Gross FROM THE NEST | FALL 2024 | 7 Couric Kicks Off Compelling Perspectives The former anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” and co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” was the first of three speakers in this academic year’s series. SPEAKER SERIES MARTY BARON ʼ76 ʼ76G ʼ14H RETURNING TO LEHIGH The second speaker in this academic year’s Compelling Perspectives series is Marty Baron ’76 ’76G ’14H, former editor in chief of The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Miami Herald and a former senior editor of The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. He’ll return to campus December 5. The third and final Compelling Perspectives speaker has yet to be announced, but Lehigh will host that event in February featuring the viewpoint from a representative of nontraditional media. “I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL THINK OF ME AS SOMEBODY WHO TRIED TO TELL STORIES AND COVER THE WORLD— EVENTS LIKE 9/11—WITH HUMANITY AND HEART, AND THAT I RESPECTED PEOPLE’S INTELLIGENCE.” —Katie Couric KRISTI MORRIS / CHRISTA NEU
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