Washington State University: Former NYT Exec Editor Dean Baquet to receive Murrow Award

Dean Baquet, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, who until recently held the position of executive editor of the New York Times, will receive the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th Murrow Symposium, where he will also deliver the keynote address on April 4.

“Each year, our faculty members consider nominations of potential recipients of this award who best reflect Murrow’s professional ethics and virtues,” said Bruce Pinkleton, dean of Murrow College at WSU. “It’s especially appropriate to honor Dean Baquet in a year when our symposium theme is ‘Legacy of Truth, Communication with Courage.’ In honoring him, we recognize his tireless dedication to preserve the fourth estate and the dramatic impact he has had on the American news media.”

For more than 47 years, Baquet has served as a champion of truth in journalism. He is the first Black person to serve in the top editorial post at the Los Angeles Times and risked his career when he criticized the paper’s parent company for significantly cutting newsroom positions. He chose to be fired rather than concede to what he saw as the destruction of the profession.

Later, he became the first Black person to serve in the top editorial position at The New York Times and created his own legacy while promoting and defending the careers of others. During his tenure, Baquet managed a variety of difficult, ground-breaking stories, including the reporting of Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey concerning sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein – recently adapted into the biographical drama film “She Said.” As an outspoken advocate for integrity across the industry, he managed controversies over ‘fake-news’ and reporter safety.

Baquet oversaw The Times’ growth in both circulation and respect when print media circulation suffered steep declines nationally. His work helped ensure that The New York Times maintained its position as a thriving cornerstone of a significant force in global media. Under his leadership, The Times received 18 Pulitzer Prizes and saw its circulation rise to more than 9 million subscriptions.

Prior to joining The Times, he was the managing editor ​of The Los Angeles Times and reporter for The Chicago Tribune and The Times Picayune​ in New Orleans. While at The Chicago Tribune, Baquet won the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for his seven-part series on corruption in the city council.

Now, after countless accolades and successes, Baquet has stepped down as executive editor to lead The New York Times’ local investigative Times fellowship, a new initiative to help fight against the growing crisis in local news and cultivate the kind of watchdog reporting where he got his start.

In addition to Mr. Baquet’s Tuesday keynote speech, Murrow Symposium events including workshops, panel discussions and alumni awards will take place on Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5. This year’s symposium focuses on Edward R. Murrow’s legacy and ways communicators can bravely seek and stand by the truth.