Veteran journalist Sander Vanocur will visit the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on Wednesday, Oct. 20, to discuss Media Malarky: Can Democracy Survive the Mass Media? His lecture begins at 6:45 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Vanocur, whose career spans more than 40 years in print, radio, and television journalism, was one of three panelists on the first Kennedy-Nixon televised debate in 1960. He began his journalism career as a reporter in London for The Manchester Guardian, and at the same time worked as a commentator for the North American Service of the BBC and as a stringer for CBS News. Before moving to NBC News in 1957, he was a general assignment reporter for The New York Times in New York City. He was the television editor and critic for The Washington Post from 1975-1977, and gained national prominence during his 14 years with NBC News, where he served three years as White House Correspondent.
His notable career continued with a variety of prestigious assignments, including his work as an ABC correspondent in 1982, covering the Falkland Island war between Great Britain and Argentina. In 1991 he formed Old Owl Communications, a full- service communications and consulting corporation.
Vanocur, an Ohio native, earned his degree in political science from Northwestern University and also pursued graduate studies at the London School of Economics.