Linda Wertheimer, senior national correspondent for National Public Radio and former host of the award-winning news magazine, "All Things Considered," will speak at Fairfield University's Open VISIONS Forum, Sunday, March 24. "Exploring Current Issues and iIeas Confronting American Society," is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

One of radio's most recognizable voices, Wertheimer joined "All Things Considered" at the program's inception in 1971, transitioning from director to political correspondent, then to host in 1989. Known for her thorough reporting, clear-eyed analysis and superb interviewing skills, Wertheimer offers an insider's view of our nation's capital. She has covered every major presidential primary and election of the past three decades, as well as major political stories such as the Watergate impeachment trial, the Iran-Contra affair and the Persian Gulf War. With 10 million listeners, "All Things Considered" is one of the top five shows on U.S. radio.

Wertheimer was named NPR's first senior national correspondent in January 2002. In this role, she travels the globe, lending her wealth and experience to the day's top news stories, as heard on "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition" with Bob Edwards and other NPR news programs. She continues to play a principal role in NPR's election coverage.

In 1976, Wertheimer became the first woman to anchor network coverage of a presidential nomination convention. In 1978, her 37-day live coverage of the Panama Canal Treaty debates earned her a special Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Citation. Ten years later, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognized Wertheimer's coverage of the Iran-Contra affair, and American Women in Radio/TV honored her story "Illegal Abortion." In 1997, Wertheimer was named one of the top 50 journalists in Washington, D.C. by Washingtonian magazine. A year later, she made Vanity Fair's list of America's 200 most influential women.

A 1965 graduate of Wellesley College, Wertheimer worked for the British Broadcasting Corp. in London and WCBS radio in New York before joining NPR. In 1995, she edited "Listening to America: 25 Years in the Life of a Nation," an historical account of major stories covered by NPR. Her lectures frequently address the effect of media conglomeration on news coverage, the pressure on news organizations to promote the interests of corporate divisions, news accuracy and standards, and the reliability of news delivered via the Internet.

Open VISIONS Forum is an outreach program of the School of Continuing Education. The Wertheimer lecture is sponsored in part by WSHU, the local NPR affiliate. Tickets for the event are $15, with discounts available for seniors and students. Call the box office at (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-ARTS-396 or visit www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 03-29-2002 09:03 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 172