Howard Fineman, Newsweek's chief political correspondent, senior editor and deputy Washington bureau chief, will speak at Fairfield University on Monday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. Fineman's appearance is part of Open VISIONS Forum, a program of University College.

Nationally known as a writer and commentator on politics, Fineman is also an NBC News analyst, contributing reports to programs on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. His work has been published in The New Republic and The Washington Post.

The lecture should be an intriguing primer for voters heading into Election Day, said Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., Open VISIONS Forum moderator.

"As the presidential campaign strategies cross inside the 20-yard line - the point of no return just 16 days before Election Day - we will look for Howard Fineman's tough game analysis," said Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., Open VISIONS Forum moderator. "Fineman is not myopically focused on toe-to-toe head butting but lays out on the chalkboard a long range playbook action diagram."

Named one of the country's foremost political reporters by Washingtonian magazine, Fineman has covered Congress and national elections for Newsweek since 1980. He has interviewed and covered every president since Jimmy Carter and reported on such diverse topics as the rise of the religious right, the power of talk radio, race and politics and the impact of digital technology on society. He has also covered the candidacies of Gary Hart, Pat Buchanan, Jesse Jackson, Ross Perot, Steve Forbes and Bob Dole.

As Newsweek's lead political reporter, Fineman has appeared on most major news and public affairs shows, including "Nightline," "Face the Nation," "Larry King Live," "Charlie Rose," and "Fox News Sunday." He was a regular panelist on PBS' "Washington Week in Review" from 1983 to 1995, and on CNN's "Capital Gang Sunday" from 1995 to 1998. He has helped report and produce two "Nightline" specials.

His work has not gone unnoticed. Forbes Media Guide called Fineman "a standout in the press corps" and he has won or shared in numerous journalism awards, including National Magazine Awards to Newsweek in 1982 and 1992. His work was instrumental in the magazine winning the American Journalism Review's "Best in the Business" awards in 1988 and 1992 for presidential campaign coverage, and in 1994 for coverage of the Clinton administration's first term.

A native of Pittsburgh, he began his career more than 30 years ago at The Louisville Courier-Journal, covering the environment, the coal industry and Kentucky politics before joining the newspaper's Washington bureau in 1978. He joined Newsweek's staff in Washington in 1980.

Fineman holds an A.B. degree from Colgate University, a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, and a J.D. from the University of Louisville. He has also studied abroad on Watson and Pulitzer Traveling Fellowships in Europe and the Middle East. He lives in Washington with his wife, Amy L. Nathan, and their two children.

Tickets are $25, $22.50 for senior citizens. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit www.quickcenter.com

Posted On: 09-22-2004 10:09 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 63