CNN anchor Campbell Brown speaks at Fairfield University on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. as the second guest in the Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) lecture series. The veteran broadcaster is one of the most respected and recognizable faces in American news. In the traditional OVF format, Brown will discuss her role as anchor with a talk entitled, "Behind the Headlines: In Front of the News" and after her lecture, will join Dr. Philip Eliasoph, director of OVF and Dr. James Simon, professor of journalism and former political reporter at the Associated Press, in a conversation that will include the audience. The lecture will be held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and is among the University's 2009-2010 Arts & Minds season offerings.

Simon said, "We are all eager to hear Campbell Brown because she dramatizes the tension CNN faces in deciding whether to do straight news or personality driven news. Brown is a very strong newswoman and CNN is trying to decide whether to capitalize on her astute news judgment - or her good looks and personality."

Brown won an Emmy for her reporting during Hurricane Katrina and was on the trail during the last two presidential elections. She has made numerous trips to Iraq to report on the Iraqi elections, abuses at Abu Graib prison and the trial of Saddam Hussein. Brown is currently the host of "Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull."

Earlier in her career, Brown was with NBC News for eleven years. While there she served as co-anchor of NBC's TODAY Weekend Edition, the nation's top rated weekend news program. She also served as the main substitute anchor for Brian Williams and a primary correspondent for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and the weekday TODAY show. For the network she reported from Rome on the death of Pope John Paul II and has traveled to Gaza and the West Bank to report on violence in the Middle East.

Friends of OVF will be treated to a pre-lecture reception at the Thomas J. Walsh Gallery, which Brown will attend. The Bank of Fairfield and Catamount Management Group are co-hosts for the reception.

CNN's Campbell Brown Speaks at Open VISIONS Forum at Fairfield University September 30

Tickets are $45 and are available by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 877-ARTS-396.

Posted On: 09-01-2009 10:09 AM

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