| − | '''Tom (Thomas John) Brokaw''' (born 1940) is a leading journalist and bestselling author. He is the former host of [[NBC Nightly News]], a position he held for twenty-two years. He is also a four time best-selling author. As a journalist, Brokaw has covered all national political campaigns since 1966. He also has produced several award-winning documentaries. On June 29, 2008, Brokaw began serving as moderator of [[Meet the Press]] through the 2008 presidential election.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25313649/ Brokaw to moderate 'Meet the Press'], Meet the Press, MSNBC.com</ref> | + | '''Tom (Thomas John) Brokaw''' (born 1940) was a longtime [[liberal]] host of television news. He is the former host of [[NBC Nightly News]], a position he held for twenty-two years. He is also a four time best-selling author. As a journalist, Brokaw has covered all national political campaigns since 1966. He also has produced several award-winning documentaries. On June 29, 2008, Brokaw began serving as moderator of [[Meet the Press]] through the 2008 presidential election.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25313649/ Brokaw to moderate 'Meet the Press'], Meet the Press, MSNBC.com</ref> |
| − | Brokaw had an early obsession with politics and reporting, which soon became useful as he worked at a broadcasting station in Sioux City, [[Iowa]]. In 1962 after gradating from college, Brokaw went to work at another broadcast news station, KNTV, in [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]]. Here Brokaw was offered a salary of $90 a week, but he refused the offer and asked for a salary of $100, which was accepted by the station.<ref>Interview with Today Show, 2004, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6521696/</ref> Brokaw later stated that one of his reasons for joining the news industry was his desire to travel. Brokaw's love for politics came into play in his new job, as he served as the "political junkie" for the network. As the [[civil rights movement]] began to take hold, another opportunity opened up for the young reporter: Brokaw moved to [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], to cover the movement in 1965. During this time he was able to cover [[Martin Luther King]], while serving as news editor and anchor of the 11:00 news for the Georgia station, KMTV. Coincidentally,the future anchor of [[CBS News]], [[Dan Rather]], was also covering the civil rights movement during this same period for [[CBS]]. | + | Brokaw had an early obsession with politics and reporting, which soon became useful as he worked at a broadcasting station in Sioux City, [[Iowa]]. In 1962 after graduating from college, Brokaw went to work at another broadcast news station, KNTV, in [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]]. Here Brokaw was offered a salary of $90 a week, but he refused the offer and asked for a salary of $100, which was accepted by the station.<ref>Interview with Today Show, 2004, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6521696/</ref> Brokaw later stated that one of his reasons for joining the news industry was his desire to travel. Brokaw's love for politics came into play in his new job, as he served as the "political junkie" for the network. As the [[civil rights movement]] began to take hold, another opportunity opened up for the young reporter: Brokaw moved to [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], to cover the movement in 1965. During this time he was able to cover [[Martin Luther King]], while serving as news editor and anchor of the 11:00 news for the Georgia station, KMTV. Coincidentally,the future anchor of [[CBS News]], [[Dan Rather]], was also covering the civil rights movement during this same period for [[CBS]]. |
| | [[NBC]] became impressed with Brokaw's work at KMTV, and after only one year at his new job, Brokaw was off to work for NBC as an anchor at their [[Los Angeles]] station in 1966. Although he took the job after twice turning down the offer, Brokaw was not impressed with his new assignment; he had hoped to get a job as a correspondent in [[Washington D.C.]].<ref>Interview with Today Show, 2004, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6521696/</ref> In [[California]], Brokaw had the opportunity to cover [[Ronald Reagan]]'s campaign for [[governor]] of California. In 1968, Brokaw was promoted to the position of NBC's [[White House]] correspondent; here he covered the [[Watergate]] investigation. During his time as White House correspondent he competed with [[Dan Rather]], who was also now a White House correspondent for CBS. In 1976 Brokaw covered the election primaries, national conventions, and election night in the race between [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. He also served as anchor of NBC's Saturday Night News. In the show's 24th season, Brokaw became host of NBC's [[Today]] show, where he had the opportunity to cover Ronald Reagan’s campaign for president in 1980, and also had the opportunity to interview [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] in the [[Kremlin]], which earned Brokaw an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.<ref>MSNBC, “Tom Brokaw,” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4364148/</ref> | | [[NBC]] became impressed with Brokaw's work at KMTV, and after only one year at his new job, Brokaw was off to work for NBC as an anchor at their [[Los Angeles]] station in 1966. Although he took the job after twice turning down the offer, Brokaw was not impressed with his new assignment; he had hoped to get a job as a correspondent in [[Washington D.C.]].<ref>Interview with Today Show, 2004, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6521696/</ref> In [[California]], Brokaw had the opportunity to cover [[Ronald Reagan]]'s campaign for [[governor]] of California. In 1968, Brokaw was promoted to the position of NBC's [[White House]] correspondent; here he covered the [[Watergate]] investigation. During his time as White House correspondent he competed with [[Dan Rather]], who was also now a White House correspondent for CBS. In 1976 Brokaw covered the election primaries, national conventions, and election night in the race between [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. He also served as anchor of NBC's Saturday Night News. In the show's 24th season, Brokaw became host of NBC's [[Today]] show, where he had the opportunity to cover Ronald Reagan’s campaign for president in 1980, and also had the opportunity to interview [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] in the [[Kremlin]], which earned Brokaw an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.<ref>MSNBC, “Tom Brokaw,” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4364148/</ref> |