CNN’s Christiane Amanpour to speak at commencement
TV viewers have seen her reporting live from war trenches and hiding in caves. But on June 18, Northwestern graduates will witness a live performance of Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, as Northwestern University’s 152nd Commencement speaker. During the Commencement ceremony, she will also receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the university.
Amanpour has been CNN’s international correspondent for 20 years. She has reported on a sweeping range of stories from the fall of the Berlin Wall, to the Bosnian War, to the first Gulf war, and her work has won her nine News & Documentary Emmy Awards. She has also reported in war zones and the remote territories of Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda, the Balkans and New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. A 1994 New York Times biography of the correspondent was titled, “Where There’s War, There’s Amanpour.”
Often able to obtain access to sources that other reporters are denied, Time Magazine has called Amanpour as the most influential foreign correspondent since Edward R. Murrow.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Amanpour spoke to the problem of striking a balance between objectivity and morality in her work. “When I report, I have to do it in context, to be aware of the moral conundrum,” she said. “It would be irresponsible to give the victim and the aggressor each equal time and moral equivalence. I can’t do that because it means being neutral in the face of unspeakable horror. When you’re neutral, you’re an accessory.”
Northwestern’s Commencement for the class of 2010 will be held at 6 p.m. on June 18 at Ryan Field.
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GO OPRAH OR GO HOME. OR OBAMA. what a mediocre pick.
Mary
March 4, 2010 at 1:18 am
Oprah would have been beyond amazing. But, Christiane Amanpour is a great pick. So excited for graduation! :)
AJ
March 4, 2010 at 1:30 am
hell yeah.
priya
March 4, 2010 at 1:32 am
i was pulling for mr feeny
womp womp
March 4, 2010 at 1:34 am
This is awesome! :)
Priya
March 4, 2010 at 1:42 am
mr. feeny would have been amazingballs! buUUUUT AMANPOUR!!!!!! AYAYAYAYYAA :) Im so happy!
mrs womp womp
March 4, 2010 at 1:45 am
FINALLY a speaker that a) I’ve heard of (sorry Wynton) and b) that I actually like (i.e. NOT mayor Daily).
I think she’ll give an amazing speech – glad they got it right the year I graduate
2010
March 4, 2010 at 3:41 am
Awesome choice!
S
March 4, 2010 at 5:24 am
This is freaking awesome! Amanpour is amazing and I’m so excited to actually be graduating this year because of this news.
PLUS, we now rival Harvard at something! She’s speaking at Harvard’s Class Day too.
Although, Yale got BILL CLINTON. Pwned.
A
March 4, 2010 at 8:38 am
How is this mediocre? Compared to your choices of a talk show host whose program consists of people crying about their pathetic lives or to the most unrealistic choice known to man for a commencement at NU, I think Amanpour will add a nice touch to the ceremony.
P.S. Read a book sometime.
@Mary
March 4, 2010 at 11:13 am
Geeze what a lousy pick. Our school is more concerned with pushing it’s liberal agenda than picking a speaker that is actually interesting ( or can at least pull in half decent cable news ratings hah!). I’m really disappointed, Jerry springer pobably would have been at least more interesting ( maybe intelligent too ).
Kos
March 4, 2010 at 11:31 am
Getting some talking head from a 24 hour news channel isn’t everyone’s idea of a great time. Cable news is a great force in helping to ruin America.
Some people want a “motivating, inspirational” speech at graduation. Some people want a celebrity. Leave us alone.
@@Mary
March 4, 2010 at 12:26 pm
This was a fantastic pick! She is amazing, and we should all feel absolutely lucky to have her as our speaker! I can’t wait!
R
March 4, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Not impressed.
J
March 4, 2010 at 2:32 pm
After going to school here for 4 years I have to say this is a major disappointment. Get your act together NU!
S
March 4, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Yeah NU! I’m wondering if the Medill kids are going crazy…
Nicki
March 4, 2010 at 5:42 pm
WOW. Let’s appeal only to stuck-up Medildos!
JP
March 4, 2010 at 6:44 pm
This really appeals to me.
Stuck-up Medildo
March 4, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Not in Medill, but Amanpour rocks. Culture-less west coast haters to the left.
I love Christiane
March 5, 2010 at 1:26 am
What does Amanpour’s quote in the article even mean?!
Confused Reader
March 10, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I liked the way you write all your blogs. Keep it up.
hypnose
March 15, 2010 at 12:38 am
She’s now ABC’s instead of CNN’s.
illegally blonde
March 18, 2010 at 11:35 pm
No she`s on CNN & not on ABC
Construction Company Haiti
March 25, 2010 at 6:01 am
She was actually just picked up by ABC to replace Stephanopoulos on This Week.
Fan of Amanpour
March 25, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Al Roker the speaker at new england tech grad., thats what is happening in our neck of the woods. haha, enjoy a boring speech
NEIT
April 17, 2010 at 9:14 am