'60 Minutes' Founder to Receive Carr Van Anda Award at Ohio University

Contact: Anne Keyser, External & Alumni Relations Coordinator, College of Communication, 740-593-0030 or keysera@ohio.edu

Note to media: Don Hewitt will be available for interviews at 9:20 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, in the Baker Theater in Kantner Hall at Ohio University. A photo of Hewitt can be downloaded from the Web at: http://www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/HEWITT_DON.JPG

ATHENS, Ohio (April 16, 2001) -- Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism will present the Carr Van Anda Award to Don Hewitt, executive producer and founder of 60 Minutes, at 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, in the Baker Theater in Kantner Hall. An address, question and answer period and book signing of Hewitt's recent book, "Tell Me a Story: 50 Years and 60 Minutes," will follow the presentation at 11:45 a.m.

Honoring journalists for significant contributions to the profession, the Carr Van Anda Award is the highest honor presented by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. The award was established in 1968 in honor of Van Anda who attended Ohio University and later served as the managing editor of The New York Times from 1904 to 1932.

Hewitt is a pioneer in broadcast journalism. His considerable accomplishments include introducing graphics to broadcast news (1950s), coining the term "anchor" (1952), directing the first televised presidential debate (Kennedy/Nixon 1960) and producing the first half-hour network newscast (1963).

60 Minutes debuted in September of 1968 and earned its present Sunday 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. time slot in December of 1976. The program has remained in the Nielson ratings top 10 since 1978 and by 1997 had received 63 Emmy Awards. In addition to the success of the news program, Hewitt has been named Broadcaster of the Year by the International Radio and Television Society (1980), elected to the Television Hall of Fame (1990) and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (1993) and received the "Founders Emmy" from the International Council of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1995).

Hewitt's visit to campus is a component of the Journalism Day of the College of Communication's 33rd annual Communication Week. This weeklong event continues the tradition of celebrating the six units within the College of Communication. Activities throughout the week encourage student interaction with prominent leaders in the communication field. For more information about Communication Week 2001 events, visit the college Web site at http://www.commcoll.ohiou.edu/.