Brokaw, Tom 1940-

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Brokaw, Tom 1940-

PERSONAL

Full name, Thomas John Brokaw; born February 6, 1940, in Webster, SD; son of Anthony Orville "Red" (a government worker and construction foreman) and Eugenia "Jean" (a post office clerk and in sales; maiden name, Conley) Brokaw; married Meredith Lynn Auld (a developer and proprietor of a chain of toy stores and a writer), August 17, 1962; children: Jennifer Jean (a doctor), Andrea Brooks (a music producer), Sarah Auld (a social worker). Education: University of South Dakota, B.A., political science, 1962; also attended the University of Iowa. Avocational Interests: Jogging, backpacking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, skiing, tennis, softball, fishing, jazz, spending time at his Montana ranch.

Career:

Television journalist. KYNT, disc jockey, beginning c. 1955; WNEX, Yankton, SD, newscaster; KTIV, Sioux City, IA, newscaster, weatherman, and staff announcer, 1960-62; KMTV, Omaha, NE, morning news editor, 1962-65; WSB, Atlanta, GA, news anchor and editor, 1965-66; KNBC, Los Angeles, reporter and news anchor, 1966-73; NBC, White House correspondent and Saturday evening news anchor, 1973-76, anchor of and contributor to various programs, 1976—. Yale University, New Haven, CT, lecturer on television news, 1978-79; anchored coverage of political conventions and other programs; appeared in chat room sessions on American Online. Advisory committee member, Gannett Journalism Center; member of the board of advisors, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; trustee of Columbia University and the University of South Dakota Foundation; and member of the board of trustees, Norton Simon Museum of Art, Pasadena, CA. Advisor of the Asia Society. Commencement speaker for colleges and universities and a lecturer. Also worked in a clothing store and as a tour guide.

Member:

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (director, 1968-72), Sierra Club, Sigma Delta Chi.

Awards, Honors:

Alfred du Pont-Columbia University Award, 1987, for A Conversation with Mikhail S. Gorbachev; Emmy Award, outstanding interview/interviewer, 1989, for "Ronald Reagan … An American Success," broadcast on NBC Nightly News; Emmy awards, outstanding instant coverage of a single news story, 1989 and 1993, for NBC Nightly News; National Headliner Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1990; Dennis Kauff Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism, Boston University, 1995; Lowell Thomas Award, Marist College, 1995; inducted into Television Hall of Fame, 1997; Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, University of Missouri Columbia School of Journalism, 1997; Tom Brokaw Scholarship Program established in his name, NBC, for Brokaw's thirty years with the network, 1997; Television Award (with Craig Leake), documentary/current events, Writers Guild of America, 1998, for "Why Can't We Live Together?" broadcast on Dateline NBC; Fred Friendly First Amendment Award, 1998, for "consistent devotion to freedom of speech and the principles embodied in the first amendment"; American Legion Award, 1998, for work in the communications field; President's Award, Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America, 1998, for "his devotion to helping young people through scholarships"; "Tex" McCrary Excellence in Journalism Award, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, 1999; Television Award nomination (with Leake and Andrea Malin), Writers Guild of America, 2000, for "The Greatest Generation," broadcast on Dateline NBC; TV Guide Award nominations, favorite news personality, 2000, and news person of the year, 2001; named an "American hero" by Men's Journal, 2001, for journalistic work; Fourth Estate Award for Lifetime Achievement, National Press Club, 2003; Four Medals of Freedom, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, 2005; George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award, Henry W. Grady School of Journalism, University of Georgia, for the report "To Be an American"; other Emmy awards; Golden Mike Award, Radio and Television News Association of Southern California; Joseph M. Quinn Award for Journalistic Excellence and Distinction. Alumni Achievement Award, University of South Dakota; honorary degrees from Duke University, 1991, University of Notre Dame, 1993, Fairfield University, 1997; honorary L.H.D., University of South Dakota; also received honorary degrees from Boston College, Emerson College, Hofstra University, Simpson College, Syracuse University, University of Pennsylvania, and Washington University (St. Louis).

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Interviewer, Survival of Spaceship Earth, 1972.

Dawn's Early Light: Ralph McGill and the Segregated South, 1988.

Himself in archival footage, The Panama Deception (documentary).

Empowerment Project, 1992.

The Gate of Heavenly Peace, 1996.

Commentator, On Common Ground, Columbia, 2001.

Narrator, Vertical Frontier (documentary), Pelton Pictures, 2002.

(Uncredited)) The Thing About My Folks, Picturehouse Entertainment, 2005.

Himself, Last Best Chance, 2005.

Himself, There and Back Again (documentary short), 2006.

Himself, TV Junkie: Faces of Addiction (documentary), Deep Ellum Pictures, 2007.

Himself, An Unlikely Weapon (documentary), 2008.

Film Work:

Consulting producer, Toots (documentary), Menemsha Films, 2006.

Television Appearances; Series:

Anchor, NBC Nightly News, Weekend Edition, NBC, 1973.

Anchor, Saturday Night News, New York City station, 1973-76.

Host (with others), Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 1976-82.

Anchor, NBC Nightly News (also known as NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw), NBC, 1982-2005.

Anchor, Expose, NBC, 1990.

Anchor, The Brokaw Report, NBC, 1992-93.

Anchor, Now (also known as Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric), NBC, 1993-94.

Digital Age, 1994.

Contributing anchor, Dateline NBC (also known as Dateline), NBC, 1994—.

InterNight, MSNBC, 1996.

Tom Brokaw Reports, NBC, 2005—.

Host, Meet the Press, NBC, 2008.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Himself, Barbarians at the Gate, HBO, 1993.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Host and narrator, NBC Reports: To Be a Doctor, NBC, 1980.

TV Guide 1980: The Year in Review, NBC, 1981.

NBC Reports: Labor in the Promised Land, NBC, 1982.

Presenter and interviewer, D-Day Plus 40 Years (documentary), 1984.

NBC Reports: Iacocca—An American Profile, NBC, 1984.

Host, Christmas in Washington, NBC, 1985.

Today at Night, Volume II, NBC, 1986.

Panelist, The Manipulators: Iron Curtain-Stone Wall-Party Line, ABC, 1986.

Anchor, NBC News Statue of Liberty Special, NBC, 1986.

Moderator, Life, Death and AIDS, NBC, 1986.

Anchor, Election Night: Decision '86, NBC, 1986.

Host, Cocaine Country, NBC, 1986.

NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986.

Men, Women, Sex & AIDS (also known as NBC News Special Report: Men, Women, Sex & AIDS), NBC, 1987.

Anchor and correspondent, Wall Street: Money, Greed and Power, NBC, 1987.

Election 1987, BBC, 1987.

Correspondent, To Be a Teacher, 1987.

Host and moderator, The Arms, the Men, the Money, NBC, 1987.

Interviewer, A Conversation with Mikhail S. Gorbachev, 1987.

"Today" at 35, NBC, 1987.

Anchor, The Baby Business, NBC, 1987.

Correspondent, Six Days Plus 20 Years: A Dream Is Dying, NBC, 1987.

Anchor, Fear, Frustration and Flying, NBC, 1987.

Anchor, Crime, Punishment and Kids, NBC, 1987.

Moderator, America's Future: A Presidential Debate, NBC, 1987.

Anchor, A Trillion for Defense: What Have We Bought?, NBC, 1987.

Master of Ceremonies, The Alfred I. DuPont/Columbia University Awards, PBS, 1987.

Correspondent, Home Street Home, NBC, 1988.

Anchor, JFK—That Day in November, NBC, 1988.

Anchor, Decision '88, NBC, 1988.

Anchor, Campaign Countdown: The Great Lakes Battleground, NBC, 1988.

Anchor, Campaign Countdown: The California Battleground, NBC, 1988.

Anchor, Campaign Countdown: Is This Any Way to Elect a President?, NBC, 1988.

Off Your Duff, 1989.

(Uncredited) Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary, NBC, 1989.

Host, The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, PBS, 1989.

Host, To Be an American, NBC, 1989.

The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1989.

Host, The Eighties, NBC, 1989.

Anchor, The Abortion Dilemma: Rights and Lives, NBC, 1989.

Interviewer, Ronald Reagan: An American Success, NBC, 1989.

Anchor, Presidential Inauguration, NBC, 1989.

Anchor and narrator, Gangs, Cops & Drugs, NBC, 1989.

Anchor, Black Athletes—Fact and Fiction, NBC, 1989.

NBC News: Houston Homicide, NBC, 1990.

Host, The Tunnel Under the Wall, Arts and Entertainment, 1990.

Host, The New Hollywood, NBC, 1990.

Mary Hart Presents: Power in the Public Eye, syndicated, 1990.

Anchor, Homicide Squad, NBC, 1990.

Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter, PBS, 1990.

Anchor, A Day in the Life of the White House, NBC, 1990.

2 Years Later, NBC, 1990.

Anchor, 1990: Living on the Edge, NBC, 1990.

Moderator, The Democrats: A Presidential Debate, NBC, 1991.

Host, Panasonic Presents: 25th Anniversary Gala at the Met, pay per view, 1991.

Dangerous Assignments, PBS, 1991.

Host, Crisis in the Persian Gulf, NBC, 1991.

Brokaw Reports: 58 Days, NBC, 1992.

News anchor, NBC News Decision 92 Republican Convention (also known as Decision '92: The Republican National Convention), NBC, 1992.

"Today" at 40, NBC, 1992.

Host, The Metropolitan Opera Silver Anniversary, PBS, 1992.

The Class of the 20th Century, Arts and Entertainment, 1992.

Families in Crisis, NBC, 1992.

Democracy in Action, PBS, 1992.

Anchor, Decision '92: The Democratic National Convention, NBC, 1992.

Host, America's Schools—Pass or Fail?, NBC, 1992.

America's Health Care—Going Broke in Style, NBC, 1992.

Anchor, America the Violent, NBC, 1992.

Host, 58 Days, NBC, 1992.

Host, The Lost Generation, NBC, 1993.

Host, The Great Ones: The National Sports Awards, NBC, 1993.

Anchor, Robert F. Kennedy: The Man, the Myth and the Memories, NBC, 1993.

Anchor, Inaugural '93, NBC, 1993.

Anchor, Immigration—The Good, the Bad, the Illegal, NBC, 1993.

From Hope to History, NBC, 1993.

Anchor, A Day at the White House, NBC, 1993.

Anchor, To Your Health, NBC, 1994.

Host, The Alfred I. DuPont/Columbia University Awards in Broadcast Journalism, PBS, 1994.

Anchor, V-E Day: A Nation Remembers, NBC, 1995.

Interviewer and correspondent, Tycoon, NBC, 1995.

Why America Hates the Press, PBS, 1996.

Interviewee, Nicols and May—Take Two, PBS, 1996.

Election Year Survival Guide, PBS, 1996.

Anchor, Decision '96: The Republican National Convention, NBC and PBS, 1996.

Anchor, Decision '96: The Democratic National Convention, NBC and PBS, 1996.

Anchor, Decision '96 Election Night, NBC, 1996.

50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997.

Presenter of introduction, NBC White Paper: The Age of Kennedy—Part I, The Early Years (also known as NBC White Papers: The Kennedy Era—The Early Years), NBC, 1997.

Hollywood and the News, AMC, 1997.

Host and correspondent, Tom Brokaw Reports: The Greatest Generation, NBC, 1999.

Alis die Mauer fiel. 50 Stunden, die die Welt veranderten (also known as When the Wall Came Tumbling Down: 50 Hours that Changed the World), 1999.

Radio City Music Hall's Grand Re-Opening Gala, NBC, 1999.

Narrator, Window to the Universe, PBS, 2000.

Moderator, Up in Arms: What Should America Do?, MSNBC, 2000.

The Remarkable 20th Century, PBS, 2000.

Grand Marshall, The 112th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade, ABC, NBC, and CBS, 2000.

Moderator, Summit in Silicon Valley, MSNBC, 2000.

Lowell Thomas: Man About the World, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Kids Pick the Issues, Nickelodeon, 2000.

"The Greatest Generation," HistoryCENTER, History Channel, 2000.

Breaking the News (documentary), 2001.

Essence Awards (also known as The 2001 Essence Awards), Fox, 2001.

Host, Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack, NBC and National Geographic Channel, 2001.

Breaking the News, CBS, 2001.

Correspondent and interviewer, Father's Day: Now and Forever, NBC, 2001.

Intimate Portrait: Maria Shriver, Lifetime, 2001.

Brokaw, Ballard, Ambrose: Reflections on War, National Geographic Channel, 2001.

Anchor, The Bush White House: Inside the Real West Wing, NBC, 2002.

Host, Price for Peace, NBC, 2002.

Host, NBC 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002.

9/11 2002 Prime Time Concert for America, NBC, 2002.

Journalists: Killed in the Line of Duty, Trio, 2003.

Host, Commander-in-Chief: Inside the White House at War, NBC, 2003.

A Questions of Fairness: Reported by Tom Brokaw, NBC, 2003.

The 7th Annual Prism Awards, FX Channel, 2003.

Host, Without Fear or Favor: The Best in Broadcast Journalism, 2004.

World War II Memorial Dedication, History Channel, 2004.

Beyond the Medal of Honor, PBS, 2004.

Election Night on Democracy Plaza, 2004.

How's Your News?: On the Campaign Trail, Trio, 2004.

Host, Desperate Days in Blue John Canyon, NBC, 2004.

Science of Supervolcanoes, Discovery Channel, 2005.

The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, 2005.

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 2005.

Cast host, Trapped in a Canyon: The Aron Ralston Story, The Learning Channel, 2005.

Host, Tom Brokaw Reports: To War and Back, NBC, 2005.

Host, Tom Brokaw Reports: The Long War, NBC, 2005.

Host, The Secret Man: The Story of Washington's Deep Throat, NBC, 2005.

Presenter, The 28th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 2005.

Host, In God They Trust: Reported by Tom Brokaw, NBC, 2005.

The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, 2005.

Host, Tom Brokaw Reports: In the Shadow of the American Dream, NBC, 2006.

Host, Global Warming: What You Need to Know, Discovery Channel, 2006.

Narrator, Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire, PBS, 2006.

"Star Wars": The Legacy Revealed, History Channel, 2007.

Host, 1968 with Tom Brokaw (documentary), History Channel, 2007.

Host, King (documentary), History Channel, 2008.

Baseball's Golden Age, Fox Sports, 2008.

Anchor, Remembering Tim Russert, NBC, 2008.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Himself, Tanner on Tanner, Sundance, 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Anchor, First Tuesday, NBC, 1971.

"To Be a Teacher," NBC White Paper, NBC, 1987.

"Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter," American Masters, PBS, 1988.

"To Be An American," NBC White Paper, NBC, 1989.

Late Night with David Letterman, NBC, 1991, 1993.

The Late Show with David Letterman (also known as Letterman and The Late Show), CBS, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

"Take Two: Mike Nichols and Elaine May," American Masters, PBS, 1996.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.

Late Night With Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008.

The View, ABC, 1999, 2008.

"Ted Williams," ESPN SportsCentury, ESPN, 2000.

"Joe Louis," ESPN SportsCentury, ESPN, 2000.

"Jackie Robinson," ESPN SportsCentury, ESPN, 2001.

The Daily Show (also known as A Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Global Edition), Comedy Central, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008.

On the Record with Bob Costas, HBO, 2003.

Larry King Live, CNN, 2003, 2005, 2007.

The Jane Pauley Show, NBC, 2004.

Hardball with Chris Matthews, CNBC, 2004, 2005, 2006.

Panelist, Costas Now, HBO, 2005.

Meet the Press (also known as Meet the Press with Tim Russert), NBC, 2005.

The Colbert Report, Comedy Central, 2006.

Correspondent, Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2006.

"A Gala Night at Alice Tully Hall," Live from Lincoln Center (also known as Great Performances: Live from Lincoln Center), PBS, 2007.

Live with Regis & Kelly, syndicated, 2007.

Tavis Smiley, PBS, 2007.

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show, syndicated, 2007.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2008.

Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2008.

Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), syndicated, 2008.

Television Work; Series:

Coproducer, Expose, 1990.

Also worked as managing editor, NBC Nightly News, NBC, 1983.

Television Work; Episodic:

Managing editor, "To Be a Teacher," NBC White Paper, NBC, 1987.

Radio Appearances:

Host of a brief daily feature broadcast on Westwood One.

RECORDINGS

Taped Readings:

The Greatest Generation, 1999.

The Greatest Generation Speaks, Random House, 2000.

WRITINGS

Television Series:

Expose, NBC, 1990.

Dateline NBC (also known as Dateline), NBC, 1994—.

Television Specials:

NBC Reports: The Changing West, Reflections on the Stillwater, NBC, 1981.

NBC Reports: Labor in the Promised Land, NBC, 1982.

NBC Reports: Iacocca—An American Profile, NBC, 1984.

The Arms, the Men, the Money, 1987.

Men, Women, Sex & AIDS (also known as NBC News Special Report: Men, Women, Sex & AIDS), NBC, 1987.

Home Street Home, NBC, 1988.

The Eighties, NBC, 1989.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award on PBS, 1989.

NBC News: Houston Homicide, NBC, 1990.

The New Hollywood, NBC, 1990.

A Day in the Life of the White House, NBC, 1990.

Families in Crisis, NBC, 1992.

America's Schools—Pass or Fail?, NBC, 1992.

America the Violent, NBC, 1992.

Brokaw Reports: 58 Days, NBC, 1992.

Robert F. Kennedy: The Man, the Myth and the Memories, NBC, 1993.

Tycoon, NBC, 1995.

Tom Brokaw Reports: The Greatest Generation, NBC, 1999.

Father's Day: Now and Forever, NBC, 2001.

Television Episodes:

"To Be a Teacher," NBC White Paper, NBC, 1987.

"To Be an American," NBC White Paper, NBC, 1989.

Nonfiction:

Author of introduction, The Best of Photojournalism, Volume 5: People, Places, and Events of 1979, University of Missouri Press, 1980.

The Greatest Generation, Random House, 1998.

The Greatest Generation Speaks, Random House, 2000.

An Album of Memories: Personal Histories from the Greatest Generation, Random House, 2001.

A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland, Random House, 2002.

Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Recollections of the '60s & Today, Random House, 2007.

Contributor to Backpacker, Diversions, Family Weekly, Life, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, New York Daily News, New York Times, Outside, Sports Illustrated, and the Washington Post.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 25, Thomson Gale, 2005.

Newsmakers 2000, Issue 3, Gale Group, 2000.

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000.

Periodicals:

Broadcasting & Cable, October 25, 2004, p. 30.

Good Housekeeping, January, 2003, p. 93.

St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL), May 24, 2004, p. 1E.

USA Today, December 2, 2004, p. 3D; June 23, 2008, p. 2D.

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