The Cosmos Club takes great pleasure in presenting the 42nd Annual Cosmos Club Award to Jim Lehrer in recognition of his outstanding contribution to broadcast journalism and to a better understanding of the critical international and national issues confronting the country. For 30 years he has anchored The NewsHour on the Public Broadcasting System—initially in collaboration with Robert McNeil. At a time of far reaching and controversial change in television news—with the drastic reduction in coverage of important international developments and the dramatic rise of blogs—Lehrer has remained a voice of objectivity, intelligence and balance in the presentation of the news.
His unique status in American journalism is reflected in his selection to serve as the moderator for 10 televised presidential debates – most recently the first debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
