Volume 2/Number 1

1999

CNN's Ralph Begleiter UD's
first distinguished journalist-in-residence

Ralph Begleiter, world affairs correspondent for CNN for 18 years, announced a career change this spring that brought him from the four corners of the globe to the University of Delaware. Effective July 1, Begleiter, CNN's most widely traveled correspondent, became UD's first Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence.

Based in the Department of Communication, Begleiter will have joint faculty appointments in the Departments of Political Science and English and will teach courses with appeal across the curriculum in "Politics and the Media" and "Crisis News."

At a welcoming reception, Begleiter told a gathering of UD officials and local media that he was weary of living out of a suitcase and was looking forward to interaction with students.

"I'm going to reclaim my life and know exactly where I will be in the next week, the next month," he said.

"I hope the students will wring me dry and also give me the opportunity to channel people in a positive way in the areas of journalism and foreign affairs."

Begleiter said he and his wife chose to relocate to Delaware from their home in Washington, D.C., because of the good experiences they have had at their vacation home in Ocean View and because it will move them closer to other family members.

CNN anchor Judy Woodruff paid tribute to Begleiter at the close of the program World View on Friday, May 21. She said Begleiter "has for the last 18 years set the standard for international reporting in television news. He has logged more miles, covered more stories from more countries than anyone in the business, ever. But what counts more than the sheer volume of his work are the high standards he set for his reporting. The true beneficiary of that work has been you, the viewer."

Begleiter has nearly 30 years of broadcast journalism experience. He joined CNN in 1981, and took on the State Department assignment in June, 1982. In 1994, after leaving the State Department, he conceived and began hosting the weekly Global View program, a public affairs discussion of international issues seen worldwide on CNN International. From 1994-95, he co-anchored CNN's prestigious International Hour, aired daily during prime time in Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East.

He has flown more than 1.5 million miles around the world with U.S. secretaries of state and presidents since 1982.

He regularly anchored special reports and live coverage for CNN International (CNNI), the world's premier international English-language non-governmental news service. In 1995, Begleiter anchored CNNI's live worldwide coverage of V-E Day events from Moscow, the conclusion of the Bosnia accords from Dayton, the signing of the Accords from Paris and the aftermath of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Rabin from Jerusalem. In 1996, he hosted coverage of the Summit of Peacemakers from Egypt's Sinai Desert.

In announcing Begleiter's appointment, Margaret Andersen, former interim dean of the UD College of Arts and Science, said, "Having Ralph Begleiter join our faculty will enhance our students' education by giving them the opportunity to learn from someone with direct experience in the communications industry, as well as extensive knowledge of world affairs. Our students and faculty are excited by the new possibilities for learning that his appointment will bring to our campus."

--Beth Thomas