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| Vol. 18, No. 33 | May 27, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 33 | May 27, 1999 |
Margaret Andersen introduces Ralph Begleiter to area media at a reception May 24.
Effective July 1, Begleiter, CNN's most widely traveled correspondent, will serve as 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 International Relations and English and will teach courses with appeal across the curriculum, such as "Politics and the Media" and "Crisis News."
In announcing Begleiter's appointment, Margaret Andersen, interim dean of the 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."
At an introductory get- together for local media, Begleiter said 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."
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.
"No one has been more dedicated to informing the public and explaining the news than Ralph Begleiter. Even though he'll do special reports for CNN now and then, we will miss his dedication and enthusiasm greatly, and we predict that you will, too.
"Ralph's next stop is the University of Dealware, where he will be the distinguished journalist in residence, passing along his wisdom and experience to the next generation."
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 1994-1995, he co-anchored CNN's prestigious International Hour, aired daily during prime time in Europe, Russia, African and the Middle East.
Begleiter is CNN's most widely traveled correspondent, having flown more than 1.5 million miles around the world with U.S. secretaries of state and presidents since 1982. His travels have included visits to many areas of the then-Soviet Union, and to all the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. Begleiter has also traveled in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and has made less expansive trips to Latin America and Africa.
He regularly anchored special reports and live coverage for CNN International, 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 1994, Georgetown University's Graduate School of Foreign Service awarded Begleiter its Weintal Prize, one of diplomatic reporting's highest honors.
Other honors earned by Begleiter include awards from the National Press Club (Hood Citation for Diplomatic Correspondence), the National Academy for Cable Programming (ACE award), the Houston International Film Festival (Gold Awards), Associated Press awards and United Press International.
Begleiter holds a bachelor's degree with honors in political science from Brown University and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
-Beth Thomas
Photo by Jack Buxbaum
