Date: 09/10/2007

Veteran Journalist to Discuss Technology and Ethics at Dinner on Friday, October 12

Contacts:
Bob Rucker, 408-924-3272
Pat Harris, 408-924-1748

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sam Donaldson -- veteran ABC news anchorman and White House correspondent -- will deliver the keynote address at a dinner banquet on Friday, October 12, celebrating the 50th anniversary of San José State University's broadcast journalism program. The dinner will be held in the Rotary Summit Center at 88 S. Fourth St., San José. The event is open to the public, although tickets are required.

Donaldson, 73, will discuss technology, ethics and the public's right to know, drawing upon an extraordinary career in broadcast journalism that has spanned five decades in radio, television and the Internet. During his 37 years with ABC News, Donaldson served as chief White House correspondent, covering presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton. He also co-anchored "PrimeTime Live" and the ABC News Sunday morning broadcast, "This Week With Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts."

Currently, Donaldson appears on ABC News Now, a 24-hour digital cable network available to more than 32 million users on cable, broadband and mobile devices. His daily half-hour show, "Politics Live," is an unscripted dialogue with numerous guests and commentators who discuss the top political news stories of the day. The show also features a "Stump Sam" segment, where viewers can submit political trivia questions via email and quiz him.

San José State's broadcast journalism program has evolved to utilize the opportunities born of technological innovation. Founded in 1957, shortly after the advent of television news, SJSU's program now augments basic reporting classes with courses on blogging and podcasting as well as the social, political and regulatory ramifications of emerging technologies. Today, SJSU graduates lead newsrooms throughout the Bay Area and across the nation, working in a wide range of positions from reporter and blogger to anchor and industry executive.

Tickets for the Donaldson event, a fundraiser for the university's broadcast journalism program, are $100. Reserve a seat and read more about the reunion. More about Donaldson.

San José State -- Silicon Valley's largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 4,000 employees -- is part of the California State University system. SJSU's 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation's 10th largest city.