Emmy Award-winning journalist Byron Pitts will deliver the Stephen M. Ross School of Business’ annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday address, “MLK Stepped Out on Nothing for Us,” at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Blau Auditorium.
As chief national correspondent for “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” Pitts is well known for his thought-provoking coverage and commitment to exceptional storytelling. His work under fire as an embedded reporter covering the Iraq War has widely been recognized.
“We are thrilled that Byron Pitts will be here to give our MLK keynote this year,” says Lynnette Iannace, director of school events at the Ross School. “His hard work and determination to overcome many obstacles he faced as a child is an inspirational story befitting the message of Dr. King that all of us should be judged by the content of our character.”
Raised by a single mother in a working class neighborhood in Baltimore, Pitts was illiterate until age 12 and had a persistent stutter. Capitalizing on his desire to play football, his mother mandated that he receive good grades in school in order to play.
Photo by Jeffrey Staab.
Pitts learned to read and went on to attend college. With the help of his roommate and a college professor, Pitts found the support and encouragement necessary to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. He graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and speech communication.
Pitts has earned several prestigious awards throughout his broadcast career, including national Emmy Awards for his coverage of the Chicago train wreck of 1999 and for individual reporting of Sept. 11. He also has received a National Association of Black Journalists Award, four Associated Press Awards and six regional Emmy Awards.
