By Mark Schulman
Campus Life Editor

Judy Woodruff, who has covered just about every major headline during her 30-year career in broadcast journalism, will speak at GPAC Nov 15. at 7 p.m. As a veteran reporter, she provides accountable and dependable commentating for television’s first daily show dedicated to politics, “Inside Politics,” on the 24-hour news network CNN.

She is the prime anchor, senior correspondent and host for the program.

She has continuously covered all eight presidential races since 1976 and anchored “America Votes 2004” during the Bush and Kerry elections.

Woodruff’s experience and talent fuels “Inside Politics” by informing viewers of the latest news, events and people in politics.

She brings political awareness to several generations nationally and internationally.UNCP’s Mass Communications Chair Dr. Jamie Litty said, “The younger generations may recognize her from CNN. But I hope that the significance of Woodruff’s earlier broadcast accomplishments are not lost on them. As a female White House correspondent for NBC in the mid-70s, she was a pioneer. And later with her coveted spot on ‘MacNeil/Lehrer,’ Woodruff enjoyed the ability to do in-depth interviews and longer news pieces than what you’d see on commercial television at that time.”

Woodruff joined CNN in 1993 and has covered major events including the award winning coverage from Washington D.C. following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In 2003, she co-anchored the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster from D.C. and the investigations following it at NASA Headquarters in Houston.

“Inside Politics” traveled to California to broadcast the events of the monumental California governor elections where Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected.

During the 2004 Democratic presidential race, Woodruff moderated CNN’s first sponsored debate in Phoenix. She also mediated CNN’s first two “Global Forums” in 1994 with former President Clinton and in 1995 with former President Jimmy Carter. She also provided coverage during former President Richard Nixon’s funeral.

Woodruff’s broadcasting career started at the CBS affiliated television station, WAGA-TV, in Atlanta in 1970 as a reporter covering state legislation. In 1975, she became NBC News’ general assignment reporter and in 1977 evolved into the program’s White House correspondent. She chronicled her journalism career in her 1982 book, “This is Judy Woodruff at the White House.”

Public television’s weekly documentary series “Frontline with Judy Woodruff” aired from 1984 through 1990 winning many awards. Up until 1993 when she signed on to CNN, she was the chief Washington correspondent for “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.”

The constant account of the Sept. 11 attacks provided by Woodruff and anchorman Aaron Brown earned CNN the 2002 Edward R. Murrow Award in the Continuing Coverage category. Woodruff covered the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996 and received the News and Documentary Emmy Award for outstanding instant coverage of a single breaking news story. She has won the CableACE award for Best Anchor Team with Bernard Shaw in 1996 and in 1995 for Best Newscaster.

She has been presented with several other awards for her excellence and dedication in journalism.

Woodruff was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003. She was the first recipient of the National Women’s Hall of Fame President’s 21st Century Award.

She is also a founding co-chair to the International Women’s Media Foundation.

Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University and serves on the board of trustees.

Judy Woodruff’s “Inside Politics” airs at 3 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays.

Tickets at GPAC will be $10 for the general audience and free for UNCP students.