Change.org

Nominate a Changemaker

Changemakers

Bill Moyers, one of America's foremost journalists.

During his three decades in broadcasting, Moyers has pursued a broad spectrum of journalism. In presenting Moyers with the prestigious Gold Baton, the highest honor of the Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award, Columbia University President Michael Sovern called him "a unique voice, still seeking new frontiers in television, daring to assume that viewing audiences are willing to think and learn." The International Conference on Thinking, an annual gathering of scholars and researchers dedicated to improving critical and creative thinking, honored Moyers as a broadcaster "whose contributions to public awareness of the value and processes of thinking span multiple areas: helping the American public understand how we think, the influences that impact our thinking, and the joy and contributions that result from thinking effectively." In 2005, Moyers received the PEN USA Courageous Advocacy Award for his passionate, outspoken commitment to freedom of speech and his dedication to journalistic integrity.

A survey of television critics by TELEVISION QUARTERLY, the official journal of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, placed Moyers among the ten journalists who have had the most significant influence on television news. The Academy has also recognized his work with more than 30 Emmy Awards for excellence. In the first year it was awarded, he received the prestigious Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by the American Film Institute. A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has also received the Career Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association and has been honored by the Television Critics Association for outstanding career achievement. He was elected to the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and a year later received the Charles Frankel Prize (now the National Humanities Medal) from the National Endowment for the Humanities "for outstanding contributions to American cultural life."

Before establishing Public Affairs Television in 1986, he served as executive editor of BILL MOYERS JOURNAL on public television, senior news analyst for the CBS Evening News, and chief correspondent for the acclaimed documentary series, CBS REPORTS. Two of his public television series, CREATIVITY (1982) and A WALK THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY (1984), were named Outstanding Informational Series by the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his 1971 best-selling book, LISTENING TO AMERICA, four of Moyers' books based on his television series have also become bestsellers. His body of work includes the titles: JOSEPH CAMPBELL AND THE POWER OF MYTH, A WORLD OF IDEAS I AND II, HEALING AND THE MIND, REPORT FROM PHILADELPHIA (celebrating the Bicentennial of the Constitution), THE SECRET GOVERNMENT, GENESIS, and FOOLING WITH WORDS: A CELEBRATION OF POETS AND THEIR CRAFT. His most recent work is MOYERS ON AMERICA, a collection of speeches published in 2004.

Before entering broadcasting, Moyers was Deputy Director of the Peace Corps in the Kennedy Administration and Special Assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963-1967, including two years as White House press secretary (a recent survey of readers of American Journalism Review named Moyers "the best White House press secretary of all time.") He left the White House in January 1967 to become publisher of NEWSDAY, was for 12 years a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and now serves as president of The Schumann Center for Media and Democracy. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Organization of American Historians.

Suggest an edit / addition to this bio »

Promote this Nomination

You have 10 Votes remaining

About the Changemakers Network

The Changemakers initiative aims to identify and engage the leading activists, elected officials, authors, bloggers, actors, musicians and thought leaders who have the greatest capacity to spark change on issues of importance. Read more »

Browse Nominations by Cause

Popular Nominations: Education

close

This user's Profile page is not public. They have restricted it to only their friends.

Already a Member?

Create an Account

You must create a Change.org account to complete this action.
If you already have an account click here.