Media coverage of the century’s most historic political election has been subjected to praise and scorn from both campaign camps vying to be viewed positively by the voting public. University students will explore perceptions of the media, the election, economy and environment in a question and answer session with television journalist Forrest Sawyer, Sept. 25 from 3 – 3:45 p.m., in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theater. The event is free and open to all University students.

Sawyer is visiting the University as guest speaker at the 27th annual Foundation Banquet, Sept. 25, at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

“It is always powerful to learn about the intricacies of a journalism career from an experienced professional,” said Jerry Ceppos, dean of the Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies. “The meeting format encourages discussion and offers students an opportunity to ask questions that may not come up in class.”

Sawyer has more than 24 years of experience reporting from around the world. He has worked for ABC, CBS, and MSNBC and has anchored ABC magazine programs Day One and Turning Point.

Sawyer also anchored ABC World News Sunday and Good Morning America, and was the primary substitute anchor on ABC’s Nightline for a decade.

Sawyer founded FreeFall Productions, an award-winning documentary production company whose work includes the acclaimed documentary “Return to the la Drang,” which for the first time returned United States veterans to a critical Vietnam battlefield to meet their one-time enemies.

Sawyer is the recipient of journalism’s prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. He’s nabbed seven Emmy Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, an Associated Press Award, an Ohio State Award, an Ark Award and two American Psychological Association Awards.

Mr. Sawyer has reported on every United States action over the past two decades. In 1990 and 1991 he spent eight months covering the Gulf War, scoring numerous exclusives from Baghdad to Saudi Arabia to Iran; including reports from inside Kuwait City before it was liberated by coalition forces.