Five Famous Alums: Broadcasters and Journalists
From NPR to sports, list includes trailblazers
Nina Totenberg (Hon.’11) has been legal affairs correspondent for National Public Radio since 1975. She broke the story of the sexual harassment allegations against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas by Anita Hill, then a University of Oklahoma College of Law professor, during Thomas’ 1991 confirmation hearings. Totenberg left BU prior to graduation to take a job at the Boston Record American. Before joining NPR, she was Washington editor of the newsmagazine New Times and legal affairs correspondent for the National Observer. She is the daughter of acclaimed violinist Roman Totenberg, a School of Music professor emeritus, who died at 101 in 2012. Above, Totenberg receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at BU’s 2011 Commencement ceremony. Photo by Vernon Doucette
Among the approximately 312,000 graduates of Boston University are a number of men and women who have distinguished themselves in their chosen profession. Statesmen. Writers. Scientists. Theologians. Actors. Athletes. Each week this summer, we’re bringing you photos of five of these notable alums.
This week our spotlight is on five boundary-pushing broadcasters and journalists.
Bill O’Reilly (COM’75) is a television anchor, journalist, author, and host of The O’Reilly Factor, which debuted on the Fox News Channel in 1996. Known for his politically conservative views and sometimes controversial statements, O’Reilly, who earned a master’s in broadcast journalism at BU, was a correspondent for CBS News and ABC News and an anchor of the syndicated show Inside Edition before becoming host of his eponymous broadcast. He has written a series of best-selling historical thrillers, including 2015’s Killing Reagan. Here, O’Reilly at a College of Communication award ceremony in 2009. Photo by Vernon Doucette
Howard Stern (CGS’74, COM’76) is one of America’s best-known radio personalities, host of the long-running Howard Stern Show, which was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005 before moving to Sirius XM Radio in 2006. The controversial shock-jock and self-proclaimed King of All Media (he filed for a trademark for the moniker in 2006) began his career in radio as an undergrad at WTBU, where he hosted a weekly show called the King Schmaltz Bagel Hour. He was fired from that gig after airing a segment called “Making the Bishop Blush.” In addition to his radio show, Stern has been a frequent presence on TV, appearing as a judge on seasons 7 through 10 of the reality hit series America’s Got Talent. The best-selling author of two books, Private Parts and Miss America, Stern was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. Above, Stern in May 2012. Photo by Bill Norton
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