Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Thomas French will speak at The University of Memphis' Michael D. Rose Theatre from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22.
"Tom has been very excited about coming to work with The U of M community since I first extended the invitation," said Dana Rosengard, a journalism professor who played a significant role in bringing French to The U of M.
The department of journalism and the society of professional journalists, as part of the 2005 Freedom of Information Congress, are hosting French.
The event, which has a different high profile speaker each year, focuses on the public and media's right to access public records.
French was asked to speak because of his extended and successful career that began in 1981 at the St. Petersburg Times, where he still works.
In addition to winning the Pulitzer in 1998 for his story "Angels and Demons," he has received several other awards.
One of these is the prestigious Livingston Award, which he received in 1991 for a story entitled "South of Heaven." The story followed several teenagers through the trials of growing up.
Although he has worked in several areas of the newspaper, he is best known for his serial narratives. These stories are book length and are published over the course of several newspaper editions.
At last year's FOI Congress event TV broadcaster Anderson Cooper spoke. Randale Nunley, the technical manager at the Rose Theatre, said about 150 people attended. He said he expects about the same number although the contract for the speech says there will be approximately 450.
No matter how many people attend, Rosengard said this should be an enlightening experience for everyone who goes.
"I am excited that we have such a talented and celebrated journalist coming to campus again for the SPJ/FOI event," Rosengard said. "I am sure that will result in many teaching moments and some solid student interactions."
