ABC News anchor David Muir invokes a 'hunger for the truth' while receiving ASU award

ABC News' David Muir called on a "hunger for the truth" among journalism students while being honored Thursday afternoon by Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix. Anchor and managing editor of the eponymously named "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir," the 50-year-old newsman is the 40th recipient of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. The luncheon paying tribute to Muir was attended by about 1,000 people and raised nearly $270,000 for student scholarships and Cronkite School, according to the institution. "I'm here to tell you that there is no more important path than the one you have chosen for this moment: journalism — the hunger for the truth and the pursuit of storytelling in a time of so much noise out there," Muir said at a lectern onstage after being handed a crystal plaque. "What you're setting out to do has never been more important and more needed than it is today."

Muir's acceptance speech touched upon the political divisiveness within the U.S., challenges to the country's democracy and disinformation. He likened these times to those when Walter Cronkite was anchor of the "CBS Evening News" during the tumultuous 1960s. Muir highlighted how Cronkite famously choked up as he announced the assassination death of President John F. Kennedy during an on-camera bulletin report.

"If you go back and study that moment, it was clear that he was living through what the audience was living through," Muir said, adding future journalists must invest in what worries and what brings joy to their audience. "I'm convinced that the audience, over time they see it, and they know. And it's that connection — that humanity — that we must always remember. It's earned. And it's earned by putting in the work."

He also mentioned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hamas' attack on Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among world leaders he has interviewed. To laughter from the crowd, he jokingly recalled how he interviewed Pope Francis by employing "high school Spanish."

In the decade Muir has spearheaded the broadcast, "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir" has won multiple Emmys, including one in 2023 for outstanding live news program. He has sat down for interviews with each of the past three sitting U.S. presidents and has covered hot spots like Afghanistan and Iraq.

But Muir said his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as an ABC News field reporter underscored the value of journalism. Muir and his crew were in a rental car when they panned a camera at mothers crying for help on the street after they evacuated during mass flooding. Initially feeling invasive about capturing these and other moments of distress following the hurricane, Muir realized federal aid came once those images were shared nationwide.

"It was what it took to inform the country and to get the help that was so desperately needed. And that's what I believe we do as journalists. And that's what I would encourage the students here at the Cronkite School to always remember: You have to go to the story. You have to bear witness," Muir said.

A mini-documentary on Muir's career played during the ceremony featuring interviews of his colleagues, including Diane Sawyer, who said the competitive Cronkite would see him with "a little envy, and so much admiration." In the video, Muir talked about being a kid inspired by his famed predecessor on the primetime ABC News anchor desk.

"I vividly remember watching Peter Jennings, thinking he was sort of the James Bond of the evening news, the globetrotter out all over the world," Muir said in the video.

Muir was introduced by Cronkite School junior Denzen Cortez, who was referred to early in the program as an aspiring ABC News correspondent. Cortez spoke about how he studied Muir's "clear and direct" communication style."I have such hope now — I really do — for the future. They are so inspiring — the students here at the Cronkite School," Muir said toward the end of his speech.

Muir was in Phoenix filming his news broadcast on Wednesday evening. He followed that up with a Q&A session he was the subject of at Cronkite School's First Amendment Forum. Thursday evening's news broadcast was also filmed in Phoenix.

At the top of the program, Cronkite School Dean Battinto Batts Jr. spoke of the importance of investing in emerging journalists in a shrinking industry. "Across our country and our world right now, you will find news deserts. Whole communities that lack any media providing accurate and responsible reporting of what is happening in their own towns and cities. We must continue to create experiential and immersive learners," Batts said.

A little more than 680 degrees were earned through the Cronkite School in the spring and fall semesters of 2023, according to figures from the institution.

Anderson Cooper, Bob Costas, Lester Holt, Gwen Ifill, Scott Pelley, Robin Roberts, Helen Thomas and Bob Woodward were some of the media luminaries previously honored at Cronkite's leading philanthropic event.

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @jrgzztx.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ABC News anchor David Muir receives ASU's Walter Cronkite for 2024