October 21, 2009 – News & Views

Byron Pitts ’82

Photo courtesy of Byron Pitts

Meet CBS News Correspondent Byron Pitts ’82
Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, author here on October 29

One of OWU’s favorite alumni, Byron Pitts ’82, will be on campus on Thursday, October 29, to talk about his new book “Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges.” Members of the Ohio Wesleyan community are invited to the brown bag lunch at 12:15 p.m. in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center to meet Pitts and hear him talk about his book and his special relationship with Ohio Wesleyan.

From his commentary following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, his gripping reports on the Elian Gonzalez story, or in more recent years, his gutsy reports from Iraq, the voice and visage of CBS National News Correspondent and “60 Minutes” Correspondent Byron Pitts are becoming more familiar with each passing day.

Since Pitts graduated from OWU in 1982 with majors in journalism and speech communication (his special mentors were Professors Ülle Lewes, Verne Edwards, and Ed Robinson), he has held a variety of professional posts as a news correspondent, covering the biggest worldwide breaking news stories. As he told the Ohio Wesleyan Magazine during his 2006 visit to campus as OWU’s Commencement speaker, “such professionalism is possible with determination, hard work, and mentors in one’s life who believe in you.” Faith, family, and good friends—and how Byron Pitts has turned some of the struggles he has faced during his life into strength—is the focus of his book and his brief commentary during his OWU visit.

The brown bag lunch on October 29 begins at 12:15 p.m., with a scheduled book signing by Pitts to begin at 1:15 p.m. just outside of the Benes rooms in the campus center (books also will be sold there at a 10 percent discount for a total of $24.00, including tax). Pitts’ books are on sale now in OWU’s bookstore, and can be purchased before the October 29 lunch. Come out to welcome our Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist—and author—Byron Pitts, home!

– Pam Besel