Scholarship Benefactor Larry King Coming to GW

CNN host and GW honorary degree recipient Larry King will be participating in a “Conversation Series” interview with School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) Director Frank Sesno on March 4th. King is a generous benefactor to the University, endowing a scholarship fund to provide financial aid to budding journalists. Since 2000, the fund has assisted 38 students, including journalism and communications senior Elizabeth Richardson.

“The best thing [about the award] was that I had peace of mind and could focus,” said Richardson, a California native whose parents were hit hard by the recession last year.  “It was so valuable to me to have help and be able to afford my tuition.”

“Larry’s generosity has helped so many students follow their dreams and pursue an education,” said Sesno, who along with Columbian College Dean Peg Barratt, will host a luncheon in King’s honor. “He is a real presence every day, both on the air and at the School of Media and Public Affairs.”

Over the course of his 50+ years in broadcasting, King has performed more than 40,000 interviews, most of those as host of Larry King Live, CNN’s longest-running interview program. The Conversation Series event will feature clips from his career and include discussions about the rise of CNN and the fine line between entertainment and news. Audience questions will be encouraged during the second half of the program.

The event, which is open to the public, will be held in the Jack Morton Auditorium. Tickets will be available later in February. For more information, visit http://www.gwu.edu/~smpa.