Byron Pitts of “60 Minutes” to Speak at CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon

Byron Pitts, a CBS “60 Minutes” correspondent, and other CBS executives will speak to Florida A&M University (FAMU) journalism students and faculty as part of the CBS Harold Dow Professor Luncheon on Friday, October 14 at Hotel Duval.
“This professorship adds exceptional value to our program,” said the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) Dean James E. Hawkins. “We’re delighted that Byron Pitts and other representatives of CBS are here to help us launch this partnership.”
In addition to Pitts, other CBS executives expected include:

• Kim Godwin, a CBS Evening News senior producer, outstanding SJGC alumna and member of the SJGC Board of Visitors;
• Crystal Johns, CBS News director of development and diversity; and
• Susan Zirinsky, executive producer for CBS 48 hours and a former supervisor for Harold Dow
Dow was a long-time CBS News correspondent who came to FAMU and spoke to students as part of the Journalism Division’s 35th anniversary in 2009.  Dow died unexpectedly in August 2010, and CBS officials announced last year they would donate funds to support hiring a visiting professor as part of their diversity initiative and as a tribute to Dow. His widow, Kathy Dow, is expected to attend the luncheon.

Benjamin Davis, an award-winning broadcast journalist and digital journalism professor, has been hired as the inaugural CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor at FAMU. Davis, a two-time Columbia-Alfred du Pont award winner, has 30 years of experience working for major broadcast companies such as NBC Universal, ABC, CBS, Fox, and National Public Radio. He also was an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Journalism in New Jersey, where he gained nine years of experience teaching courses in broadcast and digital journalism. Davis is an entrepreneur who developed the Digital Media Pyramid writing style and founded Mediafriendly.com, a company that helps major media companies locate diversity experts.