Husband-and-wife duo Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, who combine journalism and activism in their unique brand of reporting centered on human rights abuses and advocacy, were the featured presenters at the fourth ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ Presidential Speaker Series on Nov. 14 in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. Kristof and WuDunn are the first married couple to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism for their coverage of Chinaâs Tiananmen Square democracy movement.
Their appearance was sponsored by ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍâs Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the College of Communication and Information. Approximately 650 people attended the free event.
âThese are front-line journalists who have seen the worldâs history unfold in front of their eyes, and their perspective demands our attention,â said ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ President Lester A. Lefton. âHuman rights continue to be a dominant issue around the world â one that our students will face as they enter the global workforce. Kristof and WuDunnâs message resonates with both our heads and our hearts.â
In 1990, Kristof and WuDunn earned a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for their reporting on the pro-democracy student movement and the related Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. They co-wrote âChina Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Powerâ and most recently penned the best-selling âHalf the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.â
For more information about ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍâs Presidential Speaker Series, visit .