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Peter Jennings, A Legacy of Dignity and Humanity

Posted on Tuesday August 9, 2005

The Arab American Institute extends its condolences to the family and colleagues of ABC News anchor Peter Jennings.

In over four decades of reporting, Jennings earned the reputation as one of the world’s most respected journalists. He broke ground in covering the Arab world, establishing America’s first television news bureau in the Middle East in 1968 where he served as ABC bureau chief in Beirut, Lebanon for seven years. Jennings conducted the first television interview with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and was awarded a Peabody Award for his profile of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. During his time in Beirut, Jennings traveled to nearly every Arab country, developing the keen understanding of the region and its people that would come to characterize his reporting. “In a profession too often driven by ratings and politics, Peter Jennings was an exception,” said AAI President James Zogby. “He took on the world’s most complex and tragic conflicts with a unique sense of history and unmatched dignity and humanity.”

Jennings was also hailed for his connection to children and dedication to their understanding of world events. To this end, he anchored several specials for children, including a town hall meeting addressing their questions and fears after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jennings, the worthy recipient of virtually every major journalism award, returned to Beirut in 2000 for the first time and in 2004 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the American University in Beirut. American journalism has lost one of its most honored and principled voices.