I will share what I’ve told several times over the years: that a Duke professor named David Paletz had an enormous influence on me, on my decision to pursue journalism. It was the fall of 1968 and 20-year-old me was discouraged that after two summers working as a Congressional intern in Washington, the guidance I’d been given was not to return to D.C. I had envisioned a job in government but was advised that as a woman, the best I could hope for was coffee girl. When I shared this with Professor Paletz, he asked if I’d ever considered covering politics, becoming a news reporter. This planted a seed that grew through the rest of my senior year. The following spring I applied for a job at a half dozen TV news outlets in Atlanta. The job I landed, as newsroom secretary, or glorified coffee girl, at the ABC affiliate was of course what I wanted to avoid in D.C.(!) but it soon led to reporting. Five decades later, I’m beyond grateful to Professor Paletz for setting me on the course that’s led to such a fulfilling career, one I’m still pursuing. David is the perfect reminder that teachers shape lives!
Judy Woodruff
Senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS News Hour.