A
former president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Seigenthaler
served as an award-winning journalist for The Tennessean in Nashville
for 43 years. At the time of his retirement in 1991, he was the newspaper’s
editor, publisher and CEO. In 1982, Seigenthaler became the founding editorial
director of USA TODAY and served in that position as well until his retirement.
In 1991, he founded The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt
University to create national discussion, dialogue and debate about First
Amendment values.
Seigenthaler entered politics briefly in the 1960s to serve as administrative assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. His work in civil rights led to his role as chief negotiator with the governor of Alabama during the Freedom Rides.
Seigenthaler is a regular guest on FREEDOM SPEAKS, a program appearing on 112 public television stations, and is also the host of a weekly book review program, A Word on Words.