Jean Chatzky presentation - a sell out

Each year, we have the pleasure of bringing in an outstanding broadcast journalist to speak to our community, as a part of our ongoing Jessica Savitch Distinguished Journalism Lecture Series.

This year, our speaker was Jean Chatzky, NBC's personal finance editor. Jean appears every Wednesday morning on the Today Show -- and also has written several books, maintains a blog, sells audiotapes of her work, and even has a line of personal planners that are sold online and through Target. Jean spoke to a filled Emerson Suites audience and spoke about her own career, how Jessica Savitch's ideas ring true today in terms of personal and financial success, and how to navigate one's own financial decisions.

This lecture series was established by the Savitch family as a continuing recognition of Jessica Savitch’s pioneering spirit, professional dedication, and overall influence on broadcast journalism. Jessica was a pioneer woman in broadcast journalism and a 1968 graduate of our TV-Radio department. At NBC, she delivered the one-minute prime-time news updates during the week, anchored the Saturday edition of the NBC Nightly News, and anchored NBC’s special news service for its television affiliates. In addition, she hosted the PBS documentary series Frontline. Her work was widely respected and won many honors, including an Emmy.

Throughout her career Savitch remained closely involved with her alma mater, returning to Ithaca periodically to teach a mini-course on television news. She gave the main address at the College’s 1979 commencement, at which she was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. In 1980 she was elected to the Ithaca College Board of Trustees. Savitch's life tragically ended in an automobile accident in 1983 -- however, her memory is kept alive here at Ithaca where her sister, Stephanie Savitch and her best friend, Roberta Spring, return each year for this event and to meet our Savitch scholars.

This event is one of the things that makes the Park School special -- and this year it truly highlighted Jessica Savitch's legacy of professionalism and innovation.