2020, Chris Wallace, Anchor, “Fox News Sunday”

Chris Wallace, the award-winning broadcast journalist, best-selling author and anchor of “Fox News Sunday,” received the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at the Institute’s annual fundraising gala, on Nov. 10, 2020.

This prestigious award honors those whose journalism careers have made a significant impact on democracy and its institutions. Over five decades, Chris Wallace has built a career of journalistic accomplishment, marked by unrelenting reporting and tough-but-fair interviews that hold the powerful to account. Wallace’s election coverage, including a much-heralded interview this summer with President Donald Trump, and his selection by a bi-partisan commission to moderate the first presidential debate, reflects his deep relevance today. He also recently published “Countdown 1945” — a best-selling book about Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.

“We are honored to celebrate the outstanding career of Chris Wallace and the incredible vitality and honesty of his journalism. Chris’ record of balanced reporting across the years makes him among the most respected journalists in America today, even in these strikingly polarized times,” said Neil Brown, president of Poynter.

“Chris started in local news, which is near and dear to our hearts at Poynter, and his commitment to excellence continues as he prepares to moderate the first presidential debate next week,” Brown said. “We work hard at Poynter to support high-integrity, independent journalism that serves democracy. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting recipient of the Poynter award in 2020.”

This year marks more than a half century for Wallace in broadcast news. In that time, he has won nearly every major broadcast journalism award for his reporting, including three Emmy awards, the Dupont-Columbia Silver Baton, the Peabody Award and the Sol Taishoff Award for Broadcast Journalism from the National Press Foundation. Recently, Wallace was named as the recipient of the International Center for Journalists Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism for his unbiased and piercing approach to interviews.

Wallace joined Fox News in 2003 after working at ABC News as senior correspondent for “Primetime Thursday” and substitute host for “Nightline.” Prior to joining ABC News, Wallace served as NBC’s Chief White House correspondent from 1982-1989. During his tenure at NBC, he covered Democratic and Republican conventions and moderated “Meet the Press” from 1987-1988, making him the only person to have hosted two Sunday news talk shows. He also anchored the Sunday edition of NBC “Nightly News” from 1982-1984 and 1986-1987. Wallace began his career in local news at WNBC-TV (NBC 4) in New York and as a reporter at the Boston Globe. Wallace graduated from Harvard College.

“The Poynter Institute has been promoting and teaching solid journalism for almost half a century.  At a time when traditional standards of fairness and accuracy are being questioned — both in and outside the industry — Poynter is a keeper of the flame for our profession. I am proud to receive the Poynter Medal. My only quibble is about ‘Lifetime Achievement.’ I am just getting started,” said Wallace.