Arts & Issues Presents Peter Maer, Veteran White House Correspondent and SIUE Alum
Veteran White House Correspondent and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alum Peter Maer will discuss his experiences as a radio journalist covering the presidential beat for approximately 40 years. “My Journey from Granite City to the White House” is Maer’s presentation for the next Arts & Issues series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom.
Maer, who retired from CBS News in January, is a native of Granite City. He will describe how his hometown roots guided his reporting. He will also offer his own opinions about media coverage and news regarding the 2016 presidential campaign.
According to an article printed in U.S. News & World Report, the 62-year-old said he wanted to enter the world of journalism from the age of eight. Maer’s desire was to become a newspaper reporter, but he got his first break in radio in Granite City while in high school.
Maer quickly advanced at the station and later landed a job as a jockey at KSHE 95 in St. Louis when it had a hard rock format. His news break came when he was assigned to cover President Jimmy Carter’s transition after the 1976 election.
Throughout his illustrious career, Maer said he kept a simplistic and honest approach to his reporting by considering “. . . what would the people back in Granite City, Ill. want to know about this?”
Maer is a five-time recipient of the Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure. He has also been recognized with other honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Award. He twice served as commencement speaker at SIUE and treasures his Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his alma mater.
For tickets, visit the Morris University Center Welcome Desk, visit artsandissues.com or call 1-866-698-4253.
The Arts & Issues series brings artistic excellence to the SIUE campus through an eclectic blend of speakers and performers. For more than 30 years, SIUE’s Arts & Issues series has showcased some of the world's finest artists. Each season, thought-provoking speakers inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. Thanks to the underwriting of SIUE, corporations, foundations and individual donors, tickets are often discounted as much as 50 percent.
Arts & Issues is tied to the academic mission of the University and offers unique opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community, to engage with performers and speakers through master classes and special sessions.
Photo: Peter Maer
