Join us for a fun and memorable evening of food, cocktails and conversation at the Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill. Legendary newsman Dan Rather will speak about what he has learned from a lifetime of reporting and his experiences as a living witness to history, covering the biggest events and news stories of our times.
With a career that began in radio and is currently shaping news coverage in social media and beyond, Dan Rather has earned his place as one of the world’s most influential and respected journalists. During 44 years at CBS, including 24 years as anchor of the CBS Evening News, he interviewed every president since Eisenhower and personally covered history-making events from the Kennedy assassination through Vietnam, Watergate, Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall, 9/11, and the Iraq invasion.
During this time, Rather earned a reputation as “the hardest working man in broadcast journalism” for simultaneously heading up the CBS Evening News, 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. He is the recipient of virtually every honor in broadcast journalism, including numerous Emmy Awards, several Peabody Awards and the 2012 Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award.
Currently president and CEO of News and Guts, an independent multimedia production company, Rather remains an integral part of our national conversation. In January 2018, he premiered The News with Dan Rather on the Young Turks Network. The weekly show focuses on original reporting and stories that aren’t receiving the attention they deserve in mainstream media.
Rather’s best-selling book of original essays, What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, takes on the toxic political atmosphere and polarization of our times with a hopeful reminder of the core ideals that all Americans share. It also incorporates Rather’s decades of experience as a living witness to history, covering the biggest events and news stories of our times.
Our invitation-only party begins at the Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill, walking distance from the JW Marriott and the ONA Opening Night Reception at ACL Live. Enjoy cocktails, barbeque snacks and Texas-style hors d'oeuvres. Join engaging conversations with the most interesting people at ONA18!
Please dress accordingly for the weather. If weather is inclement the event will still occur and follow the same schedule.
At last year's SmartNews reception at ONA17 in Washington, D.C., we hosted Carl Bernstein on the rooftop of the historic Watergate Hotel. The former Washington Post reporter, who broke the Watergate scandal that drove President Richard Nixon from office, spoke about fake news and the importance of journalistic truth.
