Journalist, writer James Fallows to deliver 2023 Joe Creason Lecture
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 16, 2023) — Nationally prominent writer, editor and broadcast commentator James Fallows is scheduled to deliver the Joe Creason Lecture, held by the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media, on Friday, March 31 at 6 p.m. in the Gatton Student Center.
An author of 12 books, Fallows’ most recent release, Our Towns, co-authored with his wife Deborah Fallows, not only became a national bestseller, but was made into a documentary film for HBO in 2021. He received the American Book Award for his 1981 book National Defense, and the National Magazine Award for his 2002 article “The Fifty-First State” in The Atlantic, which warned against the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award several times.
Throughout his career with The Atlantic, other magazines and as an NPR contributor, Fallows has reported from China, Japan, Malaysia, Europe as well as Texas, California,and Washington state in addition to his home base of Washington, D.C. He holds degrees in American history and literature from Harvard, where he was editor of the college newspaper, and in economics from Oxford, where he was a Rhodes scholar. While still in his 20s, he served as chief White House speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter.
The Joe Creason Lecture Series honors the memory of outstanding Kentucky journalist and honored alumnus Joe Creason. Made possible through a matching grant from the Bingham Enterprises Foundation of Kentucky and gifts donated by UK alumni and friends, the Joe Creason Lecture Series Fund was established in 1975.
This year’s event combines the Creason Lecture with the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame induction of five journalists who have made significant contributions to the profession of journalism.
Seating is limited. Members of the UK community and public may RSVP by 4 p.m. Friday, March 24, by calling the UK School of Journalism and Media at (859) 257-3904 or emailing pamela.edwards@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.