Journalist Roland Martin announced as keynote speaker of MLK Jr. Program

Roland_Martin
Roland Martin

Renowned journalist Roland Martin, lauded for his honest and hard-hitting news delivery, will be the guest speaker at Radford University's Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Program.

Martin is the host and managing editor of TV One’s NewsOne Now, the first daily morning news program in history to focus on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports and culture from an explicitly African American perspective.

Martin spent six years as a contributor for CNN, appearing on numerous shows and earning accolades for his no-holds honesty, conviction and perspective on various issues. In 2009, CNN was awarded the Peabody Award for its outstanding 2008 election coverage, of which Martin was a member of the Best Political Team on Television.

In his career, Martin has earned more than 30 awards for journalistic excellence, including being named the Journalist of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of Black Journalists for his extensive focus on voter suppression and other issues of concern to African Americans during the 2012 election. Martin was also awarded the 2008 President’s Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for his work in multiple media platforms. He is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner and has been named by Ebony Magazine on three occasions as one of the 150 Most Influential African Americans in the United States.

Martin has also authored and contributed to numerous books, including "The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House."

Martin is a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates High School-Magnet School of Communications, and a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism. In May 2008, Martin received a master’s degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University.

"We are honored to invite Mr. Martin to Radford University's campus," said Center for Diversity and Inclusion Director Crasha Townsend. "His vibrant career has touched and changed the lives of many people, near and far. I expect his message next month to do the same for our audience. I encourage the campus community to participate in what promises to be an uplifting and uniting program."

The Commemorative Program is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. in Preston Hall's Bondurant Auditorium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Dec 14, 2016
Mary Hardbarger
540-831-5150
mhardbarger@radford.edu