ASU rescinds Rose’s ’15 journalism award
Move follows harassment allegations vs. TV host
Arizona State University is rescinding an award given to broadcast journalist Charlie Rose in the wake of allegations that he sexually harassed several women.
Rose, a longtime co-host of “CBS This Morning” and PBS’ “Charlie Rose” show, received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2015.
Taking away the award, which was created more than 30 years ago, is unprecedented.
Christopher Callahan, dean of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, announced the rescinding of the award in a statement Friday afternoon.
“We give the award each year based on the knowledge we have of a recipient
at that time,” he said in the statement. “When new information about a recipient surfaces, the question we ask is not whether the award would be given again with a new set of facts, but whether the transgressions are so egregious that they demand nothing less than a reversal of history.
“I believe Mr. Rose’s actions of sexual misconduct reported by The Washington Post and other media outlets, which are largely unrefuted, rise to that level.”
The Cronkite School convened a committee to discuss the issue this week.
Callahan, who is also Arizona PBS’ chief executive officer, said the decision was reached with input from many people, and the “overwhelming view” was that the award should be rescinded. The Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Friday to recommend rescinding the award.
Callahan said that in the end, the decision was made by him.
“Therefore any criticism of the decision, or the decision-making process, should be directed exclusively toward me,” he said in the statement.
An award had not been revoked since the school began presenting the honor in 1984.
A Washington Post story published Monday reported that eight women told the paper that Rose, 75, made unwanted sexual advances toward them. The women allege he made lewd phone calls, walked around nude or groped their breasts, buttocks or genital areas.
The Post article said the alleged incidents reportedly occurred from the late 1990s to 2011 and involved women who were employees or sought to work for Rose. After the initial article, three CBS employees said Rose’s unwanted sexual advances continued after 2011.
Earlier this week, CBS News announced that it had fired Rose, and PBS said it halted distribution of his show.
Rose was honored in October 2015 at the Cronkite Award Luncheon, the largest annual fundraiser for ASU’s journalism program.
Recipients of past Cronkite awards include such well-known journalists as Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, humor columnist Dave Barry and ABC anchor Diane Sawyer.
Callahan’s statement issued Friday went on to say, “The damage caused by Mr. Rose’s actions extends far beyond the news organizations for which he worked. The actions victimized young women much like those who make up the overwhelming majority of Cronkite students — young women who deserve to enter workplaces that reward them for their hard work, intelligence and creativity and where they do not have to fear for their safety or dignity.
“In rescinding this award, we hope to send an unequivocal message that what Mr. Rose did is unacceptable, and that such behavior — far too common in not just media companies but many organizations — must stop.”
Rose issued a statement Monday apologizing for what he called inappropriate behavior and saying he behaved insensitively at times. He also said he does not believe that all of the allegations are accurate.
Other institutions recently have found themselves in similar situations to ASU’s recently.
Harvard University in October revoked the 2014 Du Bois Medal given to embattled movie executive Harvey Weinstein after numerous women made allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The award honors contributions to African and African-American culture.
The University at Buffalo in New York also announced the same month that it was starting the process to revoke Weinstein’s honorary degree.
“The damage caused by Mr. Rose’s actions extends far beyond the news organizations for which he worked.” Christopher Callahan, dean of Arizona State University’s Cronkite School