The Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism is an annual award presented by Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The recipient is deemed to represent a leading figure in the journalism industry, especially for ground-breaking achievements which have advanced the industry as a whole. The first award was presented by legendary journalist Walter Cronkite himself in 1984.
| Year | Recipient | Position at Time of Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | David Muir[1] | ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 |
| 2022 | Gayle King[2] | CBS Mornings anchor |
| 2021 | Al Roker[3] | Today anchor and weatherman |
| 2020 | Dean Baquet[4] | The New York Times executive editor |
| 2019 | Lester Holt[5] | NBC Nightly News anchor |
| 2018 | Anderson Cooper[6] | CNN anchor, Anderson Cooper 360 |
| 2017 | Judy Woodruff[7] | PBS NewsHour co-anchors and managing editors |
| Gwen Ifill | ||
| 2016 | Scott Pelley[8] | CBS Evening News anchor |
| 2015 | None | |
| 2014 | Robin Roberts[9] | Good Morning America anchor |
| 2013 | Bob Schieffer[10] | Face the Nation moderator |
| 2012 | Bob Costas[11] | Football Night in America host |
| 2011 | Christiane Amanpour[12] | This Week with Christiane Amanpour anchor |
| 2010 | Diane Sawyer[13] | World News with Diane Sawyer anchor |
| 2009 | Brian Williams[14] | NBC Nightly News anchor and managing editor |
| 2008 | Robert MacNeil[15] | Longtime PBS news anchors of The MacNeil/Lehrer Report |
| Jim Lehrer | ||
| 2007 | Jane Pauley[16] | former anchor of NBC's Today Show and founding co-host of Dateline NBC |
| 2006 | Tom Brokaw[17] | NBC Nightly News former anchor |
| 2005 | Dave Barry[18] | Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist of the Miami Herald |
| 2004 | Charles Osgood[19] | Host of The Osgood File and CBS News Sunday Morning |
| 2003 | Andy Rooney[20] | 60 Minutes correspondent |
| 2002 | Al Michaels[21] | ABC Sports sportscaster |
| 2001 | Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Washington Post | |
| 2000 | Cokie Roberts[22] | ABC News correspondent |
| 1999 | Tom Johnson[23] | President of CNN |
| 1998 | Ben Bradlee[24] | Executive editor of The Washington Post (1965–91) |
| 1997 | Roone Arledge[25] | Chairman of ABC News |
| 1996 | Former host of On the Road and CBS News Sunday Morning | |
| 1995 | PBS host and producer | |
| 1994 | CNN anchor | |
| 1993 | White House bureau chief of United Press International | |
| 1992 | Creator and executive producer of 60 Minutes | |
| 1991 | Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist and author | |
| 1990 | Chairman and president of TBS and founder of CNN | |
| 1989 | Publisher and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine | |
| 1988 | Chairman of Gannett Co. and founder of USA Today | |
| 1987 | Chairwoman of the board of the Washington Post Co. | |
| 1986 | Publisher of the Los Angeles Times | |
| 1985 | Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist | |
| 1984 | Founder of CBS | |
| Former president of CBS | ||