Award-winning broadcast journalist and author John Quiñones will be the next featured speaker in the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series at Ball State University. 

Mr. Quiñones’ lecture, “From the Barrio to Network Television: The Power of Never Taking ‘No’ for an Answer,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 11 at Pruis Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public, but general admission tickets are required for entry into this event. Ticket information is available on Ball State University’s online events calendar.  

Highlights of Mr. Quiñones’ career include 33 years at ABC News—which includes time at the anchor desks of TV News magazines “20/20” and “Primetime,” hosting the TV Show, What Would You?, and writing his latest book, “What Would You Do? Words Of Wisdom About Doing The Right Thing.” He has won seven national Emmy awards for his reporting through the years. Among his other honors are Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and a Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. 

During Mr. Quiñones’ visit to Ball State’s campus on April 11, he will also engage with students in workshops within the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM). 

“We look forward to welcoming Mr. Quiñones to Ball State as our next guest in the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. This promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking event,” said Dr. Paaige Turner, CCIM dean. “Mr. Quiñones is a true pioneer in the network news field and his work has impacted so many people. We are fortunate that he is willing to share some of his experiences and insights with our students, the broader campus community, and the general public.” 

The David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series was established in 2008 through a generous gift from Mr. Letterman, a 1969 Ball State graduate. The series brings major business, media, and academic figures to campus to engage students in discussions about the latest issues in communications, emerging media, and cultural forces shaping our society. 

Guests have included legendary newscaster Ted Koppel, Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, innovator Tom Kelley, and public policy expert Kathleen Hall Jamieson. Mr. Letterman has personally invited and hosted conversations with media icon and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, MSNBC prime-time host Rachel Maddow, and filmmakers Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller.