Simpson to receive Noam Chomsky Award

Carole Simpson, senior leader-in-residence of the Journalism Department, will receive the Noam Chomsky Award from the Justice Studies Association at its national conference at Bridgewater State University on Thursday, May 28.

The award, in honor of famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and philosopher Noam Chomsky, recognizes someone who reflects Chomsky’s dedication to human rights and human well-being issues, including free speech and mass media.

Simpson is best known for her work as the weekend anchor of ABC World News Tonight.

Simpson is a frequent commentator on national news broadcasts, and in recent weeks made appearances on CNN to talk about the ethical issues facing Brian Williams and George Stephanopoulos. 

Simpson has been a trailblazing pioneer for both African Americans and women in the field of broadcast journalism. Dedicated to fighting injustice, she used her position at ABC as a platform to right racial and gender injustices, many of which are outlined in her memoir News Lady.

Among her many accomplishments, Simpson was the first African American woman to anchor a national network newscast and the first woman or person of color to moderate a presidential debate.