CNN’s chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny will return to his alma mater this month.
Zeleny will deliver the Bruning Public Service Lecture from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the College of Law’s Hamann Auditorium.
A native of Exeter, Nebraska, and 1996 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate, Zeleny has traveled the world covering the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His work spans Democratic and Republican primaries, mid-term and general elections, and coverage of presidential administrations and Congress.
His presentation, titled The Fourth Estate and the Presidency, will expand on having a front-row seat to cover five American presidential administrations during a quarter-century at the White House. He will also focus on why two pillars of public service—the media and politics—are even more essential in a highly-polarized era.
The lecture series, named after former Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, is dedicated to exploring the significance of dedicating one’s career to public service.
“I started this lecture series because I think civility in politics is so important,” Bruning told KLIN News. “I think it’s important that we listen to the other side. I’m a Republican, but I care deeply about what my Democrat friends think. It’s important for us to realize we’re all on the same team.”
The presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Details are available at marketplace.unl.edu.