David Hartman to Lecture at Duke Feb. 25

DURHAM, N.C. -- David Hartman, founding host of ABC's "Good Morning America" and currently a documentary producer for PBS, will present a lecture titled "TV News Interviewing '04: Entertain? Inform? Inspire?" on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Duke University.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, begins at 8 p.m. in Room 04 of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. Parking is available in the lot behind the Sanford Institute.

Hartman, a 1956 graduate of Duke, also will accept the Futrell Award for Excellence in Communications and Journalism. The award is named for Ashley B. Futrell Sr., publisher of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington (N.C.) Daily News. It is given by the institute's DeWitt Wallace Center for Communications and Journalism to Duke alumni working in the field of journalism.

Hartman is best known as host of "Good Morning America," which was launched in 1975. During his 11-year tenure, he conducted more than 12,000 interviews with people from all walks of life, and the show became the nation's top-rated morning news and information program.

Since leaving the show, Hartman has been a documentary host, writer and producer. He currently co-writes and hosts a public TV documentary series about New York City. In 2003, he hosted an hourlong documentary on the Wright Brothers in celebration of the centennial of powered flight.

Hartman is involved in many charitable activities, including serving as national chairman of the American Heart Association and trustee of the African Wildlife Foundation. He also participates in the programs of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

After earning a degree in economics at Duke, Hartman served three years active duty as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, Strategic Air Command. Among Hartman's professional honors are two national news and documentary Emmy Awards, the Aviation/Space Writers' Journalism Award, the Silver Apple Award and the Cine Golden Eagle.