Grady College dedicates Peyton Anderson Forum

The Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will dedicate the Peyton Anderson Forum in ceremonies on Dec. 2.

The Peyton Anderson Forum is made possible through the special relationship of two leaders in journalism: Tom Johnson, a 1963 graduate of Grady College, and his mentor, Peyton Anderson, the late publisher and philanthropist from Macon, Ga., whose Peyton Anderson Foundation has helped support the project.

“With as much use as it’s getting by students and events, the way it lifts our sights, and the bright message it sends, I wonder every day, ‘what did Grady ever do without the Peyton Anderson Forum,’” said Charles Davis, dean of Grady College. “The forum truly symbolizes its investment in students and the Grady community in a space that invites ideas and collaboration.”

Johnson will deliver the dedication lecture, “A Tribute to Peyton Anderson” at 2:30 p.m. in Studio 100 at Grady College.

A reception and ribbon-cutting will follow at 3:45 p.m. at the Peyton Anderson Forum on the second floor of Grady College.  

Anderson was a lion of Georgia journalism, publishing and philanthropy whose nationally prominent newspapers developed the executive careers of influential University of Georgia Grady College alumni including Don E. Carter (ABJ ’38), Carrol Dadisman (ABJ ’56), William Ott (ABJ ’49), Billy Watson (ABJ ’60) and Johnson.

Anderson saw promise and talent in Johnson, who became president/publisher of the Los Angeles Times, and chairman/president of Cable News Network, and whose integrity, judgment and leadership have influenced the modern world of media.

Tom and Edwina Johnson created the Peyton Anderson scholarship at Grady in gratitude to him.