NBC NEWSMAN TOM BROKAW TO SPEAK AT ODU SEPT. 26 TO OPEN COVITS

Broadcast pioneer and NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw will deliver the opening address at the seventh annual Commonwealth of Virginia's Information Technology Symposium (COVITS) at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 in the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Tickets are $15.00 and are on sale now at the Constant Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at ticketmaster.com, or by calling (757) 671-8100.

In many ways, Brokaw has set the pace for broadcast journalism. Sole anchor of the NBC Nightly News since 1983, Brokaw's insight, ability and integrity have earned him numerous awards for his journalistic achievements, including the DuPont Award, a Peabody Award and several Emmy, Overseas Press Club, Edward R. Murrow and National Headliner awards.

Brokaw received the prestigious Paul White Award for Lifetime Achievement in Electronic Journalism from the Radio-Television News Directors Association and the 2002 Distinguished Service Award from the Eisenhower Institute. He has an equally distinguished record as a political reporter - having covered every presidential election since 1968 - and has written four bestsellers.

Hosted by the Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner, and Secretary of Technology, George C. Newstrom, COVITS will examine the state of the Information Age from the perspectives of a number of public and private sector organizations incorporating theme 'Virginia � Portal to the Emerging Global Marketplace.' More than 1,100 registered delegates from 21 states and the District of Columbia, and 18 countries are expected to attend the event to be held Sept. 26-28 in Norfolk.