PBS, Jim Lehrer Memorial Fund create journalism fellowship in honor of late anchor

PBS NewsHour has launched the Jim Lehrer Journalism Fellowship “in honor of award-winning, longtime PBS NewsHour anchor and co-founder Jim Lehrer,” according to the station, with financial support also being offered from the Jim Lehrer Memorial Fund.

Lehrer passed away at age 85 in January. The award-winning newsman had co-anchored “PBS NewsHour” alongside Robert MacNeil for two decades before anchoring the program solo for nearly 16 years. 

“There never has been a greater need for bright young journalists. There never has been a better model than Jim Lehrer,” said “PBS NewsHour” anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff.

“Jim would be thrilled to know a young journalist has a chance to learn about news gathering from the program created in his name. We all look forward to welcoming the Jim Lehrer fellows to the NewsHour.”

The annual program is open to a college graduate seeing a journalism career, and “will offer hands-on experience across NewsHour’s broadcast and online editorial and production units,” according to PBS.

Once deemed “the dean of moderators” by former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw, Lehrer moderated 12 general election presidential debates throughout his career.