Meet the brilliant broadcast journalist who tops the chart for Poynter’s Roy Peter Clark.  Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser ([link removed]) .
[link removed]

NBC News National Correspondent Kerry Sanders rescuing a dolphin on Florida’s Gulf Coast, courtesy of NBC News, surrounded by images of the Poynter Institute’s courtyard and Great Hall entertainment areas for this special event.
Good morning, ,
As the senior director of experience and events at the Poynter Institute, I’m thrilled to personally invite you to our first in-person public event hosted at the Institute since the pandemic began. It’s been a whopping three years since we’ve gathered at our campus in downtown St. Petersburg to meet trusted journalists for lively conversations about the news and issues that matter.
On the evening of Thursday, March 23, we welcome you and a broadcast journalist who took viewers to the heart of the story for decades on a wide variety of events that captivated the world – the incomparable Kerry Sanders. Throughout his 30+ years with NBC News, Sanders lived in war zones, swam with sharks and stood in the eye of at least 50 hurricanes — with range and humility, skill and authenticity.
GET TICKETS ([link removed])
[link removed]
Kerry Sanders and NBC Nightly News anchor and Poynter MediaWise Ambassador Lester Holt took a look back at Sanders’ extraordinary reporting ([link removed]) . (Courtesy NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt)
Perhaps Poynter’s senior scholar and writing coach, Dr. Roy Peter Clark, said it best when he wrote:


"I have been in the room with Brokaw, Rather, Costas, Winfrey. But I have never been more excited to meet a television journalist than the day I saw him sitting in the library of the Poynter Institute. I blurted something like, “Oh my God, it’s Kerry Sanders,” and bolted toward him like a teenage girl after the Beatles. He stood up and his eyes were wide in some level of comic alarm. I don’t remember what I said next but I recall what was in my heart: that of all the television journalists I had experienced in my life, Kerry Sanders was my absolute favorite."

You can find out more about why Roy is Sanders’ No.1 fan here ([link removed]) . We can't wait to welcome NBC News' Kerry Sanders back to Poynter in an event designed for you — our local friends and neighbors — to go behind-the-scenes of Sanders’ 200 days per year traveling the world on assignment and connect first-hand with the impact of journalistic excellence.
It’s also a homecoming of sorts for Sanders, who graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa and launched his early career at FOX 13 Tampa Bay. That brings me to another exciting announcement about the evening: Sanders will be interviewed by longtime local news anchor and our friend and fellow Poynter supporter, Kelly Ring.
Kelly Ring, longtime local news anchor, courtesy of FOX 13 News.
Sanders and Ring were colleagues early in their accomplished careers, and I’m looking forward to hearing about their experiences covering life in Tampa Bay — and the world — for us. Plus we’ll hear more about Sanders’ next big adventure: Retirement!
GET TICKETS ([link removed])
Our VIP Experience guests are in for a real treat.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with live music and an international wine reception under the lights and signature palm trees in our courtyard. The reception will be followed by a gourmet three-course dinner hosted in our spectacular Great Hall and prepared by Chef Alex Rodgriguez and the team at Lolita’s Wine Market.
An example of an international wine and main course pairing courtesy of Lolita’s Wine Market.
You’ll have an opportunity to greet Kerry Sanders, Kelly Ring, Poynter leaders — including a giddy Roy Peter Clark — and fellow Tampa Bay community members who share a common interest in supporting the free press.
The featured conversation will begin at 7:30 p.m.
GET TICKETS ([link removed])
On behalf of all of us at Poynter, Kerry Sanders, Kelly Ring and the journalists supported through your attendance — we look forward to celebrating with you.
I share Roy’s enthusiasm about meeting Kerry and I hope you do, too.
See you at Poynter on March 23!
Tina Dyakon
Senior Director of Experience and Events

P.S. Have a question for Kerry? Hit reply to this email and I’ll add it to the program. And, feel free to forward this invitation to a friend!
The Poynter Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to improve journalism in service to democracy. Proceeds from this fundraising event will support Poynter’s mission. We believe democracy needs healthy journalism in order to confront today’s complex challenges, and that everyone deserves access to high-quality information. To make a donation in lieu of attendance, please visit poynter.org/support.
Want to sponsor this event or support Poynter’s work deepening the connection between journalists and the community through public events across Tampa Bay? Please let me know and we can explore possibilities together.

ADVERTISE ([link removed]) // DONATE ([link removed]) // LEARN ([link removed]) // JOBS ([link removed])
Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here. ([link removed])
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] [link removed] mailto:[email protected]?subject=Feedback%20for%20Poynter
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
© All rights reserved Poynter Institute 2023
801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
If you don't want to receive email updates from Poynter, we understand.
You can change your subscription preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from all Poynter emails ([link removed]) .