Carole Simpson

Carole Simpson is anchor of "World News Sunday" and an Emmy Award winning senior correspondent for ABC News who reports frequently on family and social issues for the "American Agenda" series of "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings," "20/20," "Nightline," and other ABC news programs and specials. She also substitutes for Peter Jennings on "World News Tonight."

For the 1992 Presidential Debate, Ms. Simpson had the honor of being the sole moderator for the second exchange between the candidates.

Ms. Simpson was one of the reporters on the critically acclaimed documentary, "Black and White in America," and anchored three hour-long ABC News Specials: "The Changing American Family," "Public Schools in America," and "Sex and Violence in the Media."

In 1990, she was a member of the "Nightline" team in South Africa. She helped anchor ABC's live coverage of the release of Nelson Mandela from his 27 year imprisonment. While reporting on a victory celebration in Johannesburg, Ms. Simpson was injured during a melee between blacks and the South African police.

Ms. Simpson has also anchored (live) many major breaking news stories such as the Persian Gulf War, the Tiananmen massacre, the fall of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, and the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings.

Ms. Simpson - who has been a television broadcaster for more than 20 years - came to ABC News from NBC News in 1982. For six years, she covered Vice President George Bush, accompanying him on domestic and foreign trips and his 1988 Presidential campaign.

At NBC News, she covered the U.S. Congress and hosted a women's public affairs program on Washington's WRC-TV.

Her broadcasting career began in Chicago at WMAQ-TV, where she was a reporter and weekend anchor. Prior to joining NBC News in 1974, she was a journalism instructor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Ms. Simpson's other broadcasting experience includes serving as a commentator for WTTW, Chicago's public television station, as well as reporting and anchoring at WCFL radio and WBBM radio, the city's all news station. Earlier, she spent two years as a journalism instructor and director of the information bureau at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Ms. Simpson is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in journalism and did graduate work at the University of Iowa.

She has received numerous awards for her reporting on social issues, particularly those involving children and families, and for her efforts to improve opportunities for women and minorities in the broadcasting industry.

In addition to an Emmy and a Dupont Award, Ms. Simpson has won the Milestone in Broadcasting Award from the National Commission on Working Women, was inducted into the University of Iowa Communications Hall of Fame, received the University of Missouri's Distinguished Journalistic Award, and a Star Award from the National Commission on Working Women of Wider Opportunities for Women, as well as Turner Broadcasting's 1994 Trumpet Award, given to African Americans who have distinguished themselves in their professions (Carole Simpson was the only media winner that year. Other honorees included Maya Amgelou, Muhammad Ali, and Lena Horne).

Currently, Ms. Simpson is Chair of the ABC News Women's Advisory Board, Vice Chair of the International Women's Medical Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Commission of Working Women, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Radio Television News Directors Association, a member of the National Academy of Sciences' Forum on the Future of Children and Families, and a member of the Board of the National Press Foundation.

Ms. Simpson recently accepted a position on the Carnegie Task Force on Learning In the Primary Grades (pre-school to 4th grade), a two year commitment. She has established several college scholarships for women and minorities pursuing careers in broadcast journalism at the University of Michigan, as well as the Carole Simpson Scholarship administered by the RTNDA.

Ms. Simpson and her husband have two children; a daughter, Mallika, and a son, Adam; they live in the Washington area.

Ms. Simpson has also recently been honored by the sixth annual Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. She was honored for her contribution to the protection of First Ammendment freedoms.