Bernard Shaw, an esteemed journalist and former CNN presenter, has passed away, his family announced in a statement. He was 82.
According to a statement delivered to CNN’s former CEO Tom Johnson, Shaw died of pneumonia unrelated to COVID-19 on Wednesday, the network announced Thursday morning.
“In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bernard Shaw Scholarship Fund at the University of Chicago,” they stated in the notice, adding that Shaw’s funeral will be held discreetly. A public memorial service will be organized at a later date.
On February 15, 2001, CNN anchor Bernard Shaw poses in his office at CNN’s Washington bureau. AP/Alex Brandon
Johnson and CNN’s current chief executive officer and chairman, Chris Licht, issued different statements regarding Shaw’s legacy after his passing.
“As a journalist, he demanded accuracy and fairness in news coverage. He earned the respect of millions of viewers around the world for his integrity and independence. He resisted forcefully any lowering of ethical news standards or any compromise of solid news coverage. He always could be trusted as a reporter and anchor,” said Johnson, adding that Shaw “exemplified excellence in his life” and will be “remembered as a fierce advocate of responsible journalism.”
Chris Licht, Chairman and CEO of CNN, issues a statement on the passing of Bernard Shaw.
— CNN Communications September 8, 2022 (@CNNPR)
In his remarks, in which he recapped Shaw’s decades-long career, Licht referred to Shaw as “a CNN original” As Licht mentioned, Shaw was the network’s first lead anchor when it debuted in 1980 and built an award-winning broadcast journalism career over the next two decades. His most significant accomplishments include moderating the 1988 presidential debate between George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis and the vice presidential debate between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman in 2000, as well as live reporting on the 1991 Gulf War.
“Even after he left CNN, Bernie remained a close member of our CNN family, giving viewers with historical context as recently as last year,” Licht said on Thursday.
Shaw garnered numerous honors for his journalism, including awards for lifetime achievement from the Edward R. Murrow Awards and the National Association of Black Journalists. In 1999, two years before his official retirement from CNN, he was honored into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame.