2022 Featured Speakers

Ed Gordon

Hard-hitting, inspiring, intelligent, honest, and direct—these are some of the words used to describe the style and approach of Emmy Award– winning broadcaster Ed Gordon. Known for his stellar interactions with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, entertainment, and sports, Gordon is the president of Ed Gordon Media, a multi-service production company.

In 2020, Gordon authored his first book, Conversation in Black where he interviewed over 40 leaders and influencers for a “virtual” conversation about the state of Black America. Gordon also hosted and executive produced Ed Gordon, an hour- long quarterly newsmagazine on Bounce TV. This program has featured many inspirational and moving interviews, such as an emotional interview with the Mothers of the Movement, a group of women whose children had been killed by senseless violence, and a look at the controversy surrounding the movie The Birth of a Nation (2016) and its star and director, Nate Parker. Other highlights include a profile of powerhouse Congresswoman Maxine Waters and exclusive interviews with comedian Steve Harvey, R&B singer Maxwell, and the cast of the mega-successful movie Girls Trip.

Additionally, Gordon hosted and executive-produced the nationally syndicated one-on-one program Conversations with Ed Gordon. The signature program allows Gordon to bring newsmakers and celebrities up close and personal with viewers. Over the years, guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Kevin Hart, and Beyoncé, among many others. Previously, he has also been a contributing correspondent for the CBS news show 60 Minutes II, a contributor for NBC’s Today Show and Dateline, the host of NPR’s News and Notes with Ed Gordon, and the MSNBC anchor and host of the nationally syndicated television programs Our World and Weekly with Ed Gordon. He further distinguished himself during two stints at BET.

He’s had many roles at the network, including host of BET Tonight, anchor of BET News, and creator of his signature one-on-one series Conversation with Ed Gordon. Gordon also anchored BET’s coverage of the 2012 presidential election, Obama’s second inauguration, Nelson Mandela’s funeral from South Africa, and the fiftieth anniversary of the historic March on Washington.

But Gordon’s reach doesn’t stop there. Gordon is also featured on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, where he gives his perspective on current national headlines, and he records Right Now with Ed Gordon, which provides daily commentaries for radio stations across the country. He also hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, Weekend with Ed Gordon, a two-hour program featuring a mix of talk, information, entertainment, and music. It’s been called “a fun, smart radio show for grown folks.”

Aside from his own media ventures, Gordon continues to be at the fore- front of news. He conducted one-on-one interviews with President Barack Obama during his historic presidency. He has covered many of the world’s most defining events throughout his career, from the historic 2008 US presidential election to the freedom of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela to the beating of Rodney King to the upheavals in Haiti and Cuba. He’s also provided comprehensive coverage and up-to-the-minute reports on many other domes- tic and international events, including the tragic 9/11 attacks on America.

Gordon’s impressive interview portfolio also includes conversations with the following newsmakers: President Bill Clinton; Academy Award winners Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Halle Berry; Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan; actor Idris Elba; and the late musician Michael Jackson.

Some of Gordon’s other notable works that have garnered the admiration and respect of viewers and colleagues include the infamous O. J. Simpson interview; an exclusive interview with pop superstar Janet Jackson about her secret marriage and painful divorce; no-holds-barred interviews with controversial senator Trent Lott and embattled singer R. Kelly; the critically acclaimed one-on-one interview with Tupac Shakur (often noted as the rapper’s definitive interview); and a fiery interview during the 2017 NABJ national convention with White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, made national headlines.

In addition to receiving an Emmy for his work, Gordon is the recipient of many other awards recognizing his talent and professionalism, including the NAACP Image Award and the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.