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Brian Lehrer

Brian Lehrer (born October 5, 1952) is an American radio talk show host on New York City's public radio station WNYC. His daily two-hour 2007 Peabody Award-winning program,[1] The Brian Lehrer Show, features interviews with newsmakers and experts about current events and social issues. Lehrer was formerly an anchor and reporter for NBC Radio Networks and has been in broadcast journalism for over 30 years.

Brian Lehrer

(1952-10-05) October 5, 1952

Queens, New York City

Journalist, radio talkshow host

2

Early life and education[edit]

Lehrer was born in Queens and grew up in the neighborhood of Bayside.[2] He went to Bayside High School. His parents, both children of Jewish immigrants from Poland, grew up in the South Bronx and met in high school.[3]


Lehrer obtained B.A. degrees in Music and Mass Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. While a student there, he hosted a radio program on the college radio station WSUA which has since become WCDB Albany. Lehrer also hosted radio programs in Columbus, Ohio, and Norfolk, Virginia.[2]


He holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and a master's degree in journalism from Ohio State University. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Montclair State University.[4]

Personal life[edit]

As of 2020, Lehrer resides in Inwood with his two sons, Nathan and Simon.[14] His wife, Victoria Ann Dennis, died in February 2014.[15]

1999 Public Radio News Directors, "Best Weekly Show" winner, On the Media

[6]

2007 , "Radio That Builds Community Rather Than Divides" winner, The Brian Lehrer Show[1][7]

George Foster Peabody Award

2009 , "Interview/Discussion" nomination, Brian Lehrer Live: Focus on the City (April 3, 2008)[17]

New York Emmy Awards

2011 Journalism Awards, "Best Web Exclusive Content" winner, Anna Sale, Jody Avirgan, Kathleen Ehrlich, Brian Lehrer, John Keefe, Dean Cappello, "Election Coverage, It's a Free Country"

New York Press Club

[16]

2014 Garden State Journalists Association Award "1st Place Talk Radio Show" winner, The Brian Lehrer Show, "Debating Newark School Reform" (March 21, 2013)[16]

[18]

2017 , Excellence in Social Media, "3 New Ways to Cover the Election (including #HamiltonDebates, #BruceTheDebate and Audio Tweets in the Christie Tracker)" Newsroom Elections Team, The Brian Lehrer Show and editor Nancy Solomon[16]

Edward R. Murrow Awards

New Yorkers in journalism

Brian Lehrer Show

WNYC podcast feed

WNYC

"Commentaries from Brian Lehrer"

- WNYC

"The Official Blog of the Brian Lehrer Show"