ASU honors journalist Charlie Rose with Cronkite award

Broadcast journalist Charlie Rose was awarded the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism during a ceremony Monday before more than 1,100 guests in Phoenix.

Arizona State University students and leaders in media, politics, business and education packed the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel for the 32nd Cronkite Award Luncheon, the largest annual fundraiser for the university's journalism program.

Rose won the award for his time as host of “CBS This Morning” since 2012 and PBS’ “Charlie Rose” since 1991.

Some of his most well-known work includes an interview with mass murderer Charles Manson, which won him an Emmy Award in 1987, and an interview with Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2013, for which he won a Peabody Award.

“How lucky I am to wake up every morning and ask myself, 'What new adventure awaits me today?' ” Rose said during his acceptance speech. “Curiosity has been my best friend, questions have been my power, and conversations have been my ticket.

“If you honor me for anything, honor me for my belief in the power of questions, the power of curiosity, and, yes, the power of confrontation.”

Last year's award went to "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts. Previous recipients include Jane Pauley, Tom Brokaw and Bob Woodward.

The luncheon typically nets $180,000 to $200,000 in support of ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication  and was expected to do the same this year, according to Liz Bernreuter, senior director of development for the Cronkite School.

Touching moment: Rose honored journalists who have died for their work, and the crowd responded with rapturous applause.

“I dedicate this award with some respect for the men and women who go into harm’s way, into dangerous terrain where respect for free press may not be the protection that we hoped it would be. They risk their lives and they give their life, often in horrible ways. It is not new, but it seems more frequent. And each life of a journalist lost in doing what he or she loved to do is a painful reminder of the price that we pay to live in a free society.”

Noteworthy guests: Former ASU President Lattie Coor and current ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson, as well as Arizona Board of Regents Chair Jay Heiler and Vice Chair Greg Patterson.

Most popular mention: Much praise was given to "Hooked: Tracking Heroin's Hold on Arizona," a documentary produced by ASU students and faculty that reached more than 1 million viewers in Arizona this spring.

ASU doc: Heroin on rise among Arizona 20-somethings

The biggest donors: Eight organizations had $10,000 “Cronkite Circle” tables, for which lunch was $1,000 per person. Those included APS, 12 News, ABC15, CBS 5, and The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

Rose's tips for journalists: Rose said that the best questions are often the short ones – How? Why? – and that trust and believability are “the most important qualities a journalist can have.”

Tune in Monday night: While in town, Rose interviewed Sen. John McCain and held a round-table discussion with Cronkite faculty for a segment that will air at midnight Monday on Eight HD channel 8.1 and again at 1 p.m. Tuesday on channel 8.3. Here's a video.