Tavis Smiley
From his celebrated conversations with world figures, to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, as a broadcaster, author, advocate and philanthropist, Tavis Smiley continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI).
In 2010, Smiley leaves his studio chair in Los Angeles to go on the road to examine some of the country's most defining moments in four hour-long TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS primetime TV specials. The reports include going behind the scenes with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, examining one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s greatest speeches, "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," and traveling to the streets of New Orleans to mark Hurricane Katrina's 5th anniversary.
In 2007, Smiley made television history as the moderator and executive producer of the All-American Presidential Forums on PBS, the first Democratic and Republican presidential debates broadcast live in primetime with a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color.
In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has authored fourteen books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times' best-sellers list.
His latest book, Accountable: Making America As Good As Its Promise, examines hard-hitting truths about the issues our country faces and addresses how our political leaders, corporations and, finally, American citizens themselves can enforce accountability and effect change.
What People Are Saying AboutTAVIS SMILEY…
The Los Angeles Times says he’s on the “fast track, left lane.”
The New York Post screamed, “Look out Larry King¾here comes Tavis Smiley!”
The Washington Post declared that he’s “winning friends and influencing people.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer says Smiley is “one of the most important political voices of his generation.”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer summed up Tavis' appeal best: "In the age of high-decibel, in-your-face talk shows, Tavis Smiley keeps the volume low and the content high. He also gets the best guests in broadcasting - presidents, the pope, A-list entertainers. Smiley's style of easy and engaging conversation makes them all feel comfortable. And it works."
DeWayne Wickham in USA Today declares that Smiley is “arguably the nation's most influential black journalist.”
Vanity Fair inducted him into their Hall of Fame.
From his celebrated conversations with world figures, to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, as a broadcaster, author, advocate and philanthropist, Tavis Smiley continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI).
In 2010, Smiley leaves his studio chair in Los Angeles to go on the road to examine some of the country's most defining moments in four hour-long TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS primetime TV specials. The reports include going behind the scenes with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, examining one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s greatest speeches, "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," and traveling to the streets of New Orleans to mark Hurricane Katrina's 5th anniversary.
In 2007, Smiley made television history as the moderator and executive producer of the All-American Presidential Forums on PBS, the first Democratic and Republican presidential debates broadcast live in primetime with a panel exclusively comprised of journalists of color.
In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has authored fourteen books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times' best-sellers list.
His latest book, Accountable: Making America As Good As Its Promise, examines hard-hitting truths about the issues our country faces and addresses how our political leaders, corporations and, finally, American citizens themselves can enforce accountability and effect change.
What People Are Saying AboutTAVIS SMILEY…
The Los Angeles Times says he’s on the “fast track, left lane.”
The New York Post screamed, “Look out Larry King¾here comes Tavis Smiley!”
The Washington Post declared that he’s “winning friends and influencing people.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer says Smiley is “one of the most important political voices of his generation.”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer summed up Tavis' appeal best: "In the age of high-decibel, in-your-face talk shows, Tavis Smiley keeps the volume low and the content high. He also gets the best guests in broadcasting - presidents, the pope, A-list entertainers. Smiley's style of easy and engaging conversation makes them all feel comfortable. And it works."
DeWayne Wickham in USA Today declares that Smiley is “arguably the nation's most influential black journalist.”
Vanity Fair inducted him into their Hall of Fame.
