Bret Baier '92 Recalls DePauw Internship as He Preps for GOP Debate

January 16, 2012

"What memories come to mind from your professional debut on television, in Beaufort in 1991-92, when you were interning from DePauw University in Indiana?," asks the Myrtle Beach Sun News of Fox News Channel's Bret Baier.  The 1992 DePauw graduate will serve as moderator at tonight's debate between Republican presidential candidates in Myrtle Beach, which "represents a Palmetto State homecoming of sorts" for the anchor, who began his career at PBS affiliate WJWJ-TV in Beaufort, South Carolina.

"I was a one-man reporter, photographer and editor. I remember covering sea turtle nesting," recalls Baier. "It was my first on-air position, so I have an affinity for coastal South Carolina."

Describing his preparations for tonight's event, Baier offers, "We have a series of debate meetings. We really try to ... map out what the candidates are likely to say, so we can encourage them to follow up on whatever they might answer, and find more information on their views. We’ve been meeting for a few weeks. It’s an organic process  ... Questions change. The focus changes. I was thinking of how many questions are evolving, but it’ll be current by the time we get to Monday. South Carolina is a big, big moment for this race. It could be the moment, depending on what happens."

An English composition and political science double major at DePauw, where he was also captain of the golf team, Baier has served as anchor of Fox's Special Report with Bret Baier for three years and has been with the network since 1998. "I’ve been to 74 countries, just from the time in covering the Pentagon and the White House. It gave me a lot of world perspective, and a lot of appreciation of the military and the sacrifices that servicemen and servicewomen, and their families, make for this country ... It’s helped shape who I am as a reporter.

Access the complete piece by Steve Palisin at the newspaper's website.

Bret Baier will return to campus to speak as part of the 175th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series.

Read more about him in this recent article.

Source: Myrtle Beach (SC) Sun News

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