All’s real in news and war

Many recognize him as that moderator for Barack Obama and John McCain’s presidential debate last year. Others know him as the host of that one news show on PBS. News junkies know him as the Emmy Award-winning, Television Hall of Fame journalist Jim Lehrer.

To say this 74-year-old is just a journalist is doing him a disservice. Lehrer served as moderator for 10 nationally televised presidential and vice presidential debates. While others his age play golf and drink Arnold Palmers all day, Lehrer is celebrating his 50th year as a member of the Fourth Estate. Even heart-valve surgery in April 2008 couldn’t stop Lehrer, who was back to work as the executive director and anchor of The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer by June.

And you think his plate would be full chasing the news, gathering sources and unveiling corrupt politicians, but no. Lehrer also is the author of 18 novels, two memoirs and three plays. Yowzah! Plus, he also travels across the country for speaking engagements, one of which will be Thursday, April 2, at the Crest Theatre.

Lehrer’s NewsHour has broadcast many heart-wrenching interviews, including one by senior correspondent Jeffrey Brown with a former child soldier of Sierra Leone. Movies, such as Blood Diamond, detailing exploited children high on drugs and brandishing AK-47s are disturbing for any moviegoer. But a real-life story about a boy who lost his entire family and was transformed into a killer at 13 years old is beyond words for many. Yet, Ishmael Beah was able to summon those words to author A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. He miraculously survived the ordeal and will discuss his experiences about the horrors of war and regaining his humanity Wednesday, April 8, at the Mondavi Center in Davis.