Charles Bierbauer, a veteran journalist who spent two decades at CNN and later served as dean of the University of South Carolina’s journalism school, has died at 83.
Bierbauer passed away Friday at his home in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. His family’s obituary said “his generous heart gave out after a good, long life.”
Distinguished Journalism Career
Born in Pennsylvania, Bierbauer began his career as a weekend reporter at WKAP before joining the Associated Press in Pittsburgh. His reporting on the 1973 Yom Kippur War earned him an Overseas Press Club Award.
Over his career, he was detained in Moscow’s Red Square while filming an anti-Soviet protest and denounced by Soviet media for “asking impertinent questions” during Muhammad Ali’s 1978 trip to the USSR.
After four years at ABC News, Bierbauer joined CNN in 1981, just a year after the network’s launch. Over the next 20 years, he covered the Pentagon, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court, presidential campaigns, and hosted Newsmaker Saturday for a decade. He frequently traveled with U.S. presidents both domestically and abroad.
Impact on Academia
Following his broadcast career, Bierbauer became the first dean of USC’s College of Information and Communications, formed by merging the university’s journalism and library science programs. He spearheaded a multimillion-dollar fundraising and renovation campaign, moving the school from outdated facilities into a modern home on the university’s historic Horseshoe.
He also launched Cocky’s Reading Express, a literacy initiative for children, and continued to moderate debates and host weekly current events programming through SCETV.
Jay Bender, a retired USC professor, called Bierbauer a “distinguished broadcaster and educator” who modernized the school. His successor as dean, Tom Reichert, credited him with supporting students who later won Pulitzer Prizes.
Personal Life and Tributes
Bierbauer was married to Susanne Schafer, a longtime Associated Press reporter covering military affairs. He earned degrees in journalism and Russian from Penn State University. He is survived by Schafer, four children, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Colleagues remembered him as both a skilled journalist and a mentor. “Charles was a cherished member of the CNN family,” the network said in a statement.
Wolf Blitzer, his former CNN colleague, added: “He was a good friend, colleague, and mentor, and I will certainly miss him.”
