Race Has Been A Big Issue In

I'll Co-host Today From Los Angeles Saturday Morning And Then Make My Way Up To Merced For That Evening's Graduation Ceremony. I'm Still Touching Up My Remarks, But My Challenge To The Class Of 2010 Will Be To Break Through The Deafening And Too Often Negative Echo Chamber Of The Digital Era And Become Critical And Independent Thinkers.

I Like To Report. I Like To Go To The Newsmakers. I Like To Get Out. I've Heard About People Talking About The Anchor As The Voice Of God. That Set Is Not An Altar. It's A Great Job, I Love Doing It, But I Don't Take That Role As My Identity - The Anchorman - It Sounds Very Old-fashioned.

As Americans We Rightfully Place Tremendous Value On Having A Free And Independent Press. Our Role As Journalists Is To Give Voice To The Voiceless, And Hold Our Leaders And Institutions Accountable. But The Circle Is Only Completed When That Information Is Consumed By A Free Thinking And Engaged Audience.

On More Than One Occasion, The Camera Has Cut To Me After A Break As I'm Still Trying To Swallow The Last Bite Of Cookie. Those Of You Who Have Thought To Yourselves, 'that Guy Talks Like He Has Marbles In His Mouth,' Should Know That They Are Not Marbles, But Oatmeal Cookies.

I Think Sometimes We Lose Sight Of How Powerful We Are When We Put Someone On The News - For Good Or Bad. It Can Really Change People's Lives.