Roberts brought over forty years of experience in journalism and real-world knowledge to his classes.

“I tried to teach my students to be professional journalists by emphasizing the basics that will stand up through time, reporting and writing, in other words gathering the facts and telling the story,” said Roberts.

Before joining the School of Communication in1999, Roberts spent more than 32 years with CBS News as a reporter, producer and executive and three years as Vice-president and General Manager of Television Programming at The New York Times Electronic Media Company. For nearly 14 years, he served as a Producer and Senior Producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.  He produced hundreds of stories during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, including the Civil Rights movement, the Space Program, the Vietnam War, the turbulent changes in American society, the Energy Crisis and many other subjects.  He is most proud of one special accomplishment in his career at CBS.  During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, he directed the successful effort to rescue four CBS Newsmen, including Correspondent Bob Simon, held captive by the Iraqi army. 

Roberts graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1957, and was a CBS News Fellow at Columbia University, studying international relations.

His service to the School of Communication is immeasurable and clearly demonstrated by the success of his students after graduation. “It is very rewarding that my former students continue to call for career advice and they regularly keep in contact.”

“Sam Roberts is an exceedingly rare combination of consummate TV news professional and natural teacher.  He brought his wealth of knowledge about broadcast journalism into the classroom and freely shared it with our students.  His unceasing dedication to educating our students and assisting them in launching their professional careers was inspiring.  He’s a wonderful colleague and will be sorely missed,” said Electronic Media Program Director, Paul Driscoll, who worked with Roberts for nine years. 

After retirement, Roberts and his wife Harriet, a law professor at St. Thomas University, will be spending most of their time on the Gulf Coast of Florida and traveling around the world to catch up with their four children and three grandchildren.  When asked what he was going to do with his free time, Roberts grinned and answered “Whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it.”

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