David Brancaccio, a native of central Maine (and son of Colby professors Ruth and Patrick Brancaccio), has been a broadcaster for 28 years. Since joining the PBS television show "NOW" in 2003 he has delivered hard-hitting reports on government secrecy, the future of America's public schools, the plight of America's workers, the influence of talk radio on public policy, the conservative movement's political convention strategy, and the future of the environment from mercury in our lakes to natural gas drilling in the Rockies. His interviews with leading figures like philanthropist George Soros, author Azar Nafisi, philosopher Bernard Henri-Levy, civil rights attorney Constance Rice, and cultural critic Michael Eric Dyson have provided viewers with unique perspectives.

"We're helping people navigate the sea of sound bites and shout fests by engaging them with thoughtful discourse about the issues important to regular Americans," says Brancaccio, who took over from Bill Moyers as NOW's host in January 2005.

Previously Brancaccio spent 13 years at Marketplace, which tripled its audience and received a duPont-Columbia University Award (1998) and the George Foster Peabody Award (2001) during his tenure. Before becoming host, Brancaccio served in London as the European editor of the program, covering the continent's economic and political integration. During that time, he also covered diplomatic stories from Europe for the radio service of THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.

Brancaccio has contributed to CNN, CNBC, and Wall Street Week with Fortune on PBS. His print work has appeared in such periodicals as THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, and JOURNALISM and MASS COMMUNICATION EDUCATOR.

He is author of the book SQUANDERING AIMLESSLY, (Simon & Schuster, 2000 and Touchstone, 2001) an account of his pilgrimage to talk with Americans about wealth and values. The AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW called the work: "A stellar model for consumer reporting… Brancaccio's approach and attitude are irreverently nontraditional." THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER said: "Brancaccio brings the final erudition of a variety of sources together with his own wit, candor, and storytelling skill."

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