Peter Laufer
Peter Laufer is the James Wallace Chair Professor in Journalism at the School of Journalism and Communication. He is also an award-winning author, broadcaster, documentarian, and journalist. He has studied and taught throughout the world—in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia—and has sent home reports on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the wars in Central America for NBC Radio, reported for CBS Radio as the Berlin Wall fell, and chased butterflies in Nicaragua for his book The Dangerous World of Butterflies. His most recent book, Dreaming in Turtle, is a compelling story of a stalwart animal prized from prehistory through to today.
An international news correspondent and award-winning author, he has written over 18 books including the 2014 Organic: A Journalist’s Quest to Discover the Truth behind Food Labeling. He reported, wrote, and produced several documentaries as an NBC News correspondent on topics ranging from the crises facing Vietnam War veterans to illiteracy and hunger in America, and he wrote a study of Americans incarcerated overseas that won the George Polk Award. He frequently combines his scholarly and professional work, and he served as editor of the anthology Interviewing: The Oregon Method. Laufer has served as news and program director of WRC Radio in Washington, D.C., was founding program director of Newstalk 93.6 in Berlin, and has acted as management consultant to several international news broadcasting projects, including National Geographic, Washington Monthly, and Mother Jones radio programs. He has also managed a variety of book publishing and documentary film projects along with journalism education initiatives in the Middle East for UNESCO and USAID.
He speaks regularly at universities and bookstores across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has made appearances at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and on board the Queen Mary crossing the Atlantic.
Speaking Topics:
POLITICS AND MIGRATION/“Beyond Borders”
Peter’s expertise in the history of walls across time and cultures allows him to speak about how and when they work or fail. This is a perpetually timely talk but of particular concern during the Trump years. Going beyond Trump's wall fixation, Peter will speak on borders and concerns shared across the ideological spectrum, as well as potential solutions to contemporary crises.
ANIMALS / “Peculiar Pets”
Stemming from his research for his book Forbidden Creatures, Peter speaks on animals, particularly so-called exotic pets. There is a fascination in audiences regarding the types of people who seek to cohabitant with great apes, long snakes and big cats. Peter has met with them, interviewed them, pet their tigers and been spit on by their chimpanzees. Issues that rouse audiences include the what constitutes animal abuse, what type of people want as "pets" animals that can kill them, the definition of a pet and why the legal system fails to control the trade.
ANIMALS / “Dreaming in Turtle”
Specific to his most recent book, Laufer can speak on issues of species intinction, habitat depletion and illegal animal trafficking in a compelling and inspirational manner. In addition to the good work being done worldwide by turtle and tortoise advocates along with the cultural connections of people across time with turtles as icons of wisdom, longevity and fertility, the talk is inspirational as I tell tales about my own experiences fostering the box turtle Fred and what I learned about life and myself from Fred that may be of value to audiences.
Endorsements:
Peter Laufer is an engaging, knowledgeable and highly informative speaker; a true idealist and a crowd pleaser. –Moses Znaimer, the executive producer and founder of ideaCity in Toronto and a longtime Canadian media innovator (CITY TV, etc.)
Laufer brought great energy and insight to our event. His deep understanding, compassion and humor were a hit with the audience. –Alan G. Stavitsky, Dean and Professor of Journalism at University of Nevada, Reno
Peter Laufer’s presence as a speaker for three years in a row at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia has been much appreciated by the attendees. His experience and expertise, delivered with broad affability, make him a speaker well worth listening to. –Christopher Potter, director, International Journalism Festival
Resources:
Village Books, Bellingham, Washington: Animal/human relations
International Journalism Festival, Perugia, Italy: Slow News
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Butterflies