Fox News host Tucker Carlson will deliver the 2018 Roy H. Park Distinguished Lecture at UNC in April.

The UNC School of Media and Journalism made the announcement this week.

Carlson is the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News. Carlson took over the time slot formerly held by Bill O’Reilly before his exodus from the cable news network due to sexual misconduct allegations – a story that was reported in part by a UNC alumna.

Carlson has hosted programming across varying cable networks, including CNN and MSNBC.

UNC officials say the public event at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12, will include Carlson’s lecture on “today’s political landscape, including candid commentary on the latest insider political news out of Washington, D.C.” The event will also include a moderated discussion with associate professor Daniel Kreiss and three students in the MJ school.

Carlson is the third consecutive Fox News employee to deliver the Park Lecture, following Chris Wallace and Brit Hume. Former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes was the Park Lecturer in 2012. Ailes was also forced from Fox News after sexual misconduct allegations.

Carlson’s selection drew criticism from some on social media who derided the decision to bring in the host from the conservative cable news giant.

UNC MJ School professor John Robinson wrote a blog post as a response to the public backlash. Robinson, who describes himself as a liberal in the post, says that Carlson’s visit and speech are “valuable” to the students.

“School is a place where you learn from people with different experiences and different ideas,” Robinson wrote. “It’s intellectually healthy.”

Robinson added that exploring ideas from both sides of the political aisle is “part of the job” as a reporter and that the students “can handle ideas across the spectrum.”

“Despite what Fox News commentators would like you to believe,” Robinson wrote, “students in the Journalism School aren’t snowflakes.”

Related Stories
‹
The Morning News: Election Approaching, Stolen Car Crashing - New Cradle Opening?
Get-out-the-vote efforts are underway for the 2026 election - including a concert at the site Cat's Cradle is developing as a third venue.
The Morning News: Trails, Trials, and Property Revaluations
In today's news: nonprofits work to transform Chapel Hill's Lower Booker Creek Trail, and Orange County reexamines its property revaluation.
The Morning News: Alert Carolina, Armed Robbery Arrest, Seth Jarvis Helping Kids
In today's news: UNC students raise concerns about Alert Carolina, and Chapel Hill police make an arrest in yesterday's armed robbery.
The Morning News: New CHCCS Board Member, Newmark on UNC Football Probe
In today's news: the CHCCS board appoints a new member, and UNC athletic director Steve Newmark addresses the recent football investigation.
The Morning News: Chatham Vs. Enbridge, 53 CHCCS Applications, UNC Falling
In today's news: Chatham County Commissioners take a stand against the proposed Enbridge natural gas pipeline.
UNC Football Players Charged with Carrying Concealed Handgun, Speeding After Traffic Stop
UNC football player Keeyun Chapman was arrested for carrying a concealed handgun and teammate C.J. Sadler was cited for speeding during a traffic stop Tuesday night in Chapel Hill. The police report for Chapman’s arrest notes the traffic stop took place at 1050 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at 9:30 p.m. The charge against him […]
How OWASA's Reclaimed Water System Extends the Lifespan of Local Water Sources
Built 17 years ago to improve the community’s drinking water resilience, it has saved the county billions of gallons of drinking water. 
The Morning News: Mark Chilton Retiring, UNC Returning
In today's news: longtime Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton announces he's stepping down, a few months before the end of his term.
Merritt's Grill Opening Second Location in Chapel Hill; Einstein Bros. Bagels Opening First
Merritt’s Grill, whose BLT sandwiches have been a staple of the Chapel Hill culinary scene since the restaurant opened in 1992, is opening a second location at Finley Golf Club. The restaurant will provide dine-in, to-go and catering services inside the newly refurbished Finley clubhouse and will be open to both players and non-players. An […]
The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick
In today's news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal.
›