Convo: David Welna February 25, 2005

David Welna, congressional correspondent for National Public Radio and a 1980 Carleton graduate, will present a convocation titled ?Covering the 21st Century Congress: Terror, War and One-Party Rule? at 10:50 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 at the Carleton College Skinner Memorial Chapel. The event is free and open to the public.

In just over four years filing stories from the nation?s capital, Welna has covered many issues that question the nature of American politics. For one of his first pieces, Welna brought to national attention the questionable nature of remarks made by then-Senate majority leader Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond?s 100th birthday celebration, breaking a story that was then reported nationally. Welna often reports on the ebb and flow of government spending, from tax cuts for corporate interests to spending bills. Recently Welna has focused on the effects of one-party control of the legislative and executive branches and the possible control of the judicial branch, should the current administration have the opportunity to appoint ideologically active justices.

Before establishing himself in Washington, Welna gained distinction for his work in Latin America. Working first as a freelance writer out of Buenos Aires and then as a correspondent for NPR, for 15 years he filed stories from South and Central America reporting on issues of monumental importance to both Latin Americans and the global community. Welna covered the trials of Argentina?s former military leaders, the mass departure from Cuba, the Zapatista uprising in Mexico and U.S. intervention in Haiti.
In addition to his work with NPR, Welna has reported for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, The Financial Times and The Times of London, and his photographs have appeared in The New York Times and Esquire. In 1995, the Latin American Studies Association selected Welna to receive their most distinguished award for his work presenting the people and events of Latin America, and the Overseas Press Club recognized Welna for his coverage of the Haitian intervention. Welna has received a Nieman Fellowship from Harvard University, and in 2002 was elected to the Executive Committee of the Congressional Radio-Television Correspondents? Galleries.

A native of Minnesota, Welna graduated magna cum laude from Carleton, earning a B.A. and distinction in Latin American studies. He is fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese.

For more information and disability accommodations, call Carleton?s College Relations Office at (507) 646-4308.