The Award • Bruce Baer • About Friends • Judging • Past Winners

Bruce Baer was a unique reporter who died of cancer at the age of 40 at the peak of his career. He was fearless, forthright and had little patience with puffery or platitudes.

Bruce was raised in Washington state. He attended Pacific University and was graduated from Portland State University, where he first became involved in journalism. From newspapering, he moved on to radio and finally to television news.

In his 13 years as journalist for KATU (Portland), he was political correspondent, commentator and assignment editor. His reporting on Oregon government and politics earned him the respect of nearly everyone who dealt in those arenas - with the exception of those whom he skewered and whom he roasted in their own juices. He was a tireless digger of facts. He could see the connections of apparently unassociated events. He had a great instinct for truth. And he reported it as he saw it.

Bruce Baer also enjoyed life. Those of us fortunate to have known him enjoyed a warm friendship punctuated by his dry humor and wit. Whether dealing in a gritty game of poker or holding forth at the Goose Hollow Inn, he knew how to have a good time.

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