About Jeffrey
Jeffrey Brown is the chief correspondent for arts, culture and society at PBS NewsHour.
In his 30-year career with the NewsHour, Brown has served as co-anchor, studio moderator, and field reporter on a wide range of national and international issues, with work taking him around the country and to many parts of the globe. As arts correspondent he has profiled many of the world's leading writers, musicians, actors and other artists. Recently, Brown presented a multi-year series, "Culture at Risk," about threatened cultural heritage in the United States and abroad. He created and hosts the NewsHour's online "Art Beat" and also hosts the monthly book club, "Now Read This," a collaboration with The New York Times.
Brown is author of a collection of poetry, titled "The News" and serves as an advisor to the Sun Valley Writers Conference. His numerous honors include a News & Documentary Emmy Award and multiple CINE Golden Eagle Awards. He earned a bachelor's degree in classics from the University of California, Berkeley, a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, an honorary degree (D.H.L) from Wesley College, and attended the UC Berkeley School of Law.
Jeffrey’s Recent Stories
Arts May 05
New book explores cultural forces at play in the 1970’s, and how they influenced AmericaA new book argues the 1970's was a moment when TV, movies, and music all shifted into a new gear, changing the cultural landscape in ways that continue to today. Jeffrey Brown has a conversation with author Ron Brownstein about…
Arts May 04
What Breonna Taylor’s name and image is teaching America about Black livesA year and a half after the police killing of Breonna Taylor during a raid of her home, no one has been charged in her death. Now her life, death, and the larger questions they raise about policing, and the…
Arts May 04
Remembering the legend of dance, ballet star Jacques d’AmboiseWe take a moment to look back at the career of dancer Jacques d’Amboise, who died Sunday at age 86 in his Manhattan home following complications from a stroke. His work with the New York City Ballet, on film and…
Arts Apr 22
‘It was like freedom:’ How a camp for disabled children changed livesCan summer camp change the world? The documentary “Crip Camp” makes the case that one particular camp impacted the lives not only of the young people there but the culture at large, through the fight for disability rights. The film,…
Arts Apr 19
‘A lesson in authenticity:’ Andra Day reflects on the experience of playing Billie HolidayThe new film "The United States Vs. Billie Holiday" takes on the life of "Lady Day," the great Billie Holiday. And the woman playing her — Andra Day — is winning raves of her own with a nomination for best…
Arts Apr 15
How the 2008 economic crisis created a ‘new wandering tribe’ of seasonal workersThe latest selection for our “Now Read This” book club, Jessica Bruder’s “Nomadland,” documents a growing phenomenon in the country — a "wandering tribe" of seasonal workers. It has inspired a new movie of the same name. The film was…
Arts Apr 08
How Gabby Giffords is using music to rewire her brain after being shotPresident Joe Biden reached out to, and fist-bumped, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords at the White House Rose Garden Thursday -- A moment to mark a new push to curb gun violence. Giffords was shot in the head in 2011,…
Education Apr 07
Balancing in-person and virtual learning during the pandemic takes toll on teachersRoughly 80 percent of K-12 teachers and staff in the U.S. are now at least partially vaccinated. But educators in many districts are still expected to teach students both in-person and online, and stress remains high for some. Jeffrey Brown…
Arts Apr 06
‘Performing one another:’ Theater tools help these students accept different perspectivesIn a moment marked by deep political and cultural divides, a program named "In Your Shoes" looks to harness tricks of the stage to step into the shoes of others and help students understand different perspectives. Jeffrey Brown has the…
Arts Apr 02
New Mexico inmates connect with Ernest Hemingway’s life and workA new documentary series by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick called "Hemingway" premieres Monday on PBS. It's about one of America’s most famous and influential writers. In New Mexico, an unusual audience is watching, reading, and writing along. Jeffrey Brown…