Award-winning broadcast journalist Dan Rather told a standing-room only audience of  USC Annenberg students on Feb. 4 that the two most important skills they can learn in college are writing and keeping their idealism.

Rather, in town for a live Election Night report in the USC Annenberg East Lobby from 5-10 p.m. on Feb. 5, said during an hour-long question-and-answer period that the bedrock of journalism and communication is writing.

"If you don’t teach yourself to do anything else while you’re here, make yourself the best writer you can," Rather said. "When in doubt what kind of course to take, take one in writing. Dedicate yourself to a lifetime of trying to make yourself a better writer."

Dean Ernest J. Wilson III, who introduced the journalism veteran, said he had the opportunity to discuss Rather's recent switch to HDNet.

"I have to say that the more he talked about it, the more I got excited about the honor and thrill of being in journalism at this time," Dean Wilson said. "What could be more exciting? It’s at the heart of democracy."

Rather is anchor and managing editor of Dan Rather Reports, which started broadcasting on HDNet in November of 2006. He served as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News from 1981 to 2005, the longest-such tenure in broadcast journalism history. He anchored and reported for 48 Hours from its premiere in 1988 through 2002. He was a correspondent for 60 Minutes from 1975 to 1981, and again from 2005 to 2006.

During his talk with students, Rather gave candid opinions about the future of journalism, the presidential election, balancing career and home life, and media consolidation, among other student-generated topics. He said this primary election is historic for many reasons, including the diversity of the candidates and because $2 billion will be spent on campaigning.

"There is too emphasis on the horse race of elections," he said. "There is not enough emphasis on where the $2 billion is coming from, who gives what to whom, and what do they expect to get from it. Too much reporters acting as stenographers instead of reporters."

He told students they would always be able to get a job and make a living if they are able to write well.

"I hope you know how lucky you are to be at this, one of the great communication and journalism schools in the country," Rather said. "I know you’re training yourself to work in media at a particularly critical time in the country. It’s worth pausing for a nanosecond to think about that truth."

Dan Rather Reports