Tom Junod, UAlbany graduate and Senior Writer for ESPN magazine, is the author of some of the most celebrated pieces in American magazine writing, including "The Falling Man," his meditation on AP photographer Richard Drew’s iconic image of a 9/11 victim plunging to his death. He has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award a record ten times, winning twice.
Junod is the author of a widely-circulated 1998 Esquire profile of Rogers, “Can You Say… Hero?” That piece of journalism provides the basis of a feature film about Rogers, played by Tom Hanks, and his friendship with Junod titled A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD and due for release in November 2019.
At the Writers Institute, Junod provided commentary and answered questions following a screening of the award-winning 2018 documentary, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, about the life and legacy of his friend Fred Rogers, the beloved star of MR. ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD.
An ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers was the creator of MR. ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD as well as the host of all 895 episodes, the composer of its more than 200 songs, and the puppeteer who imagined 14 characters into being.
He frequently endured ridicule to champion the values of unconditional love and acceptance. Rogers died in 2003 at the age of 74.
The 2019 film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," featuring Tom Hanks, is based on Junod's 1998 Esquire profile of Rogers.
