Charlie Rose` journalism awards revoked amid sexual harassment claims

Los Angeles [U.S.A], November 25 (ANI): Two universities cancelled journalism awards given to television host Charlie Rose following numerous allegations of unwanted sexual advances.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has decided to rescind its award for excellence in journalism given to Charlie Rose in 2015.

The school's dean Christopher Callahan issued a statement, which read, "The Cronkite School is rescinding the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism given to Charlie Rose in 2015. This unprecedented action is taken with the utmost seriousness and deliberation. We are not in the business of trying to rewrite history."

The statement added, "When new information about a recipient surfaces, the question we ask is not whether the award would be given again with a new set of facts, but whether the transgressions are so egregious that they demand nothing less than a reversal of history."

Though the statement acknowledged that rescinding the two-year old award would be largely symbolic, the school felt it was especially important since the young women Rose victimised were "much like those who make up the overwhelming majority of Cronkite students."

The statement concluded with, "I believe Mr. Rose's actions of sexual misconduct reported by The Washington Post and other media outlets, which are largely unrefuted, rise to that level. We hope to send an unequivocal message that what Mr. Rose did is unacceptable, and that such behavior - far too common in not just media companies but many organizations - must stop."

This decision comes after a leading U.S. daily reported that eight women had come forward to claim that the veteran journalist had made unwanted sexual advances toward them between 1990-2011. More women have forward since then.

PBS and CBS both cut ties with Rose after the detailed extensive allegations of sexual harassment of his subordinates.

Rose apologised after the allegations were made public in a statement. (ANI)