This lecture will be webcast on Air and Space Live. 

In this fast-paced lecture, Miles O’Brien reveals the media’s record of aviation journalism, beginning with the Wright brothers in December 1903. With unnamed sources and the Wrights’ penchant for secrecy, the story of the media’s response to the first flight at Kitty Hawk is not unlike media coverage of recent aviation events.  Reflecting on his 25-year career covering aviation and space for CNN and other major news outlets, O’Brien will explore the untold story of how the news media treats aviation and how the media response to aviation events like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 sometimes offers fact and fiction in pursuit of headlines.  

Miles O’Brien is a career broadcast news journalist. He worked for CNN for 17 years as a space/aviation correspondent, and is currently an independent journalist, pursuing science storytelling through Miles O’Brien Productions and covering science and technology for programs such as PBS NewsHour. O’Brien is a private pilot and has logged over 2,500 hours of flight time, providing him a unique perspective in covering the technical aspects of aviation and translating that knowledge to the public.

The GE Aviation Lecture Series is made possible by the generous support of GE Aviation.