Alexander Heffner

Alexander Heffner is a political journalist, broadcaster and civic educator. He is the host of the award-winning series, “The Open Mind,” on PBS. The longest-running public broadcast in the history of American television, the Washington Post calls the show a “radical approach to TV talk in a troubled time.”

He is also the creator and host of “Breaking Bread with Alexander” on Bloomberg TV. The series features politically diverse governors and senators discussing policy over their favorite meals.

“This is the element that I think is missing in our politics . . . the desire to break bread with each other, to learn from each other, and ultimately to govern together, and I hope that we can begin that process anew through this series.” – Alexander Heffner

He coauthored the bestselling book, A Documentary History of the United States, and his writing appears in USA TODAY, WIRED, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and Philadelphia Inquirer, among other publications. He has been profiled in The New York Times, Washington Post, Des Moines Register, Christian Science Monitor, Variety, and Medium, and on MSNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, CNN, ABC and the BBC. He is the recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s Agora Institute Fellowship, University of Denver’s Anvil of Freedom Award, Franklin Pierce University’s Fitzwater Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication, and Yale University’s Poynter Fellowship in Journalism.

Alexander has lectured at the National Constitution Center, Museum of American Finance, FDR Library and Museum, The American University in Cairo, Initiative for Truth at University of Sydney, Center for Information and Bubble Studies at University of Copenhagen, Institute on Constitutional Democracy at University of Missouri, Civil Discourse Lab at the University of New Hampshire, Department of Writing and Rhetoric at University of Mississippi, Center for Constitutional Democracy at Marshall University, Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State, Clarke Forum at Dickinson College, and Alpha Seminar at Carroll College, among other institutions of learning.

He has covered American culture, politics, and civic life since the 2008 presidential campaign. He speaks about:

  • The future of democracy, civil discourse, and civic engagement
  • The effects of divisiveness on discourse, campaigns, and governance
  • The polarizing influence of new media, dis/misinformation, and filter bubbles
  • Prescriptions for correcting the cycle of hyper-partisanship, bigotry, and geopolitical conflicts, and preserving shared democratic and human values

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“Public television has always provided a space for civil discussion and exploration of new ideas. Perhaps no program has exemplified this for as long as The Open Mind. For six decades, The Open Mind has provided a place for timely conversations about some of the most important topics facing our country and our world. This legacy continues under the leadership of Alexander Heffner, at a time when our country will greatly benefit from thoughtful, respectful conversations about our future.” – Paula Kerger, CEO, PBS

“Heffner mobilized a campus of first-time voters to engage in the electoral process. He is a public communicator of conscience in a world that is desperately searching for one.” – Franklin Pierce University

“Heffner has a gift for energizing, engaging, and inspiring young audiences. He challenged our students to think about the social and political landscape in a new way.” – Drake University

“Heffner not only informed our audience but provided a pathway to improve America. Heffner is a tremendously motivating speaker and was ranked among our best.” – University of San Diego

“When Heffner spoke with students, the conversations had all the hallmarks of his PBS series: Original, in-depth, and unbiased discussions about media and public affairs.” – Stanford University

“A Documentary History of the United States” is “a portable canon of American documents that take us across the depth and breadth of our national experience. Here is fertile soil for exploring our past and imagining our future. Present crises notwithstanding, you cannot spend time within these pages and be skeptical of our capacity to overcome, survive, and thrive in the endless, vexing, and robust pursuit of a more perfect union.” – Bill Moyers

“A Documentary History of the United States” is an “indispensable contribution to the understanding of our heritage.” – Robert A. Caro, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Power Broker and Master of the Senate

“A Documentary History of the United States” is “simply the best such anthology available.” – David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Freedom from Fear

Books, Films & Projects

Clips

Washington Journal: Alexander Heffner on Civility in Politics and his new show, "Breaking Bread"

Civil Discourse in an Uncivil Age: Wyoming PBS, Wyoming Humanities and the University of Wyoming host Alexander Heffner

Politics, Media and the Future of Civil Discourse: Alexander Heffner at St. Petersburg College

Civil Discourse in an Uncivil Age: Alexander Heffner at Franklin Pierce University