Abramson: "I'm In the Same Boat" as Graduates

Former New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson delivered the Commencement address at Wake Forest University this morning.

Under sunny skies at Hearn Plaza,  Abramson was introduced by Bloomberg View  columnist Al Hunt, a 1965 WFU graduate, and since 1987, a member of the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees.

She opened her speech, which lasted only 11 minutes, with a sideways reference to her ouster last week from the New York Times.  As she glanced around and smiled, she said, "I think the only real news here today is your graduation from this great university."

Later in the address, she elicited laughs when she said, "What's next for me? I don't know. So I'm in exactly the same boat as many of you."

You can hear more details of this morning's commencement ceremonies this afternoon on All Things Considered, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on 88.5 WFDD.  WFDD will also broadcast Jill Abramson's entire speech  tonight at 8:00 p.m..