WAVERLY - A well-known journalist will give a convocation address Tuesday at Wartburg College.

Helen Thomas, often referred to as the first lady of the press, will speak at 11:30 a.m. in Neumann Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Thomas is a former White House bureau chief for United Press International and writes a syndicated column for Hearst Newspapers. She also is recognized as a trailblazer who broke down barriers for female reporters, having covered every U.S. president since John F. Kennedy.

Thomas took her first job at the Washington Daily News after graduating from Wayne State University and joined UPI in 1943. There she wrote news stories for radio. During her career, Thomas was the only female print journalist to travel in 1972 with President Richard Nixon to China.

Her latest book is "Thanks for the Memories Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House."