The SXSW Hall of Fame recognizes those trendsetters whose career accomplishments have paved the future of the new media industry. These honorees inspire the SXSW community with their creativity and hard work in their specific industries.

For 2023, the SXSW Hall of Fame inductee is Texas journalism legend Dan Rather.

With a famed and storied career, Rather is one of the world’s best-known journalists. He has covered almost every important dateline over the last 70 years, is a member of the Television Hall of Fame, and has won the biggest awards in electronic journalism, many numerous times He's also interviewed every president since Eisenhower.

Rather joined CBS News in 1962. He quickly rose through the ranks, and in 1981 he assumed the position of anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News—a post he held for 24 years. His reporting across the network helped turn 60 Minutes into an institution, launched 48 Hours as an innovative news magazine program, and shaped countless specials and documentaries.

Upon leaving CBS, Rather returned to the in-depth reporting he always loved, creating the Emmy Award winning news and documentary program, Dan Rather Reports. Rather has written severa best selling books and continues to shape the public discourse through his media appearances, extensive reach on social media, and his Steady newsletter.  

Dan Rather will be recognized within the SXSW Innovation Awards ceremony, which occurs at 6:00 pm on Monday, March 13 in Ballroom D on the top floor of the Austin Convention Center. Stay tuned for more details on this year’s inductee!

Past SXSW Hall of Fame inductees include Nonny de la Peña (2022), Kimberly Bryant (2019), Eli Pariser (2018), Kara Swisher (2017), Baratunde Thurston (2016), Tamara Hudgins, PHD (2015), Joi Ito (2014), danah boyd (2013) and Jeffrey Zeldman (2012).