Bethel University celebrates the life and legacy of Jim Wooten, an alumni whose distinguished career reflects a deep commitment to service and storytelling
by Bethel University
Bethel University honors and celebrates the life of James (Jim) Terrell Wooten, whose extraordinary career in journalism and lifelong commitment to telling meaningful human stories left a lasting mark on the world. Wooten passed away on June 4, 2026, at the age of 88.
A proud graduate of Bethel College in 1958, Wooten went on to build a distinguished career that spanned more than four decades and took him across five continents. His work placed him at the center of many of the defining events of the modern era, where he consistently focused not only on what was happening, but on the people most deeply affected.
Throughout his career, Wooten earned some of journalism’s highest honors, including Columbia University’s John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism, recognizing his commitment to excellence, integrity, and impactful storytelling.
What set Wooten apart was his ability to bring forward the human dimension of global events. Whether reporting from areas impacted by war, political upheaval or public health crises, he devoted his work to capturing the lived experiences of individuals navigating some of the most challenging moments in recent history. His journalism reflected a deep respect for the dignity, resilience, and humanity of the people whose stories he told.
Wooten’s path was shaped early in his life at Bethel. After graduating in 1958, he pursued theological study at Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary in McKenzie and was ordained to the ministry in 1959. While he ultimately followed a calling into journalism, the themes of service, reflection, and attention to human experience remained central throughout his life’s work.
He began his journalism career in Tennessee before moving into national and international reporting. His early coverage of the Civil Rights Movement helped launch a career that included work with major news organizations such as The New York Times and ABC News. At ABC, he served as a senior correspondent for many years, reporting across major programs and covering every U.S. presidential campaign from 1968 through 2004.
Wooten was also an accomplished author. His writing included a widely recognized biography of President Jimmy Carter and a later work that examined the life of a young boy living with AIDS, which received the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.
From McKenzie, Tennessee, to some of the most consequential events of the past half-century, Wooten’s life reflects a deep commitment to service through storytelling. His work continues to stand as an example of how thoughtful journalism can foster understanding and bring attention to lives and experiences that shape our shared world.
Bethel University celebrates his life, honors his legacy, and gives thanks for the example he leaves for future generations of students and storytellers.