ABC’s Christiane Amanpour was presented with Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism this afternoon.

In her acceptance speech, Amanpour, the host of ABC’s “This Week,” called journalism “a great endeavor; it is a sacred endeavor. It is a public service.”

“It’s hard work,” she told journalism students during a question and answer session before the awards ceremony. “Stand up, grab the microphone and don’t be afraid to ask the questions.”

Amanpour is the 28th recipient of the ASU award, which has previously been given to fellow ABCers Diane Sawyer and Cokie Roberts, as well as Brian Williams, Jane Pauley and Tom Brokaw.