TV news anchors have a long history of being relied upon for information on international news and events. The finest news anchors go beyond merely reporting events. They analyze the news and put it into context, frequently having a big impact on politics and public opinion. Decision-making is aided by the fact that it includes legendary American news broadcasters, both current and retired! Based on the Ranker votes from the participants, we rated the news anchors. In light of participant support, the best 50 news anchors of all time will be determined.
1. Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite | Information |
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Full Name | Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. |
Birthdate | November 4, 1916 |
Birthplace | St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
Death | July 17, 2009 |
Place of Death | New York City, U.S. |
Other Names | Walter Wilcox, Old Ironpants, Uncle Walter, King of the Anchormen |
Education | University of Texas at Austin |
Occupation | Television and radio broadcaster, news anchor |
Years Active | 1935–2009 |
Spouse | Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Maxwell (1940-2005) |
Children | 3, including Kathy |
Notable Achievements | – Anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years – Often referred to as “the most trusted man in America” – Received two Peabody Awards – Received a George Polk Award – Received an Emmy Award – Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 |
Key Coverage | – Reported on various significant events including World War II bombings, Nuremberg trials, Vietnam War, Watergate, Iran Hostage Crisis, and assassinations of JFK, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lennon – Extensive coverage of the U.S. space program – Known for the catchphrase “And that’s the way it is” |
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. on November 4, 1916. He is an American broadcast journalist.
From 1962 through 1981, he was the anchorman for the CBS Evening News for a period of 19 years. He was referred to as “the most trusted guy in America” throughout the 1960s and 1970s after being thus identified in a survey. Several awards, such as two Peabody Awards, a George Polk Award, an Emmy Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter in 1981, were given to Cronkite.
2. Edward R. Murrow

Edward R Murrow | Information |
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Full Name | Edward R. Murrow |
Birthdate | April 25, 1908 |
Birthplace | Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Broadcast Journalist, War Correspondent |
Known For | Pioneering radio and television news broadcasting |
Notable Achievements | – Live radio broadcasts from Europe during World War II – Television program “See It Now” that led to the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy |
Famous Catchphrases | “This is London” “Good night, and good luck” |
Alma Mater | Washington State College (now Washington State University) |
Career at CBS | Director of Talks and Education European Operations Director Producer of “See It Now” |
Contribution | Formation of the “Murrow Boys” team of war correspondents Coverage during the Blitz in London |
Spouse | Janet Huntington Brewster (m. 1935) |
Children | Charles Casey Murrow |
Edward Roscoe Murrow was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, U.S. on April 25, 1908. He is an American broadcast journalist and war correspondent.
Murrow, a pioneer of radio and television news reporting, produced a number of broadcasts for his television program See It Now that contributed to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s being condemned. Distinguished journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, Bill Downs, Dan Rather, and Alexander Kendrick see Edward R. Murrow as one of the most influential personalities in journalism.
3. David Brinkley

David Brinkley | Information |
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Full Name | David McClure Brinkley |
Birthdate | July 10, 1920 |
Birthplace | Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
Death | June 11, 2003 (aged 82) |
Resting Place | Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Television News Anchor |
Years Active | 1943–1997 |
Notable Programs | The Huntley–Brinkley Report, NBC Nightly News, Sunday This Week with David Brinkley |
Awards and Honors | Ten Emmy Awards, Three George Foster Peabody Awards, Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Books Authored | “Washington Goes to War” (1988) and others |
Education | New Hanover High School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Emory University, Vanderbilt University |
Marital Status | Ann Fischer (m. 1946; div. 1972), Susan Melanie Benfer (m. 1972) |
Children | Alan Brinkley, Joel Brinkley, John Brinkley, and others |
David McClure Brinkley was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. on July 10, 1920. He is an American newscaster.
He and Chet Huntley co-anchored NBC’s top-rated nightly news show, The Huntley-Brinkley Report, from 1956 to 1970. From then, he co-anchored or provided commentary on the program’s successor, NBC Nightly News, during the 1970s. Brinkley served as the anchor of the well-liked Sunday This Week with David Brinkley show and a prominent contributor for ABC News’ coverage of election night in the 1980s and 1990s. Brinkley won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, three George Foster Peabody Awards, and ten Emmy Awards over his career.
4. Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings | Information |
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Full Name | Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings |
Birthdate | July 29, 1938 |
Birthplace | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Death | August 7, 2005 |
Citizenship | Canada, United States |
Occupation | Television journalist |
Notable Credits | Sole anchor of ABC World News Tonight |
Achievements | Youngest-ever U.S. network news anchor |
Spouses | Valerie Godsoe (divorced) |
Children | 2 |
Parents | Charles Jennings, Elizabeth Jennings |
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 29, 1938. He is a Canadian-American television journalist.
From 1983 until his death from lung cancer in 2005, he was the only anchor of ABC World News Tonight. Despite dropping out of high school, he managed to become one of the most well-known journalists on American television. Along with Tom Brokaw of NBC and Dan Rather of CBS, Jennings was one of the “Big Three” news anchormen who dominated American evening network news from the early 1980s until his death in 2005, which occurred shortly after Brokaw’s retirement from anchoring evening news programs in 2004 and Rather’s retirement from anchoring evening news programs in 2005.
5. Tom Brokaw

Tom Brokaw | Information |
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Full Name | Tom Brokaw |
Birthdate | February 6, 1940 |
Birthplace | Webster, South Dakota, U.S. |
Alma Mater | University of South Dakota (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Television journalist, Author |
Years Active | 1960–2021 |
Employer | NBC (1966–2021) |
Notable Credits | Co-anchor of The Today Show (1976–1981) |
Term | Anchor of NBC Nightly News |
Predecessor | John Chancellor |
Successor | Brian Williams |
Spouse | Meredith Lynn Auld (m. 1962) |
Children | 3 |
Awards and Honors | – Two Peabody Awards |
Notable Books | The Greatest Generation (1998) |
Residence | Pound Ridge, New York |
Firsts and Achievements | – Hosted all three major NBC News programs |
Thomas John Brokaw was born in Webster, South Dakota, U.S. on February 6, 1940. He is an American retired network television journalist and author.
From 1976 to 1981, he co-anchored The Today Show with Jane Pauley. Thereafter, he worked as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. Together with Dan Rather and Peter Jennings, he was one of the “Big Three anchors” in this capacity. From 1973 to 1976, he worked as the program’s weekend anchor in the preceding ten years. He has hosted The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and briefly Meet the Press, all three of the major NBC News programs. He formerly served as an NBC News special reporter.
If you’re looking for a great source of inspiration, check out our article on cleft lip and palate celebrities who have overcame adversity and made it to the top ranks of their profession. With Tom Brokaw’s personal battle with multiple myeloma, this article provides a glimpse on how these cleft lip and palate celebrities have conquered life’s obstacles.
6. Harry Reasoner

Harry Reasoner | Information |
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Full Name | Harry Reasoner |
Birthdate | April 17, 1923 |
Birthplace | Dakota City, Iowa, U.S. |
Education | Stanford University, University of Minnesota |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1946-1991 |
Spouse | Kathleen Carroll Reasoner |
Children | 7 |
Awards | 3 Emmy Awards, George Foster Peabody Award (1967) |
Notable Work | Original host of 60 Minutes |
Early Life | Developed a broad vocabulary from his parents |
Military Service | Served in the Army during World War II |
Journalism Career | Worked for CBS and ABC News |
60 Minutes | Co-launched 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace |
Move to ABC | Joined ABC as an anchor on the evening newscast |
Return to CBS | Returned to CBS and resumed duties on 60 Minutes |
Retirement | Retired from 60 Minutes in May 1991 |
Personal Life | Married twice with seven children |
Health and Death | Underwent lung cancer surgeries |
Harry Reasoner was born in Dakota City, Iowa, U.S. on April 17, 1923. He is an American journalist. He worked for CBS and ABC News and was well-known for his deft use of words when commentating on television and as one of the first anchors of the news program 60 Minutes (1968–1970, 1978–1991). Reasoner earned a George Foster Peabody Award in 1967 in addition to three Emmy Awards over his career.
7. Hugh Downs

Hugh Downs | Information |
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Full Name | Hugh Malcolm Downs |
Birthdate | February 14, 1921 |
Birthplace | Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
Death | July 1, 2020 (aged 99) |
Occupations | Television broadcaster, host, producer, and author |
Education | Bluffton College, Wayne State University, Columbia University, Hunter College |
Notable Roles | Announcer and sidekick on Tonight Starring Jack Paar |
Years Active | 1939–2007 |
Best Known For | Co-anchor of ABC news TV show 20/20 |
Awards | Emmy Award for 20/20 |
Personal Life | Spouse: Ruth Shaheen |
Legacy | Auditorium of Shawnee High School named in his honor |
Hugh Malcolm Downs was born in Akron, Ohio, U.S. on February 14, 1921. He is an American radio and television broadcaster, announcer and programmer; television host; news anchor; TV producer; author; game show host; talk show sidekick; and music composer.
He was a fixture on television from the middle of the 1940s through the late 1990s, playing a number of well-received parts in the morning, prime time, and late-night hours. Before Regis Philbin overtook him, he held the officially recognized Guinness World Record for the most hours spent on commercial network television.
With a career spanning over six decades, Hugh Downs has made an enormous impact on the news industry. As one of the most trusted voices in broadcast journalism, you can learn more about his career alongside other influential Native American celebrities in our article, 50 Most Famous Native Americans in Media.
8. Ted Koppel

Ted Koppel | Information |
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Full Name | Ted Koppel |
Birthdate | February 8, 1940 |
Birthplace | Nelson, Lancashire, England |
Nationality | British-born American |
Education | Syracuse University (BS), Stanford University (MA) |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, news anchor, author |
Years Active | 1963–present |
Notable Achievement | Hosted Nightline (1980–2005) |
Spouse | Grace Anne Dorney (m. 1962) |
Children | 4, including Andrea |
Relatives | Kenneth M. Pollack (son-in-law) |
Background | German-Jewish parents who fled Germany during Nazi rule, immigrated to the United States in 1953 |
Career Highlights | Anchored Nightline for 25 years, broadcast journalist and news anchor for ABC for 20 years, managed editor for the Discovery Channel, news analyst for NPR and BBC World News America, contributor to Rock Center with Brian Williams, special contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning |
Awards | Nine Overseas Press Club awards, 25 Emmy Awards |
Edward James Martin Koppel was born in Nelson, Lancashire, England on February 8, 1940. He is a British-born American broadcast journalist.
He worked at ABC for 20 years as a television journalist and news anchor prior to Nightline. He gained a reputation as one of the best serious interviewers on American television after taking over Nightline. The program had a nightly viewership of around 7.5 million people five years after its 1980 premiere. He received several honors over his career as a foreign and diplomatic journalist, including 25 Emmy Awards and nine Overseas Press Club Awards.
9. John Chancellor

John Chancellor | Information |
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Full Name | John Chancellor |
Birthdate | July 14, 1927 |
Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Death | July 12, 1996 (aged 68), Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Alma Mater | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1952–1993 |
Notable Works | NBC Nightly News anchor (1970–1982), Editor/Commentator (1982–1993) |
Spouse(s) | Connie Chancellor, Barbara Upshaw (second wife) |
Children | 3 |
Contributions | Pioneered television news, served as anchor for NBC Nightly News, covered significant events |
Awards | Television Hall of Fame inductee, John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism |
Notable Works | Narrator of Ken Burns’ documentary “Baseball”, author of “Peril and Promise: A Commentary |
Legacy | Well-spoken journalist, commitment to news reporting, contributions to television news |
John William Chancellor was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. on July 14, 1927. He is an American journalist.
Chancellor was admitted to the Television Hall of Fame in 1992. Baseball by Ken Burns featured Chancellor as the documentary’s narrator. Danger and Promise: A Perspective on America, another book he penned, was released in 1990. The Annenberg Public Policy Center oversaw the John Chancellor Prize for Excellence in Journalism from its inception in 1995 until 2004. The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism presently bestows it.
10. Tim Russert

Tim Russert | Information |
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Full Name | Tim Russert |
Birthdate | May 7, 1950 |
Birthplace | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
Death | June 13, 2008 |
Resting Place | Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Education | John Carroll University (BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1983–2008 |
Notable Role | Longest-serving moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press |
Timothy John Russert was born in Buffalo, New York, U.S. on May 7, 1950. He is an American television journalist and lawyer.
He served as the Washington bureau head for NBC News and senior vice president. He also presented an interview show on CNBC and MSNBC every weekend. On NBC’s The Today Show and Hardball, he frequently appeared as a guest and correspondent. 2008’s list of the 100 most important persons in the world by Time magazine featured Russert.
11. Chet Huntley

Chet Huntley | Information |
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Full Name | Chester Robert “Chet” Huntley |
Birthdate | December 10, 1911 |
Birthplace | Cardwell, Montana, U.S. |
Occupation | American television newscaster |
Known for | Co-anchoring NBC’s The Huntley–Brinkley Report |
Alma Mater | University of Washington |
Years Active | 1934–1970 |
Spouses | Ingrid Rolin, Tippy Stringer |
Children | 2 |
Radio Career | KIRO AM, KHQ, KGW-AM, KFI, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NBC Radio |
Television Career | Co-anchor of The Huntley-Brinkley Report |
Catchphrase | “Good night, Chet… Good night, David… and good night for NBC News” |
Literary Work | Author of “The Generous Years: Remembrances of a Frontier Boyhood” |
Legacy | Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame (1988) |
Death | March 20, 1974, Big Sky, Montana, U.S. |
Honors | Alfred I. duPont Award |
Chester Robert “Chet” Huntley was born in Buffalo, New York, U.S. on December 10, 1911. He is an American television newscaster, best known.
With KIRO AM in Seattle as his first radio station, Huntley began his career in radio news casting in 1934. He then worked for radio stations in Portland and Spokane (KHQ). Huntley started hosting a new half-hour program called Outlook in April 1956, ahead of the political conventions that year that made him famous. Outlook was created by Reuven Frank. Alfred I. duPont Award recipient Huntley in 1956. Huntley was honored by the Television Hall of Fame in 1988 following his passing.
12. Eric Sevareid

Eric Sevareid | Information |
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Full Name | Eric Sevareid |
Born | November 26, 1912 |
Birthplace | Velva, North Dakota, U.S. |
Died | July 9, 1992 (aged 79) |
Education | University of Minnesota (B.A. 1935) |
Occupation | News journalist, author |
Years Active | 1939–1977 |
Employer | CBS |
Notable Work | Canoeing with the Cree (1935) |
Television | CBS Evening News (1965–1977) |
Spouses | Lois Finger, Belén Marshall, Suzanne St. Pierre |
Children | 3 |
War Correspondent | One of “Murrow’s Boys” reporting for CBS during World War II |
First to Report the Fall of Paris | Provided initial coverage when the city was captured by German forces in 1940 |
Emmy Awards | Received Emmy Awards for his work as a commentator on CBS Evening News |
Peabody Awards | Recognized with Peabody Awards for his outstanding contributions to journalism |
Author | Wrote the book “Canoeing with the Cree” based on his adventurous canoe trip |
CBS Washington Bureau Chief | Appointed as CBS’s Washington bureau chief in July 1942 |
Roving European Correspondent | Served as CBS’s roving European correspondent from 1959 to 1961 |
Commentator on CBS Evening News | Provided insightful commentaries on the CBS Evening News from 1964 to 1977 |
Inductee into Academy’s Hall of Fame | Honored as an inductee into the Academy’s Hall of Fame in 1987 |
Arnold Eric Sevareid was born in Velva, North Dakota, U.S. on November 26, 1912. He is an American author and CBS news journalist.
He was one of a select group of distinguished war reporters known as “Murrow’s Boys” since they were employed by CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow. The Fall of Paris in 1940, when the city was taken over by Nazi forces during World War II, was originally reported by Sevareid. Sevareid, who followed Murrow’s example by commentating on the CBS Evening News for thirteen years, was honored with Peabody and Emmy Awards for his work.
13. Dan Rather

Dan Rather | Information |
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Full Name | Dan Rather |
Birthdate | October 31, 1931 |
Birthplace | Wharton, Texas, U.S. |
Education | Sam Houston State University (BA) |
Occupations | Journalist, commentator, former national evening news anchor |
Notable Reporting | – Saved thousands of lives during Hurricane Carla in 1961 |
Significant Events | – Fall of the Berlin Wall |
Achievements | – Initiated successful evacuation of 350,000 people |
Current Endeavors | Writing the newsletter “Steady” on the Substack platform |
Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. was born in Wharton, Texas, U.S. on October 31, 1931. He is an American journalist, commentator, and former national evening news anchor.
After starting his career in Texas, Rather gained national recognition for his reporting during Hurricane Carla in September 1961, which helped save hundreds of lives. Rather also memorably covered the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas in November 1963. He was elevated to CBS News, where he worked as the White House reporter starting in 1964, as a result of his powerful reporting.
14. Diane Sawyer

Diane Sawyer | Information |
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Full Name | Diane Sawyer |
Birthdate | December 22, 1945 |
Birthplace | Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S. |
Ancestry | English, Irish, Scots-Irish, German |
Education | Wellesley College (BA) |
Occupation | Television broadcast journalist |
Notable Programs | ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, 20/20, Primetime |
Other Networks | CBS News (CBS Morning, 60 Minutes) |
White House Staff | Assistant to U.S. President Richard Nixon |
Current Role | Producing documentaries and interview specials for ABC News |
Spouse | Mike Nichols (m. 1988; died 2014) |
Career Highlights | First female correspondent on 60 Minutes, Co-anchor of Good Morning America, ABC World News anchor |
Influence | Recognized as one of the most influential news anchors of all time |
Lila Diane Sawyer was born in Glasgow, Kentucky on December 22, 1945. She is an American television broadcast journalist. She is well recognized for serving as an anchor for important ABC NEWS programs.
After graduating, she started a profession as a weather forecaster. She traveled to the nation’s capital and spent several years working as US President Richard Nixon’s writing consultant and press secretary in the White House until realizing that this position was uninteresting.
After taking a host position at CBS broadcasting, she gained notoriety. Her net worth was estimated to be close to $12 million only from her entertainment revenue. She was listed on the “List of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.”
15. Howard K. Smith

Howard K Smith | Information |
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Full Name | Howard K. Smith |
Birthdate | May 12, 1914 |
Birthplace | Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. |
Occupation | Journalist, Radio Reporter, Television Anchorman, Political Commentator, Actor |
Years Active | 1940–2000 |
Known For | Original member of the Murrow Boys war correspondents |
Notable Works | “Last Train from Berlin: An Eye-Witness Account of Germany at War” (1942) |
Political Affiliation | Democratic Party |
Awards | DuPont Awards, Sigma Delta Chi Award, Paul White Award |
Notable Films | The Best Man (1964), The Candidate (1972), Network (1976), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and more |
Spouse | Benedicte Traberg Smith (m. 1942) |
Children | Jack Smith (1945-2004) |
Howard Kingsbury Smith was born in Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. on May 12, 1914. He is an American journalist, radio reporter, television anchorman, political commentator, and film actor.
He was one of the original Murrow Boys, a group of combat correspondents. Smith was one of 151 accused Communist supporters included in the Red Channels report published in June 1950 at the start of the Red Scare, essentially placing him on the Hollywood blacklist despite his critiques of Soviet tactics. Smith has received several awards throughout the years, including the American Jewish Congress Award in 1960, the Sigma Delta Chi Prize for radio journalism in 1957, and the DuPont Awards in 1955 and 1963. He received the Paul White Prize from the Radio Television Digital News Association in 1962.
16. Roger Mudd

Roger Mudd | Information |
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Full Name | Roger Harrison Mudd |
Birthdate | February 9, 1928 |
Birthplace | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Died | March 9, 2021 |
Occupations | TV News Anchor, Journalist, Correspondent |
Years Active | 1953–2021 |
Spouse | E. J. Spears |
Children | 4 |
Education | Bachelor of Arts in History, Washington and Lee University |
Awards and Recognition | Peabody Award |
Notable Roles | Correspondent and anchor for CBS News and NBC News |
Notable Interviews | Interview with Senator Ted Kennedy |
Contribution to Journalism | Documentary: The Selling of the Pentagon |
Philanthropy | Donated $4 million to establish the Roger Mudd Center |
Additional Roles | Essayist and political correspondent with MacNeil–Lehrer |
Legacy | Collateral descendant of Samuel Mudd |
Roger Harrison Mudd was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. on February 9, 1928. He is an American broadcast journalist. With NBC News and CBS News, he worked as an anchor and reporter.
He was The History Channel’s lead anchor as well. Mudd has held previous positions as the co-anchor of the daily NBC Nightly News, weekend and weekday replacement anchor for the CBS Evening News, and host of the NBC-TV Meet the Press and American Almanac TV shows. Mudd won five Emmy Awards, the Joan Shorenstein Award for Outstanding Washington Reporting, the Peabody Award, and both.
17. Jim Lehrer

Jim Lehrer | Information |
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Full Name | Jim Lehrer |
Birthdate | May 19, 1934 |
Birthplace | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
Occupation | Journalist, Novelist, Screenwriter, Playwright |
Notable Role | Executive Editor and News Anchor for PBS NewsHour |
Presidential Debates | Moderated twelve presidential debates between 1988 and 2012 |
Education | University of Missouri (BA) |
Career Highlights | – Covered the assassination of John F. Kennedy |
Awards and Honors | – Several Emmys |
Personal Life | – Married to Kate Lehrer for six decades |
Literary Works | – Authored numerous novels, plays, screenplays, and personal memoirs |
Death | Passed away on January 23, 2020, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 85 |
James Charles Lehrer was born in Wichita, Kansas, U.S. on May 19, 1934. He is an American journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright.
In addition to serving as the executive editor and news anchor for the PBS NewsHour, Lehrer was well-known for his work as a debate moderator during U.S. presidential election campaigns. From 1988 and 2012, he presided over twelve presidential debates. He wrote a lot of fiction and non-fiction works, drawing on his background as a newsman and his passions for politics and history.
18. Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters | Information |
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Full Name | Barbara Walters |
Birthdate | September 25, 1929 |
Birthplace | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Education | Sarah Lawrence College (BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1951–2015 |
Notable Credits | Today, ABC Evening News, 20/20, The View |
Television Hall of Fame Induction | 1989 |
Lifetime Achievement Award (NATAS) | 2000 |
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star | 2007 |
Notable Interviews | Fidel Castro, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, Katharine Hepburn, |
Created and Co-hosted The View | 1997–2014 |
Final On-Air Appearance (ABC News) | 2015 |
Last Public Appearance | 2016 |
Barbara Jill Walters was born in Wichita, Kansas, U.S. on September 25, 1929. She is an American broadcast journalist and television personality.
She hosted a number of television shows, including Today, the ABC Evening News, 20/20, and The View. She was well known for her interviewing skills and popularity with viewers. Walters was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NATAS in 2000, and induction into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989. From Richard and Pat Nixon to Barack and Michelle Obama, Walters spoke with every sitting president and first lady of the United States during her tenure. She also spoke with Joe Biden and Donald Trump, albeit not when they were both president.
19. Sam Donaldson

Sam Donaldson | Information |
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Full Name | Samuel Andrew Donaldson, Jr. |
Birthdate | March 11, 1934 (age 89) |
Birthplace | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Former reporter and news anchor |
Known For | ABC News White House Correspondent (1977–1989 and 1998–1999) |
Military Service | United States Army, Captain (1956–1959) |
Education | New Mexico Military Institute |
Awards and Honors | Best White House Correspondent (1985, Washington Journalism Review) |
Marriage and Family | Spouses: Patricia Oates, Billie Kay Butler, Janice C. Smith, Sandra Martorelli |
Notable Coverage | Watergate scandal, Vietnam War, Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, Lewinsky scandal, Gulf War |
Other Involvements | Panelist on ABC’s This Week with David Brinkley |
Philanthropy | Active supporter of cancer research |
Samuel Andrew Donaldson Jr. was born in El Paso, Texas, U.S. on March 11, 1934. He is an American reporter and news anchor.
He worked with ABC News from 1967 and 2009. His most well-known roles include co-anchoring the network’s Sunday program This Week as well as serving as the network’s White House Correspondent from 1977 to 1989 and 1998 to 1999. Donaldson reported on the Vietnam War for ABC News in 1971. In 1973–1974 he served as ABC’s top Watergate correspondent, covering the Watergate burglars’ trial, the Senate Watergate hearings, and the House Judiciary Committee’s inquiry into President Nixon’s impeachment.
20. Brit Hume

Brit Hume | Information |
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Full Name | Brit Hume |
Birthdate | June 22, 1943 (age 80) |
Birthplace | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Occupation | Journalist and political commentator |
Alma Mater | University of Virginia (BA in English, 1965) |
Known for | – Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News (1989–1996) |
Notable Contributions | – 23-year career with ABC News, contributing to World News Tonight, Nightline, and This Week |
Awards | – Television’s first Academy Award nomination for his work on The Killing Ground (1979) |
Family | – Divorced from Clare Jacobs Stoner; son Sandy Hume was a journalist |
Religious Beliefs | Committed his life to Jesus Christ in the aftermath of his son’s suicide |
Political Affiliation | Conservative |
Alexander Britton Hume was born in El Paso, Texas, U.S. on June 22, 1943. He is an American journalist and political commentator.
Brit Hume served as the host of Special Report with Brit Hume and the Fox News Channel’s managing editor for Washington, D.C., for 12 years. After leaving his position as Special Report’s host in 2008, he joined Fox News as a senior political analyst and a frequent commentator on Fox News Sunday. With the sudden departure of Greta Van Susteren, the show’s long standing host, he was chosen the temporary anchor of On the Record in September 2016. He held that position through the 2016 presidential election.
21. Frank Reynolds

Frank Reynolds | Information |
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Full Name | Frank James Reynolds |
Birthdate | November 29, 1923 |
Birthplace | East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. |
Death | July 20, 1983 |
Education | Bishop Noll Institute, Wabash College |
Occupation | Television Journalist |
Notable Credits | ABC Evening News, World News Tonight, Nightline |
Spouse | Henrietta Mary Harpster |
Children | 5 sons |
Military Service | U.S. Army, Purple Heart recipient |
Career Highlights | Anchor for CBS and ABC News, Host of Nightline |
Last Broadcast | April 20, 1983 |
Interred at | Arlington National Cemetery |
Presidential Award | Posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Frank James Reynolds was born in East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. on November 29, 1923. He is an American television journalist.
From 1968 to 1970, Reynolds hosted the ABC Evening News from New York, and from 1978 until his passing in 1983, he served as the show’s co-anchor from Washington, D.C. He launched the 30-minute late-night show America Held Hostage during the Iran hostage crisis, which was eventually renamed Nightline and later taken over by Ted Koppel. Reynolds’ final broadcast was on April 20, 1983, and despite assurances from replacement anchormen that he would return, he never did. He passed away at Sibley Memorial Hospital on July 20, 1983, at the age of 59, from liver failure brought on by hepatitis.
One of the most influential news anchors of all time, Frank Reynolds had a captivating on-screen presence that left a lasting impression on viewers. Reynolds had a career that spanned five decades, winning multiple awards and cementing his place in journalism history. Learn more about famous Scorpio birthdays of October and November on Hood MWR.
22. Cokie Roberts

Cokie Roberts | Information |
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Full Name | Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne “Cokie” Roberts |
Born | December 27, 1943 in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
Died | September 17, 2019 in Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Occupation | Journalist, author |
Employer | NPR, ABC, PBS |
Title | Contributing Senior News Analyst |
Spouse | Steven V. Roberts (married in 1966) |
Children | Lee Roberts, Rebecca Roberts |
Parent(s) | Hale Boggs, Lindy Boggs |
Relatives | Sister: Barbara Boggs Sigmund, Brother: Tommy Boggs |
Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne “Cokie” Roberts was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. on December 27, 1943. She is an American journalist and author.
She worked for National Public Radio, PBS, and ABC News for decades as a political reporter and analyst, holding significant positions on shows including This Week, World News Tonight, Morning Edition, and The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Together with Susan Stamberg, Linda Wertheimer, and Nina Totenberg, she was regarded as one of NPR’s “Founding Moms”.
23. Jessica Savitch

Jessica Savitch | Information |
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Full Name | Jessica Savitch |
Birthdate | February 1, 1947 |
Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
Occupation | Television journalist |
Years Active | 1968-1983 |
Education | Ithaca College |
Notable Positions | Weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News |
Contributions | First woman to anchor an evening network newscast solo |
Legacy | Inspired the film “Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story” |
Personal Life | Married Melvin “Mel” Korn and Dr. Donald Payne |
Notable Works | Covered multi-part feature stories on unique topics |
Awards and Recognition | Received awards for excellence in investigative journalism |
Tragic Death | Accidentally drowned in a car accident |
Jessica Beth Savitch was born in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. on February 1, 1947. She is an American television journalist.’
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, she read the daily news for NBC News and served as the weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News. Savitch, who preceded Marlene Sanders of ABC News and Catherine Mackin of NBC News as one of the first female anchors of an evening network newscast, made history. In addition, she served as the anchor of Frontline on PBS from its premiere in January 1983 until her passing as a passenger in a car accident later that year.
24. Bernard Shaw

Bernard Shaw | Information |
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Full Name | Bernard Shaw |
Born | May 22, 1940 |
Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Died | September 7, 2022 |
Education | University of Illinois Chicago |
Occupation | American journalist and lead news anchor |
Years Active | 1964-2001 |
Notable Employers | CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Westinghouse Broadcasting, WNUS |
Notable Achievements | – Lead news anchor for CNN from 1980 to 2001 |
Military Career | United States Marine Corps |
Legacy and Influence | – Helped establish CNN as a credible news source |
Personal Life | Married to Linda Allston with two children |
Death | Passed away in Washington, D.C., on September 7, 2022, at the age of 82 |
Bernard Shaw was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. on May 22, 1940. He is an American journalist and lead news anchor.
In 1964, Shaw started working as a reporter and anchor for WNUS in Chicago. Before becoming the Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent, he joined ABC News in 1977 as a Latin American journalist and bureau head. He is especially recalled for his coverage of the Gulf War in 1991. He took cover beneath a desk as he reported cruise missiles going through his window while reporting from the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad with CNN journalists John Holliman and Peter Arnett.
If you are interested in learning more about famous personalities in media, check out our list of the top 21 famous movie stars of the 1950s. These actors and actresses have made an indelible mark on the silver screen and continue to be studied and emulated by aspiring performers today.
25. Lester Holt

Lester Holt | Information |
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Full Name | Lester Don Holt Jr. |
Birthdate | March 8, 1959 |
Birthplace | Hamilton Air Force Base, Marin County, California, U.S. |
Education | Cordova High School California State University, Sacramento (dropped out) Honorary degree from California State University, Sacramento (2015) |
Occupations | Journalist, news anchor |
Employer(s) | CBS (1981–2000) NBC (2000–present) |
Notable Credits | NBC Nightly News weeknight anchor (2015–present) First African-American solo anchor of a weekday network nightly newscast |
Television | CBS News (1981–2000) NBC News (2000–present) |
Term | Anchor of NBC Nightly News and NBC Nightly News Kids Edition |
Predecessor | Brian Williams |
Political Party | Independent (2018–present) Republican (until 2018) |
Spouse | Carol Hagen (m. 1982) |
Children | 2, including Stefan Holt |
Notable Interviews | Moderated the first presidential debate in 2016 Interviewed President Donald Trump in 2017 |
Other Ventures | Bass guitarist and upright bass player in the band Rough Cuts |
Residence | Manhattan, New York |
Religion | Attends the Manhattan Church of Christ |
Lester Don Holt Jr. was born in Hamilton Air Force Base, California, U.S. on March 8, 1959. He is an American journalist.
After Brian Williams was demoted, Holt was appointed as NBC Nightly News’ permanent anchor on June 18, 2015. Max Robinson, an evening co-anchor for ABC News, served as a career model for Holt, who went on to become the first African-American to solo-anchor a weekday network broadcast. As Holt took over as anchor, NBC Nightly News’ ratings fell to second place, falling from first place for more than 30 years during the Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams eras.
26. Garrick Utley

Garrick Utley | Information |
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Full Name | Clifton Garrick Utley |
Birthdate | November 19, 1939 |
Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Alma Mater | Carleton College |
Occupation | Television journalist |
Known for | First full-time TV correspondent covering the Vietnam War |
Spouse | Gertje Rommeswinkel (m. 1973) |
Career Highlights | – Reported on the Vietnam War and other international events |
Notable Contributions | – Co-anchored CNN’s coverage of the September 11 attacks |
Death | February 20, 2014 (aged 74) from prostate cancer |
Clifton Garrick Utley was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. on November 19, 1939. He is an American television journalist.
As a researcher in Europe for The Huntley-Brinkley Report, Utley joined NBC News in 1963. He later rose to the position of Foreign and Senior reporter. Alongside reporting the Vietnam War, Utley reported from numerous other places including periods as bureau chief in London and Paris. He also covered news from the United States. Utley taught broadcasting and journalism at the State University of New York at Oswego after quitting network television. He also served as a senior fellow at the SUNY Levin Center in Manhattan, where he left as director in December 2011.
27. Douglas Edwards

Douglas Edwards | Information |
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Full Name | Douglas Edwards |
Birthdate | July 14, 1917 |
Birthplace | Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Occupation | Radio and television newscaster, correspondent, news anchor, copy editor |
Notable Achievement | First presenter or “anchor” of a nationally televised, regularly scheduled newscast by an American network |
Network | Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) |
Years Active | 1942–1988 |
CBS Evening News | Presented news on CBS television every weeknight for 15 years, from 1947 to 1962 |
Post-CBS Career | Continued working for CBS, presenting news reports on radio and daytime television |
Retirement | Retired in 1988 |
Marriages | Sara Belle Byrd, May Hamilton Dunbar |
Douglas Edwards was born in Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. on July 14, 1917. He is an American radio and television newscaster and correspondent.
For 15 years, from March 20, 1947, to April 16, 1962, Edwards broadcast news on CBS television every weekday. The CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite’s newscast after Edwards’ departure, grew to a 30-minute format in 1963. The show debuted as a 15-minute episode under the title CBS Television News. Although leaving the nightly news in 1962, Edwards remained employed by CBS for a further 25 years, reporting news on radio and daytime television, editing news features, and retiring from the network in 1988.
One of the most legendary newscasters of all time, Douglas Edwards had a career spanning decades. Learn more about other famous people from his hometown with this list of celebrities from Muncie, Indiana.
28. Chris Wallace

Chris Wallace | Information |
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Full Name | Chris Wallace |
Birthdate | October 12, 1947 |
Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Alma Mater | Harvard University (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Television journalist and news anchor |
Years Active | 1964–present |
Notable Credits | NBC Nightly News anchor |
Political Party | Democratic |
Spouses | Elizabeth Jane Farrell (divorced) |
Children | 6 |
Parents | Mike Wallace (father) |
Awards | Three Emmy Awards |
Career Highlights | Tough and wide-ranging interviews |
Current Project | Hosting “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” interview series |
Notable Skills | Confrontational interviewing style |
Christopher Wallace was born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. on October 12, 1947. He is an American broadcast journalist.
He frequently receives comparisons to his father, journalist Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes, for his frank and in-depth interviews. He has worked in media for 50 years, serving as a journalist, moderator, or anchor for CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox News, and now CNN. He was listed among the top TV news anchors in America in terms of viewer trust in 2018. Wallace has received a Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, a duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award, and a Paul White lifetime achievement award in addition to three Emmy Awards.
29. Christiane Amanpour

Christiane Amanpour | Information |
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Full Name | Christiane Maria Heideh Amanpour |
Birthdate | January 12, 1958 (age 65) |
Birthplace | London, England, UK |
Nationality | British-Iranian |
Education | University of Rhode Island (BA) |
Occupations | Journalist, Television Host |
Employer | CNN, PBS |
Notable Credit(s) | Chief International Anchor for CNN, Host of CNN International’s “Amanpour,” Host of “Amanpour & Company” on PBS |
Spouse | James Rubin (m. 1998; div. 2018) |
Children | 1 |
Career Highlights | Extensive coverage of major crises and conflicts worldwide |
Notable Interviews | Yasser Arafat during the siege on his compound |
Recognition and Awards | Fulbright Prize for International Understanding |
Recent Controversies | Comparison of the Trump administration to the Nazis and Kristallnacht |
Christiane Maria Heideh Amanpour was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England on January 12, 1958. She is a British-Iranian journalist and television host.
She started off as a desk assistant for CNN’s international desk in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1983. Amanpour’s first significant assignment as a journalist was to cover the Iran-Iraq War in her early years. This led to her being relocated to Eastern Europe in 1986 to cover the fall of European communism. Don Hewitt, the man behind 60 Minutes, hired her from 1996 to 2005 as a special contributor to file four to five in-depth foreign news segments a year. She won a Peabody Award in 1998 as a result of her reports.
When it comes to news anchors, few have made an impact quite like Christiane Amanpour. With her fearless coverage of conflicts and crises around the world, Amanpour has become an icon in the industry. If you want to learn more about other influential female reporters like her, check out this list of CNN female reporters on Hood MWR. Discover the inspiring stories of these women who have made history in journalism.
30. Connie Chung

Connie Chung | Information |
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Full Name | Connie Chung |
Born | Constance Yu-Hwa Chung (August 20, 1946) |
Nationality | American |
Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA) |
Occupation | Television news anchor, reporter, journalist |
Years Active | 1972–present |
Spouse | Maury Povich (married in 1984) |
Children | 1 |
Notable Interviews | Claus von Bülow, Gary Condit, Magic Johnson |
Career Milestones | Co-anchored CBS Evening News, Second woman to co-anchor a network newscast, Anchored NBC’s NBC News at Sunrise |
Early Life | Youngest of ten children, born in Washington, D.C., family emigrated from China |
Academic Background | Graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in journalism |
Noteworthy Achievement | Represented a rare, nationally visible Asian anchor in the USA |
Teaching Fellowship | Accepted teaching fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University |
Personal Life | Married to Maury Povich since 1984, one adopted son |
Constance Yu-Hwa Chung was born in Washington, D.C., U.S. on August 20, 1946. She is an American journalist.
On the American television news networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC, she has worked as an anchor and reporter. Claus von Bülow, U.S. Congressman Gary Condit, who Chung spoke with following the abduction of Chandra Levy, and basketball icon Magic Johnson when he came up with his HIV status are some of her most well-known interview topics. She joined CBS Evening News as a co-anchor in 1993, making history as the second woman to co-anchor a network broadcast.
31. Ann Curry

Ann Curry | Information |
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Full Name | Ann Curry |
Birthdate | November 19, 1956 (age 66) |
Birthplace | Agaña, Guam, U.S. |
Education | University of Oregon (BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1978–present |
Spouse | Brian Ross |
Children | 2 |
Notable Accomplishments | – Focused on human suffering in war zones and natural disasters |
Ann Curry was born in Agaña, Guam, U.S. on November 19, 1956. She is an American journalist and photojournalist.
For almost 30 years, she has covered natural catastrophes and conflict zones with an emphasis on the suffering of people there. Curry covered the conflicts in Kosovo, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, Darfur, the Congo, and the Central African Republic. Curry has covered a number of catastrophes, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2010 Haitian Earthquake, when her Twitter appeal was credited for accelerating the arrival of relief planes after topping Twitter’s list of “most impactful” tweets.
Ann Curry, one of the most prominent news anchors of all time, became a household name thanks to her knack for delivering breaking news with compassion. Check our article about most beautiful women over 60 and get to know inspiring women who prove that beauty has no age limit.
32. Bill Hemmer

Bill Hemmer | Information |
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Full Name | Bill Hemmer |
Birthdate | November 14, 1964 |
Birthplace | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
Education | Miami University (B.A., Broadcast Journalism) |
Occupation | Journalist/Television news anchor |
Employer | Fox News Channel |
Notable Roles | Co-anchor of America’s Newsroom |
Early Career | Started in sports production and reporting at WLWT-TV and WCPO-TV |
World Travels | Took a year-long hiatus to backpack around the world, which influenced his career |
CNN Career | Hosted various programs including American Morning, CNN Tonight, and CNN Morning News |
Coverage of Major Events | Reported from World Trade Center site after 9/11 attacks, covered the Iraq War, and reported from various conflict zones |
Fox News Career | Joined Fox News in 2005, hosted Bill Hemmer Reports, |
William G. Hemmer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. on November 14, 1964. He is an American journalist.
Midway through the 1980s, he began working in sports production at WLWT-TV, when he discovered his love for live television. From 1995 through 2005, Hemmer hosted many shows for CNN, including American Morning (initially with Paula Zahn, then with Soledad O’Brien), CNN Tonight, CNN Early Edition, CNN Morning News, and CNN Live Today with co-anchor Daryn Kagan. Hemmer was reinstated to America’s Newsroom in 2021 as part of a revised roster for the network’s weekday programming, with co-anchor Dana Perino.
33. Linda Ellerbee

Linda Ellerbee | Information |
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Full Name | Linda Ellerbee |
Birthdate | August 15, 1944 |
Birthplace | Bryan, Texas, U.S. |
Occupations | Journalist, anchor, producer, reporter, author, speaker, commentator |
Years Active | 1965–2015, 2020–present |
Known For | Longtime Washington correspondent for NBC News |
Notable Achievements | Recognized for her work on NBC News Overnight |
Breast Cancer Advocate | Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, underwent double mastectomy, actively promotes awareness and support |
Linda Jane Smith was born in Bryan, Texas, U.S. on August 15, 1944. She is an American journalist, anchor, producer, reporter, author, speaker and commentator.
Ellerbee was a correspondent for Today at NBC. Weekend’s prime-time edition was where she got her first position as an anchor. As Weekend transitioned from its late-night time slot (where it cycled with Saturday Night Live, typically one Saturday night per month) into direct prime time competition with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Ellerbee joined Lloyd Dobyns as co-host. And Thus It Goes, her autobiography, was released in 1986. In 1991, Move On: Adventures in the Real World, a second memoir, and in 2005, Take Large Bites: Adventures Across the Globe and Across the Table, a third memoir, were both released.
34. Frank McGee

Frank McGee | Information |
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Full Name | Frank McGee |
Birthdate | September 12, 1921 |
Birthplace | Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, U.S. |
Occupation | American television journalist |
Notable Credits | NBC Nightly News, The Today Show |
Years Active | Late 1950s – Early 1970s |
Spouse | Nialta Sue Beaird McGee (1921–2002) |
Children | 2 |
Early Life | Raised in Norman, Oklahoma |
Military Service | Served in the U.S. Army during World War II |
News Career | Joined NBC based in New York City |
Reporting Style | Known for descriptive language and vivid storytelling |
Documentary | Created “Same Mud, Same Blood” about black soldiers in Vietnam |
The Frank McGee Show | Hosted The Frank McGee Report |
Health and Legacy | Passed away at age 52 from complications of multiple myeloma |
Frank McGee was born in Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. on September 12, 1921. He is an American television journalist.
As one of the “Four Horsemen,” which also comprised NBC newsmen John Chancellor, Edwin Newman, and Sander Vanocur, McGee covered the floor of the national conventions of both major parties in 1960, 1964, and 1968. McGee had a gift for using vivid words to describe events, frequently painting a clear picture for viewers of the day’s happenings. As Huntley’s departure put an end to the Huntley-Brinkley Report in 1970, McGee joined David Brinkley and Chancellor as hosts of the newly titled NBC Nightly News.
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35. Judy Woodruff

Judy Woodruff | Information |
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Full Name | Judy Woodruff |
Birthdate | November 20, 1946 (age 76) |
Birthplace | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Education | Duke University (BA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years Active | 1970–present |
Television | PBS NewsHour |
Spouse | Al Hunt (m. 1980) |
Children | 3 |
Judy Carline Woodruff was born in Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. on November 20, 1946. She is an American broadcast journalist.
Since 1976, she has been a news reporter for network, cable, and public television. By the end of 2022, she served as the managing editor and host of the PBS NewsHour. Since 1976, Woodruff has covered each presidential election and convention. She has moderated US presidential debates and conducted interviews with a number of leaders of state. Woodruff stated in May 2022 that she will leave her position as the NewsHour’s anchor at the end of the year, and her last broadcast was on December 30, 2022.
36. Jane Pauley

Jane Pauley | Information |
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Full Name | Jane Pauley |
Birthdate | October 31, 1950 (age 72) |
Birthplace | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
Alma Mater | Indiana University Bloomington (B.A., Political Science) |
Occupation(s) | American television host, news anchor, and author |
Years Active | 1972–present |
Notable Positions | Co-anchor of NBC morning show Today (1976-1989) |
Notable Achievements | Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame |
Spouse | Garry Trudeau |
Children | 3 |
Other Contributions | Hosted a weekly segment on The Today Show sponsored by AARP called “Your Life Calling” |
Margaret Jane Pauley was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. on October 31, 1950. She is an American television host and author.
Pauley first gained notoriety when she took over for Barbara Walters on the NBC morning program Today at the age of 25. She co-anchored the program from 1976 to 1989, first with Tom Brokaw and then with Bryant Gumbel; for a brief period in the late 1980s, she and Gumbel also collaborated with Deborah Norville.
She requested to be freed from her contract in 1989, believing that Norville’s inclusion in the program was endangering her work. Nevertheless, her request was refused. She collaborated with Stone Phillips in her subsequent regular anchor role at the network’s newsmagazine Dateline NBC from 1992 until 2003.
Check out Hood MWR’s 20 Most Influential NBC Female Reporters list to learn more about Jane Pauley and other inspiring women who have made a mark in journalism history. From covering breaking news to entertainment stories, these reporters have shown incredible talent and dedication to their craft.
37. Brian Williams

Brian Williams | Information |
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Full Name | Brian Douglas Williams |
Born | May 5, 1959 |
Birthplace | Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
Years Active | 1981–2021 |
Employer(s) | CBS (1986–1993), NBC (1993–2021) |
Television | CBS News reporter (1986–1993), NBC News reporter (1993–2004), NBC Nightly News anchor (2004–2015), MSNBC anchor (1996–2002, 2015–2021), The 11th Hour with Brian Williams anchor (2016–2021) |
Spouse | Jane Stoddard (m. 1986) |
Children | 2, including Allison |
Awards | 12 News & Documentary Emmy Awards, George Polk Award, duPont-Columbia University Award, Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism |
Career Highlights | – Correspondent for NBC Nightly News |
Brian Douglas Williams was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S. on May 5, 1959. He is an American journalist and television news anchor.
In February 2015, Williams was suspended for six months by NBC for “misrepresent[ing] events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003”. Four months after the incident came to light, the network removed him from NBC Nightly News and reassigned him as the breaking news anchor for MSNBC. In September 2016, he became the host of MSNBC’s political news show, The 11th Hour. Williams announced in November 2021 that he would be leaving MSNBC and NBC News at the completion of his contract the following month, when he hosted his final episode of The 11th Hour.
38. Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper | Information |
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Full Name | Anderson Cooper |
Birthdate | June 3, 1967 |
Birthplace | New York City, U.S. |
Alma Mater | Yale University (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Broadcast journalist, political commentator |
Years Active | 1990–present |
Employers | Channel One News, ABC News, CNN |
Television | Anderson Cooper 360°, Anderson Live, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper |
Notable Awards | 18 Emmy Awards, 2 Peabody Awards, Edward R. Murrow Award, GLAAD Media Awards |
CNN Role | Anchor of Anderson Cooper 360°, correspondent for 60 Minutes |
Coverage Reputation | Notable for on-the-ground reporting of breaking news events, including Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake |
Personal Life | Openly gay journalist, member of the Vanderbilt family |
Anderson Hays Cooper was born in New York City, U.S. on June 3, 1967. He is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator.
Cooper works for CNN as well as for CBS News’ 60 Minutes as a correspondent. He started traversing the world and filming war-torn areas for Channel One News in 1989, the year he received his Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. Cooper joined ABC News in 1995 as a journalist, but he quickly accepted other positions throughout the network, serving briefly as a co-anchor, host of a reality game program, and stand-in for a morning talk show host.
Anderson has been hailed as one of the most influential news anchors of all time thanks to his award-winning coverage of some of the biggest events in recent history. Along with his undeniable talents as a journalist, Anderson is also known for his piercing blue eyes, which have captivated audiences worldwide. Check out our article on celebrities with blue eyes to see who else made the list.
39. Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts | Information |
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Full Name | Robin Roberts |
Birthdate | November 23, 1960 |
Birthplace | Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
Alma Mater | Southeastern Louisiana University |
Occupation | News anchor |
Years Active | 1983–present |
Partner | Amber Laign (2005–present) |
Parent | Lawrence E. Roberts (father) |
Relatives | Sally-Ann Roberts (sister) |
Good Morning America Anchor | Anchor of ABC’s top-rated morning show |
Sports Broadcasting Career | Notable 15-year tenure as a sportscaster on ESPN |
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted in recognition of contributions to the game |
Hurricane Katrina Coverage | Emotionally reported on the devastation in Mississippi |
Battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome | Chronicled treatment, raising awareness and inspiring donors |
Disney+ Interview Series Host | Host of “Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts” |
Philanthropy | Active involvement in campaigns and charitable causes |
Inspirational Figure | Courageous advocate for bone marrow donation |
Robin Roberts was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. on November 23, 1960. She is an American television broadcaster.
Roberts worked as a sports anchor for neighborhood TV and radio stations after growing up in Mississippi and enrolling at Southeastern Louisiana University. For fifteen years, Roberts covered sports for ESPN (1990–2005). In 2005, she was made a co-anchor on Good Morning America. In 2012, Roberts was admitted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. The show tracked her myelodysplastic syndrome therapy, and for its reporting on it, it received a 2012 Peabody Award.
40. Katie Couric

Katie Couric | Information |
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Full Name | Katherine Anne Couric |
Birthdate | January 7, 1957 (age 66) |
Birthplace | Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, presenter, author |
Notable Credits | Today, CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, Katie, Yahoo! News |
Spouses | Jay Monahan (m. 1989; died 1998), John Molner (m. 2014) |
Children | 2 |
Alma Mater | University of Virginia |
Founder | Katie Couric Media (multimedia news and production company) |
Notable Roles | Co-host of Today, Anchor of CBS Evening News, Correspondent for 60 Minutes |
Awards | Television Hall of Fame (2004) |
Katherine Anne Couric was born in Arlington, Virginia on January 7, 1957. She is an American journalist and presenter.
She is the creator of the multimedia news and production company Katie Couric Media. Additionally, Wake Up Call, her daily newsletter, is published. She served as Yahoo’s Global News Anchor from 2013 to 2017. All three of the Big Three American television networks have featured Couric as a host; earlier in her career, she worked as an assignment editor for CNN. Her most significant on-air roles as a presenter have included co-hosting Today, anchoring the CBS Evening News, and serving as a correspondent for 60 Minutes.
41. Lesley Stahl

Lesley Stahl | Information |
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Full Name | Lesley Stahl |
Birthdate | December 16, 1941 (age 81) |
Birthplace | Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Education | Wheaton College (BA) |
Occupation | News reporter |
Years active | 1971–present |
Notable credit(s) | Face the Nation moderator (1983–1991) |
Spouse(s) | Jeffrey Gordon (m. 1964; div. 1967) |
Children | 1 |
Notable Career | CBS News White House correspondent during the Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush presidencies |
Books | Reporting Live (1999) |
Other Activities | Correspondent for Years of Living Dangerously, a documentary show about climate change |
COVID-19 | Hospitalized with COVID-19 in May 2020, recovered |
Lesley Rene Stahl was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S. on December 16, 1941. She is an American television journalist.
As a producer and on-air reporter, Stahl started her career in television news at Boston’s first Channel 5, WHDH-TV. From September 1983 through May 1991, Stahl presided as Face the Nation’s moderator. In the episode “Desperately Seeking Closure” of the NBC comedy Frasier from1998, she made an appearance as herself. She also served as the 2002–2004 host of 48 Hours Investigates. When Al Gore went on 60 Minutes and announced for the first time that he would not run for president again in2004, Stahl gained notoriety.
42. Max Robinson

Max Robinson | Information |
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Full Name | Max Robinson |
Birthdate | May 1, 1939 |
Birthplace | Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
Death | December 20, 1988 |
Cause of Death | Complications from AIDS |
Education | Indiana University, Oberlin College, Virginia Union University |
Occupation | Television journalist |
Years Active | 1959–1985 |
Notable Credits | First African-American broadcast network news anchor, ABC World News Tonight |
Founding Role | National Association of Black Journalists |
Trailblazing Anchor | Co-anchor on ABC World News Tonight (1978-1983) |
Advocacy | Fought against racism in the news Mentored young black broadcast journalists |
Marriages | Eleanor Booker (1963-1968) Hazel O’Leary (1974-1975) Beverly Hamilton (1977-1986) |
Children | Mark, Maureen, Michael, Malik |
AIDS Advocacy | Kept his AIDS diagnosis a secret, later revealed by family to raise awareness and promote treatment and education |
Burial | Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland |
Maxie Cleveland “Max” Robinson, Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. on May 1, 1939. He is an American broadcast journalist.
His most notable role was that of co-anchoring ABC World News Tonight from 1978 to 1983 with Frank Reynolds and Peter Jennings. As the country’s first African-American television network news anchor, Robinson is well-known. Initiator of the National Organization of Black Journalists, Robinson.
He left ABC in 1983 and started working for WMAQ-TV in Chicago in March 1984. He was the first black anchor at the station. Yet, he had tumultuous relations with several of his coworkers throughout his time at the station. He was missing a lot, too. Robinson hung up his hat in 1985.
43. Charles Collingwood

Charles Collingwood | Information |
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Full Name | Charles Collingwood |
Birthdate | June 4, 1917 |
Birthplace | Three Rivers, Michigan, U.S. |
Education | Deep Springs College Cornell University Oxford University |
Occupation | Broadcast journalist |
Notable Credit | CBS News |
Spouses | Louise Allbritton (m. 1946; died 1979) Tatiana Jolin (m. 1984) |
Early Career | Member of Edward R. Murrow’s group of foreign correspondents known as the “Murrow Boys” |
Career Accomplishments | War correspondent during World War II covering Europe and North Africa for CBS News |
Notable Program | A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy |
Coverage of Kennedy | Substituted for Walter Cronkite during CBS’s coverage of the Kennedy assassination |
Foreign Correspondent | Chief foreign correspondent for CBS News from 1964 to 1975 |
Literary Work | The Defector (1970) |
Retirement and Death | Retired in 1982 |
Charles Collingwood was born in Three Rivers, Michigan, U.S. on June 4, 1917. He is an American journalist and war correspondent.
He was a founding member of the “Murrow Boys,” a group of international reporters led by Edward R. Murrow. He reported for CBS News during World War II in Europe and North Africa. Together with Walter Cronkite, Eric Sevareid, and Edward R. Murrow himself, Collingwood was a pioneering television journalist.
He was the first American journalist permitted entry into North Vietnam in 1968. This trip was as a major source of inspiration for Collingwood’s 1970 espionage book The Defector. The thriller’s strengths and its insights into the difficulties of the Vietnam War won the book plaudits from critics.
44. Elizabeth Vargas

Elizabeth Vargas | Information |
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Full Name | Elizabeth Anne Vargas |
Birthdate | September 6, 1962 |
Birthplace | Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
Education | University of Missouri |
Occupation | Television journalist |
Years Active | 1993–present |
Known For | Lead investigative reporter/documentary anchor for A&E Networks |
Previous Positions | Co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 |
Notable Achievements | Emmy Award winner for coverage of the Elián González story |
Language Skills | Fluent in English and Spanish, proficient in French |
Family | Married to singer-songwriter Marc Cohn |
Battle with Alcohol | Battled alcoholism and achieved sobriety since 2014 |
Memoir | Authored “Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction” |
Elizabeth Anne Vargas was born in Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. on September 6, 1962. She is an American television journalist.
She serves as Fox’s America’s Most Wanted host and A&E Networks’ chief investigative reporter/documentary anchor. After serving as an anchor for ABC News specials and the television newsmagazine 20/20 for the preceding 14 years, she started in her new role on May 28. With ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff, Vargas co-anchored World News Tonight in 2006. Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction, Vargas’ memoir, was published in 2016. On September 13, Grand Central Publishing released it, and it quickly shot to the top of The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
If you’re inspired by Elizabeth Vargas, don’t miss the chance to explore other successful female reporters on ABC News. Our article on the top 25 influential ABC News female reporters features remarkable women who have made a significant impact in the journalism industry with their stories and professionalism.
45. Greta Van Susteren

Greta Van Susteren | Information |
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Full Name | Greta Van Susteren |
Born | June 11, 1954 |
Birthplace | Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Occupation | Commentator, Lawyer, Television News Anchor |
Television Networks | Newsmax TV, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Voice of America |
Notable Shows | On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren (Fox News) The Record with Greta (Newsmax) |
Education | University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA), Georgetown University Law Center (JD) |
Career Highlights | Hosted On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren for 14 years (Fox News) |
Notable Contributions | Testified before Congress on Rohingya human rights abuses Advocate for civil discourse |
Current Role | Hosting The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax TV |
Spouse | John P. Coale |
Religion | Scientology |
Greta Conway Van Susteren was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S. on June 11, 1954. She is an American commentator, lawyer, and television news anchor.
After a widely publicized contract bidding war, Van Susteren made the jump to the Fox News Channel in 2002. She served as the host of the news program On the Record with Greta Van Susteren. She left Fox News on September 6, 2016. She was unable to say farewell on-air because Brit Hume, the network’s new On the Record host, took the position right away. Van Susteren is on the National Institute for Civic Discourse’s Board of Directors (NICD). The University of Arizona established the program in the wake of the shooting, which left six people dead and 13 wounded, including U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords.
46. Shepard Smith

Shepard Smith | Information |
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Full Name | Shepard Smith |
Birthdate | January 14, 1964 |
Birthplace | Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S. |
Education | University of Mississippi |
Occupation | Former American broadcast journalist |
Notable Positions | Chief general news anchor and host of “The News with Shepard Smith” on CNBC |
Notable Programs | “The Fox Report” |
Notable Events | Covered Princess Diana’s death, Clinton’s impeachment trial, Columbine High School massacre, Hurricane Katrina, and Michael Jackson’s death |
Contributions | Ranked among top U.S. cable news programs with “The Fox Report with Shepard Smith” |
Notable Actions | Apologized for a live incident during a police chase coverage due to human error |
Philanthropy | Donated $500,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists |
Personal Life | Publicly came out as gay and revealed having a long-time boyfriend |
David Shepard Smith Jr. was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S. on January 14, 1964. He is an American broadcast journalist.
He hosted The News with Shepard Smith, a daily evening broadcast that debuted on CNBC in late September 2020 as the lead general news anchor. His program was canceled in November 2022. Smith is most known for his 23-year tenure at Fox News Channel, where he served as managing editor of the breaking news section and lead anchor during the channel’s founding in 1996. During his time at Fox News, Smith presented a number of shows, including Fox Report, Studio B, and Shepard Smith Reporting.
If you want to learn more about other notable Fox News anchors and reporters, check out this list of the top 50. From Sean Hannity to Gretchen Carlson, this comprehensive list covers some of the most influential broadcasters in the network’s history.
47. Wolf Blitzer

Wolf Blitzer | Information |
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Full Name | Wolf Blitzer |
Born | March 22, 1948 (age 75) |
Birthplace | Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Journalist, Television News Anchor, Author |
Years active | 1972–present |
Employer | CNN |
Title | Anchor: The Situation Room, CNN Chief Anchor |
Education | – Bachelor of Arts in History from the State University of New York at Buffalo – Master of Arts in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies |
Spouse | Lynn Greenfield |
Children | 1 |
Notable Achievements | – Emmy Award for coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing – George Foster Peabody Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina – Alfred I. DuPont Award for coverage of the 1999 Southeast Asian tsunami – Edward R. Murrow Award for CNN’s coverage of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 – Daniel Pearl Award from the Chicago Press Veterans Association – Ernie Pyle Journalism Award for military reporting – Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize from the Anti-Defamation League – Lowell Thomas Broadcast Journalism Award from the International Platform Association – Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from various universities |
Wolf Isaac Blitzer was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany on March 22, 1948. He is an American journalist, television news anchor, and author.
Early in the 1970s, Blitzer started a career in journalism at the Reuters news agency’s Tel Aviv office. Blitzer has received several honors, including the 2004 Journalist Pillar of Justice Award from the Respect for Law Coalition and the 2003 Daniel Pearl Award from the Chicago Press Veterans Association. He was given the Ernie Pyle Journalism Award for military reporting by the American Veteran Awards in November 2002.
48. Stone Phillips

Stone Phillips | Information |
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Full Name | Stone Stockton Phillips |
Birthdate | December 2, 1954 (age 68) |
Birthplace | Texas City, Texas, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Alma Mater | Yale University |
Occupation | Former news anchor |
Known for | Former co-anchor of Dateline NBC, correspondent for ABC News |
Spouse | Debra Del Toro-Phillips |
Early Life | Raised in Ballwin, Missouri |
Education | Graduated with honors from Yale University |
Career Highlights | Co-anchor of Dateline NBC |
Contributions | Substitute anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today |
Notable Documentary | “Moving with Grace” – A documentary about caring for aging parents |
Stone Stockton Phillips was born in Texas City, Texas, U.S. on December 2, 1954. He is an American television reporter and correspondent.
He is most recognized for his time as a co-anchor on the news magazine TV program Dateline NBC. Also, he has served as a stand-in anchor for NBC Nightly News, Today, and Meet the Press. He worked as an ABC News correspondent for 20/20 and World News Tonight before joining NBC. In May 2013, Phillips produced and served as the host of the PBS documentary Moving with Grace, which followed his and his siblings’ efforts to care for their elderly parents. It also looked at a number of problems experienced by other baby boomers in a similar situation.
49. Martha Raddatz

Martha Raddatz | Information |
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Full Name | Martha Raddatz |
Birthdate | February 14, 1953 |
Birthplace | Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S. |
Occupation | ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent |
Years active | 1999–present |
Spouses | Ben Bradlee Jr., Julius Genachowski, Tom Gjelten |
Children | 2 |
Notable Positions | Co-anchor and primary fill-in anchor on This Week with George Stephanopoulos |
Notable Achievements | Broke the news of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s death, becoming the first to report it |
Residence | Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
Martha Raddatz was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S. on February 14, 1953. She is an American reporter.
Prior to 1993, Raddatz served as the head correspondent for WCVB-TV, an ABC News station in Boston. Raddatz covered the Pentagon for National Public Radio from 1993 to 1998. The Long Way Home: A Tale of War and Family, a book about the siege of Sadr City, Iraq, is another work by Raddatz that has achieved New York Times best-seller status.
Late in 2017, NatGeo aired a TV miniseries based on the book. In November 2008, Raddatz was assigned to her present role as Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent for ABC. Moreover, Raddatz co-moderated the second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016 at Washington University in St. Louis with Anderson Cooper.
50. Marlene Sanders

Marlene Sanders | Information |
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Full Name | Marlene Sanders |
Birthdate | January 10, 1931 |
Birthplace | Shaker Heights, Ohio |
Date of Death | July 14, 2015 |
Age at Death | 84 |
Place of Death | New York City, New York |
Spouse | Jerome Toobin (died 1984) |
Children | Jeffrey Toobin, Mark Toobin |
Career Highlights | First woman to anchor an evening news broadcast for a major network |
Achievements in Broadcasting | Helped break down barriers for women in broadcasting |
Notable Works | Co-wrote the book “Waiting for Prime Time: The Women of Television News” |
Family | Married to television producer Jerome Toobin, with two sons: Jeffrey Toobin and Mark Toobin |
Contribution to Journalism | Emmy Award-winning correspondent, writer, producer, and broadcast-news executive |
Legacy | Marlene Sanders left a lasting impact on television news, paving the way for women in the field of journalism. |
Marlene Sanders was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio on January 10, 1931. She is an American television news correspondent, anchor, producer and executive.
In the then-male-dominated industry of television news, she was the first woman to accomplish a number of landmarks. Sanders was the first woman to lead an evening newscast for a major network shortly after joining ABC News as a journalist in 1964 when she filled in for the regularly scheduled anchor, Ron Cochran, who fell unwell. She was also the first woman to provide field reports on the Vietnam War. One of the first women to reach senior management in the industry, ABC elevated her to vice president and director of documentaries in 1976. Also, she received three Emmy Awards for the documentaries she created for CBS.