Robert Kovacik
Robert Kovacik NBCLA
Born
Cleveland, Ohio
EducationUniversity School (Hunting Valley, Ohio
Brown University
Columbia University (Graduate School of Journalism)
Occupation(s)Television news anchor and reporter
Websitewww.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/about-us/Robert_Kovacik.html

Robert Kovacik is a multiple-award-winning American television journalist based in Los Angeles, California. He is currently an anchor/reporter for NBC (KNBC) Los Angeles and can be seen worldwide across all NBC platforms. In 2018, Kovacik won the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Reporting.[1] He was selected as Journalist of the Year at the 55th Southern California Journalism Awards in 2013. According to the judges, "Robert Kovacik has not only won the trust and respect of his audience, but he has won their hearts with solid reporting and integrity."[2][3]

Kovacik is known for bringing viewers a local perspective and in-depth coverage of national and international events, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II,[4] the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,[5] the terrorist bombing in Manchester, England, the extensive manhunt in Maine for the mass killer in the 2023 Lewiston shootings,[6] the Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre in Las Vegas,[7] the Pulse (nightclub) shooting in Orlando,[8] the Papal Conclave in Rome, and the Summer Olympics in London.[2] The correspondent was later honored by British Consulate-General, Los Angeles, for his reporting of the Games. Kovacik also earned Emmy Awards for his coverage of the Olympics, as well as the Papal Conclave in Italy and the mass shooting in Orlando.[2][9]

Kovacik was elected by his industry peers to serve three consecutive terms as President of the Los Angeles Press Club.[10] After Kovacik was termed-out, he was named an Honorary Board member of the LA Press Club, with the title, President Emeritus.

Kovacik is also a three-time recipient of the Genesis Award, presented by the Humane Society of the United States, recognizing the best media coverage of animal protection issues.[11]

Education

Robert Kovacik holds an honors undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Kovacik also has an honors Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. After graduating from Columbia, he spent over 5 years in New York City before moving to California.[12]

Early career

Kovacik began his career at 23 years of age when he became the youngest anchor in New York City for NIGHTWORLD at Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) primary member station, WNET. In 1994, he relocated to Los Angeles to become an anchor and reporter for KCOP-TV.

Career

Kovacik left KCOP in 2001,[13] and was named the West Coast correspondent, anchor, and bureau chief for the newly formed National Geographic Channel[14] and its nightly news show, National Geographic Today.[12]

Kovacik joined KNBC-TV in 2004. In 2006 a murder suspect chose to surrender to him live on-air.,[15] for which he received including a Golden Mike Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award.[12] In 2007 he was on location and struck by a police squad car carrying Paris Hilton.[16][17][18][19] In 2008 he again made international headlines after an angry confrontation between then Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief William Bratton and LA City Councilman Dennis Zine while Kovacik was reporting for Today in LA.[12][20]

His exclusive examination into the Los Angeles Fire Department's 911 response times prompted the Mayor to call for an audit of the LAFD. His reporting on the investigation surrounding President Clinton's impeachment was included in the Kenneth Starr Report (Starr Report), and his groundbreaking expose into overcrowded LA animal shelters helped force the city to change its laws.[citation needed]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ "Robert Kovacik". nbclosangeles.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Robert Kovacik - NBC Southern California". Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  3. ^ 2013 Southern California Journalism Award Winners lapressclub.org
  4. ^ "Mourners Wait Hours to Pay Final Respects to the Queen".
  5. ^ "Entertainment News – Page 5". [dead link]
  6. ^ https://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/maine-mourns-victims-of-lewiston-mass-shooting/3255004/
  7. ^ "Cell Phone Footage Captures Chaos After Massacre".
  8. ^ "Community Pulls Together After Orlando Nightclub Massacre".
  9. ^ 69th LA Emmy winners emmys.com
  10. ^ "About Us – Los Angeles Press Club". lapressclub.org. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  11. ^ "2019 Genesis Award Winners | the Humane Society of the United States". Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "Robert Kovacik bio". NBC. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  13. ^ Richmond (4 January 2001). "ARts and Entertainment Reports". Los Angeles Times. pp. F29.
  14. ^ Johnson, Reed (31 October 2002). "SOIREE; 'Writing Los Angeles' goes Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. pp. E10.
  15. ^ "Murder Suspect Turns Himself in on Live TV". WLWT. 26 June 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Reporter Injured Covering Paris Hilton Paparazzi Chaos". X17 Online. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  17. ^ Serpe, Gina (8 June 2007). "Showtime for Paris, L.A. Legal System". EOnline. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  18. ^ Huff, Richard (9 June 2007). "Call it 'The Simpleton Life' as networks go nuts". New York Daily News. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  19. ^ Kaplan, Don (9 June 2007). "Media Has Crazy 'Crush" On Paris; Reporter Hurt Amid O.J.-Style Frenzy". New York Post. p. 4. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  20. ^ "'Crime rates have gone down since Britney put her clothes on and Paris left town,' says LAPD chief". Evening Standard. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  21. ^ https://www.rtnasocal.org/_files/ugd/b7c0b3_85ea2ff5ab4f43cab90595555044b91b.pdf
  22. ^ https://www.rtnasocal.org/_files/ugd/f9f697_0e714e0659be4843919ce06a7e5ef630.pdf
  23. ^ LA Nominees List Emmys.com
  24. ^ LA Press Club
  25. ^ a b "The 72nd Golden Mike Awards: Honoring Excellence in Broadcast News: Television Winners: May 21, 2022," Radio and Television News Association of Southern California website. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2023.
  26. ^ a b "The 71st Golden Mike Awards: Honoring Excellence in Broadcast News: Television Winners," Radio and Television News Association of Southern California website. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2023.
  27. ^ "2019 Genesis Award Winners | the Humane Society of the United States". Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  28. ^ "'He's Been Through It': Golden Retriever Injured in Acid Attack Now Helps Heal Other Burn Victims". 16 April 2018.
  29. ^ 70th Golden Mike Awards
  30. ^ "69th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards". emmys.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Radio and Television News Association of Southern California – Golden Mike Awards". www.rtna.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  32. ^ "67th Los Angeles Area Emmy Award Nominations Announced". emmys.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  33. ^ a b c "Television Academy". Television Academy. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  34. ^ "66th Los Angeles Area Emmy Award Nominations Announced". emmys.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  35. ^ "NBC4 and ABC7 Top Winners at L.A. Area Emmy Awards". hollywoodreporter.com. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  36. ^ a b "2009 National Entertainment Journalism Award Winners". Los Angeles Press Club. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  37. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ a b "APTRA 2009 Winers & Nominees". APTRA. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  39. ^ "60th Annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  40. ^ "The Envelope". Los Angeles Times. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  41. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (12 July 2007). "KTTV tops LA Emmy nominations". Reuters. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  42. ^ a b c "Kttv Outfoxes Kcbs in Emmy News Noms". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 April 1999. Retrieved 31 March 2010 – via reprint in All Business.
  43. ^ Richmond, Ray (25 April 1997). "KCBS tops local Emmy noms". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  44. ^ "Robert Kovacik radio interview". multimedia.play.it. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2010. [dead link]

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