George Knapp (journalist)
Encyclopedia
George Knapp is an award-winning American investigative journalist.
A longtime fixture in Las Vegas
media, he works at KLAS-TV
and is also a frequent host of the Sunday night/Monday morning Coast To Coast AM
syndicated radio show. He is known for his work on anomalous phenomena, which is a frequent topic of the Coast to Coast show.
, Knapp grew up in northern California and graduated from Franklin High School
in Stockton
, where he was the senior class president. He earned a Bachelor's degree in communication from West Georgia College and a Master's degree in the same field from University of the Pacific. He taught debate and forensics at both the University of the Pacific and University of California, Berkeley
.
He moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s, working first as a cab driver before being hired as an intern and then a news reporter at a PBS station. From there, Knapp was hired as a reporter and news anchor for KLAS. Knapp became known nationally in the late 1980s by reporting the story of Bob Lazar
, who claimed to have worked on extraterrestrial UFOs at the secretive Area 51
. Due in part to his discovery of corroborative evidence supporting some of Lazar's claims, Knapp's stories on Lazar were taken more seriously than typical UFO fare. In 1990 Knapp's articles on Lazar earned an "Individual Achievement by a Journalist" award from the United Press International
. However, to Knapp's "eternal shame," he also during this era publicized the claims of conspiracy theorist Bill Cooper
, whom Knapp came to regard as far less credible than Lazar.
In 1991, Knapp left KLAS to work for Altamira Communications, a public relations firm whose clients included advocates of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Las Vegas. Knapp was rehired by KLAS-TV in the mid 1990s when he left the public relations firm.
He wrote a regular column titled "Knappster" for the now-defunct alternative newsweekly Las Vegas Mercury
. The "Knappster" column now appears in Las Vegas CityLife, an alternative newsweekly published by Stephens Media LLC, the same company that formerly published the Mercury.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Knapp worked with the now-defunct group National Institute of Discovery Science (NIDS). Founded by Las Vegas businessman Robert Bigelow
, NIDS was charged with scientifically studying unusual phenomenon with top-shelf scientists and funding. Based on his work with NIDS and biochemist Colm Kelleher
, Knapp publicized the so-called Skinwalker Ranch
in northeast Utah
, where strange events are alleged to have occurred.
In 2004, Knapp won a national Edward R. Murrow Award
for a story about vote fraud in Clark County, Nevada
. He has also won over a dozen Emmy Awards and several writing awards from the Associated Press
.
Knapp and photojournalist Matt Adams were recognized for their work on the investigative series Crossfire: Water, Power and Politics that received a 2008 Peabody Award
.
A longtime fixture in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
media, he works at KLAS-TV
KLAS-TV
KLAS-TV, virtual channel 8 , is the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Las Vegas, Nevada market; it is owned and operated by Landmark Media Enterprises...
and is also a frequent host of the Sunday night/Monday morning Coast To Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
syndicated radio show. He is known for his work on anomalous phenomena, which is a frequent topic of the Coast to Coast show.
Biography
Born in Woodbury, New JerseyWoodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
, Knapp grew up in northern California and graduated from Franklin High School
Franklin High School (Stockton, California)
Benjamin Franklin Senior High School is located at 300 N. Gertrude Ave. in Stockton, California. Their school mascot is the yellow jacket. They are one of the many schools that has the I.B...
in Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, where he was the senior class president. He earned a Bachelor's degree in communication from West Georgia College and a Master's degree in the same field from University of the Pacific. He taught debate and forensics at both the University of the Pacific and University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
He moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s, working first as a cab driver before being hired as an intern and then a news reporter at a PBS station. From there, Knapp was hired as a reporter and news anchor for KLAS. Knapp became known nationally in the late 1980s by reporting the story of Bob Lazar
Bob Lazar
Robert Scott Lazar or Bob Lazar , has said to have worked from 1988 until 1989 as a physicist at an area called S-4 , allegedly located near Groom Lake, Nevada, at the location also known as Area 51...
, who claimed to have worked on extraterrestrial UFOs at the secretive Area 51
Area 51
Area 51 is a military base, and a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base. It is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, 83 miles north-northwest of downtown Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield...
. Due in part to his discovery of corroborative evidence supporting some of Lazar's claims, Knapp's stories on Lazar were taken more seriously than typical UFO fare. In 1990 Knapp's articles on Lazar earned an "Individual Achievement by a Journalist" award from the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. However, to Knapp's "eternal shame," he also during this era publicized the claims of conspiracy theorist Bill Cooper
Milton William Cooper
Milton William Cooper was an American writer, shortwave broadcaster, conspiracy theorist, and political activist.-Biography:...
, whom Knapp came to regard as far less credible than Lazar.
In 1991, Knapp left KLAS to work for Altamira Communications, a public relations firm whose clients included advocates of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Las Vegas. Knapp was rehired by KLAS-TV in the mid 1990s when he left the public relations firm.
He wrote a regular column titled "Knappster" for the now-defunct alternative newsweekly Las Vegas Mercury
Las Vegas Mercury
Las Vegas Mercury was an alternative newspaper published in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 2, 2003 to March 15, 2005. The paper folded when Stephens Media purchased Las Vegas CityLife and combined the two newspapers.- Columnists :* James Barrier...
. The "Knappster" column now appears in Las Vegas CityLife, an alternative newsweekly published by Stephens Media LLC, the same company that formerly published the Mercury.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Knapp worked with the now-defunct group National Institute of Discovery Science (NIDS). Founded by Las Vegas businessman Robert Bigelow
Robert Bigelow
Robert T. Bigelow is a hotel and aerospace entrepreneur. He owns the hotel chain Budget Suites of America and is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace....
, NIDS was charged with scientifically studying unusual phenomenon with top-shelf scientists and funding. Based on his work with NIDS and biochemist Colm Kelleher
Colm Kelleher
Colm Kelleher is a research scientist and author. He received his PhD in biochemistry at Trinity College, Dublin and has 21 years of experience in the field of cell and molecular biology. In addition he was an adminisrator for a Nevada aerospace company, Space Sciences Inc., and was also Deputy...
, Knapp publicized the so-called Skinwalker Ranch
Skinwalker Ranch
According to local legend, Skinwalker Ranch, also known as Sherman Ranch, is a property located on approximately southeast of Ballard, Utah that is allegedly the site of paranormal and UFO-related activities...
in northeast Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where strange events are alleged to have occurred.
In 2004, Knapp won a national Edward R. Murrow Award
Edward R. Murrow Award
The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association in recognition of what the Association terms "outstanding achievements in electronic journalism."-Judging:...
for a story about vote fraud in Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
. He has also won over a dozen Emmy Awards and several writing awards from the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Knapp and photojournalist Matt Adams were recognized for their work on the investigative series Crossfire: Water, Power and Politics that received a 2008 Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
.
External links
- http://media.abovetopsecret.com/media/4264/The_Fourth_Kind_-_Alien_Abduction_Stories_1/
- George Knapp, TV Newsman, First Publicized Bob Lazar
- George Knapp interview by Chuck HarderChuck HarderChuck Harder was a former radio disk jockey turned talk show host in White Springs, Florida, USA. He is originally from Elgin, Illinois. He is no longer on the air.-Early radio career:...
in 1989