Michael Okwu
Encyclopedia
Michael Okwu is a Nigerian American
television journalist and correspondent.
Michael Okwu joined NBC News
as a correspondent in April 2004. Okwu is based in Burbank, California
, and contributes to Today, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC
.
Before joining NBC, Okwu covered a variety of breaking news and feature stories as a general assignment correspondent for CNN
's New York bureau, including the search and rescue efforts from ground zero, New York political races, the D.C. area sniper case, the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart, and the crash of TWA Flight 800
. He also served as a news presenter and correspondent at the United Nations
, covering diplomatic efforts by the Security Council before the Iraq War.
From 1997 to 2000, Okwu co-presented Showbiz Today Reports and was a CNN Entertainment News correspondent while contributing reports as a full-time general assignment correspondent. He was also a regular contributor to the news magazine program CNN NewsStand. Okwu joined CNN in 1987 and worked as associate producer, assignment editor and field producer before becoming a correspondent in 1996.
Okwu has received several awards for his achievements in journalism, including an Emmy Award
and CableACE Award
, won as part of the CNN production team for its coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing
. He has been recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists
(NABJ) for a feature report on racism
in Hollywood.
Okwu attended the Phillips Exeter Academy
and received his Bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University
.
Nigerian American
Nigerian Americans are citizens of the United States of America who are or descend from immigrants from Nigeria. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, approximately one million Nigerians have immigrated in to the United States....
television journalist and correspondent.
Michael Okwu joined NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
as a correspondent in April 2004. Okwu is based in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, and contributes to Today, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
.
Before joining NBC, Okwu covered a variety of breaking news and feature stories as a general assignment correspondent for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's New York bureau, including the search and rescue efforts from ground zero, New York political races, the D.C. area sniper case, the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart, and the crash of TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Trans World Airlines Flight 800 , a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. At the time, it was the second-deadliest U.S...
. He also served as a news presenter and correspondent at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, covering diplomatic efforts by the Security Council before the Iraq War.
From 1997 to 2000, Okwu co-presented Showbiz Today Reports and was a CNN Entertainment News correspondent while contributing reports as a full-time general assignment correspondent. He was also a regular contributor to the news magazine program CNN NewsStand. Okwu joined CNN in 1987 and worked as associate producer, assignment editor and field producer before becoming a correspondent in 1996.
Okwu has received several awards for his achievements in journalism, including an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
and CableACE Award
CableACE Award
The CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...
, won as part of the CNN production team for its coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
. He has been recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
(NABJ) for a feature report on racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in Hollywood.
Okwu attended the Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
and received his Bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.