Robert Kovacik
Encyclopedia
Robert Kovacik is an American
television journalist based in Los Angeles, California
. He is currently the lead morning reporter for NBC
Los Angeles, appearing weekday mornings on Today in L.A.
and is seen frequently on NBC affiliates throughout the country and on MSNBC
.
from Brown University
in Providence, Rhode Island
. Kovacik also has an honors graduate 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.
(PBS) primary member station, KCET-TV. In 1994, he relocated to Los Angeles to become an anchor and reporter for KCOP-TV
. He left KCOP in 2001, and was named the West Coast correspondent, anchor, and bureau chief for the newly formed National Geographic Channel
and it's nightly news show, National Geographic Today.
Kovacik joined KNBC-TV in 2004, and in 2006 he made world headlines when a murder suspect chose to surrender to him live on-air. In 2007 he was again in the news when he was on location and struck by a police squad car carrying Paris Hilton
. In 2008 he again made international headlines after an angry confrontation between then LAPD Police Chief William Bratton and LA City Councilman Dennis Zine while Kovacik was reporting for Today in LA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television journalist based in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He is currently the lead morning reporter for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Los Angeles, appearing weekday mornings on Today in L.A.
Today in L.A.
Today In L.A. is a local early-morning local newscast airing over NBC's west coast flagship, KNBC-TV, in Los Angeles. It became the first morning local newscast in Southern California when it debuted on KNBC in 1986, as a half-hour lead-in to The Today Show...
and is seen frequently on NBC affiliates throughout the country and on 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...
.
Education
Kovacik holds an honors undergraduate Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. Kovacik also has an honors graduate Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
. After graduating from Columbia, he spent over 5 years in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
before moving to California.
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 ServicePublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
(PBS) primary member station, KCET-TV. In 1994, he relocated to Los Angeles to become an anchor and reporter for KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, KCOP is a sister station to Fox network outlet KTTV , and is affiliated with the MyNetworkTV programming service...
. He left KCOP in 2001, and was named the West Coast correspondent, anchor, and bureau chief for the newly formed National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
and it's nightly news show, National Geographic Today.
Kovacik joined KNBC-TV in 2004, and in 2006 he made world headlines when a murder suspect chose to surrender to him live on-air. In 2007 he was again in the news when he was on location and struck by a police squad car carrying Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
. In 2008 he again made international headlines after an angry confrontation between then LAPD Police Chief William Bratton and LA City Councilman Dennis Zine while Kovacik was reporting for Today in LA.
Awards and honors
- 2010, Golden Mike Award for 'Best Documentary', "LA Heroes: Untold Stories of Haiti"
- 2009, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
"Outstanding Feature Reporter" - 2009, 2nd Place, LA Press Club National Entertainment Journalism Award
- 2009, APTRAAssociated PressThe 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...
'Chris HarrisChris HarrisChris Harris may refer to:* Chris Harris , English business author* Chris Harris , American football player* Chris Harris , Texas State Representative and State Senator...
Reporter of the Year' award - 2008, Golden Mike Award, "Paparazzi Task Force"
- 2008, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
, 'Light News Story - Single Report' - 2007, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Murder Suspect Surrenders' - 2007, Edward R. Murrow Award "Best Spot News Coverage"
- 2006, Golden Mike Award "Best Spot News Coverage'
- 2006, Genesis Award
- 2000, Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for "Serious News Report" - 1999, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Informational/Public Affairs Series' - 1999, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Serious News Story - Single Report' - 1998, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Live Sports Coverage' - 1998, Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Serious News Story' - 1998, Golden Mike Award for 'Host, Outstanding Special Programming'
- 1998, Greater Los AngelesGreater Los Angeles AreaThe Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
Press ClubPress ClubThe Press Club was established in 1882 as a London gentlemen's club. For much of its history, it occupied premises in Wine Office Court, near Fleet Street...
AwardAwardAn award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
for 'Best Serious Feature Reporting' - 1997, nomination for Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn 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...
for 'Serious News Story' - 1997, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
/NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
Associated PressAssociated PressThe 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...
AwardAwardAn award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
for 'Continuing Investigation' - 1997, Multi-Part Genesis Award for 'Best Series Serious News Story'
- 1995, First Place in 'Best of the West' Competition for 'Outstanding Local Television News Series, Growth and Urban Development Reporting"
External links
- Robert Kovacik at NBC NewsNBC NewsNBC 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...