Thalia Assuras
Encyclopedia
Thalia Assuras is a Canadian
-born television journalist
and news anchor. , she is anchor of energyNOW!, a half-hour weekly TV news-magazine and opinion program produced by the American Clean Skies Foundation
.
. to parents who immigrated from Tripoli, Greece
, after World War II
. She attended London Central Secondary School
, and remained in London to attend the University of Western Ontario
, pursuing a bachelor of science
degree. She graduated in 1980, then entered the graduate program in journalism
and earned her master's degree
in 1981. Twenty-one years later she commented on the impact the journalism program had on her:
-TV and Global Television, including a stint as reporter and weekend anchor for CityPulse from 1985 to 1988.
From 1992 to 1993 she worked for CTV
, anchoring Canada AM
. She then moved to ABC
, and in May 1993, joined Aaron Brown
as co-anchor of World News Now
. She shared that late-night anchor desk with Boyd Matson
, fellow Canadian Kevin Newman
, and Mark Mullen
before leaving the show in January 1997.
In 1997 she moved to CBS
, first joining CBS Eye On People, a cable network that CBS launched in March 1997. She also worked as a national correspondent and later became co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show
and then the CBS Evening News
Saturday, alternating with Russ Mitchell
.
In a June 22, 1998 article in Maclean's
, Assuras commented on her reason for moving to the United States, saying "I wanted to live in a different country. And I wanted to work where you have all the tools you need on a story."
On Saturday, April 2, 2005, Assuras anchored CBS's extensive breaking-news coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II.
On July 31, 2009, CBS announced they would not renew Assuras's contract for a 13th year.
, a leadership program aimed at getting students involved in public affairs.
The Daughters of Penelope
recognized Assuras with the "2000 Salute to Women" award; She was awarded the Marie Torre
Memorial Award in 2001.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-born television journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and news anchor. , she is anchor of energyNOW!, a half-hour weekly TV news-magazine and opinion program produced by the American Clean Skies Foundation
American Clean Skies Foundation
American Clean Skies Foundation is a 501 nonprofit organization devoted to research and debate on clean energy. ACSF's mission is to promote understanding and discussion of issues related to energy--to expand America's energy options....
.
Early years
Assuras was born in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. to parents who immigrated from Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She attended London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
, and remained in London to attend the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, pursuing a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree. She graduated in 1980, then entered the graduate program in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and earned her 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...
in 1981. Twenty-one years later she commented on the impact the journalism program had on her:
- "It's hard to describe my time at Western because it was a phenomenal turning point in my life. I always had these delusions of being a writer and I always overloaded my mind with information and literature. That program just brought things together for me."
Career
Assuras has worked for CITYCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
-TV and Global Television, including a stint as reporter and weekend anchor for CityPulse from 1985 to 1988.
From 1992 to 1993 she worked for CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, anchoring Canada AM
Canada AM
Canada AM is a Canadian breakfast television news show, which has aired on the CTV Television Network since 1972. It is currently hosted by Beverly Thomson and Seamus O'Regan, with Marci Ien reporting from the headline news desk and Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports...
. She then moved to ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and in May 1993, joined Aaron Brown
Aaron Brown
Aaron Brown is an American broadcast journalist most recognized for his coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks, his first day on air at CNN...
as co-anchor of World News Now
World News Now
World News Now is an American overnight news program broadcast on American Broadcasting Company's television network. Its tone is often lighthearted, irreverent and humorous...
. She shared that late-night anchor desk with Boyd Matson
Boyd Matson
Boyd Matson is the former anchor of National Geographic Explorer and a former co-anchor of NBC's Weekend Today program. He was also an NBC News correspondent in the 1980s, working mostly on news features and earlier as a sports reporter on KNBC in Los Angeles. He now hosts the show Wild Chronicles...
, fellow Canadian Kevin Newman
Kevin Newman (Canadian journalist)
Kevin Newman is a Canadian journalist and news anchor. From 2001 to 2010, he was the anchor and executive editor of Global National, and hosted Global's weekly newsmagazine series Global Currents. In August 2011 he became the co-host of CTV's Question Period..- Life and career :Newman was born in...
, and Mark Mullen
Mark Mullen
Mark Edward Mullen is an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist and the anchorman for NBC affiliate KNSD-TV in San Diego. He joined the station in June, 2010 from ABC News, where he served as a Los Angeles-based correspondent...
before leaving the show in January 1997.
In 1997 she moved to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, first joining CBS Eye On People, a cable network that CBS launched in March 1997. She also worked as a national correspondent and later became co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
and then the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
Saturday, alternating with Russ Mitchell
Russ Mitchell
Russell Mitchell is an American journalist for CBS, anchor of the Early Show on Saturday, and weekend anchor of the CBS Evening News.-Early years:...
.
In a June 22, 1998 article in Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
, Assuras commented on her reason for moving to the United States, saying "I wanted to live in a different country. And I wanted to work where you have all the tools you need on a story."
On Saturday, April 2, 2005, Assuras anchored CBS's extensive breaking-news coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II.
On July 31, 2009, CBS announced they would not renew Assuras's contract for a 13th year.
Awards and activities
Assuras is a founding member of The Next Generation InitiativeThe Next Generation Initiative
The Next Generation Initiative is an independent non-profit educational foundation focused on helping students gain real-world skills and experience that will advance their education, and serve them as future leaders in their communities and in the broader public arena.The Initiative works with...
, a leadership program aimed at getting students involved in public affairs.
The Daughters of Penelope
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association ' is a service organization founded on July 26, 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia. Its mission is to support Greek-American charities, causes, and communities. It works closely with the Greek Orthodox Church. Its ladies' auxiliary, the Daughters of...
recognized Assuras with the "2000 Salute to Women" award; She was awarded the Marie Torre
Marie Torre
Marie Torre was a television personality who appeared on KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1962-77. She was the station's first woman anchor and one of the first female anchors in the United States...
Memorial Award in 2001.
External links
- What to do with a Western degree, an October 1998 article from a UWO website