TV News and Current Affairs in History

Events in Film & TV

1969-11-13 Vice President Spiro Agnew accuses network TV news departments of bias and distortion

1974-07-15 TV news reporter Christine Chubbuck shoots herself live on WXLT-TV, Florida, first person to commit suicide in a live broadcast

1978-06-06 US TV news program "20/20", created by Roone Arledge premieres on ABC

1981-03-09 Dan Rather becomes primary anchorman of CBS-TV News

1986-04-28 Soviet TV news program Vremya announces a nuclear accident at Chernobyl nuclear power station, 2 days after the event

1989-01-05 2 French TV newsmen arrested for trying to plant fake bombs on 3 airlines at JFK airport in security test
1995-06-27 Mason City Iowa's TV news personality Jodi Huisentruit disappears

2008-09-08 TV news show "The Rachel Maddow Show" hosted by Rachel Maddow" and based on her radio show premieres on MSNBC

2019-03-25 Apple introduces new TV streaming platform Apple TV+, news service Apple News+ and an Apple credit card at star-studded event featuring Oprah

1910-12-02 Robert Paige, American actor, TV newscaster and political correspondent (Son of Dracula, Pardon My Sarong, Colgate Comedy Hour), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1987)
1914-05-12 Howard K. Smith, American TV newsman and journalist (ABC, Moderated Kennedy-Nixon debate), born in Ferriday, Louisiana (d. 2002)
1927-06-21 Carl Burton Stokes, African American politician (51st mayor of Cleveland) and TV newscaster, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1996)
1931-11-08 Morley Safer, Canadian-American TV newscaster (60 Minutes), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2016)
1933-01-15 Frank Bough, British sports and current affairs television presenter, born in Fenton, Staffordshire, England (d. 2020)
1935-08-22 Morton Dean, American TV newscaster (CBS, ABC), born in Fall River, Massachusetts
1936-05-09 Terry Drinkwater, American TV newsman (CBS), born in Denver, Colorado (d. 1989)

1940-02-06 American TV news anchor (NBC Nightly News 1982-2004), journalist and author (The Greatest Generation), born in Webster, South Dakota

1944-03-29 John Suchet, British TV journalist (Independent TV News), and classical music presenter (Classics FM), born in Paddington, London, England
1946-07-22 Steve Friedman, American Emmy Award-winning TV news executive (NBC, 1977-87, 1990-95; CBS, 1997-2002), born in Chicago, Illinois
1947-08-15 Brian Hulls, British TV news cameraman, born in London (d. 1996)
1949-03-22 Brian Hanrahan, British TV newsman (BBC), born in Middlesex, England (d. 2010)
1950-02-15 Donna Hanover Giuliani, TV news anchor (WPIX)/wife of Mayor Giuliani
1951-05-13 Selina Scott, English TV newscaster (West 57th), born in Scarborough, England
1957-01-07 Katie Couric, American journalist & author (Today), born in Arlington, Virginia
1969-02-11 Mary Stoker Smith, Miss Wisconsin & TV news reporter, born in La Crosse, Wisconsin
1976-03-01 Dave Malkoff, American TV News Reporter
1982-05-13 Ana Cabrera, American journalist and TV news anchor (CNN), born in Denver, Colorado

1992-12-31 WCBS TV news anchor Carol Martin weds Joe Terry
1997-10-04 MTV news anchor Tabitha Soren (30) weds "Liars Poker" author Michael Lewis (37) in Garrison, New York

1974-07-15 Christine Chubbuck, American TV news reporter, commits suicide live on TV at 29
1987-12-21 Robert Paige, American actor, TV newscaster and political correspondent (Son of Dracula, Pardon My Sarong, Colgate Comedy Hour), dies 77
1996-03-13 Brian Hulls, British TV news cameraman, dies at 48
2008-03-08 Carol Barnes, British television news journalist (ITN; ITV), dies a few days after suffering a stroke at 63
2016-05-19 Morley Safer, Canadian-American TV newscaster (60 Minutes), dies at 84
2020-10-21 Frank Bough, British sports and current affairs television presenter, dies at 87
2021-03-09 Roger Mudd, American Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist and TV news anchor (CBS Weekend News; NBC Evening News; Meet The Press), dies of kidney failure at 93