Ken Baker (entertainment journalist)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Joel Baker is an American journalist, author, and television personality. In 2008, Baker became the Chief News Correspondent for E! News
.
and a liberal arts degree from Colgate University
. He began his journalism career as a news assistant for ABC News
in the Washington bureau.
magazine. In 1996 Baker was promoted to Peoples Northwest correspondent based in Northern California.
Before E! News
, Baker was the West Coast Bureau Chief for Us Weekly
as well as the West Coast Executive Editor and Editorial Director of Usmagazine.com.
Baker appears on shows such as Fox News Channel, The Today Show
, CNN
, MSNBC
and HLN
.
of Greater Los Angeles and is a member of the Advisory Board of the NHL's L.A. Kings.
from 1988 to 1992 and played on ECAC Championship Team in 1990.
Baker also played professional hockey for the Bakersfield Condors
in a miraculous comeback after 10 years of not playing. He wrote a novel about his experience called They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven.
E! News
E! News, previously known as E! News Daily and E! News Live, is a nightly entertainment newsmagazine program airing on E!: Entertainment Television. The program debuted on September 1, 1991 and talks about Hollywood celebrities and gossip...
.
Early life and education
Baker got a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of JournalismColumbia 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...
and a liberal arts degree from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. He began his journalism career as a news assistant for ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
in the Washington bureau.
Career history
Baker worked as a staff correspondent for PeoplePeople (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine. In 1996 Baker was promoted to Peoples Northwest correspondent based in Northern California.
Before E! News
E! News
E! News, previously known as E! News Daily and E! News Live, is a nightly entertainment newsmagazine program airing on E!: Entertainment Television. The program debuted on September 1, 1991 and talks about Hollywood celebrities and gossip...
, Baker was the West Coast Bureau Chief for Us Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
as well as the West Coast Executive Editor and Editorial Director of Usmagazine.com.
Baker appears on shows such as Fox News Channel, The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
, 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...
, 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...
and HLN
HLN
HLN can refer to*HLN , a cable network formerly known as Headline News*The IATA airport code for Helena Regional Airport*The Horizon League Network—see Horizon League#Horizon League Network*The shorthand notation of Phenolphthalein...
.
Writing career
Baker has written four books. In 2001, Baker published Man Made: A Memoir of My Body which tells the story of his battle with a brain tumor. Baker's second memoir, They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, a Team and My Comeback Season chronicled the season he spent as pro hockey's oldest rookie, published in 2003. Published in 2005, Hollywood Hussein is a satirical take on the capture of Saddam Hussein. Baker also co-authored The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (even when you have every reason to be miserable) in 2009.Philanthropy
Baker is a speaker at various schools and community/charity events. He also serves on the Ambassador Board of the Make-a-Wish FoundationMake-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
of Greater Los Angeles and is a member of the Advisory Board of the NHL's L.A. Kings.
Sports
Baker played hockey at Colgate UniversityColgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
from 1988 to 1992 and played on ECAC Championship Team in 1990.
Baker also played professional hockey for the Bakersfield Condors
Bakersfield Condors
The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
in a miraculous comeback after 10 years of not playing. He wrote a novel about his experience called They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven.