Robert Hager
Encyclopedia
Robert Hager is an analyst and a former correspondent for the US television network NBC News
. Hager started his journalism career in radio before moving to network news. He began his work at NBC in June 1969, covering the Vietnam War
. He worked as a regular correspondent for NBC Nightly News
for 35 years, before retiring from daily reporting in November 2004.
in 1960, Hager began his career by reporting for radio stations in Lexington, NC
and Raleigh, NC.
He moved on to local television soon after, reporting for WBTC in Charlotte, North Carolina
and NBC-owned WRC-TV
in Washington, DC, before landing a job at NBC News.
Hager started out his career as a foreign correspondent in June 1969, reporting on the Vietnam war. He was soon assigned to NBC's Berlin bureau, where he continued to cover other foreign trouble spots, including the overthrow of the Iranian Shah
in 1979 and the 1989 invasion of Panama by U.S. troops. Hager also covered four Olympic games for NBC, reporting from Germany during the Black September terrorist attacks
of the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich. In 1984, he was arrested while reporting from the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
During the latter part of his career, Hager's focus shifted from foreign affairs to a wide range of domestic issues. Hager persuaded NBC to relocate him to the Washington DC bureau, but because all of the traditional political beats had already been filled, he decided to mold himself as a "consumer reporter." Hager found himself carving out a niche in the areas of transportation and weather. He reported on many major airline accidents, including TWA Flight 800
and Pan Am Flight 103
. He also covered many of the major hurricanes that hit the United States during his 35 year tenure. During his years at the DC bureau, Hager became one of the most visible reporters on television.
Although he retired from daily reporting on November 5, 2004, Hager continued to file occasional reports for NBC News. He returned to the air to help cover the 2006 coal mine disaster in West Virginia. Because of his expertise in aviation accidents, Hager came back again to NBC Nightly News to report on the August 27, 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191
and the October 12, 2006 plane crash that killed Yankees pitcher Corey Lidle. He also made an appearance on August 2, 2007 for the Minneapolis Bridge collapse.
.
elected Hager to its Global 500 Roll of Honour
in recognition of "his outstanding contributions to the protection of the environment." He was selected for his reporting on major climatic events, including "ozone depletion and global warming", as well as his coverage of the scandals that rocked the United States Environmental Protection Agency
in the early 1980s.
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...
. Hager started his journalism career in radio before moving to network news. He began his work at NBC in June 1969, covering the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He worked as a regular correspondent for NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. 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 located in the center...
for 35 years, before retiring from daily reporting in November 2004.
Early life
Hager was raised in Woodstock, Vermont, United States. He was first drawn to journalism after being bedridden due to an ear infection during the summer after fifth grade. With nothing to do, he listened "all day long" to the radio, and "developed a love for news and sports."Career
After graduating from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1960, Hager began his career by reporting for radio stations in Lexington, NC
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
and Raleigh, NC.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
He moved on to local television soon after, reporting for WBTC in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and NBC-owned WRC-TV
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
in Washington, DC, before landing a job at NBC News.
Hager started out his career as a foreign correspondent in June 1969, reporting on the Vietnam war. He was soon assigned to NBC's Berlin bureau, where he continued to cover other foreign trouble spots, including the overthrow of the Iranian Shah
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
in 1979 and the 1989 invasion of Panama by U.S. troops. Hager also covered four Olympic games for NBC, reporting from Germany during the Black September terrorist attacks
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
of the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich. In 1984, he was arrested while reporting from the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
During the latter part of his career, Hager's focus shifted from foreign affairs to a wide range of domestic issues. Hager persuaded NBC to relocate him to the Washington DC bureau, but because all of the traditional political beats had already been filled, he decided to mold himself as a "consumer reporter." Hager found himself carving out a niche in the areas of transportation and weather. He reported on many major airline accidents, including 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...
and Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
. He also covered many of the major hurricanes that hit the United States during his 35 year tenure. During his years at the DC bureau, Hager became one of the most visible reporters on television.
Although he retired from daily reporting on November 5, 2004, Hager continued to file occasional reports for NBC News. He returned to the air to help cover the 2006 coal mine disaster in West Virginia. Because of his expertise in aviation accidents, Hager came back again to NBC Nightly News to report on the August 27, 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191
Comair Flight 5191
Comair Flight 191, marketed as Delta Connection Flight 5191, was a scheduled United States domestic passenger flight from Lexington, Kentucky, to Atlanta, Georgia, operated on behalf of Delta Connection by Comair...
and the October 12, 2006 plane crash that killed Yankees pitcher Corey Lidle. He also made an appearance on August 2, 2007 for the Minneapolis Bridge collapse.
Personal life
Hager and his wife, Honore, have three daughters and 8 grandchildren, (youngest to oldest) Derek De'Angelo, Patrick Henegan, Brady De'Angelo, Johnny Nossiff, Lilly Dukich, Peter Nossiff, Bobby Dukich, and Aaron Nossiff. He currently resides in Woodstock, VT. One of his daughters, Christina Hager, is a general assignment reporter at Boston's WBZ-TVWBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
.
Awards
In 1990, Hager was inducted into the Silver Circle honor society, which was established by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to honor journalists who have dedicated 25 years of service to broadcast news. In 2000, the United Nations Environment ProgrammeUnited Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
elected Hager to its Global 500 Roll of Honour
Global 500 Roll of Honour
The United Nations Environment Programme established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world.The last Global 500 Roll of Honour awards were made in 2003...
in recognition of "his outstanding contributions to the protection of the environment." He was selected for his reporting on major climatic events, including "ozone depletion and global warming", as well as his coverage of the scandals that rocked the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
in the early 1980s.