Russ Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Russell Mitchell is an American journalist for CBS
, anchor of the Early Show on Saturday, and weekend anchor of the CBS Evening News
.
and was raised in Rock Hill
. He attended high school in Webster Groves
in suburban St. Louis, and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri
with a Bachelor of Journalism
degree in 1982.
St. Louis (1985–1987), and a weekend anchor and reporter for KMOV
St. Louis (1987–1992). He joined CBS News
in 1992 as co-anchor of Up to the Minute
. He was a correspondent for Eye to Eye
on CBS (1993–1995) and anchor of the CBS Sunday Night News (1996–present), and an original co-anchor on Saturday Early Show from 1997 to 2007. He also substituted for Mark McEwen
on CBS This Morning, the predecessor to the Early Show, from 1997 to October 1999. He is the primary substitute for Scott Pelley
on CBS Evening News
.
reporter Cheryl Fiandaca after her breakup with husband, former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton. He married Karina Mahtani December 2, 2006. They live in New York City
.
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...
, anchor of the Early Show on Saturday, and weekend anchor of 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....
.
Early years
Mitchell was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and was raised in Rock Hill
Rock Hill, Missouri
Rock Hill is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,635 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Rock Hill is located at ....
. He attended high school in Webster Groves
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
in suburban St. Louis, and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
with a Bachelor of Journalism
Bachelor of Journalism
The Bachelor of Journalism degree is a professional degree awarded at some universities to students who have studied journalism in a three or four year undergraduate program. In the United States, some schools that do not award the B.J...
degree in 1982.
Career
Mitchell was an anchor for WFAA Dallas (1983–1985), reporter at KTVIKTVI
KTVI, virtual channel 2, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the St. Louis, Missouri, designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, under a local marketing agreement with Tribune-owned CW affiliate KPLR...
St. Louis (1985–1987), and a weekend anchor and reporter for KMOV
KMOV
KMOV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KMOV is owned by the Dallas-based Belo Corporation, with its studio and office facilities in St...
St. Louis (1987–1992). He joined CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
in 1992 as co-anchor of Up to the Minute
Up to the Minute
Up to the Minute is a CBS overnight broadcast which offers hard news, features, interviews, weather, sports, business and commentary. Up to the Minute draws from the full resources of CBS News, including the CBS Evening News, Newspath, affiliate stations, the CBS Radio Network and Reuters Television...
. He was a correspondent for Eye to Eye
Eye to Eye with Connie Chung
Eye to Eye With Connie Chung was a news show that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1995. The show, hosted by Connie Chung as a second project from her time as co-anchoring the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, she hosted and would often report, either on individual stories or doing interviews...
on CBS (1993–1995) and anchor of the CBS Sunday Night News (1996–present), and an original co-anchor on Saturday Early Show from 1997 to 2007. He also substituted for Mark McEwen
Mark McEwen
Mark McEwen is an American TV and radio personality.McEwen grew up in Berlin, Germany, Montgomery, Alabama, and Crownsville, Maryland. He began his broadcasting career on radio as a disk jockey in New York City, working at WAPP during 1983 Mark McEwen (born September 16, 1954 in San Antonio,...
on CBS This Morning, the predecessor to the Early Show, from 1997 to October 1999. He is the primary substitute for Scott Pelley
Scott Pelley
Scott Cameron Pelley is an American television journalist who is currently anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News and a correspondent for the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes...
on 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....
.
Personal life
Mitchell was married to Erica Townsend from 1987 to 2000. Their daughter Ashley is a college student. He dated former WABC-TVWABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
reporter Cheryl Fiandaca after her breakup with husband, former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton. He married Karina Mahtani December 2, 2006. They live 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...
.
Honors and awards
- 1989: Missouri UPI, Best Reporter honor
- 1995: National Association of Black Journalists AwardNational Association of Black JournalistsThe National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
- 1997: 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 coverage of the crash of TWA’s flight 800TWA Flight 800Trans 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...
; with two additional from the St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and SciencesNational Academy of Television Arts and SciencesThe National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences or NATAS was created in 1955 to advance the arts and sciences of television. Headquartered in New York, NATAS's membership is national and the organization has local chapters around the country.... - 2001: Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional JournalistsThe Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
, Sigma Delta Chi Award, for the CBS Evening NewsCBS Evening NewsCBS 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....
with Russ Mitchell's coverage of the Elian Gonzales story - 2005: New York Association of Black Journalists Award, Best DocumentaryDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, for a Sunday Morning report on Stax RecordsStax RecordsStax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and... - 2006: Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis 18th Annual Media Person of the Year