Bernard Shaw (journalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernard Shaw
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Shaw in 2004
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| Born | May 22, 1940 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | September 7, 2022 (aged 82) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Education | University of Illinois, Chicago (BA) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1971–2001 |
| Spouse(s) |
Linda Allston
(m. 1974) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Bernard Shaw was a famous American journalist. He was best known as a main news anchor for CNN. He worked there from 1980 until he retired in 2001. Before CNN, he reported for other big news companies like CBS News and ABC News. He was born on May 22, 1940, and passed away on September 7, 2022.
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Bernard Shaw's Early Life
Bernard Shaw grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His father worked for the railroad and painted houses. His mother was a housekeeper. He went to the University of Illinois Chicago.
Before becoming a journalist, Shaw served in the United States Marine Corps. He was a "Message Center" specialist. He reached the rank of Corporal. Even then, he loved reading newspapers. He would clip articles he found interesting. He also enjoyed baseball.
Bernard Shaw's Journalism Career
Shaw started his career in news in 1964. He was an anchor and reporter for WNUS in Chicago. Later, he worked for Westinghouse Broadcasting. He became their reporter at the White House in Washington, D.C.
From 1971 to 1977, he worked for CBS News. Then, he moved to ABC News. He reported from Latin America. He also became their main reporter on Capitol Hill.
Joining CNN and Major Events
In 1980, Shaw joined CNN. He became a co-anchor for their PrimeNews show. One of his first big stories was the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. His reporting helped CNN become known as a reliable news source.
As a lead anchor, Bernard Shaw covered many important events. These events shaped the world in the late 20th century. Some of these included:
- The student protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
- The California earthquake of 1994.
- The death of Princess Diana in 1997.
- The close presidential race of 2000.
Reporting the Gulf War
One of the most famous events Shaw reported was the start of the Gulf War in 1991. He was reporting live from a hotel in Baghdad, Iraq. This was a very dangerous situation. He had to take cover under a desk as cruise missiles flew by. He also went to the hotel's bomb shelter often.
While describing the scene, he famously said, "Clearly I've never been there, but this feels like we're in the center of hell." His brave reporting during this time earned him recognition. He was known as one of the "Boys of Baghdad."
Presidential Debates
Bernard Shaw was also known for moderating important political debates. In 1988, he moderated a presidential debate. He asked a tough question to presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. Shaw also moderated the vice-presidential debate in 2000. This debate was between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman.
Shaw co-anchored CNN's Inside Politics from 1992. He retired from CNN in March 2001. After retiring, he still appeared on CNN sometimes. He reflected that his success in journalism came at a cost to his personal life. In 2020, he appeared on CNN to celebrate the network's 40th anniversary.
Awards and Honors
Bernard Shaw received many awards for his excellent journalism. Here are some of them:
- 1994: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
- 1996: Paul White Award.
- 2001: Lifetime honor from the Edward R. Murrow Awards.
- 2002: Inducted into The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He received the Order of Lincoln, the state's highest honor.
- 2007: Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal Life
Bernard Shaw was married to Linda Allston. They got married on March 30, 1974. They had two children, Amar Edgar and Anil Louise.
Shaw passed away in a hospital in Washington, D.C.. He died on September 7, 2022, at age 82. His death was caused by pneumonia.
