David Ushery facts for kids

David Ushery, born on June 5, 1967, is a well-known TV news anchor. He works for WNBC News 4 New York, which is a main station for NBC. As an African-American journalist, he is a key part of the NBC 4 New York news team. David has reported on many big news events. These include important stories in the New York area and around the world.

David Ushery's Early Life and Start in TV

Growing Up in Connecticut

David Ushery was born and grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He was the only child of Solomon and Winifred Ushery.

A Young TV Host

When David was just 11 years old, he was chosen for a special job. He became the host of "Kidsworld," a TV show for kids. This show was seen across the country. One of his first interviews was with Walter Cronkite. Cronkite was a famous news anchor for CBS News. People called him "the most trusted man in America."

In that interview, young David sat at the anchor desk. He asked Cronkite, "What kind of person should be a newscaster?" Cronkite replied that a good newscaster should be very curious. David later said that this interview made him want to become a TV reporter and anchor. He hosted "Kidsworld" until he was 18.

College and Early Reporting

David went to the University of Connecticut. He studied both political science and journalism. While in college, he wrote for the Hartford Courant newspaper. This helped him learn how to cover local politics and events. He also reported for the Los Angeles Times.

After graduating, David joined WFSB-TV in Hartford. This was a CBS station. He quickly showed his talent. Within a few months, he became a full-time reporter.

David Ushery's Career in News

Reporting in Connecticut

At WFSB, David was the main reporter for the 11 PM news. He covered many stories that affected people in Connecticut. One story that stayed with him was about arsonists in New Britain. He spent a night with families who were scared by these fires.

Just two years after starting, David traveled to Moscow. This was after the Soviet Union had ended. He reported on how policing worked there. This trip was the first of many international stories David would cover. News directors saw his skill in reporting from other countries.

Moving to New York City

In 1993, when David was 25, he moved to New York City. He joined WABC-TV as a general assignment reporter. WABC was the top news station in the biggest media market in the country.

He helped cover many important events for WABC. These included police investigations into the deaths of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy, Jr. He also reported on the September 11 terrorist attacks. David was part of the team that covered the New York Yankees World Series wins. He also reported on the new leader of New York City's Catholic Church, Edward Cardinal Egan.

WABC also sent David to report on world events. He went to Haiti many times to cover political problems. He reported on Pope John Paul II's visits to Africa and Toronto. He also covered a United Nations meeting about racism in South Africa.

Becoming an Anchor

Three years after joining WABC, David became an anchor. He hosted a new weekend show called "Eyewitness News This Morning." He also anchored weekday morning newscasts and the news at noon. Later, he often filled in for the famous anchor, Bill Beutel. David worked at WABC for 10 years.

In 2003, David moved to WNBC-TV. He became the anchor of their popular morning show, "Weekend Today in New York." This show had a mix of hard news, features, interviews, and sports. This allowed David to show how good he was at many types of reporting. A year later, he also became the anchor for WNBC's weekend 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts. This meant David was the main face of WNBC on weekends.

In 2006, David became co-anchor of WNBC's "Live at 5" show. He worked with the well-known anchor Sue Simmons. Later, he returned to anchor the weekend news for "News 4 New York."

Covering Major Events at WNBC

As an anchor at WNBC, David has led coverage of many big events. In 2018, he went to Houston, Texas. He reported live after the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush. Earlier that year, he traveled to Jerusalem. He showed viewers the opening of the new United States Embassy. He also reported from areas like Gaza and the West Bank, where protests happened.

In 2017, David went to Israel to cover President Trump's visit. Then, he quickly moved to England to report on a tragic bombing in Manchester. In 2016, he covered the sad Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. A year before that, he reported from Paris after deadly terrorist attacks.

He also provided live coverage of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012. He reported on the amazing emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009. David has also covered many presidential elections. He made several trips to Rome to cover important events for the Catholic Church. These included the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis. He also covered the special ceremonies that made Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints.

National Initiatives and "The Debrief"

David has also worked on national projects for NBC Universal. He hosted a special program about the switch to digital TV in 2009. He also hosted "Going Green at Any Age," which looked at ways to help the environment.

In 2009, David created and launched "The Debrief with David Ushery." This show was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2011. It was a weekly show that gave viewers a unique look at important current events.

On "The Debrief," David used an energetic, unscripted style for his interviews. He talked with reporters and newsmakers. Viewers felt like they were part of the conversation. The show was praised for being different. David didn't sit behind an anchor desk. Instead, he moved around the newsroom, showing viewers what goes on behind the scenes. He also sometimes didn't wear a tie, which was unusual for an anchor. This informal look even caught the attention of the New York Times. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg once joked about David being "underdressed" and gave him his own tie.

In 2010, David started another show called "Moms and the City and a Dad named David." This show came from a "Debrief" segment about New York City mothers. David and three mothers talked about life in the city from a parent's point of view.

In October 2020, NBCUniversal announced that David Ushery would become the anchor for WNBC's 4 PM and 11 PM newscasts.

Awards and Honors

David Ushery has received many awards for his work and his help in the community.

• In 1993, he won an award from the National Association of Black Journalists. This was for his reports on children and violence.
• In 1999, The Network Journal magazine named him one of its "40 Under-Forty." This recognized his important achievements.
• In 2000, the Israeli Consulate in New York City honored David for his dedicated reporting.
• In 2010, he received McDonald's Faces of Black History Award.

Personal Life

David Ushery is married to Isabel Rivera, who is a TV producer. They have one son. The family is Catholic.