David Ushery facts for kids

David Ushery (born June 5, 1967) is an American television news anchor for WNBC News 4 New York. This is the main station for the NBC network in New York City. He is a key member of the news team and has reported on major stories in the New York area and around the world.

A Young Start in Television

David Ushery was born in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He was the only child of Solomon and Winifred Ushery. His journey into television news started when he was just 11 years old.

He was chosen to host a local kids' TV show called "Kidsworld." During the show, he got to interview famous people. One of his first interviews was with Walter Cronkite, a legendary CBS News anchor who was once called "the most trusted man in America."

During the interview, young David asked Cronkite what it takes to be a good newscaster. Cronkite told him that a person needs to be curious. David has said that this moment inspired him to become a reporter. He continued to host "Kidsworld" until he was 18, growing up on television in front of his local audience.

Education and Early Career

Ushery 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 practice reporting on local news and events. He also reported for the Los Angeles Times.

After graduating, the CBS station in Hartford, WFSB-TV, hired him. They quickly saw his talent and gave him a full-time job as a reporter.

Reporting in New York and Beyond

Joining the Top News Stations

In 1993, when he was 25, Ushery moved to New York City. He began working as a reporter for WABC-TV, the top news station in the country. He covered many important stories, including the deaths of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the September 11th terrorist attacks.

WABC also sent him to report on world events. He traveled to Haiti to cover political changes and to Africa and Toronto to report on Pope John Paul II's visits. After three years at WABC, he became an anchor for a weekend morning show. He worked at WABC for 10 years.

A Career at WNBC

In 2003, Ushery joined WNBC-TV as an anchor for the "Weekend Today in New York" morning show. He later became the anchor for the weekend evening news as well. This meant he was the main face of WNBC news on Saturdays and Sundays.

As an anchor at WNBC, he has covered many memorable events. These include:

• The amazing emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in 2009.
• The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
• The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis in Rome.
• The opening of the new United States Embassy in Jerusalem in 2018.

He has also reported live from the scenes of major international news, such as attacks in Paris, France, and Manchester, England.

Creating His Own Shows

The Debrief with David Ushery

In 2009, Ushery created a new show called "The Debrief with David Ushery." The show takes a fresh look at the week's biggest stories. Instead of sitting at a desk, Ushery walks around the newsroom and talks with reporters in a casual, unscripted way.

This relaxed style even included not wearing a tie. This got a lot of attention. At a party, then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joked about Ushery being "underdressed." The mayor then took off his own tie and gave it to Ushery as a gift.

Moms and the City and a Dad named David

In 2010, Ushery launched another show called "Moms and the City and a Dad named David." On this program, he and three mothers talk about parenting in New York City.

In October 2020, Ushery became the main anchor for WNBC's 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Awards and Honors

Ushery has received several awards for his work as a journalist and for his service to the community.

• In 1993, the National Association of Black Journalists gave him an award for his reports on children and violence.
• In 1999, he was named one of the "40 Under-Forty" by The Network Journal magazine.
• In 2000, the Israeli Consulate in New York honored him for his reporting.

Personal Life

Ushery is married to Isabel Rivera, who is also a TV producer. They have one son.