Phil Ponce facts for kids

Phil Ponce (born September 26, 1949) is a well-known American journalist and TV host. He was famous for hosting Chicago Tonight, a news and culture show on WTTW, Chicago's public TV station, for many years.

Phil Ponce's Early Life and Education

Phil Ponce was born in 1949 in McAllen, Texas. He grew up in East Chicago, Indiana. He went to Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana.

College and Law School Journey

After high school, he studied at Indiana University. He earned a degree in English in 1971. Later, he went to the University of Michigan and got a law degree in 1974.

Family Background and Summer Jobs

Both of Phil Ponce's parents worked in steel factories. During his college summers, Phil also worked as a steelworker.

Phil Ponce's Career in Journalism

Phil Ponce started his career as a lawyer. He worked as a lawyer for six years. After that, he decided to try broadcasting.

Starting in Television News

His first job in TV was as a weekend reporter. He worked for an ABC news station in Indianapolis. In 1982, he joined WBBM-TV, a CBS station in Chicago. He worked there as a reporter.

Moving to Public Television

In 1991, Phil Ponce left WBBM-TV. He took a job at a telecommunications company. But in 1992, he joined WTTW11. He became a correspondent for Chicago Tonight.

He worked on Chicago Tonight until 1997. Then, he joined a national PBS show. It was called The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.

Returning to Chicago Tonight

Two years later, Phil Ponce came back to Chicago. He became the main host of Chicago Tonight. He took over from John Callaway.

As host, Phil Ponce helped lead many important political discussions. These included debates for president, governor, and mayor of Chicago. He also teaches journalism at Loyola University Chicago.

Awards and Recognition

Phil Ponce has won many awards for his work. Some of these include the Illinois Journalist of the Year award. He also received the Studs Terkel Award. Indiana University gave him a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Reducing His Workload

In late 2017, Phil Ponce shared his plans to work less. He decided to work three days a week in 2018. Then, he would work two days a week in 2019.

Phil Ponce's Personal Life

Phil Ponce's wife is Ann Ponce. She is an artist in Chicago. She paints portraits and landscapes.

His Children's Careers

Phil Ponce has a daughter named Maria Ponce. She is a photographer in Chicago. He also has two sons.

One son, Dan Ponce, started a singing group called Straight No Chaser. Dan also worked as a TV reporter for ABC7 in Chicago. Now, he is a morning news anchor at WGN Ch. 9.

His other son, Anthony Ponce, was a TV reporter for NBC5. He is now an anchor and reporter at WFLD Ch. 32 in Chicago.

Phil Ponce and his family live in the northern suburbs of Chicago.