Robert MacNeil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert MacNeil
OC |
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MacNeil accepting the 2008 Cronkite Award
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| Born |
Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil
January 19, 1931 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | April 12, 2024 (aged 93) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Nationality | Canadian-American |
| Alma mater | Carleton University |
| Occupation | Journalist, novelist |
| Years active | 1956–2020 |
| Children | Ian MacNeil
Cathy William Alison |
Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil, OC (January 19, 1931 – April 12, 2024) was a famous Canadian-American journalist and writer. He was a television news anchor, which means he presented the news on TV. In 1975, he teamed up with Jim Lehrer to create a well-known news show called The MacNeil/Lehrer Report.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert MacNeil was born in Montreal, Canada, on January 19, 1931. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For school, he attended Rothesay Collegiate School and Upper Canada College. He later studied at Dalhousie University and then graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1955.
His Journalism Career
MacNeil started his career in news at ITV in London. After that, he worked for Reuters, a big news agency. Then, he became a correspondent for NBC News in Washington, D.C., and New York City. A correspondent is a reporter who covers news from a specific location.
Reporting the Kennedy Assassination
On November 22, 1963, Robert MacNeil was reporting for NBC News during President John F. Kennedy's visit to Dallas. He was with the president's motorcade when a major event happened. MacNeil quickly went to the nearest building. There, he met a young man leaving the Texas School Book Depository. MacNeil asked him where to find a phone. Later, it was thought that this young man might have been Lee Harvey Oswald, who was involved in the event.
MacNeil rushed to a phone and called the NBC newsroom in New York. He wanted to report what he had seen. Another journalist, Merriman Smith, was the first to report the news. Smith had a special radio-telephone in his car. MacNeil then went to Parkland Hospital. From there, he reported to Frank McGee at NBC-TV. MacNeil announced that President Kennedy had passed away. That evening, MacNeil saw Oswald again at the police station. MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, his future co-anchor, were both reporting that day. However, they did not meet until years later. They met while covering the Watergate hearings for PBS.
Becoming a News Anchor
In 1967, MacNeil began covering politics for the BBC in Britain. From 1971 to 1974, he hosted a news show called Washington Week in Review on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
MacNeil became very well known for his reporting on the 1973 Watergate hearings for PBS. He even won an Emmy Award for his work. This led to his most famous role. In 1975, he joined Jim Lehrer to create a daily evening news program on PBS. It was first called The Robert MacNeil Report. Later, it became The MacNeil/Lehrer Report and then The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. MacNeil worked on the show for 20 years. He retired from his nightly appearances on October 20, 1995. Jim Lehrer continued to anchor the show alone. Today, the program is known as the PBS NewsHour.
After Retirement
Even after retiring, Robert MacNeil stayed active. In 2000, he acted in a movie version of Hamlet. He played a TV news reporter.
On September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks, MacNeil called PBS to offer his help. He joined PBS's coverage, interviewing reporters and sharing his thoughts.
In 2007, MacNeil hosted a PBS TV series called America at a Crossroads. This series showed documentaries about the "War on Terrorism".
MacNeil also appeared on Sesame Street. In a special report, he investigated a "Cookiegate" incident involving the Cookie Monster. In 1998, he was a co-anchor with Kermit the Frog for a story about Slimey, Oscar the Grouch's pet worm, going to the Moon.
MacNeil also helped write a book and TV series called The Story of English in 1986. It was about how the English language developed.
Personal Life and Passing
Robert MacNeil became an American citizen in 1997. He was the father of Ian MacNeil, who is a talented theater designer.
Robert MacNeil passed away in a Manhattan hospital on April 12, 2024. He was 93 years old.
Awards and Recognition
- 1979: Received an honorary degree from Bates College.
- 1990: Won the Paul White Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
- 1997: Became an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. He received it for being "one of the most respected journalists of our time."
- 1999: Was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
- 2008: Received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
See also
In Spanish: Robert MacNeil para niños
