Walter Jacobson facts for kids

Walter David Jacobson (born July 28, 1937) is a well-known Chicago news reporter and anchor. He spent many years on television, sharing important stories and his opinions. Today, he still shares his thoughts on WGN Radio AM 720.

Walter Jacobson was a main news anchor for WBBM-TV in Chicago from 2010 to 2013. He had also worked there for a long time before, from 1973 to 1993. Later, he was the main anchor for WFLD-TV's FOX News at 9 and hosted FOX Chicago Perspective from 1993 to 2006.

Growing Up in Chicago

Walter David Jacobson was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 28, 1937. His dad, Sam Jacobson, was an insurance agent. His family lived on Kenmore Avenue in Chicago.

When he was young, Walter loved the Chicago Cubs baseball team. He even became a batboy for the team in 1952 and 1953. This love for sports led him to his first journalism job. He became the sports editor for his grammar school newspaper!

In sixth grade, Walter's family moved to Glencoe, Illinois. He went to New Trier High School. After high school, he studied political science at Grinnell College. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1959. Later, he got his master's degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York.

Starting His News Career

Walter Jacobson began his career working for newspapers in Chicago. He first worked at the City News Bureau. Then, he joined the Chicago office of United Press International, a news agency.

After that, he became a reporter for the Chicago American newspaper. He worked closely with a famous writer named Jack Mabley.

Working in Television News

Time at WBBM-TV

In 1963, Walter Jacobson moved from newspapers to television. He joined WBBM-TV as a news writer. By 1968, he became a full-time reporter. In 1970, he became the political editor for the station.

He left WBBM-TV for two years and worked at WMAQ-TV. But in 1973, he came back to WBBM as an investigative reporter and anchor. For many years, he co-anchored the 10 p.m. news with Bill Kurtis. They became a very famous news team in Chicago.

Walter was also the main anchor for the 5 p.m. news for ten years. He left WBBM in 1993 after some disagreements with the station's leaders.

In 2009, Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis reunited for one night to anchor the 10 p.m. news. Then, in 2010, they started anchoring the 6 p.m. news together. They continued this until February 2013, when they stepped down.

Time at WFLD-TV

In 1993, Walter Jacobson joined WFLD as their main male news anchor. He co-anchored the 9 p.m. newscast with Robin Robinson. Walter was very popular at WFLD. He helped make the news shows less like tabloids and more focused on important stories.

Walter had a special part of the show called "Walter Jacobson in Perspective." In this segment, he would share his strong opinions. He often spoke out against unfairness or corruption in Chicago. He wasn't afraid to challenge city officials or help people in need. He often supported blue-collar workers and helped fix problems in poor neighborhoods.

Walter received some criticism for his strong opinions. He even dedicated one segment to sharing some of the negative mail he received.

In April 2006, Walter announced he was leaving WFLD. The station honored him with special segments before his last broadcast.

Time at WLS-AM Radio

In September 2013, Walter Jacobson started working at WLS-AM radio in Chicago. He began sharing his "Perspective" commentaries every morning. This was his first time working in radio.

Walter's Family Life

Walter Jacobson has been married three times. He married his college girlfriend, Lynn Straus, in 1960. They had two children: a daughter named Wendy (born 1963) and a son named Peter (born 1965). They later divorced.

In 1982, Walter married Diane Dybsky. They had two daughters, Julia and Genevieve, before they divorced. In 1995, Walter married Susan G. "Susie" Jacobson. She passed away in 2019.

Walter's son, Peter Jacobson, is a well-known actor. He has appeared in TV shows like Will & Grace, Law & Order, and House. He has also been in movies such as Transformers and Good Night, and Good Luck.

Acting Appearances

Walter Jacobson even made a small appearance as himself in a TV show! In 1990, he was in an episode of the CBS sitcom Uncle Buck.

Awards and Achievements

Walter Jacobson has won many important awards for his work in news. The Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gave him several Emmy Awards for his commentaries. He won Chicago Emmy awards for ten years in a row, from 1974 to 1983!

In 1985, a survey named Walter Jacobson the best local news anchor in the United States. He also received his fifth Peter Lisagor Award in 1988 for "best commentary." The duPont-Columbia judges honored him twice for his work at WBBM-TV. One award was for his commentaries, and another was for the best local election coverage in the U.S.

Some of Walter's special TV programs also won awards. Walter Jacobson's Journal: China won an Emmy Award. His program Studebaker: Less Than They Promised received a Peabody Award.

One of Walter's most talked-about news stories happened in 1991. He dressed up with a fake beard and lived on the streets of Chicago for two days as a homeless person. He used a hidden camera to record his experiences. He called this series "Mean Street Diary." He did this again in 1995 for WFLD.

People Who Worked With Walter

Many producers who worked with Walter Jacobson went on to have successful careers in journalism and media. Some of them include:

• Joe Kolina
• Michael Radutzky (who later worked for 60 Minutes)
• John Eisendrath (now a TV show creator)
• Roe Conn (a former radio talk show host)
• Jim Edwards (a radio host known as Jake Hartford)
• Michael Harvey (now a documentary producer)