October 9, 2002 11:07 AM
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Byron Pitts
Byron Pitts (CBS)
(CBS) Byron Pitts was named a contributor to "60 Minutes" and chief national correspondent for "The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" in January 2009. He had been a national correspondent since February 2006.
Pitts reported occasionally for "60 Minutes" before his appointment and his first story for the broadcast, an interview with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, made national news. Since then, his "60 Minutes" stories have ranged from war reporting in Afghanistan to celebrity and sports profiles to a report on an innovative educational approach for at-risk youth.
One of CBS News' lead reporters during the Sept. 11 attacks, Pitts won a national Emmy award for his coverage. Later he was tapped to be a war correspondent, reporting on the invasion of Iraq as an embedded reporter and was recognized for his work under fire, including in the dangerous and chaotic scene in Baghdad when U.S. troops entered the city. Pitts also played an integral role in CBS News reporting other big stories, including Hurricane Katrina, the war in Afghanistan, the military buildup in Kuwait, the Florida fires, the Elian Gonzalez story, the Florida presidential election recount and the mudslides in Central America.
Pitts was named CBS News correspondent in May 1998 and was based in the Miami (1998-99) and Atlanta (1999-2001) bureaus before moving to New York in January 2001. Before that, Pitts was a correspondent for CBS NEWSPATH, the 24-hour affiliate news service of CBS News, based in Washington, D.C. (1997-98).
He joined CBS News from WSB-TV Atlanta, where he was a general assignment reporter (1994-96). Previously, Pitts was a special assignment reporter for WCBV-TV Boston (1989-94) and a reporter and substitute anchor for WFLA-TV Tampa (1988-89). He also served as a reporter for WESH-TV Orlando (1986-88) and as a military reporter for WAVY-TV Virginia (1984-86). While at WNCT-TV Greenville, N.C., he reported and served as weekend sports anchor (1983-84).
Pitts is the author of "Step Out on Nothing" (St. Martin's 2009), an inspirational autobiography chronicling his rise from a disadvantaged youth.
His other awards include a national Emmy for his coverage of the Chicago train wreck in 1999 and recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists as Best Journalist of the Year in 2002, the organization's highest honor. He is also the recipient of four Associated Press Awards and six regional Emmy Awards.
Pitts was born on Oct. 21, 1960, in Baltimore, Md. He was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982 with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and speech communication. He lives with his wife in Weehawken, N.J.
Pitts reported occasionally for "60 Minutes" before his appointment and his first story for the broadcast, an interview with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, made national news. Since then, his "60 Minutes" stories have ranged from war reporting in Afghanistan to celebrity and sports profiles to a report on an innovative educational approach for at-risk youth.
One of CBS News' lead reporters during the Sept. 11 attacks, Pitts won a national Emmy award for his coverage. Later he was tapped to be a war correspondent, reporting on the invasion of Iraq as an embedded reporter and was recognized for his work under fire, including in the dangerous and chaotic scene in Baghdad when U.S. troops entered the city. Pitts also played an integral role in CBS News reporting other big stories, including Hurricane Katrina, the war in Afghanistan, the military buildup in Kuwait, the Florida fires, the Elian Gonzalez story, the Florida presidential election recount and the mudslides in Central America.
Pitts was named CBS News correspondent in May 1998 and was based in the Miami (1998-99) and Atlanta (1999-2001) bureaus before moving to New York in January 2001. Before that, Pitts was a correspondent for CBS NEWSPATH, the 24-hour affiliate news service of CBS News, based in Washington, D.C. (1997-98).
He joined CBS News from WSB-TV Atlanta, where he was a general assignment reporter (1994-96). Previously, Pitts was a special assignment reporter for WCBV-TV Boston (1989-94) and a reporter and substitute anchor for WFLA-TV Tampa (1988-89). He also served as a reporter for WESH-TV Orlando (1986-88) and as a military reporter for WAVY-TV Virginia (1984-86). While at WNCT-TV Greenville, N.C., he reported and served as weekend sports anchor (1983-84).
Pitts is the author of "Step Out on Nothing" (St. Martin's 2009), an inspirational autobiography chronicling his rise from a disadvantaged youth.
His other awards include a national Emmy for his coverage of the Chicago train wreck in 1999 and recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists as Best Journalist of the Year in 2002, the organization's highest honor. He is also the recipient of four Associated Press Awards and six regional Emmy Awards.
Pitts was born on Oct. 21, 1960, in Baltimore, Md. He was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982 with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and speech communication. He lives with his wife in Weehawken, N.J.
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