Russ Mitchell

American journalist (born 1960)

Karina Mahtani (m. 2006)
Erica Townsend (m. 1987; div. 2000)

Russell Edward Mitchell (born March 25, 1960) is an American journalist best known for his career at CBS where he was anchor of The Early Show on Saturday, news anchor for The Early Show during the week, and weekend anchor of the CBS Evening News.

In December 2011, it was announced that he would leave CBS to join WKYC in Cleveland, Ohio, as a lead anchor, starting in January 2012.^[1]

Biography

Early years

Mitchell was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Rock Hill.^[2] He attended high school in Webster Groves in suburban St. Louis, and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1982.^[3]

Career

Russ Mitchell's first television job came while he was still in high school, working as a part-time switchboard operator at KTVI in his native St. Louis. After graduation from Mizzou, Mitchell worked as a reporter with Kansas City television station KMBC.^[4] Mitchell was later an anchor for WFAA Dallas (1983–1985), reporter at KTVI St. Louis (1985–1987), and a weekend anchor and reporter for KMOV St. Louis (1987–92). He joined CBS News in 1992 as co-anchor of Up to the Minute. He was a correspondent for Eye to Eye on CBS (1993–95), anchor of the CBS Sunday Night News (1995-1997), an original co-anchor on Saturday Early Show (1997-2007, 2011), news anchor for the weekday edition of The Early Show (2007-2010), anchor of the CBS Sunday Evening News (2006-2011) and of the CBS Saturday Evening News (1999-2009; & both Saturday and Sunday later 2010–2011). He also substituted for Harry Smith, Jane Robelot and Mark McEwen on CBS This Morning, the predecessor to the Early Show, and was a correspondent on CBS News Sunday Morning. He was also a primary substitute for Dan Rather, John Roberts, Bob Schieffer, Katie Couric and Scott Pelley on CBS Evening News.

In December 2011, it was announced that he would move to Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC as lead anchor and executive editor of the 6 and 11pm newscasts, where he remains today.

Personal life

Mitchell was married to Erica Townsend from 1987 to 2000. He married Karina Mahtani on December 2, 2006.^[5] They later divorced.

Honors and awards

Mitchell has won a total of 17 national and local Emmy Awards. Honors include:

1989: Missouri UPI, Best Reporter honor^[3]
1995: National Association of Black Journalists Award
1997: Emmy Award, for coverage of the crash of TWA's flight 800; with two additional from the St. Louis chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
2001: Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi Award, for the CBS Evening News with Russ Mitchell's coverage of the Elian Gonzales story
2005: New York Association of Black Journalists Award, Best Documentary, for a Sunday Morning report on Stax Records
2006: Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis 18th Annual Media Person of the Year^[6]

References

^ "CBS Network anchor Russ Mitchell joins WKYC as lead anchor", WKYC, December 21, 2011.
^ "Shepherd's Center To Celebrate 12th Anniversary September 17: Guest of honor is CBS News anchor Russ Mitchell". Webster-Kirkwood Times. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Russ Mitchell: Biography". CBS News. January 1, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
^ "Mitchell Named New Anchor". The Cleveland Plain Dealer via www.Cleveland.com. December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
^ "Karina Mahtani, Russ Mitchell". The New York Times. December 3, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
^ "Press Club to honor Mitchell". Suburban Journals. Lee Enterprises. October 24, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2010.