Ken Rice

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the football player of the same name see Ken Rice (football player).

Ken Rice
Born Flag of the United States Chicago, Illinois USA
Occupation Television news anchor

Ken Rice is the 5 and 11 P.M. weekday news anchor at CBS owned and operated KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, and anchors KDKA on WPCW at 10 P.M. In addition, Rice hosts Hometown High-Q, KDKA-TV's Saturday morning quiz show for local high school students and shares hosting duties on the public affairs program KD/PG Sunday Edition.

Contents

[edit] Career

Rice's career began at Wisconsin Public Radio where he reported and anchored news each night. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism, Rice moved to television working at WISC-TV in Madison, then at WTAE, where he spent six years anchoring and reporting.

[edit] Life at KDKA

Rice was hired at KDKA-TV in 1994, and eventually joined Jennifer Antkowiak at the anchor desk. He currently anchors with Kristine Sorensen at 5 P.M., and with Patrice King Brown at 11 P.M. Since joining the KDKA news team, he has hosted special programs and moderated numerous debates among political candidates.

[edit] Major reporting assignments

  • In 1989, Rice covered Hurricane Hugo, a destructive Category 5 hurricane.
  • In 1994, when Flight 427 crashed en route to Pittsburgh, Rice's reports were seen nationally on CBS, and in Canada on CBC.[citation needed]
  • In 1995, Rice, as a member of the "KDKA Investigators", reported how local companies were overcharging Medicare millions of dollars.[citation needed]
  • In 1996, Rice exposed the city's lackluster recycling program, which, was simply dumping what were thought to be recyclables in the landfill. This led to the immediate firing and prosecution of the city's recycling contractor.[citation needed]
  • In 2000, following a major shooting spree in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Rice reported for the CBS Evening News, making him one of few local journalists to report for a national network newscast.[citation needed]

[edit] Awards

Rice has been honored with local, state and national journalism awards.

  • The top Associated Press award in the country for an investigation called Harrisburg Paydirt -- revealing Pennsylvania legislators' lucrative, taxpayer-funded perks. 1990
  • Golden Quill awards from the Pittsburgh Press Club in 1990 and 1991
  • Awards from the Radio-Television News Directors Association for investigative reporting in 1994 and 1995.