Kent Shocknek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kent Shocknek is Southern California's longest-running television news morning news anchor. He also appears in cameo roles in movies and television dramas. On radio, Shocknek has narrated a daily commentary in Los Angeles; and hosted a nationally syndicated entertainment program. Magazine readers may recognize him as an author of automotive articles.

Shocknek was born Kent R. Schoknecht in Berkeley, California: he simplified the on-air spelling of his name upon arrival to Los Angeles television. After working at the Long Beach Press Telegram while attending the University of Southern California, Shocknek's first TV reporting job was in Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU-TV), followed by a three-year stint as anchor and Space Shuttle reporter in Orlando, Florida (WFTV).

In 1986, Shocknek anchored the start-up of L.A.'s first TV morning news program, Today in L.A. on KNBC-TV. Over the years, he broadcast -– often single-handedly -- such events as the explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, the Los Angeles riots, OJ Simpson's murder trial, and storms and earthquakes that shook his studio while he was on the air.

After helming the KNBC program for 15-years, Shocknek moved to morning newscasts at KCBS-TV (CBS 2 News Los Angeles) in 2001. There, he anchored live the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequently has reported on the war in Iraq; plus Southern California's seasonal wildfires and frequent high-speed freeway chases.

Shocknek began writing and delivering the 60-second daily radio commentary Just A Minute with Kent Shocknek on CBS all-news radio station KNX-1070 AM in Los Angeles, in 2003. The following year, he launched Premiere Magazine Live!, a weekly radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide. He and his wife, who went by the on-air name Karen Walters, worked together for three years, until the magazine on which the show was based ceased publication.

[edit] Awards

• 8 regional Emmy Awards (individual and group)
• 2 L.A. Press Club Awards
• Golden Mic. Award (Best Daytime Newscast)
• Wm. Randolph Hearst Award (investigative reporting)

[edit] Education

B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

[edit] External links

• Kent Shocknek at the Internet Movie Database
• CBS 2/KCAL 9 bio on Kent Shocknek