Robert Kovacik


Robert Kovacik is a multiple-award-winning American television journalist based in Los Angeles, California. He is currently an anchor/reporter for NBC Los Angeles and can be seen world-wide across all NBC platforms. In 2018, Kovacik won the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Reporting. He was selected as Journalist of the Year at the 55th Southern California Journalism Awards in 2013. According to the judges, "Robert Kovacik has not only won the trust and respect of his audience, he's won their hearts with solid reporting and integrity."
Kovacik is known for bringing viewers a local perspective and in-depth coverage to national and international events including the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the terrorist bombing in Manchester, England, the Papal Conclave in Rome, and the Summer Olympics in London. The correspondent was later honored by the British Consul-General of Los Angeles for his reporting of the Games. Kovacik also earned Emmy Awards for the Olympics and the Papal Conclave, in Great Britain and Italy respectively.

Kovacik was elected by his industry peers to serve three consecutive terms as President of the Los Angeles Press Club. After Kovacik was termed-out, he was named an Honorary Board member of the LA Press Club, with the title, President Emeritus.
Kovacik is also a three-time recipient of the Genesis Award, presented by the Humane Society of the United States, recognizing the best media coverage of animal protection issues.

Education

Robert Kovacik holds an honors undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Kovacik also has an honors Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. After graduating from Columbia, he spent over 5 years in New York City before moving to California.

Early career

Kovacik began his career at 23 years of age when he became the youngest anchor in New York City for NIGHTWORLD at Public Broadcasting Service primary member station, WNET. In 1994, he relocated to Los Angeles to become an anchor and reporter for KCOP-TV.

Career

Kovacik left KCOP in 2001, and was named the West Coast correspondent, anchor, and bureau chief for the newly formed National Geographic Channel and its nightly news show, National Geographic Today.
Kovacik joined KNBC-TV in 2004. In 2006 a murder suspect chose to surrender to him live on-air., for which he received including a Golden Mic Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2007 he was on location and struck by a police squad car carrying Paris Hilton. In 2008 he again made international headlines after an angry confrontation between then Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief William Bratton and LA City Councilman Dennis Zine while Kovacik was reporting for Today in LA.
His exclusive examination into the Los Angeles Fire Department's 911 response times prompted the Mayor to call for an audit of the LAFD. His reporting on the investigation surrounding President Clinton's impeachment was included in the Kenneth Starr Report, and his groundbreaking expose into overcrowded LA animal shelters helped force the city to change its laws.

Awards and honors