slides: RI TV News Stars Making it Big Across US

PM Magazine

Matt Lauer, the host of the Today Show, got one of his big career breaks when he hosted PM Magazine for WJAR-10 in Providence.

The NY City-born Lauer was educated at Ohio University and once worked at ESPN.

Brown Educated

Chris Berman has been the lead on ESPN's coverage of the NFL for decades. The 1979 graduate of Brown University started his pro-sports announcing career with WVIT in Hartford, CT.

Known as "Boomer," he joined ESPN just a month after the network kicked off in 1979.

He is active on behalf of Brown and often shows for Brown hoops games at Yale.

Survivor

Elizabeth Hasselback was born in Cranston and graduated from Bay View. At Boston College she Captained the Varsity Sofball team and won a Big East Championship.

After graduation she worked for Puma and then got a spot on the reality TV show, Survivor.

After survivor she landed a spot on the daytime talk show, The View.

WPRI Star

Kristine Johnson is now an Emmy winning anchor of  WCBS in New York City.

She made her mark as a reporter and Anchor for WPRI-TV in Providence, but left for a spot with Early Today and reporting and hosting with MSNBC.

Johnson attended University of Nebraska. 

Today, 60-Minutes

Meredith Vieira is a Rhode Island girl. She was born and grew up in East Providence. She attended the Lincoln School and then Tufts.

She started her career doing radio in Worcester, MA, but then landed a reporting and anchoring position at Providence's WJAR-10.

Her career has been one of the most successful of any TV journalists and has included lead investigative reporting position in major markets, a slot on 60 Minutes and as the host for the Today Show.

Hollywood

Tony Potts was one of WPRI's "if it bleeds, it leads" reporters of the early 1990's. From Channel 12 he kept moving up the markets and positions.

Ultimately, he landed a hosting position for Access Hollywood for many years.

In his spare time he did guest apperances of CSI and Dirt.

CNN

John King is a URI Journalism grad started his career moonlighting at the Associated Press office in Providence while still an undergrad.

After graduation he worked his way up the AP ladder and ultimately broke big stories during his coverage of Bill Clinton's run for the White House.

When Clinton won, King scored the White House correspondent position. 

In 1997, King was hired away by CNN and has been a lead political reporter. 

Global

Christiane Amanpour is one of the best known journalists in the world. From global reporting for CNN and ABC she has covered many of the biggest wars and hot spots.

Born in London and was raised in Tehran. 

She was trained as a journalist at URI. While in school she worked at WBRU and after graduation worked briefly at WJAR-10

NBC's New Star

Dylan Dreyer is the new weather personality for NBC's Today Show.

She joins the network from WHDH in Boston, but she got her start in Providence at WJAR-10.

She is a graduate of Rutgers University and grew up in New Jersey.

NHL Host

Kathryn Tappen is the host of the NHL Network's lead show. Tappen joined the network after five years with NESN - the Boston Bruins' cable group.

Tappen was a track star at Rutgers - earning Academic All-American honors.

She started her TV career at WJAR-10.