BOB MCKEOWN
BOB MCKEOWN has a record few Canadian journalists can match - two Emmys, two Geminis and a Grey Cup, won when he was an all-star centre with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL.
McKeown returned to CBC Television in November, 2002, to host the network's flagship investigative program, 'the fifth estate', after a distinguished career in the U.S. He spent eight years as a Correspondent with "Dateline NBC", during which time he reported extensively on September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing; tracked down war criminals; covered hurricanes and tornados, broadcast live from the wrecksite of the Titanic and was bitten by a shark - on camera.
Before "Dateline", McKeown was at CBS News for five years, highlighted by his award-winning coverage of the Persian Gulf War. McKeown was the first reporter to broadcast from the front lines during Operation Desert Storm and reached Kuwait City as Iraqi troops were fleeing, almost a day before allied forces arrived. People Magazine wrote: "McKeown and his crew survived artillery, minefields and Iraqi snipers to get the best story of the Gulf War."
While at CBS, he was also a Correspondent for two prime-time newsmagazines, "Street Stories" and "America Tonight", and contributed to "48 Hours" and "The CBC Evening News with Dan Rather".
Prior to his American adventures, McKeown hosted "the fifth estate" from 1981-90 and produced, wrote and directed several critically-acclaimed documentaries, including "The Boys on the Bus", an intimate portrait of the Edmonton Oilers as they won the 1987 Stanley Cup; " Les Canadiens", the history of the Montreal Canadiens, and "Strangers in a Strange Land", which depicted the trials and tribulations of a Canadian movie crew in China as it shot a feature film about the legendary doctor, Norman Bethune.
In all, Bob McKeown has reported from more than 60 countries and been recognized with dozens of major journalistic prizes, including the two Emmys - for the Gulf War and "Dateline" -- two Geminis, two Edward R. Murrows, two Gracies, two National Headliners and a National Press Club award.
A graduate of Yale University, he began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Ottawa, after a 6-year stint in professional football. He and his wife, Sheilagh D'Arcy McGee, have four sons -- Robert, Alexander, D'Arcy and Liam.
In 2004, McKeown won the Gemini Award for Best Writing in an Information Program or Series for 'Run For Your Life'.
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