Hank Plante
Encyclopedia
Hank Plante is an American television reporter and editor. Winner of the George Foster Peabody Award and multiple Emmy
s, he covered California for three decades for TV stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles
. He now writes occasional columns for newspapers in California, usually focusing on politics or gay and lesbian issues. One the first openly gay TV reporters in the United States, Plante is the recipient of various honors from LGBT rights advocacy organizations and trade groups.
(CBS 5) in San Francisco, before retiring in April 2010. Before that, he worked in print journalism, including at The Washington Post
. At KPIX-TV, he interviewed a range of national and state political figures, including Al Gore
, George W. Bush
, Dick Cheney
, Barack Obama
, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
.
His experience includes reporting and anchoring at TV stations in various cities, including KHJ-TV
in Los Angeles, KRIV-TV in Houston, KMSP-TV
in Minneapolis and WVEC-TV
in Norfolk, Virginia
. He also served as Assignment Editor at WTTG
-TV in Washington, D.C.
, and as News Editor at WRC (NBC)
Radio in Washington D.C. He began his career as a journalist in Washington, D.C. at the Sentinel Newspapers, where he was managing editor
, and at The Washington Post
, where he worked on the city desk.
's "AIDS Lifeline" reporting team.
He has also been awarded the Pioneer Award at the GLAAD Media Awards
, and the James R. Harrison Award from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
.
He was also named “Reporter of the Year” by the Associated Press
(APTRA’S “Chris Harris Award”).
Hank was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle by the National Television Academy, which honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to broadcasting.
In addition, his work has been singled out for praise by The New York Times
and other media. Plante was inducted into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame in 2010.
, the Lambda Legal
Defense Fund, GLAAD, Project Open Hand
, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
.
He lives in Palm Springs, California
.
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s, he covered California for three decades for TV stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He now writes occasional columns for newspapers in California, usually focusing on politics or gay and lesbian issues. One the first openly gay TV reporters in the United States, Plante is the recipient of various honors from LGBT rights advocacy organizations and trade groups.
Journalism career
A native of Detroit, Plante worked in both radio and television journalism, including 25 years at KPIX-TVKPIX-TV
KPIX-TV is the CBS owned and operated television station in San Francisco, California. Through its parent company CBS Corporation, KPIX is co-owned with The CW affiliate KBCW-TV ....
(CBS 5) in San Francisco, before retiring in April 2010. Before that, he worked in print journalism, including at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. At KPIX-TV, he interviewed a range of national and state political figures, including Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
.
His experience includes reporting and anchoring at TV stations in various cities, including KHJ-TV
KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
in Los Angeles, KRIV-TV in Houston, KMSP-TV
KMSP-TV
KMSP-TV, channel 9, is the Fox-owned-and-operated television station serving the Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota designated market area, owned in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WFTC...
in Minneapolis and WVEC-TV
WVEC-TV
WVEC is the ABC affiliate television station for the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which includes Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, and the surrounding area. It is licensed to Hampton, with its main studio in downtown Norfolk. Its transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia...
in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He also served as Assignment Editor at WTTG
WTTG
WTTG, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
-TV in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and as News Editor at WRC (NBC)
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
Radio in Washington D.C. He began his career as a journalist in Washington, D.C. at the Sentinel Newspapers, where he was managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
, and at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, where he worked on the city desk.
Professional recognition
His awards have included several local and national Emmys, as well as the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, in 1986, as part of CBS 5KPIX-TV
KPIX-TV is the CBS owned and operated television station in San Francisco, California. Through its parent company CBS Corporation, KPIX is co-owned with The CW affiliate KBCW-TV ....
's "AIDS Lifeline" reporting team.
He has also been awarded the Pioneer Award at the GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
, and the James R. Harrison Award from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Committed to ending the pandemic and human suffering caused by HIV, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation develops innovative solutions, combining scientific evidence with community experience to fight HIV/AIDS and promote health...
.
He was also named “Reporter of the Year” by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(APTRA’S “Chris Harris Award”).
Hank was inducted into the Emmy Silver Circle by the National Television Academy, which honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to broadcasting.
In addition, his work has been singled out for praise by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and other media. Plante was inducted into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame in 2010.
Extraprofessional activities
Plante's community service has included work with the Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
, the Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.Lambda's founder William J. Thom, Esq...
Defense Fund, GLAAD, Project Open Hand
Project Open Hand
Project Open Hand is a volunteer agency maintained and operated non-profit organization offering hot meals, grocery service, and nutrition education to those who qualify in both San Francisco and Alameda Counties...
, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Committed to ending the pandemic and human suffering caused by HIV, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation develops innovative solutions, combining scientific evidence with community experience to fight HIV/AIDS and promote health...
.
He lives in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.
External links
- http://www.towleroad.com/2010/03/hank-plante-one-of-nations-first-openly-gay-tv-reporters-retiring.html
- http://sfist.com/2010/03/16/kpixs_hank_plante_to_retire_at_mont.php
- http://www.sfbg.com/politics/2010/03/24/hank-plantes-exit-interview