Harold Dow
Encyclopedia
Harold Dow was an American television news correspondent
, journalist
, and investigative reporter with CBS News
.
. He attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha
. Dow had been a correspondent for the CBS TV investigative news series 48 Hours
since 1990, after having served as a contributor to the broadcast since its premiere on January 1988. He had been a contributing correspondent for 48 Hours on Crack Street, the critically acclaimed 1986 documentary that led to the single-topic weekly news magazine. Dow conducted the first network interview for 48 Hours with O. J. Simpson
following the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson
and her friend Ron Goldman. Dow's reports have garnered him numerous awards.
He has been honored with a George Foster Peabody Award for his "48 Hours" report on runaways and a Robert F. Kennedy Award for a report on public housing. He has received five Emmy Awards, including one for a story on the American troops' movement into Bosnia (1996) and one for "distinguished reporting" for his coverage of the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster (1989). He won an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, an Operation Push Excellence in Journalism Award and, for a "48 Hours" profile of Patti LaBelle. He also was recently recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists for his 1. report about Medgar Evers, which was featured in the CBS News special "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama."
He has covered many of the most important stories of our times, including 9/11, where he barely escaped one of the falling Twin Towers
; the return of POW's from Vietnam; the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, with whom he had an exclusive interview in December 1976; the movement of American troops into Bosnia and the Pan Am Flight 103
disaster. He also conducted the first network interview with O. J. Simpson following the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Prior to his work with 48 Hours, Dow was a correspondent for the CBS News magazine Street Stories (1992–93), and had reported for the CBS Evening News
and CBS News Sunday Morning
since the early 1970s.
. He was also a freelance reporter for KCOP-TV
in Los Angeles
, a news anchor for WPAT Radio in Paterson, New Jersey, and a reporter, co-anchor, and talk-show host for KETV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska
. Dow was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity.
Dow joined CBS News in 1972, first as a broadcast associate, then as a correspondent with their Los Angeles Bureau while with KCOP-TV. Dow reported on the return of POWs from Vietnam and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, with whom he had an exclusive interview in December 1976.
, Dow died from complications of asthma
on August 21, 2010, at a New Jersey hospital.
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and investigative reporter with CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
.
Personal life
Harold Dow was married to Kathy Dow. They had three children together: Danica, Joelle, David.Journalist credentials
Dow was born in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
. He attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
. Dow had been a correspondent for the CBS TV investigative news series 48 Hours
48 Hours (TV series)
48 Hours is a documentary and news program broadcast on the CBS television network since January 19, 1988. The program originally presented documentaries of various events related to a particular subject occurring within a 48-hour period, and is credited as one of the first to air a "reality show"...
since 1990, after having served as a contributor to the broadcast since its premiere on January 1988. He had been a contributing correspondent for 48 Hours on Crack Street, the critically acclaimed 1986 documentary that led to the single-topic weekly news magazine. Dow conducted the first network interview for 48 Hours with O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
following the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson
Nicole Brown Simpson
Nicole Brown Simpson was a former wife of professional football player O. J. Simpson.- Relationship with O. J. Simpson :...
and her friend Ron Goldman. Dow's reports have garnered him numerous awards.
He has been honored with a George Foster Peabody Award for his "48 Hours" report on runaways and a Robert F. Kennedy Award for a report on public housing. He has received five Emmy Awards, including one for a story on the American troops' movement into Bosnia (1996) and one for "distinguished reporting" for his coverage of the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster (1989). He won an RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, an Operation Push Excellence in Journalism Award and, for a "48 Hours" profile of Patti LaBelle. He also was recently recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists for his 1. report about Medgar Evers, which was featured in the CBS News special "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama."
He has covered many of the most important stories of our times, including 9/11, where he barely escaped one of the falling Twin Towers
Twin Towers
Twin Towers may refer to:In architecture:* Deira Twin Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates* Deutsche Bank Twin Towers, Frankfurt, Germany* Guangzhou Twin Towers, Guangzhou, China* Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
; the return of POW's from Vietnam; the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, with whom he had an exclusive interview in December 1976; the movement of American troops into Bosnia and the Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
disaster. He also conducted the first network interview with O. J. Simpson following the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
Prior to his work with 48 Hours, Dow was a correspondent for the CBS News magazine Street Stories (1992–93), and had reported for the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
and CBS News Sunday Morning
CBS News Sunday Morning
CBS News Sunday Morning is an American television news magazine program created by Robert Northshield and original host Charles Kuralt. The program has aired continuously since January 28, 1979 on the CBS Television Network, airing in the Eastern US on Sunday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m...
since the early 1970s.
Other accomplishments
Before joining CBS News, Dow had been an anchor and reporter at Theta Cable TV in Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. He was also a freelance reporter for KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, KCOP is a sister station to Fox network outlet KTTV , and is affiliated with the MyNetworkTV programming service...
in 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...
, a news anchor for WPAT Radio in Paterson, New Jersey, and a reporter, co-anchor, and talk-show host for KETV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Dow was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity.
Dow joined CBS News in 1972, first as a broadcast associate, then as a correspondent with their Los Angeles Bureau while with KCOP-TV. Dow reported on the return of POWs from Vietnam and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, with whom he had an exclusive interview in December 1976.
Death
A resident of Upper Saddle River, New JerseyUpper Saddle River, New Jersey
Upper Saddle River is an affluent borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,208. It is not to be confused with the neighboring borough of Saddle River.-History:...
, Dow died from complications of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
on August 21, 2010, at a New Jersey hospital.
External links
- Harold Dow's Bio Sketch at CBS News
- Beyond The Boardwalk:Dow Reports on 4 grisly killings in Atlantic City
- 48 Hours correspondent Harold Dow reports: Point Break, Pt. 1: A man's obsession may have led to his own death, originally aired 5/17/2008.
- 48 Hours correspondent Harold Dow reports: Point Break, Pt. 2: A man's obsession may have led to his own death, originally aired 5/17/2008.