Jim Acosta
Encyclopedia
Abilio James Acosta known professionally as Jim Acosta, is a Washington, D.C.
-based correspondent for CNN
's American Morning program.
. While in school, Acosta volunteered for WXJM
, the student-run radio station, and also worked as a reporter at WSVA
, a local radio station.
. In 1994, Acosta left WMAL and entered television, joining WTTG
-TV as a desk assistant. In 1995, Acosta moved in front of the camera, becoming a reporter and substitute anchor at WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee
. He remained in that job until 1998. From 1998 until 2000, Acosta worked as a reporter for KTVT
-TV in Dallas. From 2000 until 2001, Acosta was a reporter for WBBM-TV
in Chicago
. From 2001 until 2003, Acosta worked as a correspondent for CBS News
' Newspath service, based both in Dallas and Chicago. From February 2003 until March 2007, Acosta was a correspondent for CBS News
and was based first in New York and then in Atlanta. In April 2007, Acosta joined CNN.
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....
-based correspondent for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's American Morning program.
Early life and education
Graduated from Annandale High School (Annandale, VA) in 1989. Acosta earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication (with a minor in political science) in 1993 from James Madison UniversityJames Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
. While in school, Acosta volunteered for WXJM
WXJM
WXJM is an American non-commercial educational radio station licensed to serve Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA. The station, established in 1990, is owned and operated by James Madison University...
, the student-run radio station, and also worked as a reporter at WSVA
WSVA
WSVA is a News/Talk/Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Harrisonburg, Virginia, serving the Central Shenandoah Valley. WSVA is owned and operated by M. Belmont VerStandig, Inc.-History:...
, a local radio station.
Professional career
Acosta began his professional career in radio. His first job was with WMAL 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....
. In 1994, Acosta left WMAL and entered television, joining 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 as a desk assistant. In 1995, Acosta moved in front of the camera, becoming a reporter and substitute anchor at WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He remained in that job until 1998. From 1998 until 2000, Acosta worked as a reporter for KTVT
KTVT
KTVT, virtual channel 11, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth designated market area. The station is co-owned with independent station KTXA , and the two stations share facilities in Dallas and Fort Worth...
-TV in Dallas. From 2000 until 2001, Acosta was a reporter for WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. From 2001 until 2003, Acosta worked as a correspondent for 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...
' Newspath service, based both in Dallas and Chicago. From February 2003 until March 2007, Acosta was a correspondent for 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...
and was based first in New York and then in Atlanta. In April 2007, Acosta joined CNN.