Joan Lovett
Encyclopedia
Joan M. Lovelace known professionally as Joan Lovett, is a former American television news anchor.
and Rockford, Illinois
, Lovett earned a bachelor's degree in Radio/TV News and Print Journalism from Southern Illinois University
. She received a Master's of Fine Arts in writing from Lindenwood University.
and at WTLV
-TV in Jacksonville, Florida
. She developed a national reputation in the late 1980s and early 1990s when she became a top weekday news anchor at WSVN
-TV in Miami, Florida.
In November 1992, Lovett was hired by WBBM-TV
as a weekend anchor, although she did not begin work at the station until spring 1993. By the time Lovett arrived in the spring of 1993, however, she was used not as a weekend anchor but as a fill-in anchor. In mid-1993, she and fellow anchor Penny Daniels
began anchoring the station's new noon newscast. Later that year, she began co-anchoring the station's 6 p.m. newscast with Bill Kurtis
. She moved from that newscast in late 1994 to make way for the station's hiring of Mary Ann Childers
and in 1996, Lovett began co-anchoring WBBM's new 6 a.m. newscast with Dave Price, who now co-hosts CBS's "The Early Show."
During this time, Lovett was the winner of four Television Emmy Awards as well as nominated for a Peabody Award for her coverage of Hurricane Andrew.
In late 1998, Lovett obtained an early release from her contract with WBBM. In early 1999, Lovett and her husband, Jeff Abrams, moved to the Baltimore
area, where he took a behind-the-scenes news operations job at WBAL-TV
.
"Though WBBM TV had long been plagued by poor ratings before I arrived, I enjoyed my exciting, if turbulent time there. I worked with some of the best in the business."
in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and her condition was exacerbated, she told CBS News
in 2004, by her lack of work. After series of drunk-driving arrests, Lovett was jailed in the Baltimore area in August 2002. While she was in prison, Lovett's husband, Abrams, died of an apparent heart attack while jogging on October 10, 2002 at age 46. Lovett was released from jail in April 2003 and told CBS News
in 2004 that she had completed substance-abuse counseling. She has been sober since 2004. She has not returned to work in broadcasting. She is now focusing on a career in writing.
Early life and education
A native of St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
, Lovett earned a bachelor's degree in Radio/TV News and Print Journalism from Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
. She received a Master's of Fine Arts in writing from Lindenwood University.
Professional career
Lovett worked early in her career at WICD-TV in Champaign, IllinoisChampaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
and at WTLV
WTLV
WTLV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Jacksonville, Florida. The station broadcasts a digital signal on VHF channel 13. The station is owned by Gannett as part of a duopoly with the area's ABC affiliate, WJXX. The two stations share studios located on East Adams Street in downtown near...
-TV in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. She developed a national reputation in the late 1980s and early 1990s when she became a top weekday news anchor at WSVN
WSVN
WSVN, channel 7, is a television station located in Miami, Florida, USA. WSVN is owned by Sunbeam Television, and is an affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company. The station has its studio facilities located in North Bay Village and transmitter based in north Miami-Dade County.WSVN operates a Key...
-TV in Miami, Florida.
In November 1992, Lovett was hired by 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...
as a weekend anchor, although she did not begin work at the station until spring 1993. By the time Lovett arrived in the spring of 1993, however, she was used not as a weekend anchor but as a fill-in anchor. In mid-1993, she and fellow anchor Penny Daniels
Penny Daniels
Penny Daniels is a communications consultant and trainer and a former American television news anchor who once hosted the TV show A Current Affair.- Early life and education :...
began anchoring the station's new noon newscast. Later that year, she began co-anchoring the station's 6 p.m. newscast with Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis is an American television journalist, producer, narrator, and news anchor. He is also the current host of A&E crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files...
. She moved from that newscast in late 1994 to make way for the station's hiring of Mary Ann Childers
Mary Ann Childers
Mary Ann Childers was a reporter and anchor at WBBM-TV in Chicago from 1994 to March 31, 2008. Prior to that, she spent 14 years as an anchor at WLS-TV, where she became the first female to anchor a top-rated 10pm newscast in Chicago. It was announced on March 31, 2008 that she would be leaving...
and in 1996, Lovett began co-anchoring WBBM's new 6 a.m. newscast with Dave Price, who now co-hosts CBS's "The Early Show."
During this time, Lovett was the winner of four Television Emmy Awards as well as nominated for a Peabody Award for her coverage of Hurricane Andrew.
In late 1998, Lovett obtained an early release from her contract with WBBM. In early 1999, Lovett and her husband, Jeff Abrams, moved to the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
area, where he took a behind-the-scenes news operations job at WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
.
"Though WBBM TV had long been plagued by poor ratings before I arrived, I enjoyed my exciting, if turbulent time there. I worked with some of the best in the business."
Legal problems
Lovett suffered from alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and her condition was exacerbated, she told 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...
in 2004, by her lack of work. After series of drunk-driving arrests, Lovett was jailed in the Baltimore area in August 2002. While she was in prison, Lovett's husband, Abrams, died of an apparent heart attack while jogging on October 10, 2002 at age 46. Lovett was released from jail in April 2003 and told 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...
in 2004 that she had completed substance-abuse counseling. She has been sober since 2004. She has not returned to work in broadcasting. She is now focusing on a career in writing.