Paul Magers
Encyclopedia
Paul Magers is a television news anchor for the CBS
owned and operated television station KCBS
in Los Angeles
, California
. He was born in Santa Maria, California
, but grew up in Ellensburg, Washington
. Magers worked for the Twin Cities television station KARE
, an NBC
affiliate, for 20 years.
Magers originally planned to pursue a legal career and he earned a degree at Hamline University School of Law
. But later he became interested in television because of his brother, Ron Magers
, who worked in the TV industry in Chicago, Illinois at WLS-TV
. Paul's first television job was at KSTP-TV
in St. Paul
, Minnesota where he worked as a technician, dispatcher, and producer. He moved on to be a reporter at KATU
in Portland
, Oregon
in 1979 where he covered the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
. In 1981, he moved to San Diego, California
to work as a reporter and anchor at KGTV
.
Paul returned to the Twin Cities
and arrived at KARE (then WTCN) in September 1983, along with co-anchor Diana Pierce. They remained a team until September 2003. Paul and Diana's 20 years anchoring the 10:00 p.m. newscasts on Channel 11 is a record in the Twin Cities. Together, they led the station's news operation from a distant third (behind long-time arch rivals KSTP-TV
and WCCO-TV
, to the leading news and information station in Minneapolis-St. Paul. During this time, Magers also developed popular on-air chemistry with meteorologist Paul Douglas
, as well as Sports Director Randy Shaver.
In 1986, Magers anchored live coverage of a tornado
being photographed by a KARE helicopter. With Gary Eichten of Minnesota Public Radio
, Paul co-moderated a memorable debate between United States Senate
candidates Walter Mondale
and Norm Coleman
.
Paul's last on-air appearance at KARE was December 12, 2003. He received bittersweet good-byes from his co-workers, as well as viewers. Upon leaving KARE, he said the story that affected him most while in Minnesota was the abduction of Jacob Wetterling
in 1989.
Magers appeared as himself in the 1998 movie A Simple Plan
, and has held the national anchordesk with guest positions on NBC Nightly News
and The Today Show.
Magers began working at KCBS television on January 5, 2004, for a reported $2.5 million. He has always co-anchored the 5 and 11PM newscasts (then with Laura Diaz, now with Pat Harvey) and recently anchored the 6PM newscast from April 2008 till April 2010.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned and operated television station KCBS
KCBS-TV
KCBS-TV, channel 2, is an owned-and-operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles, California. KCBS-TV shares its offices and studio facilities with sister station KCAL-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was born in Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
, but grew up in Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
. Magers worked for the Twin Cities television station KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
, an NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate, for 20 years.
Magers originally planned to pursue a legal career and he earned a degree at Hamline University School of Law
Hamline University School of Law
Hamline University School of Law is a private law school affiliated with Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The School of Law was founded in 1972 as the Midwestern School of Law by a group of legal professionals. In 1976, it was absorbed by Hamline University as its own School of Law,...
. But later he became interested in television because of his brother, Ron Magers
Ron Magers
Ron Magers is a weeknight anchor for WLS-TV, the ABC owned-and-operated station in Chicago, the city's number one station. He currently co-anchors the top-rated 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. broadcasts with Cheryl Burton and Kathy Brock, respectively...
, who worked in the TV industry in Chicago, Illinois at WLS-TV
WLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
. Paul's first television job was at KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Minnesota where he worked as a technician, dispatcher, and producer. He moved on to be a reporter at KATU
KATU
KATU, virtual channel 2, also known as K2, is an ABC-affiliated television station broadcasting on digital channel 43 in Portland, Oregon, USA. It has been owned by Fisher Communications of Seattle, Washington, which has been the owner of the Seattle's ABC affiliate KOMO-TV, ever since it began...
in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1979 where he covered the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is south of Seattle, Washington and northeast of Portland, Oregon. Mount St. Helens takes its English name from the British diplomat Lord St Helens, a...
. In 1981, he moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to work as a reporter and anchor at KGTV
KGTV
KGTV, digital channel 10, is the ABC television affiliate in San Diego, California. The station can be seen on Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T U-verse on cable channel 10 in standard definition. Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable carry its high definition signal on cable...
.
Paul returned to the Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
and arrived at KARE (then WTCN) in September 1983, along with co-anchor Diana Pierce. They remained a team until September 2003. Paul and Diana's 20 years anchoring the 10:00 p.m. newscasts on Channel 11 is a record in the Twin Cities. Together, they led the station's news operation from a distant third (behind long-time arch rivals KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
and WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
, to the leading news and information station in Minneapolis-St. Paul. During this time, Magers also developed popular on-air chemistry with meteorologist Paul Douglas
Paul Douglas (meteorologist)
Paul Douglas is a meteorologist, author, entrepreneur, and software expert in Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota. He worked at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota from December 1997 until he was laid off in April 2008 as part of nationwide cutbacks by CBS...
, as well as Sports Director Randy Shaver.
In 1986, Magers anchored live coverage of a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
being photographed by a KARE helicopter. With Gary Eichten of Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
, Paul co-moderated a memorable debate between United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
candidates Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
and Norm Coleman
Norm Coleman
Norman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
.
Paul's last on-air appearance at KARE was December 12, 2003. He received bittersweet good-byes from his co-workers, as well as viewers. Upon leaving KARE, he said the story that affected him most while in Minnesota was the abduction of Jacob Wetterling
Jacob Wetterling
Jacob Erwin Wetterling is a boy from St. Joseph, Minnesota who was kidnapped from his hometown at the age of 11 on Sunday, October 22, 1989...
in 1989.
Magers appeared as himself in the 1998 movie A Simple Plan
A Simple Plan (film)
A Simple Plan is a 1998 drama film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Smith, who also wrote the screenplay of the film. It was shot in Delano, Minnesota and Ashland and Saxon, Wisconsin. Billy Bob Thornton was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
, and has held the national anchordesk with guest positions on NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
and The Today Show.
Magers began working at KCBS television on January 5, 2004, for a reported $2.5 million. He has always co-anchored the 5 and 11PM newscasts (then with Laura Diaz, now with Pat Harvey) and recently anchored the 6PM newscast from April 2008 till April 2010.