Bernard Shaw

Bernard Shaw was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 22, 1940. As the son of an avid newspaper reader father, Shaw was around the news beginning early childhood, but it was the television news that really interested him. He was introduced to CBS news anchor Edward R. Murrow at age eleven and was smitten with the medium.

            His love for reporting continued into adolescence, reporting the morning radio announcements, writing for the school newspaper, and announcing sports events through out his high school years. Unfortunately, his family could not afford college tuition, so Shaw joined the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1961, Shaw was serving in Hawaii when he heard that legendary anchor Walter Cronkite was on the island. After a lot of effort, he finally spotted Cronkite in the lobby of his hotel and proceeded to have a 30-minute conversation with Cronkite, who later called him “the most persistent guy I’ve ever met”.

            After leaving the Marines in 1963, Shaw enrolled at the University of Illinois in Chicago, taking classes and volunteering for free in the newsroom of a local radio station, which later turned into a real job. He juggled radio and college until 1968, when his professional skills caught the eye of Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, who offered Shaw the position of White House correspondent. Shaw knew the job would prevent him from finishing his last year of college, but took it anyways.

            His radio career ended in 1971, when CBS News hired him for their prestigious Washington bureau, where one of his first pieces was reported by Walter Cronkite himself. Shaw covered all of Washington, spanning from the State Department to the Supreme Court. In spite of the magnitude of the job, within a few years Shaw felt a pull to go overseas. After CBS News declined his request, he switched to ABC News. He reported on everything South American, from the Panama Canal to the revolution in Nicaragua. After it became dangerous, Shaw returned to the states where he made the daring decision to join the young CNN network in 1980.

            While initially chaotic and disrespected, CNN quickly made a name for themselves with their 24-hour constant news broadcasts. Shaw got the jump on the other networks with such scoops like the Reagan assassination attempt. In October 1987, CNN was officially part of the major networks, with an invitation into the Oval Office.

            Shaw has accomplished much in his reporting career, but being at the center of the Baghdad bombing in 1991 is the most shining achievement for Shaw, who traveled the world for CNN covering many major international news stories. Shaw’s career is one of hard work and success. He is truly a risk taker, pioneer, and fearless journalist.