Famous 20th Century Journalists

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 1 
Hunter S. Thompson
(Journalist, Author and Founder of the Gonzo Journalism Movement)
Hunter S. Thompson
12
Birthdate: July 18, 1937
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: February 20, 2005

Hunter S. Thompson was an American author and journalist. He is credited with creating his own subgenre of New Journalism called the gonzo journalism. The author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was later adapted into a film, Thompson was famous for his lifelong use of drugs and alcohol. His books have had a major impact on counterculture.

 2 
Barbara Walters
(Pioneering U.S. Television Journalist)
Barbara Walters
20
Birthdate: September 25, 1929
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: December 30, 2022

Barbara Walters is an American retired television personality and broadcast journalist. Renowned for her popularity with viewers, Walters appeared as the host of several popular TV shows. A pioneer for women in broadcasting, Walters became the first woman to co-host shows like Today and ABC Evening News. In 1996, she was named in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars list.

 3 
Dan Rather
(Journalist and News Anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News’)
Dan Rather
8
Birthdate: October 31, 1931
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Wharton, Texas, United States
Dan Rather shot to fame when he saved thousands of people during Hurricane Carla through the first radar weather report. Subsequently, he had a 24-year stint on CBS Evening News. He was fired following the Killian documents controversy and then joined AXS TV, hosting shows such as Dan Rather Reports
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 4 
Louis Theroux
(Documentary Filmmaker, Journalist, Broadcaster and Podcaster)
Louis Theroux
8
Birthdate: May 20, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Singapore

Renowned British-American documentary filmmaker, Louis Theroux began his career as a journalist with Metro Silicon Valley, Spy magazine and TV Nation series. He gained recognition with his documentary series When Louis Met..., and Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends. The two time BAFTA Award winner has also received appreciation for his documentaries The Most Hated Family in America and My Scientology Movie.

 5 
Walter Cronkite
(Broadcast Journalist and Longtime Anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News’)
Walter Cronkite
6
Birthdate: November 4, 1916
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States
Died: July 17, 2009
TV journalist Walter Cronkite, named “The most trusted man in America," is remembered for his 19-year association with CBS Evening News and his catchphrase "And that's the way it is.” His U.S. space program reports made him the only non-NASA person to receive the Ambassador of Exploration award.
 6 
Ida B. Wells
(Women's Rights Activist and Civil Rights Leader)
Ida B. Wells
14
Birthdate: July 16, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States
Died: March 25, 1931
Civil rights and women's rights activist Ida B. Wells is remembered for speaking up against the lynching of Blacks in the U.S. She was born a slave and freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. She later co-founded the NAACP. She also co-owned and wrote for Memphis Free Speech and Headlight.
 7 
Truman Capote
(Known for His Novella “Breakfast at Tiffany's” and Non-Fiction Novel “In Cold Blood”)
Truman Capote
7
Birthdate: September 30, 1924
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: August 25, 1984
Truman Capote is best known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which was made into a movie that starred Audrey Hepburn, and the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. His short story Shut a Final Door won the O. Henry Award. He was a lifelong friend of author Harper Lee.
 8 
Lester Holt
(Journalist and News Anchor for ‘NBC Nightly News’ and ‘Dateline NBC’)
Lester Holt
11
Birthdate: March 8, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Marin County, California, United States

Lester Holt is an American journalist who is the face of 'NBC News' since 2000. He hosts and co-hosts some of NBC's important programs, such as Dateline NBC and NBC Nightly News. In 1990, he was honored with the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for his work. In 2015, he was made an inductee of the California Hall of Fame.

 9 
Tom Brokaw
(Journalist)
Tom Brokaw
9
Birthdate: February 6, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 10 
Robin Roberts
(First Woman of Color and First Openly LGBTQ+ Woman to Host the American TV Game Show ‘Jeopardy!')
Robin Roberts
14
Birthdate: November 23, 1960
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama, United States

A former basketball and tennis player, Rubin Roberts began her career as a sports anchor and reporter for a Mississippi channel, WDAM-TV, eventually joining ESPN as sportscaster, concurrently serving as a featured reporter for Good Morning America. In 2005, she left ESPN to become a co-anchor for Good Morning America, currently serving as an anchor for the same program.

 11 
Peter Jennings
(One of the Most Prominent Television Journalists and the Anchor of 'ABC World News Tonight’)
Peter Jennings
5
Birthdate: July 29, 1938
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: August 7, 2005

Canadian-American journalist Peter Jennings is best remembered for his stint on ABC World News Tonight, as its sole anchor. A high-school drop-out, Jennings became one of the U.S.’s Big Three news anchors, along with Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather. He was known for his meticulous coverage of breaking news stories.

 12 
Bob Woodward
(Journalist)
Bob Woodward
7
Birthdate: March 26, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Geneva, Illinois, United States
 13 
George Orwell
(Known for His Novels “Animal Farm” and “Nineteen Eighty-Four”)
George Orwell
6
Birthdate: June 25, 1903
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Motihari, Bihar, India
Died: January 21, 1950

The king of dystopia and satire, George Orwell, the pen name adopted by Eric Arthur Blair, was a well-known novelist and critic of the 20th century. A man with a strong mind of his own, Orwell never backed down from stating his views on the socio-political climate he lived in, which he expressed profusely through his influential essays and novels.

 14 
Joan Didion
(Screenwriter, Novelist, Journalist, Writer, Essayist)
Joan Didion
7
Birthdate: December 5, 1934
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
 15 
Cokie Roberts
(Journalist)
Cokie Roberts
8
Birthdate: December 27, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: September 17, 2019
 16 
Jeremy Clarkson
(Broadcaster)
Jeremy Clarkson
9
Birthdate: April 11, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire

Jeremy Clarkson has come a long way from being a local journalist to becoming a recognized public personality, thanks to his appearance as a presenter in the popular TV show Top Gear. He is credited with making Top Gear one of the most successful shows in the UK. His tongue-in-cheek presenting style and writing often provoke a public reaction.

 17 
Christopher Hitchens
(British-American Author Who is Known for Excoriating Criticisms of Public Contemporary Figures)
Christopher Hitchens
6
Birthdate: April 13, 1949
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Portsmouth, England
Died: December 15, 2011

Christopher Hitchens was an advocate for New Atheism and a harsh critic of religion and of famous personalities such as Bill Clinton and Mother Teresa. He authored and edited many books on socio-political issues. As a journalist, he wrote for well-known publications such as New Statesman and The Weekly Standard.

 18 
Gloria Steinem
(American Feminist Journalist and Co-Founder of ‘Ms,' Magazine)
Gloria Steinem
9
Birthdate: March 25, 1934
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio, United States

Hailing from a humble background, Gloria Steinem went on to become a celebrated journalist and an iconic feminist. Founder of the New York magazine and Ms Magazine, her life has been dedicated to writing, talking and fighting for women’s rights, gender equality, legalisation of abortion, among other things. She brought issues like female genital mutilation to the forefront in America.

 19 
Fareed Zakaria
(Journalist, Political Commentator, Author and Host of the Show ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS’)
Fareed Zakaria
13
Birthdate: January 20, 1964
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Fareed Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist, author, and political commentator. He has been serving as an editor-at-large for Time and editor for Newsweek International. He has also been serving as a columnist for Newsweek. His show, Fareed Zakaria GPS, which he hosts for CNN, has won a Peabody Award

 20 
Fiona Bruce
(Journalist)
Fiona Bruce
10
Birthdate: April 25, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Singapore
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 21 
Albert Camus
(Philosopher & Novelist)
Albert Camus
6
Birthdate: November 7, 1913
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Drean, Algeria
Died: January 4, 1960

Albert Camus was a French philosopher and the second-youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. His philosophical views contributed to the rise of absurdism, a philosophical concept. Also a prolific writer, Albert Camus had an illustrious literary career; most of his philosophical essays and novels are still influential.

 22 
Richard Hammond
(Television presenter best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear from 2002 until 2015)
Richard Hammond
6
Birthdate: December 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solihull, England
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 23 
Maria Shriver
(Former First Lady of California (2003 - 2011) and Ex-Wife of Actor 'Arnold Schwarzenegger')
Maria Shriver
10
Birthdate: November 6, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous American journalist, Maria Shriver, is recognised for her long association with NBC. Her documentary series The Alzheimer’s Project earned rave reviews and she later founded the nonprofit organization, 'The Women's Alzheimer's Movement'. As the former First Lady of California– she was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was the governor of California– she involved herself in numerous charity works.

 24 
James May
(TV Presenter)
James May
6
Birthdate: January 16, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bristol, United Kingdom

James May is an English journalist and television presenter. May is known for co-presenting the popular factual television show Top Gear alongside Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson. James May is credited with co-founding the independent TV production company W. Chump and Sons.

 25 
Gretchen Carlson
(Former Host of CBS News Show 'The Early Show' and Fox News Show 'Fox & Friends')
Gretchen Carlson
6
Birthdate: June 21, 1966
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States

Known for her stints on Fox News and CBS News, TV journalist Gretchen Carlson made headlines when she accused Fox CEO Roger Ailes of having sexually harassed her earlier, eventually causing him to resign. The former Miss America is also a skilled classical violinist and a Juilliard alumna.

 26 
Malcolm Gladwell
(Author of 'The Tipping Point', 'Blink', and 'Outliers')
Malcolm Gladwell
5
Birthdate: September 3, 1963
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fareham, United Kingdom
Malcolm Gladwell is best known for his bestselling books The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. He has also written for The New Yorker and The Washington Post. His writings encompass subjects such as psychology, economics, and sociology. Gladwell has also co-founded a podcast company and hosts the podcast Revisionist History.
 27 
Lucy Hawking
(Journalist, Novelist, Writer)
Lucy Hawking
10
Birthdate: November 2, 1970
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: England
Lucy Hawking, daughter of legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, has been a journalist with New York Magazine, The Times, and The Telegraph. She has also authored several children's books, such as George's Secret Key to the Universe. She is the VP of National Star College and also works for autism research.
 28 
Edward R. Murrow
(Journalist)
Edward R. Murrow
5
Birthdate: April 25, 1908
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Died: April 27, 1965
 29 
Al Roker
(American Weather Presenter, Journalist and Co-Host of ‘3rd Hour Today’)
Al Roker
6
Birthdate: August 20, 1954
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States
Al Roker is best known as the weather anchor of Today on NBC. He is also a co-host on shows such as 3rd Hour Today. He set a Guinness world record by reporting non-stop for 34 hours. He has co-authored several books, including a set of murder mysteries. 
 30 
Katharine Graham
(American Newspaper Publisher and Heiress Who Led 'The Washington Post' (1963 - 1991))
Katharine Graham
10
Birthdate: June 16, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: July 17, 2001

The daughter of American publisher and financier Eugene Meyer, Katharine Graham later carried forward her family’s newspaper, The Washington Post. While the newspaper was initially handed over to her husband, Philip Graham, by her father, she took over as the owner, following Philip’s suicide. She later penned a Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir.

 31 
Edgar Ramirez
(Actor)
Edgar Ramirez
5
Birthdate: March 25, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: San Cristóbal, Táchira San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 32 
Pauly Shore
(Actor, Film director, Screenwriter, Musician, Journalist)
Pauly Shore
6
Birthdate: February 1, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hollywood
 33 
Michael Portillo
(Journalist, Political Leader)
Michael Portillo
6
Birthdate: May 26, 1953
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Hertfordshire
Former Conservative MP from Enfield Southgate, and Kensington and Chelsea, Michael Portillo, later hosted the BBC documentaries Great British Railway Journeys and Great Continental Railway Journeys. A Thatcherite and an EU-sceptic, he gave rise to the term "Portillo moment" when he lost the Conservative Enfield Southgate seat in 1997.
 34 
Wagner Moura
(Brazilian Actor, Filmmaker, Musician, Director, and Journalist)
Wagner Moura
5
Birthdate: June 27, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rodelas, Bahia, Brazil
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 35 
Tim Russert
(Journalist)
Tim Russert
6
Birthdate: May 7, 1950
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA
Died: June 13, 2008
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 36 
Stephen A. Smith
(Sports Television Personality and Commentator on ESPN's ‘First Take’)
Stephen A. Smith
7
Birthdate: October 14, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Stephen A. Smith is an American sports journalist, sports radio host, and sports television personality. Known for his use of popular catchphrases, such as stay off the weed and blasphemous, Smith has been playing a major role in the success of ESPN's First Take. He also appears on SportsCenter and hosts his own radio show, The Stephen A. Smith Show.

 37 
Jesse Watters
(Political Commentator Who Appeared on the Political Talk Show ‘The O'Reilly Factor’)
Jesse Watters
9
Birthdate: July 9, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Jesse Watters is best known for his aggressive ambush journalism and for his vox pop interviews featured in the "Watters' World” segment of the show The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. A seasoned political commentator, he has also hosted the talk shows The Five and Outnumbered.

 38 
Chris Hansen
(Television Journalist and YouTube Personality)
Chris Hansen
5
Birthdate: September 13, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chris Hansen is an American YouTube personality and television journalist known for his work on the popular news magazine/reality legal show, Dateline NBC. The winner of eight Emmy Awards, Hansen's work on one of Dateline NBC's former segments To Catch a Predator, which focused on zeroing in on potential Internet sex predators, received much appreciation.

 39 
Anderson Cooper
(Journalist & Anchor of CNN Show 'Anderson Cooper 360°')
Anderson Cooper
29
Birthdate: June 3, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

As one of the leading television journalists for the past 10 years, Anderson Cooper has played a prominent role in influencing several important events in the United States of America. An openly gay man, Anderson Cooper has also served as an inspiration to the entire LGBTQ community.

 40 
Lorenza Izzo
(Chilean Model and Actress)
Lorenza Izzo
5
Birthdate: September 19, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 41 
Katie Couric
(Journalist and Television Host at All of the ‘Big Three' Television Networks in the United States)
Katie Couric
10
Birthdate: January 7, 1957
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arlington County, Virginia, United States

Regarded as “America’s Sweetheart”, Katherine Couric has been a familiar face on top US television networks for decades. The journalist and presenter had a long stint with NBC News before she switched over to CBS News and then to ABC News. She is also known for co-hosting programmes on Today. She co-founded multimedia news and production company Katie Couric Media.

 42 
Jill Wendy Dando
(Journalist)
Jill Wendy Dando
6
Birthdate: November 9, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Weston-super-Mare, England
Died: April 26, 1999
 43 
Bill O'Reilly
(Conservative Political Commentator Best Known for Hosting Fox News Channel's ‘The O'Reilly Factor’)
Bill O'Reilly
15
Birthdate: September 10, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Bill O'Reilly is an American author, journalist, and former TV host. The host of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly played a major role in the success of Fox News Channel during his time at the channel. He is also credited with founding the No Spin News podcast, which he has been hosting since 2017.

 44 
Julie Chen
(Television personality, News anchor)
Julie Chen
7
Birthdate: January 6, 1970
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 45 
Jerry Springer
(Broadcaster, 56th Mayor of Cincinnati)
Jerry Springer
9
Birthdate: February 13, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Highgate, London, England
Died: April 27, 2023

English-born American television presenter, actor, politician, and musician Jerry Springer is a multifaceted man. A qualified lawyer, he shifted to politics from law as a young man. After a few years, he moved to journalism and found considerable success. As a TV presenter, he is best known for the tabloid talk show, The Jerry Springer Show. 

 46 
Lara Logan
(South African Television and Radio Journalist and War Correspondent)
Lara Logan
4
Birthdate: March 29, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Durban, South Africa

Lara Logan is a South African radio and television journalist. She has also worked as a war correspondent; in 2001, she interviewed General Babajan after successfully infiltrating the American-British-backed Northern Alliance at the Bagram Air Base. Over the years Lara Logan has worked for popular news channels like CBS News and Fox Nation. 

 47 
Jamie Hyneman
(American Television Host and Special Effects Expert)
Jamie Hyneman
4
Birthdate: September 25, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Marshall

Jamie Hyneman is an American television host and special effects expert. He achieved popularity as the co-host of the popular TV series MythBusters. He is also credited with inventing an unmanned firefighting robotic vehicle called Sentry. Jamie Hyneman also co-designed Wavecam, an aerial cable robotic camera system used in entertainment and sports events.

 48 
Diane Sawyer
(Broadcast Journalist Known for Anchoring News Shows 'ABC World News Tonight' and 'Good Morning America')
Diane Sawyer
6
Birthdate: December 22, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Glasgow, Kentucky, United States
The first female corrrespondant on 60 Minutes, a trailblazer for female journalists, a former co-host of Good Morning America and an aid to President Richard Nixon where she assisted in post-presidency memoirs, Diane Sawyer has many feathers in her cap. She bagged in a Daytime Emmy Award and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
 49 
Phil Donahue
(The Host of American TV Talk Show 'The Phil Donahue Show')
Phil Donahue
4
Birthdate: December 21, 1935
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Phil Donahue is best known for his long stint as the host and creator of The Phil Donahue Show, later named Donahue, the first talk show that involved audience participation. He inspired iconic talk show host Oprah. He also hosted an MSNBC show and co-directed the documentary Body of War.

 50 
Connie Chung
(Journalist, Anchor, and TV News Presenter)
Connie Chung
6
Birthdate: August 20, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
TV journalist Connie Chung is known for her interviews on NBC, CNN, and CBS. She has hosted shows such as Good Morning America, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, and CBS Evening News. Her interview of a fireman during a rescue mission after the Oklahoma City bombing was deemed inappropriate.