Warner Saunders (January 30, 1935, Chicago, Illinois – October 9, 2018, Chicago, Illinois) was a 10 PM news co-anchor for WMAQ-TV in Chicago. Saunders' primary co-anchor in the NBC 5 evening newscasts was Allison Rosati. A Chicago native, Saunders held a bachelor's degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a master's degree from Northeastern Illinois University. He and his wife, Sadako, lived in Chicago.
He was a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and the Chicago Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Silver Circle. He was once President of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists (1996–97). He produced a series of reports from South Africa in 1990 on the historic release of Nelson Mandela, culminating in the documentary titled South Africa: What Happens to a Dream Deferred? Saunders came to WMAQ from WBBM where he was Director of Community Affairs, host of Common Ground, and a children's show known to many kids as The Good Gang Express.
He portrayed a news anchorman in the second season of the drama series ER, the show also being set in Chicago and airing on NBC. He played a similar role in the second season of The West Wing, a show from the same producers as ER.
Saunders retired from the 5 PM and 6 PM newscasts and retired from the 10 PM newscast on May 20, 2009. He planned to pursue "diversity education".
He publicly accused former Chicago newspaper columnist Robert Feder of racism during Feder's career at the Sun-Times.[1]
His career in broadcasting was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications on May 16, 2009 during "A Salute to Warner Saunders", an event held at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.
Deathedit
On the evening of October 9, 2018, Saunders collapsed in Chicago and was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in Lincoln Park, where he was pronounced dead at age 83.[2]
Awardsedit
He won 20 Emmy Awards for news, sports, documentaries, children's shows, talk shows, and town meetings.[3] Other awards included the Illinois Broadcasters Association Public Service Award, the Gabriel Award, The Ohio State Award, and the 1999 Hull House Jane Addams Award for his commitment to the Chicago community.
Xavier University of Louisianaedit
Saunders was a standout basketball player at Xavier. He scored 32 points in a 71–67 home victory against city rival Dillard on January 11, 1956.
Referencesedit
^WMAQ-TV's Warner Saunders confronts former Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder at AFTRA meeting Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2009
^"Longtime NBC 5 Anchor Warner Saunders Passes Away at 83". NBC Chicago. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
^"Longtime Chicago TV journalist Warner Saunders dies at 83". October 10, 2018.
warner, saunders, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Warner Saunders news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Warner Saunders January 30 1935 Chicago Illinois October 9 2018 Chicago Illinois was a 10 PM news co anchor for WMAQ TV in Chicago Saunders primary co anchor in the NBC 5 evening newscasts was Allison Rosati A Chicago native Saunders held a bachelor s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a master s degree from Northeastern Illinois University He and his wife Sadako lived in Chicago Contents 1 Career 2 Death 3 Awards 4 Xavier University of Louisiana 5 References 6 External linksCareer editHe was a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and the Chicago Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle He was once President of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists 1996 97 He produced a series of reports from South Africa in 1990 on the historic release of Nelson Mandela culminating in the documentary titled South Africa What Happens to a Dream Deferred Saunders came to WMAQ from WBBM where he was Director of Community Affairs host of Common Ground and a children s show known to many kids as The Good Gang Express He portrayed a news anchorman in the second season of the drama series ER the show also being set in Chicago and airing on NBC He played a similar role in the second season of The West Wing a show from the same producers as ER Saunders was a former public school teacher youth worker and Boys Club Executive Director A documentary for Chicago s WBBM TV The End of the Line spurred investigations of local gangs His teaching career includes Chicago Public Schools National College of Education now National Louis University Malcolm X College Northeastern Illinois University and Indiana University where he was voted teacher of the year for two consecutive terms Saunders retired from the 5 PM and 6 PM newscasts and retired from the 10 PM newscast on May 20 2009 He planned to pursue diversity education He publicly accused former Chicago newspaper columnist Robert Feder of racism during Feder s career at the Sun Times 1 His career in broadcasting was honored by the Museum of Broadcast Communications on May 16 2009 during A Salute to Warner Saunders an event held at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago Death editOn the evening of October 9 2018 Saunders collapsed in Chicago and was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in Lincoln Park where he was pronounced dead at age 83 2 Awards editHe won 20 Emmy Awards for news sports documentaries children s shows talk shows and town meetings 3 Other awards included the Illinois Broadcasters Association Public Service Award the Gabriel Award The Ohio State Award and the 1999 Hull House Jane Addams Award for his commitment to the Chicago community Xavier University of Louisiana editSaunders was a standout basketball player at Xavier He scored 32 points in a 71 67 home victory against city rival Dillard on January 11 1956 References edit WMAQ TV s Warner Saunders confronts former Sun Times columnist Robert Feder at AFTRA meeting Chicago Tribune February 3 2009 Longtime NBC 5 Anchor Warner Saunders Passes Away at 83 NBC Chicago October 10 2018 Retrieved October 10 2018 Longtime Chicago TV journalist Warner Saunders dies at 83 October 10 2018 External links editNBCChicago com biography TheHistoryMakers com biography Louis Farrakhan interview with Warner Saunders at the 21st annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists on KUT s In Black America radio series September 1 1997 at the American Archive of Public Broadcasting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Warner Saunders amp oldid 1192855635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
