Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Blitzer | |
---|---|
Born | Wolf Isaac Blitzer March 22, 1948 |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University at Buffalo (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA) |
Occupation | Journalist |
Years active | 1972–present |
Employer | CNN |
Title | Anchor, The Situation Room, CNN Chief Anchor |
Spouse |
Lynn Greenfield (m. 1973) |
Children | 1 |
Website | www |
Wolf Isaac Blitzer (born March 22, 1948) is an American
Early life and education
Blitzer was born in
Blitzer and his family immigrated to the United States under the provisions of the 1948
Blitzer has said he has frequently been asked about his name, which has been characterized as seemingly made for TV. He explained that his surname goes back for generations, and that "Wolf" is the same first name as that of his maternal grandfather.[10] His middle name, Isaac, comes from his paternal grandfather.[8]
Career
Washington and Jerusalem
Blitzer began his career in journalism in the early 1970s, in the
Fluent in
In the mid-1970s, Blitzer also worked for the
At an April 1977 White House press conference, Blitzer asked Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat why Egyptian scholars, athletes and journalists were not permitted to visit Israel. Sadat responded that such visits would be possible after an end to the state of belligerence between the two nations. In November of that year, Sadat made a historic visit to Israel, and Blitzer covered the negotiations between the two countries from the first joint Israeli-Egyptian press conference in 1977, to the final negotiations that would lead to the signing of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty two years later.[11]
In 1985, Blitzer published his first book, Between Washington and Jerusalem: A Reporter's Notebook (Oxford University Press, 1985). The text outlined his personal development as a reporter, and the relations between the United States and Israel.
Jonathan Pollard
In 1986, he became known for his coverage of the arrest and trial of Jonathan Pollard, a US Navy intelligence analyst who was charged with spying for Israel.[11] Blitzer was the first journalist to interview Pollard, and he later wrote a book about the Pollard Affair titled Territory of Lies.[16] In the book, Blitzer writes that Pollard contacted him because he had been reading Blitzer's byline for years, and because Blitzer "had apparently impressed him as someone who was sympathetic".[17] Pollard also hoped that Blitzer would help him "reach the people of Israel, as well as the American Jewish community."[18]
Blitzer's interview with Pollard was controversial in the context of the legal action against him, as it was construed by some media voices as a possible violation of the terms of Pollard's plea deal, which forbade media contact. Blitzer's subsequent book about the affair was included in The New York Times list of "Notable Books of the Year" for 1989.[19] In its review, the Times praised the book as "lucid and highly readable" and called Blitzer's judgment of Israeli officials "harsh but fair".[20]
A review in The New York Review of Books was more critical, prompting a letter from Blitzer accusing the reviewer of making several inaccurate statements. Reviewer Robert I. Friedman responded to Blitzer's criticism by characterizing Territory of Lies as "a slick piece of damage control that would make [Blitzer's] former employers at AIPAC (not to mention Israel's Defense Ministry) proud."[21]
Pollard was released on November 20, 2015, in accordance with federal guidelines in place at the time of his sentencing.[22]
CNN
In May 1990, Blitzer moved to CNN and worked as the cable network's military affairs reporter. His team's coverage of the first Gulf War in Kuwait won a CableACE Award and made him a household name.
In 1992, Blitzer became CNN's
CNN selected Blitzer to anchor their coverage of all U.S. presidential elections since 2004.[23] Since August 8, 2005, Blitzer has hosted The Situation Room, a two-hour afternoon/early evening program on CNN.[24][25]
In 2013, he began anchoring the 1pm ET hour of CNN Newsroom; in 2014, the program was renamed to Wolf. Wolf ended in 2018 and was replaced by CNN Right Now, hosted by Brianna Keilar.
In January 2021, CNN announced programming changes, shortening The Situation Room to one hour (6–7 p.m. (ET)) beginning April 26, and expanding Jake Tapper's role at the network to become Lead Washington anchor and expanded his show The Lead with Jake Tapper to 4–6 p.m. (ET). Blitzer will remain hosting documentaries and serving "as principal anchor for all major breaking news."[1] However, Jim Acosta is now regarded as the network's "chief domestic correspondent".[26]
In 2022, he hosted The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's short-lived streaming service, CNN+[27] from its late March launch to its late April end.[28][29]
Awards
Blitzer has won multiple awards, including the 2004 Journalist Pillar of Justice Award from the Respect for Law Alliance, and the 2003 Daniel Pearl Award from the Chicago Press Veterans Association. His news team was among those awarded a
In November 2002, he won the American Veteran Awards' Ernie Pyle Journalism Award for military reporting. In February 2000, he received the Anti-Defamation League's Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize. In 1999, Blitzer won the International Platform Association's Lowell Thomas Broadcast Journalism Award. Blitzer won an
In May 1999, Blitzer was awarded the honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters by the University at Buffalo. On May 20, 2007, Blitzer was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the George Washington University at their undergraduate commencement exercise.[30] On May 23, 2010, Blitzer was awarded the honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Niagara University at their undergraduate commencement exercise. Also, on May 14, 2011, he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Penn State University.[31] On September 25, 2011, Blitzer was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Hartford.[32] On May 10, 2014, Blitzer received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Howard University.[33] On September 13, 2014, Blitzer received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Rick Atkinson.[34][35]
Other media appearances
On September 17, 2009, Blitzer competed on an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy!, finishing the Double Jeopardy round with negative $4,600, prompting host Alex Trebek to comment: “Wolf, things have not worked out as well as you had hoped for".[36] Blitzer was given $1,000 to bet in Final Jeopardy!, finishing with $2,000, losing to comedian Andy Richter.[37][38]
Blitzer, along with fellow CNN anchor
Blitzer has appeared in numerous films as himself reporting on events, including the
Blitzer played a prominent supporting role in the 2009 documentary
Personal life
Blitzer is a fan of his hometown NFL team, the Buffalo Bills.[46]
Books
- Blitzer, Wolf (January 1, 1989). Territory of Lies: The Exclusive Story of Jonathan Jay Pollard, the American Who Spied on His Country for Israel and How He Was Betrayed. New York: Harper & Row Publishers. OCLC 18835427. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
References
- ^ a b "CNN Announces New Washington-Based Anchor Roles". Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-57356-108-2.
- ^ a b Bisco, Jim (Winter 2004). "History in the Making: CNN's Wolf Blitzer, B.A. '70, covers the world through history lessons learned at UB". UB Today. University of Buffalo. buffalo.edu. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017.
- OCLC 194143931. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "20 Questions with Wolf Blitzer". The Hill. August 2, 2010.
And my dad was a homebuilder in Buffalo, N.Y., and if I hadn't developed the journalistic bug early on, I might've stayed in Buffalo and built homes, which wouldn't have been too bad, either.
- ^ a b "Wolf Blitzer, the son of Holocaust survivors, discusses his new CNN special on the US Holocaust Memorial Museum". Jewish Telegraph Agency. August 26, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c Torok, Ryan (November 21, 2017). "Q&A with Wolf Blitzer on Muslim Refugees, 'Fake News' and His Favorite Journalism Movie". Jewish Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ a b Blitzer, Wolf; Bash, Dana (April 22, 2023). "Reporters' notebook: An intensely personal trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau". CNN. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ New York Magazine. February 11, 1991, p. 36.
- ^ Sheridan, Patricia (October 3, 2005). "Wolf Blitzer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c Makovsky, David (April 29, 1990). "Wolf Blitzer, 'Symbol of Integrity', Leaves Post for Cable Network Job". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Blitzer, Wolf. Between Washington and Jerusalem. 1985, page ix.
- ^ Himmelfarb, Joel (December 13, 2006). "Jimmy Carter's 'Jewish Problem'". The American Spectator. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Ross officially joins Israeli lobby". Mid-East Realities. January 19, 2005. Archived from the original on April 30, 2005.
- ^ "Wolf Blitzer". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ Luxenberg, Steven (May 21, 1989). "The American Who Loved Israel Too Much: Book Review". The Washington Post.
- ^ Blitzer, Wolf. Territory of Lies. 1989, page xv.
- ^ Blitzer, Wolf. Territory of Lies. 1989, page xix.
- ^ "Notable Books of the Year". The New York Times. December 13, 1989. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Pear, Robert (May 7, 1989). "The Spy from South Bend" (Book Review). The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Friedman, Robert (February 1, 1990). "Territory of Lies" (letter by Blitzer, response by Friedman). The New York Review of Books. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ^ "After 30 Years, Jonathan Pollard Released From American Prison". Haaretz. November 20, 2015.
- ^ "CNN TV – Anchors/Reporters:Wolf Blitzer". Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Wolf Blitzer". CNN. Retrieved February 9, 2007.
- ^ Who's Who in America – 2007. Marquis' Who's Who Ltd. 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2007.
- ^ "Jim Acosta". CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (January 19, 2022). "Wolf Blitzer to Host CNN Plus Nightly Show 'The Newscast'". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (April 27, 2022). "CNN+ To Cease On Thursday, Two Days Earlier Than Announced". Deadline. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "The Newscast with Wolf Blitzer". CNN+. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ "GW News Center". gwu.edu.
- ^ "Blitzer address among commencement exercises University-wide". Penn State University. May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ "CNN's Blitzer Takes Audience into the 'Situation Room'". University of Hartford. September 26, 2011. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013.
- ^ "Entrepreneur and Entertainment Mogul Sean Combs to Deliver Howard University's 146th Commencement Address – Howard University Newsroom". howard.edu.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "2012 Summit Highlights Photo".
CNN news anchor Wolf Blitzer, with his wife Lynn, at the 2012 Banquet ceremonies.
- ^ Yahr, Emily (May 17, 2016). "A look back at Wolf Blitzer's infamous 'Jeopardy!' downfall". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Linkins, Jason (September 18, 2009). "Andy Richter Crushes CNN's Wolf Blitzer In Celebrity Jeopardy". HuffPost. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Adventures in 'Celebrity Jeopardy': What is, Get a clue, Wolf Blizter?". Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "CNN's Wolf blitzes D.C.'s Wizards". Politico. December 26, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ Weinger, Mackenzie (November 9, 2012). "Blitzer cameos in new Bond film 'Skyfall'". Politico. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ "Wolf Blitzer In 'Skyfall': CNN Host Makes Cameo Appearance In James Bond Movie". HuffPost. November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ Harding, Amanda (January 31, 2019). "What Is CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer's Net Worth?". Showbiz CheatSheet. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Keegan, Rebecca (July 27, 2018). "Mission: Impossible—Fallout's Wolf Blitzer Cameo and the Possible Perils of Fake Fake News". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ Sims, David (December 28, 2018). "A Mission: Impossible Fake-Out for the Ages". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ "Ben 10 – Ben Changes Benwolf Name". Deviant Art. November 8, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ "Why I'm a Fan: Wolf Blitzer". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
External links
- CNN bio
- CNN.com – The Situation Room
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Wolf Blitzer on Charlie Rose
- Wolf Blitzer at IMDb
- "Wolf Blitzer for the Defense (Department)", Jim Naureckas, FAIR Extra!, January/February 2003
- Google Video on Israel Discussion – Held Nov 1989. Archived July 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- "Wolf Blitzer's emotional roots journey". CNN.com. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.