Sam Donaldson

About

Sam Donaldson is a distinguished American reporter and news anchor, best known for his work with ABC News. Born on March 11, 1934, in El Paso, Texas, he started his journalism career in the late 1950s. Donaldson joined ABC News in 1967, where he eventually became the network's chief White House correspondent, serving under three presidents. He co-anchored the show "This Week with Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts" alongside Cokie Roberts. During his career, he earned multiple awards, including four Emmy AwardsAnnual awards recognizing excellence in the television industry, presented by the Academy of Televis... and a Peabody Award. Known for his assertive style of reporting and for challenging powerful figures during interviews, Donaldson retired in 2013, leaving behind a legacy in broadcast journalism.

Associated With

Sam Donaldson, a veteran American reporter and news anchor, has had a long and notable career in the media industry, throughout which he has associated with many significant figures. Notably, he spent over 40 years at ABC News, where he enjoyed a professional working relationship with seasoned journalists like Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, and David Brinkley, his co-anchor on "This Week". He interviewed countless influential individuals over the years, including multiple presidents and political figures. Despite being a media person, Donaldson managed to keep his personal life private, therefore, there is not any public record of him dating anyone in the industry. Thus, his associations within the industry have been vastly rooted in his journalistic endeavors.

Career Highlights

• Sam Donaldson began his broadcast news career at KRLD-TV in Dallas (1959).
• He became the ABC News White House Correspondent (1967).
• Donaldson received the Merriman Smith Memorial Award from the White House Correspondents Association (1973).
• He was named the Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News (1977).
• Received an Emmy Award for his live coverage of Anwar Sadat's visit to Jerusalem (1978).
• Received his second Merriman Smith Memorial Award (1980).
• Donaldson covered the Iran Hostage Crisis, for which he won a Peabody Award (1980).
• Hosted "This Week with David Brinkley" and later "This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts" (1981-1999).
• Became an anchor for ABC's "Primetime Live" (1989-1999).
• Received the Broadcaster of the Year award from the National Press Foundation (1998).
• Re-joined the White House correspondent team during the George W. Bush administration (2001).
• Hosted “Politics Live” on the digital cable network ABC News Now and abcnews.com (2006).
• Retired from ABC News (2013).
• Inducted into the Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts from the Library of Broadcasting (2014).

Notable Awards

• Sam Donaldson, the veteran American reporter and news anchor, has won numerous awards for his contributions to journalism. These include:
• Four Emmy Awards - He received these awards for his coverage on ABC of various significant events, such as the Iran hostage crisis.
• Three George Foster Peabody AwardsPrestigious international awards recognizing distinguished and meritorious public service by radio a... - These were awarded for his role in ABC’s “ABC 2000: The Millennium,” the assassination of Anwar Sadat, and his coverage of the Lebanon WarA genre concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with strong themes of s....
• The Edward R. Murrow Award - Donaldson won this prestigious award for his remarkable achievements in broadcast and network news.
• The Paul White Award - Given by the Radio Television Digital News Association, it recognized his lifetime contributions to electronic journalism.
• Broadcaster of the Year award - Presented from the National Press Foundation.
• Note: These are just some of his numerous recognitions and awards.

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Sam Donaldson Movie/TV Show?

Sam Donaldson is best known for his prolific career in broadcast journalism, rather than for any involvement in movies or TV shows. His most recognized role was as a correspondent and news anchor on ABC News. Donaldson was the network's chief White House correspondent during the 1970s and 1980s, covering the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton. He also co-anchored "PrimeTime Live" with Diane Sawyer, and later the ABC Sunday Morning broadcast, "This Week." Hence, his most popular appearances would likely be on "ABC News" due to its significant outreach and impact.

How Did Sam Donaldson Get Famous?

Sam Donaldson, a veteran American journalist, gained fame through his dynamic career with ABC News. He started reporting for them in 1967, and his assertive style of questioning during White House press conferences gained him prominence. His four-decade-long career included roles such as ABC's Chief White House Correspondent, which he held for more than a dozen years, and a co-anchor of the network’s magazine program “PrimeTime Live.” His notable coverage of significant historicalA genre of film, literature, and television that is set in the past, often focusing on significant h... events, involving various Presidents like John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush, solidified his fame in the journalism field.