Robert Kovacik

Robert Kovacik is an American television journalist based in Los Angeles, California. He is currently the lead morning reporter for NBC Los Angeles, appearing weekday mornings on Today in L.A. and is seen frequently on NBC affiliates throughout the country and on MSNBC.

Education
Kovacik holds an honors undergraduate Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Kovacik also has an honors graduate Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. After graduating from Columbia, he spent over 3 years in New York City before moving to California.

Career
Kovacik's began his career at 23-years old when he becme the youngest reporter to anchor Nightworld for the PBS station, KCET-TV. Part of Oxnard, California's KADY-TV in 1993, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1994 and became an anchor and reporter for KCOP-TV. He left KCOP in 2001, and was named the West Coast correspondent, anchor, and bureau chief for the newly formed National Geographic Channel and it's nightly news show, National Geographic Today.

Kovacik joined KNBC-TV in 2004, and in 2006 himself made world headlines when a murder suspect chose to surrender to him live on-air. In 2007 he was again in the news when he was on location and struck by a police squad car carrying Paris Hilton. In 2008 he again made international headlines after an angry confrontation between then LAPD Police Chief William Bratton and LA City Councilman Dennis Zine while Kovacik was reporting for Today in LA.

Awards and honors

 * 2009, 2nd Place, LA Press Club National Entertainment Journalism Award
 * 2009, APTRA 'Chris Harris Reporter of the Year' award
 * 2008, Golden Mike Award
 * 2008, nomination for Emmy Award, 'Light News Story - Single Report'
 * 2007, nomination for Emmy Award for 'Murder Suspect Surrenders'
 * 2007, Edward R. Murrow Award for 'Best Entertainment Reporting'
 * 2006, Golden Mike Award for Paparazzi Task Force 'Best Spot News Coverage'
 * 2006, Genesis Award winner for 'Best Spot News Coverage'
 * 2000, Emmy Award for Local Television News Series
 * 1999, nomination for Emmy Award for 'Informational/Public Affairs Series'
 * 1999, nomination for Emmy Award for 'Serious News Story - Single Report'
 * 1998, nomination for Emmy Award for 'Live Sports Coverage'
 * 1998, Emmy Award for 'Serious News Story'
 * 1998, Golden Mike Award for 'Host, Outstanding Special Programming'
 * 1998, Greater Los Angeles Press Club Award for 'Best Serious Feature Reporting'
 * 1997, nomination for Emmy Award for 'Serious News Story'
 * 1997, California/Nevada Associated Press Award for 'Continuing Investigation'
 * 1997, Multi-Part Genesis Award for 'Best Series Serious News Story'
 * 1995, First Place in 'Best of the West' Competition for 'Outstanding Local Television News Series, Growth and Urban Development Reporting"