Keith Jones (broadcaster)

Keith Jones is a multi[1] regional-Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award winning[2][3][4] News Anchor and Reporter for WCAU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since July 2012. He anchors NBC10 News at 5, which (as of January 2014) airs Monday through Friday from 5pm to 6pm. He also files reports for NBC News.[5]

Early life

Jones grew up in the New Egypt section of Plumsted Township, New Jersey and is one of three boys.[6] While attending New Egypt High School, Jones was captain of the basketball team and performed the lead in the school musical all four years.[7] He earned a bachelor's degree in Communications and minors in Journalism and Philosophy from Villanova University. For three years as an undergraduate, Keith traveled the country with the Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team as a student manager and practice player.[6] Head Coach Jay Wright (basketball), speaking to Jones, once said, "You were a good enough player that we used you in practice, so you were kind of like half player, half manager... You had good length, you had hops."[8]

He has said that his responsibilities caused him to miss half his classes every year.[9] During his junior year, his roommate was NBA All-Star Kyle Lowry.[6] He also worked as an intern in the Sports Department at WCAU in Philadelphia.[10]

Broadcast history

Jones was hired as a Reporter for WHSV in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After one year, he was promoted to anchoring weekends and then weekday mornings. The station was awarded "Best Morning News Show" by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.[11]

After three years in Virginia, Jones was hired as an Anchor and Reporter for WTAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jones covered stories including the dedication of the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, the contentious 2010 Pennsylvania Governor's race, and the trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Jones joined WCAU in Philadelphia as the Weekday Morning Anchor in July 2012, making him the youngest anchor (27) in the Philadelphia area.[12] He also anchored the 11:00am hour-long weekday newscast. Jones has covered the London Olympic Games, the sentencing of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, Superstorm Sandy, the 2013 U.S. Open (golf),[13] the Boston Marathon bombing, and the deadly tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma. In 2015, Jones reported live from Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, AZ, and later that year, played a vital role in NBC10s coverage of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia.[5] Since 2014, Jones has covered the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, including the two national championship runs of the 2015–16 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team and 2017–18 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team.[14][15][16][17][18]

In 2016, Jones appeared in the nationally televised musical Hairspray Live! on NBC.[19] He competed on the American Ninja Warrior course in Philadelphia twice.[20][21] In 2018, Jones covered the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, for which he won an Emmy.[22][23] During the trip, Jones stepped into North Korea at the Korean Demilitarized Zone.[24]

Recognition

In 2014, Jones was honored with Villanova University's annual Ethos Award, which recognizes an alumnus who serves as a role model to students by demonstrating character, service, and excellence in the field of communication. The same year, Jones was awarded Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Young Alumni Medallion, bestowed upon one University alum annually who excels in his/her professional endeavors and demonstrates ongoing service to the community and the University.[5][13]

In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked Jones among the "50 Hottest News Anchors in the World".[25]

In 2018, Jones' was honored with Villanova University's Young Alumni Medal, which recognizes an alumnus/a who has reached a significant level of achievement in his/her profession and who is a model of the quality and caliber of today’s Villanova student. The award honors alumni who have made outstanding contributions to one or more areas of society, including professional, academic, and service to the college.[26]

Other activities

Jones has taught as an adjunct professor of Broadcast Journalism at his alma mater Villanova University since 2013.[5] In 2019, Jones also taught a Master Class at The College of New Jersey, during which he said, “I made every mistake in the book. I think there’s tremendous value in knowing that you learn more from failure than you do success — so go and fail and fail and fail.”[27][28] In his spare time he mentors high school and college students.[7]

Jones serves on the board of directors for Main Line Deputy Dog, which is an organization that helps people with physical challenges or mental health concerns train their own dogs to be fully certified service dogs.[5][29] He also serves on the boards of Turning Points for Children, which supports families in raising safe, healthy, educated and strong children by partnering with caregivers, and the Philadelphia Fireman's Hall Museum.[30]

He actively volunteers for the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA since 2012. He has hosted the regional organization's Red Ball since March 2014.[31][32][33] He also volunteers with Villanova's Office of Disability Services.[30]

Jones plays guitar, bass, piano, and drums and has written more than 40 original songs. In early March 2007, he entered the "Jersey Guy Idol" contest on WKXW (101.5 FM, "New Jersey 101.5") with hosts Craig Carton and Ray Rossi. He placed second out of 32 contestants selected to go on-air and was the top male performer. Later that year at Villanova, he competed in the WXVU Battle of the Bands, placing third.[34] He also independently released an EP, titled "The Long Way Home." [6]

Personal life

In 2016, Jones' longtime girlfriend Cara McCollum, 24, died at Cooper University Hospital a week after sustaining head injures in a one-car accident on an icy Route 55 in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, on February 15. A funeral was held in her hometown of Forrest City, Arkansas and a memorial service was held in Ocean City, New Jersey. Jones delivered the eulogy at both occasions.[35]

Jones later said, "My late girlfriend Cara taught me it’s not the years in my life that count, but the life in my years.”[36]

Jones awards the Cara McCollum Scholarship every year at the Miss New Jersey Pageant.[37]

Jones has a Miniature American Shepherd named Charlie, who he called "his shadow." He has said his dog gave him a new outlook while he was grieving, “He’s become everything to me. Dogs are amazing. They have this amazing sense and amazing ability to understand how you’re feeling before you even realize you’re feeling it.” In 2016, the National Dog Show named Charlie its official "spokesdog" after they saw Jones post about him on social media.[36]

Notes
  1. "2016 Emmy Recipients" (doc). Emmy Awards Information. 2016. p. 1.
  2. "List of 2013 Mid-Atlantic Recipients" (doc). Emmy Awards Information. NATAS Mid-Atantic Chapter. 2013. p. 1.
  3. "2013 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Nominations Announced" (pdf). Bellevue Communications Group. 2013. p. 2.
  4. "RTDNA - Radio Television Digital News Association". rtdna.org.
  5. "Keith Jones, NBC10 Anchor/Reporter". NBC Philadelphia. NBC Philadelphia. August 2013. p. 1.
  6. Taylor, Ally. "On the way to the top".
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2015-11-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "How Villanova Helped Keith Jones Deal With Tragedy".
  9. "Q&A: NBC 10's Keith Jones". Main Line Today. December 13, 2012. p. 2.
  10. "Keith Jones".
  11. "Winners of the 74th Annual Virginia Broadcasting Awards Announced" (pdf). Virginia Association of Broadcasters. 2010. p. 2.
  12. Hayden, Steph (2019-01-15). "#37: NBC10 News Anchor: Keith Jones | High Five Success Stories". Welcome to High Five Success Stories Podcast!. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  13. "Villanova University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Awards 2014 Alumni Medallions". www1.villanova.edu.
  14. "NCAA Tournament: Potential Holy War?". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  15. "Villanova Fan Hasn't Missed a Tourney Game in 60 Years". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  16. "WATCH: Keith Jones Reacts to Villanova's Buzzer-Beater Win".
  17. "Nervous 'Nova Fans Breathe a Sigh of Relief as the Wildcats Advance". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  18. "Final Four Showdown in San Antonio". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  19. "Philly gets a cameo on 'Hairspray Live' telecast". Philly.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  20. "Keith Jones Tries Out American Ninja Warrior Course". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  21. "Keith Jones Takes Another Shot at American Ninja Warrior Course". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  22. "Behind the Scenes With NBC10 at Pyeongchang Olympics". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  23. "NBC10, Telemundo62 Win 11 Mid-Atlantic Emmys". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  24. "Keith Jones Travels to Border Between South and North Korea". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
  25. Stopera, Matt (February 17, 2017). "The 50 Hottest News Anchors In The World". Buzzfeed. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  26. "Alumni Awards". Villanova University. 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  27. Rocca, Len La (2019-04-09). "NBC anchor leads journalism master class". The Signal. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  28. "Guest Lecture Series: Keith Jones, NBC 10 News Anchor/Reporter | School of the Arts and Communication". Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  29. "About: Board of Directors". Main Line Deputy Dog web site. Main Line Deputy Dog, Inc. 2013. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
  30. "Keith Jones". NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  31. "Red Cross makes some exciting changes to 14th annual Red Ball". American Red Cross.
  32. Clifford, Patricia. "Out and About: Partying for purpose at Annual Red Ball".
  33. "PHOTOS: The Annual Red Ball! - Patty Jackson: Patty TV - WDAS".
  34. http://www.villanovan.com/news/view.php/147066/WXVU-celebrates-60th-anniversary
  35. "Mourners say goodbye to Miss New Jersey Cara McCollum". Philly.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  36. "After Tragedy, News Anchor Keith Jones Finds Healing and Hope With His Dog". www.chewy.com. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  37. "Ocean City Woman Takes Home Inaugral Cara McCollum Scholarship at Miss New Jersey Pageant". Ocean City Patch. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
gollark: Yes, yes, I'm doing it.
gollark: I dislike how many fora shut down threads after a while.
gollark: How wonderful.
gollark: The model is fundamentally pretty different, being thread-oriented.
gollark: Did you know? The apioforum inevitably.

References
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