Table of Biography
Peter Jennings was a Canadian television personality. Peter Jennings was one of the prominent journalists of American television. Likewise, he was the sole anchor of ABC Television’s World News Tonight’ for 22 years.
Early life
Peter Jennings whose name is Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings was born on 29th July 1939 and was 67 years old when he died on 7th August 2005. Being born in late July, his zodiac sign was Leo. Likewise, Peter was born in Toronto, Canada, and was a Canadian by nationality. Similarly, talking about his ethnicity and religion, he belonged to the Caucasian ethnic group and followed Christianity.
Likewise, speaking of his parents, Peter is the son of Elizabeth Jennings and Charles Jennings. Similarly, his father Charles was a senior executive of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Likewise, he also has a younger sister whose name is Sarah.
Caption: Young Peter. Source: Wikipedia
Being the son of a television personality, he has been into media and broadcasting since childhood. Likewise, his first brush with broadcasting happened at the age of nine. He hosted a half-hour show for kids, ‘Peter’s Program’ on ‘CBC Radio’. Similarly, at the age of 11, he enrolled at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario.
However, as he has after his father’s relocation to the CBC headquarters in Ottawa he took a transfer to Lisgar Collegiate Institute. Unfortunately, he dropped out after failing his 10th grade. Following this, he enrolled at Carleton University and then at the University of Ottawa but again could not graduate.
Peter Jennings – Professional Life
Talking about his professional life, Peter started working as a teller at ‘The Royal Bank of Canada in the year 1959. Following this, he was then recruited by a local radio station ‘CFJR’ as a news reporter. Likewise, in March 1961, he joined a television station in Ottawa. Likewise, he then joins ‘CTV’ the nation’s first private TV network as a co-anchor of the late-night news.
Furthermore, in 1964, he joined the ABC New York news bureau at a time when ABC was lagging behind both CBS and NBC and was desperate to improve its rating. Moreover, on 1st February 1965, he became the anchor of the 15-minute nightly newscast and became the youngest-ever news anchor of an American network.
Caption: Peter Jennings during one of his shows. Source: Popular Networth
Likewise, an inexperienced Jennings had a torrid time in the year 1968 when Jennings quit the anchor desk establishing ABC’s Middle East bureau in Beirut, Lebanon. He then covered the rise of the Palestinian ‘Black September Organization’ during the 1970s and became the first American Television journalist to interview Yaseer Arafat who is the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Furthermore, he shot into the limelight with the coverage of the ‘Black September’ massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics on the year 1972. Similarly, he was able to provide the much-needed political context to the American audience by delivering exclusive footage of getting close to the hostage compound.
Peter Jennings – More on career
Furthermore, in the year 1974, Peter Jennings became the co-producer and chief correspondent of a profile of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and also earned his first ‘George Foster Peabody Award’. Similarly, he then became the anchor of the AM America morning program premiering on 6th January 1975. Similarly, he also was appointed as one of the show’s three anchors reporting from London on the ABC Evening News. At present, the name of the show is ‘World News Tonight’. He then continues to cover every major international event, including the Iranian Revolution and ensuing hostage crisis including Sadat’s assassination, the Falklands War, and Lebanon’s invasion by Israel.
Likewise, his major work includes World News Tonight which is an evening news show on ABC Television where he became the sole anchor for 22 years.
Net worth
Talking about his net worth and earnings, Peter Jennings was a Canadian-American journalist by profession. Likewise, he has made a successful career as a journalist and news anchor in his profession. Similarly, he had made a net worth of around $50 million.
Peter Jennings – Death
Regarding his death, Peter Jennings the former anchor of ABC News ‘World News Tonight’ had his last breath on 7th August 2005. He died five months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Similarly, his death became a highlight of how common and serious the disease lung cancer is.
Personal life
Talking about his personal life, Peter Jennings was a married person. Before his death, he left behind his $50 million estates to his wife Kaycee Freed and his two children. Moreover, during his lifetime, he has won many awards including two ‘George Foster Peabody Awards and 16 Emmy awards.
Previously, he was married three times. His first marriage was to Valerie Godsoe on 21st September 1963 but the marriage ended in the year 1971. Followed by this, his second marriage was to Lebanese photographer and socialite Anouchka Malouf between 1973 and 1979.