Iconic New York TV Journalist Gabe Pressman Dies at 93

By A.J. Katz 

Iconic New York television journalist Gabe Pressman passed away early this morning at the age of 93. His death was confirmed by his station, WNBC-TV.

Pressman, who was still employed by the station as senior correspondent, reported on breaking news, covered politics, parades, protests, interviewed myriad New York luminaries and cultural icons over a TV news career that began in 1956.

A Bronx native, Pressman also covered 10 New York City mayors, 10 New York State governors, 15 New York senators, and 13 presidents.

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He reported on events including the assassination of Pres. Kennedy, The Beatles’ first trip to the US, and Woodstock. He also conducted one-on-one interviews with Marilyn MonroeHarry S. Truman and Fidel Castro for New York’s NBC affiliate.

Pressman has earned an astounding number of awards over his career. According to NBCNewYork.com, these include: 11 Emmy Awards; the 1989 Edward R. Murrow Award; the New York Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 1986 Governors’ Award; a 1985 Olive Award for Excellence in Broadcasting; a Peabody Award in 1984 for Asylum In The Streets; a Unity award from Lincoln University in 1981 for Blacks And The Mayor: How Far Apart?; the New York Press Club’s Feature Award for The Homeless in 1982; the UPI New York State Broadcasters’ Award for Best Feature News Story The Homeless in 1982; the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association Award for Excellence in Individual Reporting in 1982; the New York Chapter Of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi’s Deadline Club Award for “The Hungry” in 1983; and two New York area Emmy Awards in 1983 for The Homeless.

“This is an incredibly sad day for the WNBC family. Gabe Pressman was a television icon who served our viewers for more than 50 years,” Eric Lerner, WNBC president and gm, said in a statement. “He was truly one of a kind and represented the very best in television news reporting. Gabe was still coming to work and thinking about the next story. He was a treasured colleague and friend to all of us and he will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to the Pressman family during this difficult time.”

New York Senator and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, and New York mayor Bill deBlasio, longtime WNBC 4 sports anchor Bruce Beck, Spectrum NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan, PIX11 morning anchor Dan Mannarino, PIX11 investigative reporter Mary Murphy, a quartet of national NBC Newsers Lester Holt, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Katy Tur (a former WNBC 4 reporter), and Steve Kornacki, The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman were among the many to express their condolences and celebrate the achievements of the late newsman via Twitter.

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