PERSON: Victor Blackwell

Reporter, Anchor

Victor Blackwell joined CNN August 2012 as an anchor and correspondent based in the network’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Blackwell anchors New Day and CNN Newsroom Saturday.

Blackwell has reported on-the-scene for CNN on many breaking news stories, including his exclusive reporting on the death of Georgia teen Kendrick Johnson, George Zimmerman trial and troubles after the verdict, the Alabama child hostage standoff, Colorado wildfires, Superstorm Sandy recovery. He reported from a boat alongside the Carnival Cruise ship “Triumph” that was stranded at sea.

Blackwell comes to CNN from WPBF 25 News in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he served as an anchor for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. He has been honored with an Emmy award, several regional Emmy nominations, two Telly awards, several Associated Press awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists. He also earned the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and the UNITY Award, both from the Radio Television Digital News Association, for a special report on the disproportionate drop out rate amongst young black men.

Prior to his tenure at WPBF, Blackwell worked for WTLV/WJXX in Jacksonville, Fla. He broke into journalism writing for the Community Times newspaper in Columbia, Md. He worked as a producer for Radio11 WBAL in Baltimore and as a co-producer for WHUT-TV in Washington. He also worked for WPMT-TV in York, Penn., and WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, Md.

Blackwell’s reporting includes an investigation of synthetic marijuana, its effects and the local people making money from the drug. He covered the final space shuttle launch on location in Cape Canaveral, Fla., and he covered the Casey Anthony trial and verdict in Orlando, Fla., including exclusive interviews with Anthony’s roommates.

He earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in Washington D.C.

-- cnn.com