Ted Koppel

Edward James Martin "Ted" Koppel (born February 8, 1940) is an American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor for Nightline from the program's inception in 1980 until his retirement in late 2005. After leaving Nightline, Koppel worked as managing editor for the Discovery Channel before resigning in 2008. Koppel is currently a senior news analyst for NPR and contributing analyst to BBC World News America, and contributes to NBC News.

Early life and education

Koppel, an only child, was born in Nelson, Lancashire, UK, after his German Jewish parents fled Germany following the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism. In 1953, when he was 13, the family immigrated to the United States. His mother, Alice, was a singer and pianist, and his father, Edwin, was a tire factory owner. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Stanford University with a Master of Arts degree in mass communications research and political science. In 1987, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Duke University. In 2007, the University of Southern California awarded Koppel an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Koppel returns to Syracuse University regularly as a guest speaker. He was a member of the student-run WAER and keeps in touch with the student media at Syracuse. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.