Bob McKeown

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Bob McKeown

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Bob McKeown (/mə̆ˈkjuwən/) is an investigative reporter with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He has also worked with NBC and CBS. McKeown returned to the CBC in November, 2002, to host its investigative programme, the fifth estate, a show which he had hosted from 1981 to 1990. Prior to his current position, McKeown spent eight years working for Dateline NBC as a correspondent and five years with CBS News. He is a graduate of Yale University and had a six year professional football career before dedicating himself to journalism.

McKeown's work with Dateline includes coverage of the World Trade Center Attacks and the Oklahoma City bombing and investigations into hurricanes, tornados, great white sharks and pastor Benny Hinn (on whom he also did a fifth estate report).

A five year stint with CBS News is highlighted by his award-winning coverage of the Persian Gulf War. McKeown was the first reporter to broadcast from the front lines during Operation Desert Storm and reached Kuwait City as Iraqi troops were fleeing, almost a day before allied forces arrived. People Magazine wrote: "McKeown and his crew survived artillery, minefields and Iraqi snipers to get the best story of the Gulf War."

While at CBS, he was also a Correspondent for two prime-time newsmagazines, Street Stories and America Tonight, and contributed to 48 Hours and The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.

In addition to hosting the fifth estate in the 1980s, McKeown produced, wrote and directed several critically-acclaimed documentaries. These include The Boys on the Bus, an intimate portrait of the Edmonton Oilers as they won the 1987 Stanley Cup, Les Canadiens, a history of the Montreal Canadiens, and Strangers in a Strange Land, which depicted the trials and tribulations of a Canadian movie crew in China as it shot a feature film about the legendary doctor, Norman Bethune.

In January 2005, McKeown was embroiled in controversy over an interview with American conservative polemicist Ann Coulter shown on CBC's the fifth estate. Coulter had argued that Canada's non-participation in the 2003 invasion of Iraq demonstrated that Canada's "loyal friendship" with the United States was weaker than in the past. As part of her broader attempt to contrast the Canadian response to the Iraq war with that of Vietnam, Coulter asserted that "Canada sent troops to Vietnam." McKeown replied, "No, actually, Canada didn't send troops to Vietnam." [1] Canada was neutral in the conflict, and it contributed troops to the International Control Commission which monitored the Geneva Conference (1954).

In all, Bob McKeown has reported from more than 60 countries and has been recognized with dozens of major journalistic prizes, including two Emmys - for the Gulf War and Dateline -- two Geminis, two Edward R. Murrow awards, two Gracies, two National Headliner awards and a National Press Club award.