George Knapp (television journalist)

This article is about the American journalist. For other people with the same name, see George Knapp (disambiguation).

George Knapp
Knapp in 2009 at the 68th Annual Peabody Awards
Born	1953 Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of the Pacific (M.A.) University of West Georgia (B.A.)
Occupation(s)	Journalist and talk radio host
Known for	UFO journalism (including Bob Lazar) Coast to Coast AM
Television	KLAS-TV

George T. Knapp is an American journalist, news anchor and talk radio host. Much of his work has focused on the paranormal, particularly UFOs. Knapp is noted for bringing to prominence UFO conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar in 1989.^[1] He is also known for his work as a television presenter and investigative journalist on non-paranormal subjects, for which he has been recognized with Edward R. Murrow Awards, Peabody Awards, and Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards.^[2]

A longtime fixture in Las Vegas media, he works at KLAS-TV (Channel 8)^[3] and is also a frequent host of Coast to Coast AM, a syndicated paranormal radio show on which UFOs are a frequent topic.^[4]

Early life

Born in Woodbury, New Jersey, Knapp grew up in Northern California and graduated from Franklin High School in Stockton,^[3] where he was the senior class president.^[5] He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of West Georgia and a master's degree in the same field from the University of the Pacific.^[2][5] He taught debate and forensics at both the University of the Pacific and University of California, Berkeley.^[5]

He moved to Las Vegas in 1979, working first as a cab driver before being hired as an intern at KLVX-TV Channel 10.^[2][5] From there, Knapp was hired as a reporter and news anchor for KLAS in 1981.^[2][5]

Career

At KLAS-TV, Knapp has served a number of roles, including as a news anchor, a member of the I-Team investigative unit, as well as the host of "Street Talk". For his work on "Street Talk" he won an Emmy for commentary. Knapp was mentored in journalism by Ned Day, who Knapp created a series about following his death.^[6] Knapp's regular reporting has included topics like organized crime and government corruption.^[7]

In programmes aired in January 1987 and January 1988, Knapp interviewed aviator and UFO claimant John Lear, who claimed that the United States government had alien spacecraft and bodies. Lear introduced Knapp to another UFO claimant, originally anonymously known as "Dennis", which KLAS-TV interviewed in a program aired in May 1989, and who was later interviewed in a program which aired in November 1989 which revealed his real name to be Bob Lazar.^[8] Lazar claimed to have worked on UFOs at the secretive Area 51.^[9] Knapp's interviews of Lazar attracted international attention,^[8] and catapulted Area 51 into the public consciousness.^[7] In 1990, Knapp's stories on UFOs earned him an "Individual Achievement by a Journalist" award from the United Press International.^[10] Knapp interviewed UFO claimant Bill Cooper alongside Lear in 1989. Knapp hosted a programme on KLAS-TV in 1990 which was critical of Cooper's claims.^[11] Knapp's willingness to listen to the testimony of UFO claimants caused him to be mocked by some of his fellow Las Vegas journalists.^[6]

In 1991, Knapp left KLAS to work for Altamira Communications, a public relations firm whose clients included advocates of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository 90 miles (140 km) north of Las Vegas.^[6] Knapp was rehired by KLAS-TV in 1995 when he left the public relations firm.^[6] In 1996, Knapp was described as one of the most prominent news anchors in the Las Vegas area.^[6]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Knapp worked with the now-defunct group National Institute of Discovery Science (NIDS). Founded by Las Vegas businessman Robert Bigelow, NIDS was charged with scientifically studying unusual phenomena with scientists and funding. Based on his work with NIDS deputy administrator Colm Kelleher, Knapp publicized the so-called Skinwalker Ranch in northeast Utah, where strange events are alleged to have occurred.^[12][13]

In 2009, Knapp was courted by KVBC-TV (Channel 3) who offered him a significantly larger salary than KLAS-TV. Knapp declined the offer, deciding to stay with KLAS-TV.^[14]

Knapp has been credited for introducing Nevada senator Harry Reid to Robert Bigelow because of their shared interest in unidentified aerial phenomena.^[15]

Knapp co-hosts the UFO-focused "Weaponized" podcast alongside fellow UFO investigator Jeremy Corbell.^[16]

In July 2023, Knapp attended a hearing on UFOs at the United States Congress.^[17] According to skeptical writer Mick West, "George Knapp was (and still is) very much a believer in aliens, having built a considerable segment of his career in promoting the claims of Area 51 confabulator Bob Lazar as factual".^[1] Rolling Stone described Knapp as the "John the Baptist of the UFO movement".^[18]

In November 2024, the Netflix docuseries Investigation Alien was released which featured Knapp as its host, investigating UFO sightings and alien claims.^[19][20][21]

Awards

Knapp at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards in 2012

Knapp has won five regional and two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, twenty-four Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards (Regional Emmys), and nine Associated Press Mark Twain Awards.^[2][10] He has also won a DuPont Award from Columbia University and two Peabody Awards.^[2][10]

Knapp and photojournalist Matt Adams were recognized for their work on the investigative series Crossfire: Water, Power, and Politics that received a 2008 Peabody Award.^[22]

Personal life

Knapp married his longtime girlfriend Anne “The Viking” Fechner in 2010.^[23]

References

1. West, Mick (August 26, 2021). "UFOs: Beliefs, Conspiracies, and Aliens". Skeptical Inquirer. Center For Inquiry, Inc. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
2. "George Knapp". 8NewsNow.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
3. "George Knapp, I-Team Reporter". 8NewsNow.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2011.
4. "Shows: Most Recent - George Knapp". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
5. "2008 Interview with George Knapp". BoA Audio. November 23, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
6. Dickensheets, Scott (February 1996). "Scope Magazine Article on George Knapp". SCOPE Magazine. Vol. 4, no. 11. pp. 6–8. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008.
7. Pointer, Starla (May 15, 2018). "UFO Festival: A life immersed in the paranormal". newsregister.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
8. The UFO Reporter Part 1: The Files of George Knapp. NewsNation Prime. October 16, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
9. Birnes, William J. (2013). UFO Hunters: Book One. Tor. p. 319. ISBN 9781429987998.
10. "George Knapp". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
11. UFOs: The Best Evidence? - Part 5 (1990). Mystery Wire. May 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2024 – via YouTube.
12. Kelleher, Colm; Knapp, George (2005). Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah. Paraview Pocket Books. ISBN 1-4165-0521-0.
13. Knapp, George (November 21, 2002). "Path of the Skinwalker". Las Vegas Mercury. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002.
14. "Knapp decides to stay home: KLAS". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 19, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
15. Bender, Bryan (May 28, 2021). "How Harry Reid, a Terrorist Interrogator and the Singer From Blink-182 Took UFOs Mainstream". Politico. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
16. Menon, Vinay (May 23, 2023). "New research, and startling footage, shows why it's time for academics to let UFOs buzz the Ivory Tower". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
17. Schoenmann, Joe (July 31, 2023). "Longtime Las Vegas reporter attends UFO Congress hearing. What came of it?". Nevada Public Radio | KNPR. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
18. Rodrick, Stephen (August 20, 2020). "Loving the Alien". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
19. Anderson, John (November 7, 2024). "'Investigation Alien' Review: Extraterrestrial Extrapolations on Netflix". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
20. Poundes, Geoff (November 9, 2024). "10 Most Shocking Reveals From Netflix's Investigation Alien Documentary". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
21. Walker, Justin (October 16, 2024). "'Investigation Alien': Netflix documentary featuring George Knapp set for November release". Yahoo News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
22. "Eyewitness News I-Team Wins Peabody Award". KLAS-TV. April 1, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
23. "Media uncover Knapp nuptials". Las Vegas Review-Journal. August 13, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2024.

External links

• George Knapp at IMDb
• Profile at Coast to Coast AM
• Transcript of an Interview from November 17, 1989 Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine by Chuck Harder