Meet the News Team

August 14, 2008

Peter Thorne is the Weekend Anchor of the Emmy Award winning CW11 News at Ten, and a correspondent for the station's weekday broadcasts.

Thorne is the third generation of his family to call New York home, starting with his grandfather, Hillery C. Thorne, who arrived in the city as an infant immigrant from Barbados in the early 1900's and later made history as one of the first African-Americans to earn a degree from Columbia University; class of 1928. His grandson Peter went on to graduate from the International School of Geneva, Switzerland and Yale University.

Peter Thorne joined the CW11 News at Ten in September 2001 as a reporter for The CW 11 Morning News. He was promoted to Weekend Anchor in April 2002, and continues to complement his anchor responsibilities as a reporter.

Thorne came to the CW11 from KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, CA., where he was a general assignment reporter. His primary beat was breaking news. During his time in Los Angeles, Thorne interviewed everyone from rap kingpin Suge Knight to former US President George H. W. Bush; reported live from the center of riots, major trials, massive brush fires, deadly police pursuits, the crash of Alaska Airlines flight 261 into the Pacific Ocean, and from the streets outside the Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse on the tumultuous day when the history-making O. J. Simpson verdict was announced.

In addition to his regular duties while at KCOP Thorne also wrote, produced and reported a landmark multi-part news series: "Scared Straight: California". Thorne and his team spent several riveting and emotionally powerful days inside San Quentin State Prison with murderers serving life terms, armed robbers and other hardened criminals as they confronted a group of at-risk teenagers hoping to deter them from a life of crime.

But nothing could prepare Thorne for his first days at the CW 11, which he joined during the week of September 11th 2001. His first assignment found him reporting directly from Ground Zero.

Thorne began his television career at WBOC-TV, a CBS affiliate in Salisbury, MD, as a reporter and weekend anchor. From there, he went on to work as a noon and 5pm anchor at ABC affiliate WHBQ in Memphis; followed by a return to New York when he was recruited to help launch a new network - Court TV, where he served as a National Correspondent covering a wide range of stories including the high-profile trial of the Menendez Brothers and the infamous Charles Manson's parole hearing inside maximum security Corcoran State Prison.

Thorne has received many journalism awards for his reporting - including: an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for Best Single Hard News Story: "Death of a Dream" (2005), and multiple Emmy nominations including Best Single Hard News Story: "Jailhouse Jihad" (2005) and "New York City's Worst Subways" (2006); and for coverage of the second deadliest aviation accident in American history - "The Crash of Flight #587" (2002) that crashed after take-off from JFK just two months after 9/11.

The Associated Press -on both coasts- has awarded Thorne the organization's top honors for his coverage of breaking news - in New York that includes Best Spot News coverage "Police Detective Killed" (2004) and in LA the "Bill Stout Memorial Award" for Best Spot News Coverage "Lakers Riot" (2000). He was also awarded the Golden Mic Award for Best Breaking News Coverage "Lakers Riot" (2000). The Associated Press also awarded Thorne for his coverage of "The First Anniversary of September 11th" (2002); and he was honored with a Best of the West Award for "Development Reporting: Slab City" (1999).

In addition, Peter and colleague Mary Murphy are the CW11's Fact Finders Investigative Team. As Fact Finders, Peter and Mary examine everything from national security issues to what's happening in the local community. In 2006, Peter was nominated for an Emmy award for a Fact Finders report, which explored the shockingly dilapidated conditions at many subway stations citywide.

In the investigative unit, Peter has also brought to light Prescription Antibiotics being sold illegally at Manhattan bodegas, the disturbing discovery of 'Toxic Backyards' containing Benzene and other hazardous chemicals in one Staten Island neighborhood, Iraq War veterans facing homelessness as they struggle to adjust to life back in New York City, Senior Citizens battling drug addiction in their golden years, the trail of so-called 'Blood Diamonds' from the mines of Africa to the streets of New York, and cutting-edge research in the hunt for a 'Bird-Flu' vaccine.

Thorne is also proud to have co-hosted on three occasions the New York Urban League's Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner - an annual event recognizing individuals who have worked tirelessly to eliminate racial barriers and promote opportunities for the disadvantaged..

LIST OF AWARDS:

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)

Emmy Awards
2005: Best Single Hard News Story "Death of a Dream"

2004: Best Spot News coverage "Police Detective Killed"
2002: Best News "The First Anniversary of September 11th"
2000: Bill Stout Memorial Award for Best Spot News Coverage "Lakers Riot" (KCOP)

2000: Best Breaking News Coverage "Lakers Riot" (KCOP)

1999: Best of the West Award "Development Reporting: Slab City" (KCOP)