Bill O’Reilly
William “Bill” O’Reilly, Jr. was born on September 10, 1949. He graduated with a degree in History from Marist College in 1971 while pitching semi-pro baseball for the New York Monarchs. After graduation, he moved to Miami and taught high school English and history for two years before returning to college to get his Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University.
O’Reilly worked for several different TV stations during the 1970 s. Positions during this time include reporting and anchoring positions in Scranton, Pennsylvania, investigative reporting in Dallas, Texas, and reporting in Denver, Colorado, where his coverage of a skyjacking won a Local Emmy Award. He also worked for stations in Portland, Oregon, Hartford, Connecticut and in Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1980, O Reilly landed in New York City, where he anchored his own news program on local affiliate WCBS. He earned his second Local Emmy and garnered the attention of the CBS News execs, who promoted him to network international correspondent. His base in Buenos Aries allowed him to cover the wars in both El Salvador and the Falkland Islands. He left CBS after a dispute and joined ABC World News Tonight as a correspondent.
In 1989, O Reilly became a senior correspondent and backup anchor on Inside Edition. After anchor David Frost was fired, he took over as host. He made some firsts while there, including being one of the first American journalists to cover the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. After he was replaced by Deborah Norville in 1995, O Reilly went to Harvard, where he received a Masters in Public Administration.
O Reilly was approached in 1996 by the then startup Fox News Channel to anchor The O Reilly Report, renamed The O Reilly Factor. It has routinely been the most watched cable news program since its inception and is credited with beginning the trend toward opinion-heavy prime time news programs.
O Reilly s commentary is considered by most to be conservative, although he classifies himself as a ‘traditionalist.’ He does not identify with any particular party and portrays himself as a voice for the average American class due to his working class roots. He routinely courts controversy, as well as generates a great deal of support, with his strong opinions and statements, and willingness to take on just about any subject.
O Reilly is the author of eight books: Those Who Trespass (1998), The O’Reilly Factor: The Good, the Bad, and the Completely Ridiculous in American Life (2000), The No Spin Zone (2001), Who’s Looking Out For You? (2003), Charles Flowers- fiction (2004), The O’Reilly Factor For Kids: A Survival Guide for America’s Families (2005), Culture Warrior (2006), Kids Are Americans Too (2007) and A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity: A Memoir (2008).
O Reilly hosted The Radio Factor from 2002 until early 2009. He also writes a weekly syndicated column featured in newspapers across the U.S.
