Warner Saunders

WMAQ-TV - NEWS ANCHOR

Warner Saunders joined the NBC 5 Chicago news team in June, 1980. Currently a co-anchor of NBC 5 Chicago’s 6:00 PM & 10:00 PM newscasts, he is considered one of Chicago’s premier news reporters. 

Saunders, a native Chicagoan who celebrated 25 distinguished years in broadcasting in April 1993, has been honored with two of Chicago broadcasting's most prestigious awards: a 1993 induction to the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and the Chicago Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Silver Circle. He is a past president of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists. He was the recipient of the 1999 Hull House Jane Addams award for his commitment and service to the community. 

Prior to co-anchoring NBC 5’s 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM newscasts, Saunders co-anchored NBC 5’s 4:30 PM weekday news since June 1991 and the 5:00 PM news since June 1995. 

In February 1990, Saunders' gave a series of reports from South Africa on the historic release of Nelson Mandela, culminated in a compelling documentary, South Africa: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

Saunders is the winner of 16 Chicago Emmy Awards in news and programming. Most recently, he won a 1992/93 Emmy for hosting a half-hour program on Education called Can't Get No Job Without No Diploma. He won a 1988-89 Emmy for co-hosting a series of programs geared at examining and improving race relations in Chicago. In 1986, his half-hour public affairs program, Warner, was honored with the Illinois Broadcasters Association Public Service Award. He won two consecutive Emmys as host of WMAQ-TV's You magazine program. He also won an Emmy for his contribution to the WMAQ-TV special, Gangs: The New Chicago Mob? in 1980. Among his other awards are the prestigious Gabriel and Ohio State Awards.

Saunders was WMAQ-TV's Sports Anchor/ Reporter from 1982-1989. In addition, Saunders hosted Warner, NBC 5 Chicago’s public affairs talk show from 1983-90.

While a member of NBC 5 Chicago Sports team, Saunders contributed many interesting features including a segment saluting the outstanding athletes of the Negro League on WMAQ-TV's 50th Anniversary All-Star Baseball Game Preview program, The Classic Comes Home: All Star Gold, in 1983. In 1986, Saunders' entry was named "Best Sports Report" by the Associated Press. 

Also in 1986, and he won an Emmy for his role in NBC 5 Chicago’s expanded sports highlight program Sports Sunday. In 1985, Saunders was awarded an Emmy for co-hosting The 39 Year Itch, a half-hour tribute to the National League's Eastern Division Champions, the Chicago Cubs. Saunders' half-hour sports special, DuSable, The Uncrowned Champions, won the 1984 Chicago Association of Black Journalists "Media Award" for outstanding broadcast journalism.

Saunders came to NBC 5 Chicago from WBBM-TV, where he had been Director of Community Affairs and host of Common Ground. Saunders' taught sociology at the National College of Education, Indiana University Northwest in Gary, and Northeastern Illinois University. His career in social service spans 25 years. He is presently on the NBC 5 Cultural Diversity Teaching Team.

Saunders and his wife Sadako, live in Chicago.

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
Education: B.A. Xavier University
M.A. Northeastern University