Linda Ellerbee

Linda Ellerbee’s distinguished career in American journalism began in 1973 as a reporter for KHOU-TV in Houston, quickly advancing to WCBS-TV in New York within months, where she worked until 1976. Her significant tenure at NBC News commenced in 1976, initially as a reporter in the Washington bureau until 1978. She then served as co-host for ‘Weekend’ from 1978 to 1979 and as a correspondent for ‘NBC Nightly News’ from 1979 to 1982. A pivotal moment came in 1982 when Ellerbee co-hosted ‘NBC News Overnight’ with Lloyd Dobyns, a program critically praised for its intelligent and well-written approach to news.

During this period, Ellerbee expanded her creative contributions, narrating ‘Baby Boom’ in 1987, serving as a commentator for CNN in 1989, and guest-starring as herself in a 1989 episode of ‘Murphy Brown.’ Lucky Duck Productions’ most notable achievement was ‘Nick News with Linda Ellerbee,’ a groundbreaking news program for children that Ellerbee produced, wrote, and hosted from 1992 to 2015 on Nickelodeon. ‘Nick News’ garnered extensive critical acclaim, including three Peabody Awards and multiple Emmy Awards for its pioneering work in making complex issues accessible to young audiences. Ellerbee personally received a Peabody Award for her dedicated coverage of the Clinton investigation, highlighting her impactful reporting. Further solidifying her reputation, she was honored with an Emmy in 2004 for the WE: Women’s Entertainment network series ‘When I Was a Girl.’ Ellerbee’s distinctive voice and insightful approach to journalism left an indelible mark on television news.

She officially retired from journalism in 2015, concluding a distinguished 43-year career. Her legacy includes not only her influential reporting for major networks but also her transformative role in children’s programming, where she set a new standard for engaging and informative content, consistently delivering complex topics in an accessible manner to young audiences.