Wolf Isaac Blitzer is an eminent journalist and news anchor of United States of America. He has been serving the CNN network since 1990. He is best known for shows like the “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer”. He is the lead political anchor of CNN and currently hosts two shows for the channel namely “The Situation Room” and “Wolf”. In addition to this, Wolf is a reputed military affairs reporter.
Early life and background
Wolf Blitzer was born on 22nd March 1948 in Augsburg, Germany. His father, David Blitzer, was a house builder by profession. Her mother, Cesia Blitzer was a homemaker. His family was originally Jewish refugees from Poland. Wolf grew up in Buffalo, New York. For his school education, he attended the Kenmore West Senior High School. Thereafter, he attended the State University of New York at Buffalo. In the year 1970 he earned his graduation degree in history. After acquiring his graduation degree he enrolled in Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and completed his master’s degree in “international relations”. Apart from this, he enrolled in “Hebrew University of Jerusalem” to learn Hebrew.
Career
In the year 1970, Wolf began his career in the field of journalism in the Tel Aviv bureau of “Reuters”. In 1973, his talent as a journalist impressed Ari Rath, the editor of “Jerusalem Post”. Wolf was soon hired as a Washington correspondent by Ari Rath and until 1990 he served the paper.
During mid 1970’s Wolf became a part of American Israel Public Affairs Committee and offered his services as an editor of their monthly edition called “Near Post Report”. Wolf also covered the entire proceedings of the “Egypt –Israel Peace Treaty”. In addition to this, he wrote articles for various Israel newspapers under the pen names Zev Blitzer and Zev Barak. In the year 1985, the Oxford University Press published his first book called Between Washington and Jerusalem: A Reporter’s Notebook.
Blitzer gained much popularity for covering the arrest and trial of Jonathan Pollard, an American Jew who was accused of spying for Israel. Wolf became the first person to interview of Pollard. Later, he also wrote a book called “Territory of Lies” based on this incident. In 1989, the book was included in “The New York Times’” list of Notable Books of the Year.
In the year 1990, Wolf joined CNN as a military affairs reporter. Along with his team, Wolf covered the first Gulf War in Kuwait. This coverage won him much popularity and the “CableACE Award” award. In 1992 Wolf became the White House Correspondent. Wolf was conferred upon an Emmy Award for covering the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Wolf was also selected by the channel to cover the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Presidential election. In addition to this, he hosted many popular CNN shows like “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer”, “The World Today”, “Wolf Blitzer Reports” etc. Currently he is the host of the show “The Situation Room”.
Wolf Blitzer received many awards and accolades in his career which include 2004 Journalist Pillar of Justice Award, 2003 Daniel Pearl Award, George Foster Peabody Awards, Alfred I. du Pont Award, Edward R. Murrow Awards etc. He also won honorary “Doctorate of Humane Letters” from many universities like George Washington University, Niagara University, Penn State University, University of Hartford, Howard University etc.
He was also the part of the 2009 documentary “Back Door Channels: The Price of Peace”. He also acted in many popular movies like “Skyfall” etc.
Wife and Children
Wolf Blitzer is a married man. His wife’s name is Lynn Greenfield. They have a daughter named Ilana Blitzer Gendelman. Blitzer resides with his family in Bethesda Maryland.
Wolf Blitzer – Salary and Net Worth
Wolf Blitzer has a net worth of $16 million and earns an annual salary of $5 million.