MIKE LANDESS

Mike Landess won a speech contest in ninth grade, which led to a job at a local radio station and launched his love for broadcasting and a 40+-year career in television. Now the primary evening news anchor at KMGH in Denver, Mike has worked all over the country, from Dallas to Cleveland to Atlanta and Washington, DC. His first landing in Denver brought him to KUSA from 1977-1993, as the co-anchor of the #1-rated evening newscast. Upon moving to Atlanta, he was recognized for his live coverage of the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park. That experience served him well when later, in Washington, DC, he anchored 16 hours of live coverage after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He received Emmy awards for News Anchor for both of those bodies of work.

Mike's winning combination of quality reporting, caring for his audience, and being a real person is exemplified in his sharing his personal battle with prostate cancer with viewers, from diagnosis to treatment. Working with the physicians and researchers at CU Denver, and with the Prostate Cancer Education Council, Mike put together a CD to create a one-of-a-kind tool for patient awareness, chronicling his journey through this process. He is relentless in answering questions and emails from viewers, to give them as much information as possible to make their own best decisions.

In Denver, the annual Coats for Colorado campaign distributes thousands of coats to Coloradoans in need, and Mike is an integral part of this effort. He attends every event, and is the last to leave. He is enthusiastic about spreading the good will of strong civic journalism to his community. He believes in a relationship of trust with his viewers, and works every day to make that happen.

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