Craig Melvin
Craig Delano Melvin[1] (born May 20, 1979) is an American broadcast journalist and anchor at NBC News and MSNBC. In August 2018, he became a news anchor on NBC's Today and, in October 2018, a co-host of Today Third Hour before being made permanent in January 2019, and Melvin also serves as a fill-in & substitute anchor for Today & NBC Nightly News.
Craig Melvin
Journalist
2001–present
2
Early life[edit]
Craig Delano Melvin was born on May 20, 1979, in Columbia, South Carolina, to Lawrence and Betty Melvin.[2][3][4] He has a younger brother, Ryan Melvin,[5] and an older half-brother, Rev. Lawrence Meadows,[6] who died from colon cancer on December 9, 2020 at the age of 43.[7]
In 1996, he was elected as the first African-American president of Key Club International.[8] In 2001, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Wofford College.[9][10] He is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and also served as a senior counselor for South Carolina's Palmetto Boys State program.[11][12][13]
Career[edit]
Melvin first joined NBC-affiliate WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina as a high school student, working as an "Our Generation Reporter" from 1995 to 1997.[14]
After college, he returned to WIS in July 2001 as a news photographer and producer, before becoming a reporter for the station's morning news team, producing his "Craig Cam" live segments.[14] He was later promoted to news anchor for the weekend morning newscast and the weekend evening newscasts before heading the weekday newscasts.[14] At WIS-TV, Melvin also created several series that covered issues affecting education and the homeless in Columbia, among others.[15][16]
In July 2008, Melvin left WIS-TV to join NBC's owned-and-operated station in Washington, D.C., WRC-TV, where he anchored the weekend evening newscasts.[17][18]
Three years later, in July 2011, Melvin departed WRC-TV for MSNBC to become a daytime anchor, while also contributing to NBC News as a reporter.[18] In 2012, Melvin anchored MSNBC's coverage of the national conventions for the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as TV One's Election Night coverage, in partnership with NBC News.[19] He also covered the Sandy Hook shootings in December 2012.[20] In 2013, he covered the Moore tornado in May,[21] as well as the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214[22] and the George Zimmerman trial in July.[23][24] In 2014, Melvin covered the shooting of Michael Brown in August[25] and the murder of Hannah Graham in September.[26] In 2015, he covered the Charleston church shooting[27] as well as the death of Freddie Gray in June.[28] In 2016, Melvin covered the mass shooting of Dallas police officers in July[29] and was also among the NBC reporters covering the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.[30] That same year, he also succeeded José Díaz-Balart as an anchor of MSNBC Live, which would become MSNBC Reports.[31]
In 2017, Melvin hosted his own true crime series Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. It premiered on Oxygen in July 21.
In 2018, Melvin reported from Pyeongchang County for NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics in February.[32] He was also promoted to weekday news anchor on Today in September[33] and formed the cast of hosts heading Today Third Hour in October.[34]
In December 2020, Melvin co-hosted NBC's annual broadcast of the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.[35]
In March 2022, Melvin announced he would be leaving his hour of MSNBC Reports to focus on Today.[36]
Personal life[edit]
Melvin married then-ESPN sports anchor and former WRC-TV sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak on October 15, 2011.[37] They reside in Connecticut and have a son, Delano (“Del”), who was born in March 2014,[38] and a daughter, Sybil (“Sibby”), who was born in November 2016.[39] Melvin is a Christian and attends a congregational church.[40]
Awards[edit]
In 1996, Melvin received an Associated Press award for his story on innovative teaching, making him one of the youngest recipients to ever receive such an award.[17]
In 2003 and 2005, Melvin shared in the Emmy Awards won by WIS-TV for having the best newscast.[17]
In 2006, Melvin received an Emmy Award for his work as news anchor.[16]
In 2007, he was named "Best Anchor" by the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association.[17][41]