Kurt Rivera

Evening Anchor

Kurt Rivera
Kurt Rivera
Evening Anchor

I joined Eyewitness News in June 2004. Right now, I anchor the 5 and 6 p.m. and “7 @ 11pm” newscasts, as well as the 10 p.m. newscast on sister station, FOX 58. I take pride and feel very fortunate to be able to bring you the news in Kern County and the world that impacts your life.

Aside from anchoring the news, I enjoy telling in-depth stories that make a difference. From exposing consumer fraud to shining a light on the medical care of local veterans and their fight with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to teens suffering from mental illness. It is a privilege to get out from behind the anchor desk and report on stories that can touch the lives of others.

After working part-time radio jobs in Northern California, I began my career in television in 1987 as a news photographer at KESQ-TV (ABC) in Palm Springs, CA. A year later, I became a reporter for KERO-TV (CBS) in Bakersfield, CA. In the 90s, I worked as a reporter at WFLD-TV in Chicago, WXYZ-TV in Detroit and full circle as an anchor/reporter at KGET-TV in Bakersfield and finally here.

During my career, I have covered stories across the country. But one of my proudest career achievements includes following a group of doctors to Colombia in 1997. The "Healing the Children" physicians volunteered their time to offer poor patients operations to repair facial deformities. My five-part series became a half-hour documentary and gained critical acclaim in the Detroit Free Press newspaper.

I am also the proud recipient of several awards, including five Edward R. Murrow Awards. One, a 2006 National Murrow for a series of reports on Kern’s meth epidemic. I have received five EMMY Awards, including breaking news coverage in Detroit and a string of in-depth news specials highlighting teen mental illness, veterans suffering from PTSD and the 2010 Fire Season in the Kern County. I have been honored by the Associated Press and Radio/Television News Association (RTNA) for best investigative, consumer, feature and news series reporting. In 2009, I received the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) California Media Award for “excellence in reporting on serious mental illness.” In 2010, I was awarded the Mental Health America best “Local Television” national award for outstanding coverage of a mental health issue for a news special called “Dying For Help.” I was also honored in 2012 by the Associated Press by receiving the coveted “Chris Harris Reporter of the Year” on the West Coast.

I am active with the Kern County National Alliance of Mental Illness or NAMI Chapter. I am proud to serve as a board member and emcee for the annual Kern County NAMI Walk.

I am a graduate with honors from San Francisco State University. I am a huge sports fan (especially the Pacific Tigers, Cincinnati Reds and Cal State Bakersfield) and self-proclaimed "Parrothead" who enjoys the music of Jimmy Buffett.

You can email me at krivera@bakersfieldnow.com.

Recent stories by Kurt Rivera