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Scott MacFarlane (journalist)

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For the New Zealand oncologist, see Scott Macfarlane (oncologist).

Scott MacFarlane
Born
Highland, New York, U.S.
EducationSyracuse University
Occupation(s)journalist, investigative reporter
Years active1996–present
EmployerCBS News

Scott MacFarlane is an American journalist who works for CBS News as Justice correspondent.

Scott is based in Washington, D.C. and his reports appear on all platforms, including CBS Mornings, the CBS Evening News, CBS Saturday Morning, Face the Nation, CBS News 24/7, CBS Radio and in daily live hits with major CBS affiliates.

He previously worked as an investigative reporter at WRC-TV, a local NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C.. Prior to that he was a Congressional correspondent for the Cox-TV.

He emerged on the national scene during his coverage of the prosecutions from the January 6th US Capitol attack.

Education

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MacFarlane graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University’s S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1998. He majored in broadcast journalism and political philosophy.[1][2] During his undergraduate years, he worked at WJPZ and WAER FM stations on campus.[3] MacFarlane was later named to both of their radio Halls of Fame.[4]

MacFarlane grew up in Highland, New York, near Poughkeepsie[5] and attended Highland High School.[6][7]

In a 2023 CBS Mornings report about high school academic challenge competitions, a high school-era clip of Scott from Highland, NY was spotlighted.[1]

Career

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Since 2021, MacFarlane has covered Congress, politics and federal criminal cases for CBS News. MacFarlane was the CBS correspondent who reported on the assassination attempt of Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. His reporting detailed how he and others at the rally sought cover beneath press scaffolding.

MacFarlane has been an in-studio correspondent for the network’s coverage of election nights and breaking news. He has been the inside-the-Chamber correspondent for the network's coverage of State of the Union addresses. Scott reported from inside the courtroom during Trump legal cases, covered Presidential and US House campaigns and reported on Congressional leadership races.

He is a regular contributor to CBS radio affiliates and CBS Television stations, including WCBS-TV in New York, KYW (AM) radio in Philadelphia, WTOP-FM radio in Washington, WTMJ (AM) radio in Milwaukee, WJZ-TV in Baltimore and KNX (AM) radio in Los Angeles.

MacFarlane's career began as a reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York. He also worked at WKIP in Poughkeepsie, WSYR (AM) and WYYY radio in Syracuse, WWMT in Michigan and at WKBD/WWJ-TV in Detroit.[8]

He previously worked in D.C. as a correspondent at Cox-TV, a contributor for Sirius XM radio and WRC-TV, a local NBC affiliate. He worked at WRC-TV for 8 years, focusing on several investigations into veterans healthcare and school safety which led to new state laws in Virginia and Maryland. [9] He joined Cox media in 2005.[1] He was named congressional correspondent for CBS News in December 2021.[10][11]

MacFarlane has prominently covered the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, reporting on more than 1,500 criminal cases from the attack.[12][5][13]

In a 2023 special report on CBS News, Scott broke the news of the federal criminal charges against the former President in the 2020 election case.[2]

At WRC-TV in 2020, he founded and produced a news program for children called “News 4 Kids.”

In 2017, MacFarlane produced a full length documentary titled The Miracle Microphone: The Impossible History and History Makers of WAER Radio chronicling the 70-year history of WAER-FM on Syracuse University campus.[4] The documentary won New York state AP Press Association award in 2019.[14][15][16]

Awards

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MacFarlane has won over 20 regional Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Awards throughout his career.[13]

He won the Anna Quindlen Award from the Child Welfare League of America for his reporting on school security and teacher licensing.

In 2001, MacFarlane earned the Wade H. McCree award for excellence in reporting on the justice system while working at the WKBD/WWJ-TV in Detroit.[17] In 1999, he won first place in the national William Randolph Hearst Broadcast News Competition.[8]

He was inducted to the WJPZ Hall of Fame and the WAER Hall of Fame in 2017.[18]

Personal life

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Macfarlane is married to Lisa, whom he met on the first day of college at Syracuse.[8] The couple has two sons.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Loughlin, Wendy S. (September 25, 2012). "Journalist Scott MacFarlane '98 will discuss 'getting the story and getting the job'". Syracuse University News. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  2. ^ King, Leslie (October 2, 2012). "Alum speaks on finding success in journalism, time at SU". The Daily Orange. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Nachlis, Jay (September 13, 2022). "Inclusivity and Local: A Conversation With Scott MacFarlane". Coleman Insights. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Speach, Amy (Fall 2017). "The WAER Connection" (PDF). Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 34, no. 3. Syracuse University. pp. 46–47. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "100. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News – January 6 and Congress Reporter". The Journalism Salute. November 29, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "Highland inducts new honorees into Husky Hall of Fame". My Hudson Valley. March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Highland Alumnus Returns to Inspire High School Students". www.highland-k12.org. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Scott's Biography". Scott MacFarlane. June 6, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Scott MacFarlane". NBC4 Washington. March 13, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Mastrangelo, Dominick (January 4, 2022). "Scott MacFarlane joining CBS News". The Hill. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Rojo, Hugo (January 4, 2022). "Scott MacFarlane Named CBS NEWS Congressional Correspondent". Paramount Press Express (Press release). Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Beaujon, Andrew (August 9, 2021). "Scott MacFarlane's Long Fight for the Truth About January 6". Washingtonian. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Scott MacFarlane". CBS News. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Scott MacFarlane and Keith Kobland (2017). The Miracle Microphone (video). Syracuse University. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Niles, Lydia (March 4, 2018). "Syracuse University alum produces documentary on 70-year history of WAER". The Daily Orange. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "NYSAPA broadcast, newspaper award winners announced". AP NEWS. June 2, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  17. ^ "McCree Award Winners" (PDF). Michigan Press Association. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Three Top Broadcasters Earn WAER Hall of Fame Honors". Syracuse University News. September 15, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
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