You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 44.199.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪Blablubbs‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 12:56, 12 May 2024.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
This IP address range has been globally blocked.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

This block affects editing on all Wikimedia wikis.
The IP address or range 44.199.0.0/16 has been globally blocked (disabled) by ‪AntiCompositeNumber‬ for the following reason(s):

Open proxy/Webhost: Visit the FAQ if you are affected

This block will expire on 13:55, 18 May 2025.

Even while globally blocked, you will usually still be able to edit pages on Meta-Wiki.

This block may be appealed at Global steward requests on Meta-Wiki.

Other useful links: Global blocks · Help:I have been blocked

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((short description|American journalist))
((Use mdy dates|date=April 2022))

((about|the American journalist|other people with the same name|George Knapp (disambiguation)))
((Infobox person
| name               = George Knapp
| image              = George Knapp (8221331696) (cropped).jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Knapp at the [[Peabody Award|68th Annual Peabody Awards]]
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = [[Woodbury, New Jersey|Woodbury]], [[New Jersey]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| nationality        = American
| alma_mater         = [[University of the Pacific (United States)|University of the Pacific]] ([[Master of Arts|M.A.]])<br>[[University of West Georgia]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])
| occupation         = [[Journalism|Journalist]] and [[talk radio]] host
| known_for          = [[UFO]] journalism (including [[Bob Lazar]])<br/>''[[Coast to Coast AM]]''
| television         = [[KLAS-TV]]
))
'''George T. Knapp''' is an American journalist, news anchor and [[talk radio]] host. Much of Knapp's work has focused on the [[paranormal]], particularly [[Unidentified flying object|UFOs]]. Knapp is noted for bringing to prominence UFO conspiracy theorist [[Bob Lazar]] in 1989.<ref name="West">((cite web |last1=West |first1=Mick |authorlink=Mick West |title=UFOs: Beliefs, Conspiracies, and Aliens |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/08/ufos-beliefs-conspiracies-and-aliens/ |website=Skeptical Inquirer |date=26 August 2021 |publisher=Center For Inquiry, Inc. |access-date=19 December 2022))</ref> Knapp is also known for his work as a television presenter and investigative journalist on non-paranormal subjects, for which he has been recognized with [[Edward R. Murrow Award (Radio Television Digital News Association)|Edward R. Murrow Awards]], [[Peabody Award]]s, and [[Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy|Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards]].<ref>[https://www.8newsnow.com/author/george-knapp/ "George Knapp" – ''8NewsNow.com'']</ref><ref name="Emmys">((cite web|url=https://nataspsw.org/emmy-awards/|title=EMMY® Awards - NATAS PSW - National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter|website=nataspsw.org|publisher=[[Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy]]|access-date=17 July 2020))</ref>

A longtime fixture in [[Las Vegas]] media, he works at [[KLAS-TV]] (Channel 8) and is also a frequent host of ''[[Coast to Coast AM]]'', a syndicated [[Paranormal radio shows|paranormal radio show]]<ref name="KnappProfile">[http://www.8newsnow.com/story/175403/george-knapp George Knapp, I-Team Reporter]</ref> on which UFOs are a frequent topic.<ref>((Cite web |title=Coast to Coast AM - Coast Insider |url=https://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/host-george-knapp/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Coast to Coast AM |language=en))</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[Woodbury, New Jersey|Woodbury]], [[New Jersey]], Knapp grew up in [[Northern California]] and graduated from [[Franklin High School (Stockton, California)|Franklin High School]] in [[Stockton, California|Stockton]], where he was the senior class president.<ref name="Interview2008"/> He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from the [[University of West Georgia]] and a master's degree in the same field from the [[University of the Pacific (United States)|University of the Pacific]].<ref name="Interview2008"/> He taught [[Debate#Competitive debate|debate]] and [[Forensics (public speaking)|forensics]] at both the University of the Pacific and [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name="Interview2008">[http://binnallofamerica.com/boaa11.23.8.html 2008 Interview with George Knapp].</ref>

He moved to Las Vegas in 1979, working first as a [[cab driver]] before being hired as an intern at KLVX-TV Channel 10.<ref name="Interview2008"/> From there, Knapp was hired as a reporter and news anchor for KLAS in 1981.<ref name="Interview2008"/>

==Career==
At KLAS-TV, Knapp has served a number of roles, including as a [[news anchor]], a member of the I-Team investigative unit, as well as the host of "Street Talk". For his work on "Street Talk" he won an Emmy for commentary. Knapp was mentored in journalism by [[Ned Day]], who Knapp created a series about following his death.<ref name=":1" /> Knapp's regular reporting has included topics like organised crime and government corruption.<ref name=":2">((Cite web |last=Pointer |first=Starla |date=2018-05-15 |title=UFO Festival: A life immersed in the paranormal |url=http://newsregister.com/article?articleId=29626 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=newsregister.com |language=en))</ref> 

In programmes aired in January 1987 and  January 1988, Knapp interviewed aviator and UFO claimant [[John Lear]], who claimed that the United States government had alien spacecraft and bodies. Lear introduced Knapp to another UFO claimant, originally anonymously known as "Dennis", which KLAS-TV interviewed in a program aired in May 1989, and who was later interviewed in a program which aired in November 1989 which revealed his real name to be [[Bob Lazar]].<ref name=":0">((Citation |title=The UFO Reporter Part 1: The Files of George Knapp ((!)) NewsNation Prime |time= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD7uPnXQDSo |access-date=2024-02-25 |language=en))</ref> Lazar claimed to have worked on UFOs at the secretive [[Area 51]].<ref>((cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tnaICHQyyu8C&pg=PA319|title=UFO Hunters: Book One|page=319|first=William J.|last=Birnes|year=2013|publisher=Tor|isbn=9781429987998))</ref> Knapp's interviews of Lazar attracted international attention,<ref name=":0" /> and catapulted Area 51 into the public consciousness.<ref name=":2" /> In 1990, Knapp's stories on UFOs earned him an "Individual Achievement by a Journalist" award from the [[United Press International]].<ref name="ss"/> Knapp interviewed UFO claimant [[Milton William Cooper|Bill Cooper]] alongside Lear in 1989. Knapp hosted a programme on KLAS-TV in 1990 which was critical of Cooper's claims.<ref>((Citation |title=UFOs: The Best Evidence? - Part 5 (1990) Mystery Wire |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3bMf626-0Q |access-date=2024-02-25 |language=en))</ref> Knapp's willingness to listen to the testimony of UFO claimants caused him to be mocked by some of his fellow Las Vegas journalists.<ref name=":1" />  

In 1991, Knapp left KLAS to work for Altamira Communications, a public relations firm whose clients included advocates of the [[Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository]] ((convert|90|mi)) north of Las Vegas.<ref name=":1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080518005224/http://www.ufomind.com/misc/1997/feb/d10-001.shtml ''Scope Magazine'' Article on George Knapp, SCOPE Magazine Volume 4, Issue 11, February 1996 Pg. 6-8]</ref> Knapp was rehired by KLAS-TV in 1995 when he left the public relations firm.<ref name=":1" /> In 1996, Knapp was described as one of the most prominent news anchors in the Las Vegas area.<ref name=":1" />

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Knapp worked with the now-defunct group [[National Institute of Discovery Science]] (NIDS). Founded by Las Vegas businessman [[Robert Bigelow]], NIDS was charged with scientifically studying unusual phenomena with scientists and funding. Based on his work with NIDS and biochemist [[Colm Kelleher]], Knapp publicized the so-called [[Skinwalker Ranch]] in northeast [[Utah]], where strange events are alleged to have occurred.<ref name="kelleher">Kelleher, Colm & Knapp, George: ''Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah'' (Paraview Pocket Books, 2005 ((ISBN|1-4165-0521-0)))</ref><ref name="lvmercury">[http://www.aliendave.com/Article_PathoftheSkinwalker_p1.html Path of the Skinwalker], George Knapp, 28 November 2002</ref>

In 2009, Knapp was courted by [[KSNV|KVBC-TV]] (Channel 3) who offered him a significantly larger salary than KLAS-TV. Knapp declined the offer, deciding to stay with KLAS-TV.<ref>((Cite web |date=2009-09-19 |title=Knapp decides to stay home: KLAS |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/knapp-decides-to-stay-home-klas/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US))</ref>

Knapp has been credited for introducing Nevada senator [[Harry Reid]] to [[Robert Bigelow]] because of their shared interest in [[unidentified aerial phenomena]].<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/28/ufos-secret-history-government-washington-dc-487900 How Harry Reid, a Terrorist Interrogator and the Singer From Blink-182 Took UFOs Mainstream ], ''Politico'', Bryan Bender, 2021-05-28</ref>

Knapp co-hosts the UFO-focused "Weaponized" podcast alongside fellow UFO investigator [[Jeremy Corbell]].<ref>((Cite web |last=Menon |first=Vinay |date=2023-05-23 |title=New research, and startling footage, shows why it’s time for academics to let UFOs buzz the Ivory Tower |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/new-research-and-startling-footage-shows-why-it-s-time-for-academics-to-let-ufos/article_b9f188fb-704d-5939-8fee-b9f9a9d43883.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Toronto Star |language=en))</ref>

In July 2023, Knapp attended a hearing on UFOs at the United States Congress.<ref>((Cite web |title=Longtime Las Vegas reporter attends UFO Congress hearing. What came of it? |url=https://knpr.org/show/knprs-state-of-nevada/2023-07-31/longtime-las-vegas-reporter-attends-ufo-congress-hearing-what-came-of-it |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Nevada Public Radio ((!)) KNPR |language=en))</ref> According to skeptical writer [[Mick West]], "George Knapp was (and still is) very much a believer in aliens, having built a considerable segment of his career in promoting the claims of Area 51 confabulator Bob Lazar as factual".<ref name="West" /> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described Knapp as the "[[John the Baptist]] of the UFO movement".<ref>((Cite magazine |last=Rodrick |first=Stephen |date=2020-08-20 |title=Loving the Alien |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/aliens-real-ufo-area-51-nevada-pentagon-history-1046067/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US))</ref>

==Awards==
Knapp has won five regional and two national [[Edward R. Murrow Award (Radio Television Digital News Association)|Edward R. Murrow Award]]s, twenty-four [[Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy|Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards]] ([[Emmy_Awards#Regional|Regional Emmys]]), and nine [[Associated Press]] Mark Twain Awards.<ref name="ss">((cite web|url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/George-Knapp/162064035|title=George Knapp|work=Simon & Schuster|accessdate=August 3, 2023))</ref> He has also won a [[Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award|DuPont Award]] from Columbia University and two [[Peabody Award]]s.<ref name="ss"/>

Knapp and photojournalist Matt Adams were recognized for their work on the investigative series ''Crossfire: Water, Power, and Politics'' that received a 2008 Peabody Award.<ref>((cite news |title=Eyewitness News I-Team Wins Peabody Award |url=http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10110204 |publisher=[[KLAS-TV]] |date=2009-04-01 |access-date=2 April 2009 ))((Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes ))</ref>

==Animal welfare==
((Original research section|reason=The date of a broadcast hosted by the subject is not a reliable source for statements of fact|date=May 2024))
Knapp has been concerned with [[animal welfare]] since the beginning of his journalism career. Since hosting occasionally with ''Coast to Coast AM'', he hosts an annual animal welfare broadcast concerning issues, the development of law, [[cruelty to animals|animal cruelty]] and remediation efforts. The 2016 broadcast covered various issues including horses and [[trophy hunting]], noting the almost one year anniversary since the [[killing of Cecil the lion]] and the effect the incident was still causing at the date of the show.<ref>''Coast to Coast AM'' evening broadcast, 18 June 2016.</ref>

== Personal life ==
Knapp married his longtime girlfriend Anne “The Viking” Fechner in 2010.<ref>((Cite web |date=2010-08-13 |title=Media uncover Knapp nuptials |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/media-uncover-knapp-nuptials/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US))</ref>

== References ==
((Reflist))

==External links==
* ((IMDb name|3247345))
* [http://www.coasttocoastam.com/pages/george-knapp Profile] at [[Coast to Coast AM]]
* [http://www.beyondweird.com/ufos/George_Knapp_Interview_November_1989.html Transcript of an Interview from November 17, 1989] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020183337/http://www.beyondweird.com/ufos/George_Knapp_Interview_November_1989.html |date=October 20, 2006 )) by [[Chuck Harder]]


((UFOs))
((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Knapp, George))
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American talk radio hosts]]
[[Category:American television reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:American UFO writers]]
[[Category:Coast to Coast AM]]
[[Category:Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Journalists from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Journalists from Las Vegas]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Woodbury, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Television anchors from Las Vegas]]
[[Category:Ufologists]]
[[Category:University of the Pacific (United States) alumni]]
[[Category:University of West Georgia alumni]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

George Knapp (television journalist) (edit)
Template:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Br separated entries (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Catalog lookup link (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite magazine (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Count (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dead link (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:IMDb name (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:ISBN (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox person (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:Original research (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Original research section (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:PAGENAMEBASE (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Pluralize from text (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:UFOs (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Unbulleted list (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Use mdy dates (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Wikidata image (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yesno (view source) (protected)
Template:Yesno-no (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yesno-yes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/auxiliary (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Catalog lookup link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for clobbered parameters (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Check isxn (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Detect singular (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:GetParameters (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/rfd (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:ParameterCount (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Separated entries (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:String2 (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Ustring (view source) (protected)
Module:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to George Knapp (television journalist).

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Knapp_(television_journalist)"