David Highfield

David got his start at KDKA as a writer in 1991 before being promoted to a newscast producer.

VITALS
Joined KDKA: 1991
Hometown: Ford City
Alma Mater: Ford City High School, Syracuse University

FAVORITES
Music: My music moods change. 70s or 80s pop. Cabaret songs. Jazz. All good.
Movie: I can still quote lines from “Broadcast News.” So can Dennis Bowman.
TV Show: Is it too self-serving to answer “Your Pittsburgh?” We love putting it together! I’m also a sucker for reruns of classic TV shows.
Book: I’m into mindfulness, so “10% Happier” by Dan Harris is intriguing to me right now.
Hobbies: I paint and draw and wish I had more time to do both.
Sports Team: Pirates, Penguins, Steelers
Food: Italian food and seafood! But beets, ginger and ice cream are my favorite foods, just not together!
Local Restaurant: I love so many! We visit both Senti and Matteo’s in Lawrenceville often.
Hidden PA Gem: Watch for it on the next “Your Pittsburgh!”
Sport/Exercise: Tennis tricks me into exercise, but the way I play keeps my ego in check.
Quote: “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.” – A friend I was lucky to know.
Vacation Spot: Provincetown is my favorite! But I also love NYC, San Francisco and Key West.
Holiday: Any day I’m around the people I love.
Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate and red wine.

THIS OR THAT
Facebook or Twitter? Twitter
Cats or Dogs? That’s like asking someone which child they love more. Both!
Beatles or Rolling Stones? Beatles
Comedy or Tearjerker? Comedy
Phone Call or Text Message? It depends.
Mac or PC? Mac
Coffee or Tea? Iced tea.
Paper or Plastic? Who came up with these questions?
Morning Person or Night Person? Night Owl. Always have been.
East Coast or West Coast? Each has a vibe I enjoy, and both have beaches!

David is an Emmy award-winning reporter, anchor and co-host of “Your Pittsburgh.”

He got his start at KDKA as a writer in 1991 before being promoted to a newscast producer. Then he went in front of the camera, first as the Westmoreland County Bureau Chief and later as the Beaver/Butler Bureau Chief. Since 2001, he has been reporting primarily for the 11 p.m. news.

Among the news events David has covered: Visits to the U.S. by Pope Francis and Pope Benedict, the shootings at Virginia Tech, aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Amish schoolhouse shootings, the death of Mayor Bob O’Connor, the crash of Flight 427 and Richard Baumhammers’ shooting spree.

Some of his reports have aired on WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles. He’s also reported live on drought conditions for CBS This Morning and on a train derailment for WBBM in Chicago.

He created and executive produces KDKA-TV’s newsmagazine “Your Pittsburgh,” which highlights new and exciting things happening in our area.

David has won nine Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. He’s also won two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards: One for his report on a possible connection between Marcellus Shale drilling and earthquakes, and one for an examination of how smoke detectors often don’t wake up children.

In addition, he’s won Golden Quills for feature reporting, an award from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association, and a Matrix award for flood coverage.

His hometown inducted him into the Ford City Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2013, he was inducted into the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame for numerous sports-related stories he’s covered over the years.

He has donated his time to local charities including Persad Center, Hair Peace, American Red Cross, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County.

David played a news reporter in the 2009 short film “Tommy and Me.” It was produced by Fleadh Films and benefited Operation Safety Net, which helps people who are homeless.

David attended Ford City High School and graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with high honors.

He lives in Lawrenceville.

You can connect with him on Twitter @DavidHighfield, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davidhighfield.tv, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/davidhighfield/