ROBERT HANDA – Reporter, NBC Bay Area, San Jose
Named the “2015 Reporter of the Year” by the Associated Press, Robert Handa, who was previously an award-winning reporter at KTVU’s San Jose Bureau, returned to KNTV (now NBC Bay Area) in 2014 where he had started his career more than three decades ago. He is also the host of Asian Pacific America with Robert Handa, a weekly talk show. A South Bay native, Handa attended DeAnza College, winning a journalism contest for an internship at KNTV, which lead to his employment there. Prior to KTVU, Handa worked as a reporter/fill-in anchor at KPIX, was a reporter/documentary producer for KQED and The MacNeil Lehrer News Hour. Handa’s memorable reports include flying with the Blue Angels, an ocean rescue with the Air National Guard, the 49ers’ Super Bowl victory, and interviewing Jimmy Carter, Dalai Lama, Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Mikhail Gorbachav, Buzz Aldrin, Joe Montana, Willie Mays and Bill Walsh. His work has been awarded with several Emmy® statuettes and recognition from RTNDA, UPI, Associated Press, California School Boards Association, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) as well as the National Association of Black Journalists. In addition, Handa was given the “Community Star” award from Asian Americans for Community Involvement and the first-ever “Media Excellence” award from the South Bay Islamic Association. He served as Vice President for the AAJA Bay Area chapter, was media chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Walkathon, served on the Silicon Valley Volunteer Center, and is an active member of Kimochi, Self Help for the Elderly, Yu Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service, San Jose’s Office on Aging, and Family Bridges.
