Leon Harris anchors News4 at 4 and contributes to other weekday newscasts. He joins the team after 21 years at CNN in Atlanta and 14 years in D.C. local news.
Harris began his career behind the scenes in a variety of technical roles. His first big on-air reporting was during coverage of the L.A. riots. From there, he anchored CNN’s morning programs, winning acclaim for coverage of major news events like the Oklahoma City bombing, the O.J. Simpson trial, the September 11th attacks, and the 2000 Elections and Recount. Harris was twice awarded the National Cable Ace Award for Best Anchor.
In 2003 Harris moved to Washington to cover local news in his adopted home. He has won more than a dozen Local Emmys for his reporting and anchoring, including two as Best Local News Anchor. He was also recognized for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and his reporting from the jungles of El Salvador on illegal immigration.
Harris is also known for his award-winning series focusing on area youth doing remarkable things in service to others and the adults making a way for those young people to succeed.
Harris’ commitment to supporting youths extends to the scholarships in his name at his alma mater Ohio University, where he is a cum laude graduate and holds an honorary doctorate.
He and his family live in Potomac, MD.
