Elizabeth Vargas

Elizabeth Vargas (born September 6, 1962 in Paterson, New Jersey) - TV journalist and presenter.

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September 6 - 1962 - Paterson, New Jersey

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Vargas is the first woman of Puerto Rican origin to be named anchor of ABC's television newsmagazine 20/20. She was born to a Puerto Rican father and an Irish-American mother; her father was then a Colonel in the U.S. Army. She spent her youth moving from base to base in Germany, Belgium and Japan.

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Puerto Rican - ABC - Newsmagazine - 20/20 - Irish-American - Colonel - U.S. Army - Germany - Belgium - Japan

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Vargas graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia; here she made her debut broadcast as a reporter/anchor for "KOMU-TV".

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Journalism - University of Missouri - Columbia - Reporter - Anchor - TV

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Vargas spent four years as a reporter and anchor for "WBBM-TV". Phyllis McGrady, a senior vice president at ABC, said of Vargas "Elizabeth is one of the most flexible talents I've ever worked with. She could do interviews, and do hour-long specials that make you think, and then she'll do a great interview with P. Diddy. She is versatile."

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Vargas is particularly proud of a special she did where she questioned why the Laci Peterson case merits more attention than two other similar cases, one involving a black woman and the other involving a Hispanic woman. Another story she did based on the book The Da Vinci Code and the role of Mary Magdalene, created a religious debate. Vargas stated that for centuries Mary Magdalene has been portrayed as a prostitute by the church. In her story, she also questioned the role of women within the church. In 1999, she won an Emmy Award for her coverage of the Elian Gonzalez story.

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Laci Peterson - Black - Hispanic - The Da Vinci Code - Mary Magdalene - Prostitute - Emmy Award - Elian Gonzalez

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Some of Vargas' other one-hour specials have included:

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• "Same Sex Marriages,"
• "Surrogacy," and
• "It Takes a Miracle."

Her curret rôles include:

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• Correspondent for "ABC News 20/20" (replacing Barbara Walters when she retired),
• Anchor of "World News Tonight Saturday,"
• Co-anchor of "Downtown," an ABC newsmagazine that debuted in 1999.

In April 2005, as Peter Jennings was receiving chemotherapy for his lung cancer, she and Charles Gibson temporarily filled in for him on World News Tonight Primetime until his death.

Related Topics:
April 2005 - Peter Jennings - Chemotherapy - Lung cancer - Charles Gibson - World News Tonight

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Elizabeth Vargas is married to Grammy singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, whom she met at the 1999 U.S. Open after being introduced by Andre Agassi. In 2003, the couple had a son.

Related Topics:
Grammy - Marc Cohn - U.S. Open - Andre Agassi - 2003

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Elizabeth Vargas: See also ►