PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – John Delano, Pennsylvania’s longest-serving TV political analyst and a trusted voice for 30 years on KDKA-TV, will retire on December 1st.
Delano joined KDKA in October 1994 and provided political analysis in that year’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. In 2001, he was appointed editor of Money and Politics and became widely known for his depth and expertise covering government, business, and political issues.
“John is an asset to the people of southwestern Pennsylvania, bringing us the information we need to stay informed,” said Chris Cotugno, president and general manager of KDKA. “His ability to access key decision makers is unparalleled. We thank John for his dedication and wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter. Thank you , John.”
“When we talk about politics in Pennsylvania or across the country, John Delano is included in the conversation,” said Sean Horder, vice president and news director for KDKA. “John is a mainstay at KDKA and we wish him a well-deserved retirement. But we will definitely continue to call him.”
Mr. Delano could return in a limited role, providing political reporting, interviews and analysis.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to work with my wonderful colleagues at KDKA for the past 30 years,” said Delano. “KDKA has a reputation for solid, even-handed journalism, so I’ve had the opportunity to interview many of our nation’s and commonwealth’s top leaders, asking questions that most people in Pennsylvania would ask if they had the chance. .”
Over the years, Delano has made a lasting impact on KDKA’s public affairs program. He produced and hosted the “Sunday Business Page” segment, served as a panelist on numerous political debates, wrote hundreds of “Money Minutes” financial advice segments, and appeared on the weekly public affairs program “KD/ Served as co-host of PG Sunday Edition. .
Most recently, we launched Inside PA Politics, a program that features young political activists working on important issues.
Delano’s work extended beyond Pittsburgh to CBS News, where he frequently appeared alongside national anchors such as Norah O’Donnell, Gayle King, and John Dickerson.
During his tenure, Mr. Delano met multiple times with figures such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, and Pete Buttigieg. He conducted interviews and gained the trust of leaders of major countries. .
He made a groundbreaking effort during the 2020 presidential campaign by conducting four one-on-one interviews with Biden, and interviewed former President Donald Trump during his presidential term and recent campaign. He became the first local journalist.
In 2008, Delano set a record by conducting eight interviews with then-Senator Obama, including two from the White House.
Delano has received numerous honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Award for Hard News Reporting, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Journalist of the Year Champion, multiple Golden Quill Awards, the Robert L. Vann Award, and the Clarity Award. .
Delano said, “I have no intention of missing the daily deadlines of a high-pressure newsroom like KDKA, but I will greatly miss the wonderful people who made my job possible and so much fun.” he said.
John’s last official day on the air as a full-time KDKA employee will be Monday, November 25th. Watch the congratulations and official farewells air at 5pm and 6pm on KDKA TV.
