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Paul Meincke

Paul Meincke
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Paul Meincke, veteran reporter, joined ABC 7 News nearly 25 years ago, as a General Assignment Reporter in August 1985. He came to Ch.7 from WEWS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cleveland Ohio. While there he was a General Assignment Reporter from 1981 through 1985 and served as substitute anchor on both weeknights and weekends.

Meincke began his reporting career at WHBF-AM/FM/TV in 1972 where he served as a radio reporter for news and high school sports. Meincke went on to be a news anchor at WHBF-TV in Rock Island, Illinois where he anchored the weeknight 10 p.m. news from 1976-78 and he anchored the 6 p.m. newscast from 1978-81 as well.

During his time in Cleveland, he won four local Emmys and a United Press International Award. In addition, Meincke received a 1980 Iris Award from the National Association of Television Programming Executives (NATPE) for a documentary on the Rock Island Lines liquidation, and three Illinois Associated Press Awards. More recently, Meincke received two Emmys in Chicago, as part of a team effort for the news coverage of the specials "The New Homeland," in 2002 and "Plane off Runway," in 2005.

Career highlights include reporting from Saudi Arabia for five weeks during the first Gulf War in 1991 and serving as the only Chicago reporter in 1999 in Belgrade (in the former Yugoslavia) when Reverend Jesse Jackson negotiated to have three United States army servicemen released from being held hostage.

Throughout his broadcast career, Meincke has received many prestigious awards. In 2001, he was awarded the Richard J. Daley Police Medal of Honor for serving as the intermediary in a tense hostage situation. The Illinois Press Veterans also honored Meincke for his handling of the event.

Active with the Boy Scouts for many years, Meincke was honored in 2003 with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award an adult volunteer can receive in recognition of his time and efforts. He is currently serving as a member of The Executive Board of the Northwest Suburban Council of Boy Scouts.

A native of Rock Island, Ill, Meincke received his Bachelor of Arts degree in speech in 1972 from Augustana College. Meincke, his wife and four sons reside in the northwest suburbs.