Mark Davis is the multi-Emmy Award winning Chief Political Correspondent for News 8 and WTNH.com. Mark’s political expertise and excellent reporting skills have made him one of the most popular broadcasters in the state for four decades.
Mark has been ‘on the air’ in Connecticut for 37 years and a broadcaster for more than 50. “Labor Day of 1966 was the first time I stepped foot in a broadcasting station and I still enjoy this business every day,” Mark says. “I got my first real job on the radio in the summer of 1967 while still in college…holy smokes!”
Mark came to Connecticut in 1980 from the Boston area where he had been an award-winning radio news director and talk show host for more than 10 years. He spent several years covering the Massachusetts State Capitol in the early 1970s and was an Administrative Assistant to the Massachusetts State Senate.
He co-hosted the state’s first Saturday morning news/information/magazine program, “Good Morning Connecticut,” and has filled several anchor slots on various editions of News 8. For most of the 1980s, he could also be heard on the highest-rated week night radio call-in program in Connecticut, “Dial Mark Davis” on WTIC AM.
Mark was first to report what many consider the biggest political story of the decade; the resignation of Governor John Rowland in June of 2004. He was voted best local TV reporter in the state two years in a row by the readers of “Connecticut Magazine.”
Mark and his wife Betsy reside in Granby.
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Journalist who inspired you growing up: There actually were three; Paul Harvey, Lowell Thomas, and David Brinkley.
Favorite thing about your job: Having someone walk up to me and say ‘I like you Mark Davis, you’re a plain talker.’ I strive to be a ‘plain talker’ every day.
Hardest thing about your job: It’s not very hard, in fact it’s fun and interesting every day.
Three words that describe you: Interested, helpful, and, I hope; fair.
First job: I was a stand up salesman at a card and gift shop while I was in high school and quit to take a cut in pay for my first job in broadcasting as an announcer at a small radio station.
Person you would like to eat lunch with: President Trump, Pope Francis
How do you take your coffee: Black
Favorite quote: “There is neither absolute good nor absolute evil, only shifting standards of positive and negative behavior, determined by the majority and subject to change.” this is actually a paraphrase by the author Edmund Morris of a quote by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1881.
Hobbies: Hiking, travel, food and wine.
Can’t live without: Air, water, food.
Best dish you can cook: I’m pretty good with the grill, and have been told my ‘Caesar salad’ would have impressed Mr. Ritz. (Caesar Ritz was the inventor of the Caesar salad.)
Favorite TV show: ABC World News Tonight
Favorite movie: ‘Citizen Kane’
Favorite food: I’m very fond of all good food. I can be just as happy with good Japanese as good Italian.
Favorite drink: Water
Favorite snack: Fruit, yogurt. (I’m watching my figure)
Favorite singer/group: Boy, this is tough. I love Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme and Nat ‘King’ Cole,.. but I also love ‘the Moody Blues,’ ‘the Beatles,”Eric Clapton,’ ‘BB King,’ and Bob Marley. I also like ‘Coldplay,’ ‘Indigo Girls,’ and ‘Natalie Merchant’.
Favorite book: ‘The Stress of Life,’ by Hans Selye. Doctor Selye is considered the Einstein of the stress theorists. His book has been in several printings, on and off the best seller list since it was first published
Favorite song: Also tough because I also like Chopin, Mozart, and Straus.
Favorite city to visit: I enjoy the features of all of Connecticut’s cities. Outside of Connecticut; Boston is my hometown but I also love New York. San Francisco and Chicago are also great cities
Advice for students interested in being a TV journalist: Go to college, take plenty of History and English and Public Speaking. Journalism courses will help.
Most memorable story you covered while at WTNH: Another tough question; The income tax battle of 1991 was the biggest political story of that decade. The Rowland Scandal was the biggest political story of this decade. The ‘Gore/Lieberman’ campaign was the biggest political story of the disputed 2000 election. The Lieberman/Lamont primary of 2006 was also very memorable.
