Steve Kmetko

Steve Kmetko (born Stephen James Kmetko; February 16, 1953) is an American broadcast and entertainment journalist. First working as a news anchor and reporter in the US Midwest, Kmetko moved to Los Angeles, California, and embarked on a 30-year career as an entertainment journalist and television news-show host.

Kmetko came out as gay in 1999, becoming one of the first prominent openly gay journalists in America.

Early life and education Kmetko was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Kmetko graduated from William Howard Taft High School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1970. Kmetko graduated in 1976 with a degree in broadcast journalism from Columbia College Chicago.

Broadcast career News reporter Kmetko's first job was in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He was watching the local news team while visiting some friends there on vacation. He called the station and insisted he could do a better job. "They sat me down in front of a camera and told me to read." A week later, the station hired him.

Entertainment reporter In 1982, Kmetko was hired as a general-assignment reporter by CBS-owned-and-operated station KNXT (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles, later moving to a four-day-a-week schedule as entertainment reporter for Channel 2 News. Kmetko said he greatly enjoyed entertainment reporting. "Fortunately for me, entertainers do not remain in Los Angeles. They film movies and attend film festivals around the world. I have had the opportunity to travel to some wonderful places." He "interviewed everyone who was anyone in Hollywood". Kmetko also anchored the E! Entertainment Report, which was fed daily to NBC affiliates nationally.

Later career Kmetko hosted the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association's Excellence in Journalism Awards on October 4, 2005, at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In 2006, Kmetko was hired as the anchor, producer, and writer of Q Television Network World News. In May 2007, Kmetko was hired as a general-assignment reporter for Fox 11 News on Fox-owned-and-operated station KTTV in Los Angeles. Kmetko has served as producer and reporter of several video segments on California's gay-marriage ruling for theadvocate.com, the website of the gay news magazine The Advocate.

Podcasting Kmetko currently hosts the podcast Still Here Hollywood.

Personal life For years, Kmetko avoided discussing his private life in interviews. In 1999, however, he was interviewed by The Advocate'''s editor-in-chief Judy Wieder. Kmetko discussed his past closeted life and how he had decided to be open about his being gay. His reason:

When asked about the process of "coming out", Kmetko said:

Acting Kmetko is also an actor, known for Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Zoolander (2001), and Dave'' (1993).

Awards 1988 Los Angeles Press Club Award for Best Entertainment Reporting