Mark Saxenmeyer

Mr. Mark Saxenmeyer, Class of 1984

Mark Saxenmeyer is a 20-time Emmy winner and recipient of the National Edward R. Murrow award.  He joined FOX News Chicago in January 1994 and currently serves as special projects reporter, focusing on in-depth newsmagazine-style feature segments.  Mark founded the Independent Production Company, The Reporters, Inc. which he created to produce cultural, historical, educational and current events documentaries, focusing on subject matter overlooked by the mainstream media.  The first production of  The Reporters, Inc. commenced in South Africa in March, 2004, examining society there in the post-apartheid era.

Throughout the course of Mark’s career, his reports have also been honored with eight regional first place Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) awards and ten regional first place Associated Press (AP) awards.  Other honors include:  Scripps Howard Foundation Award, Association of Black Journalists’ Award, American Federation of Television and Radio Award, Press Club of Atlantic City Award, Unity in Media Award, Accolade Award, and Hugo Award.  His documentaries have been recipient of the Gracie Allen award, the Jury Prize at the 2004 New Orleans Gay and Lesbian Festival, the audience favorite of “Feel-Good Film” at the Indianapolis, Indiana Film Festival, and the Chicago Press Veterans Association award.

Before moving to Chicago, Mark was a general assignment reporter at KOVR-TV (the then-ABC affiliate) in Sacramento, California for four years.  He began his career interning at WFSB-TV (CBS) in Hartford, Connecticut and WISC-TV (CBS) in Madison, Wisconsin.  Also in Madison, he was a broadcast journalist major, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin. In May 2004, the UW honored Mark with the Young Alumni Award, recognizing “notable career achievement and service” under the age of 40.

Mark was born near Asbury Park, New Jersey; growing up, he lived in Des Plaines, Illinois, Minneapolis and Bloomington, Minnesota and in Europe and South America as a foreign exchange student. 

Mark was presented the Lake Conference Achievement Award in Arts and Activities in 1997.