Reed Cowan

Education

Utah State University.

Career

Cowan started his journalism career working as a radio disc-jockey for KNEU Radio in Roosevelt, Utah. In 1995, Cowan worked as a part-time on-air reporter for Fox"s KSTU in Salt Lake City, Utah while a student at Utah State University. From there he assumed full-time positions as an anchor for KBAK-television in Bakersfield, California and as an anchor for WWTV in Cadillac, Michigan.

Cowan next worked as a reporter and weekend morning anchor for KSL-television in Salt Lake City.

After KSL-television, Cowan moved to KTVX, also in Salt Lake City. While there, he anchored Good Morning Utah and covered the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, the murder of Lori Hacking, the death of former President Ronald Reagan and the fugitive stories of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs.

During his teenage years Cowan had a relationship with Gregory Abplanalp, who attended the same high school as Cowan. Cowan ended the relationship at the request of a church leader, and went through years of various forms of conversion therapy, then married a woman at the urging of another church leader.

Cowan is also a triathlete.

Wesley"s death prompted Cowan to found the Wesley Smiles Coalition, which works with Free the Children to raise funds to build schools in Africa. Cowan also made the 2007 documentary The Other Side of the Lens, which covers his emotions over his son"s death and his experiences with the media attention Wesley"s death attracted. Cowan is also on the advisory board for Free The Children, a child advocacy organization, and serves as a producer for the youth organization Power In You.

He is also an active supporter of anti-bullying legislation and has worked as a public speaker on the subject of bullying in school.

Achievements

• 2007, nominated for Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy Award for his work at KTVX 2008, won Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy Award for his 2007 work at KTVX 2008, nominated for Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for his In Wesley’s Honor 2009, nominated for Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for his 2008 work at WSVN 2011, won GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary for 8: The Mormon Proposition 2013, won 5 Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards for his work at KSNV 2014, won 4 Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards for his work at KSNV 2015, nominated for 3 Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards for his work at KSNV.