Katherine Creag

{{Short description|Filipino-American television journalist (1973–2021)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Katherine Creag

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = December 26, 1973

| birth_place = Manila, Philippines

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|02|10|1973|12|26}}

| death_place = New York City, U.S {{cite news |title=Katherine Creag, longtime WNBC/4 reporter, dies at 47 |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/katherine-creag-wnbc-dead-1.50150722 |access-date=March 7, 2021 |publisher=News Today |date=February 12, 2021}}

| other_names =

| citizenship =

| alma_mater = New York University

| occupation = Television journalist

| years_active = 1996–2021

| spouse = {{marriage|Bill Gafner|September 2, 2006}}

| children = 3

}}

Katherine Creag Gafner (December 26, 1973 – February 10, 2021) was a Filipino-American television journalist. She worked for WNBC for a decade prior to her death. Before that, she worked for NY1, WTVH, and WNYW. She won several awards for her journalism.

Early life and education

Creag was born in Manila, Philippines{{cite news|title=NBC New York reporter Katherine Creag dies suddenly at 47|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nbc-new-york-reporter-katherine-creag-dies-suddenly-47-n1257465|first=Elisha|last=Fieldstadt|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|work=NBC News}} on December 26, 1973, to{{Cite web|date=2021-02-12|title=Woman Who Grew Up In Warsaw, Worked As A NYC TV Reporter, Dies Unexpectedly|url=http://www.inkfreenews.com/2021/02/12/woman-who-grew-up-in-warsaw-worked-as-a-nyc-tv-reporter-dies-unexpectedly/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-13|website=InkFreeNews.com|language=en-US}} Valentino and Cecilia Creag.{{cite news|title=Weddings/Celebrations; Katherine Creag, William Gafner|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/03/style/weddingscelebrations-katherine-creag-william-gafner.html|date=September 3, 2006|access-date=February 11, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times}} The family eventually moved to Warsaw, Indiana,{{cite news|title=Katherine Creag|url=http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/about_us/personalities/Katherine_Creag|date=June 15, 2007|access-date=February 11, 2021|publisher=WNYW|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421215426/http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/about_us/personalities/Katherine_Creag|archivedate=April 21, 2010}} and she went to high school in Chicago. She attended New York University for her undergraduate degree in journalism, and graduated in 1996.{{cite news|title=Former Syracuse TV reporter Katherine Creag dies suddenly at 47|url=https://www.syracuse.com/tv/2021/02/former-syracuse-tv-reporter-katherine-creag-dies-suddenly.html|first=Geoff|last=Herbert|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York}}{{cite news|title=Katherine Creag Dies: WNBC 'Today In New York' Reporter Was 47|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/katherine-creag-dead-obituary-wnbc-reporter-today-in-new-york-1234692646/|first=Greg|last=Evans|date=February 11, 2021|accessdate=February 11, 2021|magazine=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web|date=May 12, 2020|title=NYU Journalism Alumni report on the COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/news-post/2020/05/12/nyu-journalism-alumni-report-on-the-covid-19-pandemic/|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=NYU Journalism|language=en-US}}

Career

Creag started her news career at the NY1 channel in New York City. There, she reported on the 7th on Sixth fashion shows, TWA Flight 800, and the trials stemming from the Crown Heights riot. She later recounted that the most memorable interview she conducted during her tenure there was with John F. Kennedy Jr. She went on to work for WTVH (CBS 5) in Syracuse, New York, from 1998 until 2000. After leaving CBS, Creag was employed by WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as KDFW (Fox 4) in Dallas. She worked for WNYW (Fox 5 New York) starting in March 2005. She reported for the channel's Good Day New York and Fox 5 Midday newscasts.

Beginning in 2011, Creag became a news reporter for WNBC television in New York City.{{cite news|title=NBC New York reporter Katherine Creag dies suddenly at 47|url=https://nypost.com/2021/02/11/nbc-new-york-reporter-katherine-creag-dead-at-47/|first=Lia|last=Eustachewich|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|newspaper=New York Post}} She reported primarily for Today in New York, the channel's morning news show that aired from 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., and again at 11:00 a.m.{{cite news|title=Katherine Creag: TV news anchor dies aged 47|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/katherine-creag-death-cause-age-nbc-b1801107.html|first=Gino|last=Spocchia|date=February 11, 2021|accessdate=February 11, 2021|newspaper=The Independent|location=London}} She also worked on the Saturday and Sunday programs Weekend Today in New York and News 4 New York at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2021/02/11/filipino-american-television-journalist-katherine-creag-dies-at-47/|title=Filipino-American Television Journalist, Katherine Creag Dies At 47|date=February 11, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/about-us/katherine-creag-wnbc-nbc-4-new-york/2074483/|title=Katherine Creag|date=February 14, 2013 }}

=Awards=

Throughout her career, Creag received several awards – both shared and outright – for her individual reporting and as part of a news team.{{cite news|title='Worked tirelessly for our city': Veteran NYC NBC reporter Katherine Creag, familiar face for morning viewers, dies suddenly at 47|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-obit-katherine-creag-20210211-byhrakhgrzetxgzcwci42diddy-story.html|first=Larry|last=McShane|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|newspaper=New York Post}} These included an Emmy Award, Edward R. Murrow Award, and an Associated Press award.{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/fishbowlny/veteran-reporter-katherine-creag-joins-wnbc/28698 |title=Veteran Reporter Katherine Creag Joins WNBC |last=Barmash |first=Jerry |date=February 4, 2011 |website=Fishbowl NY |publisher=Ad Week |access-date=March 15, 2015}}

Personal life

Creag married Bill Gafner on September 2, 2006, at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan. The couple had two daughters and one son.

Death

Creag died on the night of February 10, 2021. She was 47, and was not ill prior to her death.{{cite news|title=News 4 Reporter Katherine Creag Passes Away Suddenly|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/news-4-reporter-katherine-creag-passes-away-suddenly/2881018/|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021|publisher=WNBC}}

Creag's cause of death was announced as a result of a sudden cardiopulmonary incident.{{Cite web|title=Katherine Gafner avis de décès - New York, NY|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/fr-ca/obituaries/new-york-ny/katherine-gafner-10052313|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Dignity Memorial|language=fr}}