David Ushery - Early Life

Early Life

Ushery was born and raised in Bloomfield, Connecticut, the only child of Solomon Ushery and Winifred Ushery. The journalism bug bit early.

At age 11, Ushery was selected from a state-wide search to host the local edition of “Kidsworld,” a nationally syndicated television show. One of his early interviews was with the late Walter Cronkite, the former CBS News anchor once ranked as the most trusted man in America. In what could be considered a prescient scene from that interview, young Ushery sits at the anchor desk. He asked Cronkite, “What kind of person should be a newscaster?” Cronkite responded that a person should have a sense of curiosity. Ushery has said of the interview: “Many have asked if I think that's when the seed was planted for me to become a television reporter and anchor. I say, YES.” Connecticut audiences would see Ushery grow up on television. He hosted “Kidsworld” until he was 18.

Ushery graduated from the University of Connecticut with a double-major in Political Science and Journalism. While at the university he was a staff writer for the Hartford Courant newspaper, where he honed his skills for covering local politics and events. He also reported for the Los Angeles Times. The CBS affiliate in Hartford, WFSB-TV, hired Ushery right after his graduation for its training program. But recognizing his talent, the station offered him a full-time general assignment reporting position within just a matter of months.