Laural Porter Biography
Laural Porter is an American news anchor working for KGW as an evening anchor at 5, 6:30, and 11 p.m. She joined the KGW news team in 2000, after previously working for WESH.
Laural Porter Career
Porter received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She was named the UCSB Communication Department’s Outstanding Graduate. Porter works as an anchor for Portland, Oregon’s KGW. KGW News airs her during the workweek. In addition, she co-anchors KGW News at 11 and is the host of KGW’s current affairs program, “Straight Talk,” which airs on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. Laural was the 2015 Northwest Regional Emmy winner for Straight Talk’s best host/moderator. Exclusive interviews with former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber, who was under fire for the defunct Cover Oregon health insurance exchange and a controversy involving his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, were included in her winning application.
Laural was also the recipient of the 2015 regional Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting, together with photojournalist Kurt Austin. Their award-winning story followed Jeff Daly’s search for his long-lost sister, Molly, who had been institutionalized in the 1950s. Over ten years of reporting by Porter and Austin documented Jeff and Molly’s reunion and, eventually, their last heartfelt farewell.
In 2011, Laural received the esteemed Edward R. Murrow Award for feature reporting on a national level. For her coverage of mental health concerns, she was honored with a national award from the Mental Health Association. She won a Western Area Associated Press feature reporting prize in 2012 and a six-time Northwest regional Emmy award. In addition to multiple honors from her reporting and anchoring career in Idaho, she has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, Oregon Association of Broadcasters, and Society of Professional Journalism.
She was invited to question President Obama on trade concerns at the White House in February 2015, which turned out to be one of the highlights of her career. Her live reporting from the White House followed her meeting with the President and members of his Cabinet, making her the only anchor in Oregon and one of only four in the country to do so. Laural also received an invitation to lead His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s interfaith panel discussion at the University of Portland in 2013. She was given a traditional Tibetan Khata by His Holiness as a token of appreciation and respect.
Laural had a varied radio experience before joining KGW in 2000. She began her career in radio as a news writer for KSON radio in San Diego. Porter also made public appearances for the station as the “KSON Cowgirl.” She gained experience reporting news stories “on air” on radio. Her first job in television was as a weather reporter and “Porter Reports” feature reporter at KIFI-TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She worked as an anchor and reporter for the following networks: WESH-TV (NBC) in Orlando, Florida; KCOY-TV in Sa nta Maria, California; and KTVB (NBC) in Boise, Idaho.
In addition, Laural qualified for the 2004 Boston Marathon, which she ran in record heat having previously completed the Portland Marathon on multiple occasions. In addition, she has raised $7,000 for the Leukemia Society throughout the years by running marathons for their “Team in Training” program. Laural also chaired the “Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure” in Portland and Vancouver for several years as an honorary co-chair. She raised money for the race three years in a row and was in the top 100. For Laural, it’s a really important cause.
She currently works as a volunteer with the Achon Uganda Children’s Fund, which aims to better the lives of those living in Northern Uganda and assist children who have been left orphaned by the civil war. She got interested after writing a piece with Beaverton-based entrepreneur Julius Achon, a former Olympic runner from Uganda.
Laural Porter Salary
Porter earns an annual salary of about $47,000-$120,000.
Laural Porter Net Worth
Porter has an estimated net worth of about $1 Million – $7 Million which she has earned through her career as a news anchor.
Laural Porter Age
Porter was born in 1960 in California, the United States and she is 64 years old as of 2024. She has neither disclosed the date nor month was born. Thus, it is not known when she celebrates her birthday.
Laural Porter Height and Weight
Porter stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 5 inches tall. She has not disclosed her weight. However, this information will be updated when available.
Laural Porter Family
During the 2004 Boston Marathon, Laural ran as a tribute to her stepfather, who passed away from leukemia. Her stepmother, who also fought breast cancer, passed away, and her mother-in-law is a survivor. Laural likes to keep her personal life private hence she has neither disclosed the names of her parent nor those of her siblings. However, this information will be updated when available.
Laural Porter Husband and Children
Laural is married to her husband, Mike Houlihan. Porter and Mike tied the Knot on June 20, 1987, in the shadow of Mount Moran in Grand Teton National Park. They have been blessed with four grown-up children, whom she says are the light of her life. Her first-born daughter, Meg is a lawyer by profession. Porter and Mike are grandparents to Eloise, Madeline, and Isla. She has not disclosed the names of her other three children. However, this information will be updated when available.
Laural Porter Leaving KGW
Following her absence from on-air, Porter shared the reason for that in an October 28, 2023 post on Facebook and Instagram. She stated that she is taking advantage of Oregon’s new paid Family Leave Act to help take care of a loved one. She also went on to thank KGW and the state of Oregon for making that opportunity possible and the entire news team for their support and incredible talents and that she would return to the station in January.
Laural Porter Social Media Platform
Porter is very active on her Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. She has 16.2k followers on Twitter 1.4k followers on Instagram, and 7.3k followers on Facebook.