John Pepitone

Reporter

John Pepitone is a general assignment reporter for FOX 4. He joined the station in 1993 as a field reporter.

John came to FOX 4 from WMTV in Madison, Wisconsin where he was a reporter for four years. Prior to WMTV, John was a reporter for KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa. He also served as a Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Medill News Service, which provides localized news reports from the nation’s capital for several television stations.

John graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. He also earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern. He is an associate member of the Radio and Television News Directors Association.

John’s work has been recognized numerous times. The St. Louis chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated John for an Emmy in 2005 in the category of “Culture” and the Society of Professional Journalists, Kansas City Press Club, presented John with a Silver Award for public service for his reporting on street racing in Kansas City.

In 2005, John received the Gold Award for investigative reporting from the SPJ Kansas City Press Club, for his research into the lack of armor plating for military humvees and other vehicles used by American soldiers in Iraq. The press club also awarded John an Honorable Mention for an investigative report into worker compensation fraud. John also received a Silver Award from the SPJ Kansas City Press Club in 2005 in general reporting for alerting consumers about hospital-acquired infections. John received a Second Place award from the SPJ Kansas City Press Club in 2004 for his feature story on a small town murder.

In 1999, he was honored with a First Place KC Press Club award for Best Breaking News of “Kidnapper Captured”, and a Second Place Missouri Associated Press award for his coverage of the Pamela Butler kidnapping. He has been presented three “Story of the Month” awards by the Associated Press. In 1998, the Missouri Associated Press honored him with first place in “Spot News” for his coverage of a deadly flash flood in Kansas City. The Kansas City Press Club awarded John with a first place Heart of America award for “Spot News” in 1996 and 1994. The Missouri Associated Press awarded him second place in the category of “Spot News” for his coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. In 1995, he again was nominated for an Emmy in the category of “Spot News.”

In his spare time, John enjoys cycling and weight lifting. He also is a fan of baseball and hockey.

A native of Chicago, John and his wife, Mary, currently reside in Leawood, Kansas with their three daughters, Paige, Gina, and Mariel.

Recent Articles

  • Robbery suspect leads police on wild, wrong-way chase

    Posted on: 6:11 am, May 24, 2013, by , updated on: 11:27am, May 24, 2013

    SHAWNEE, Kan. — A liquor store robbery ended with a wild chase down the wrong way of Interstate 70. The...
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    Shawnee robbery
  • Two face charges in teen’s ATV death

    Posted on: 12:41 pm, May 23, 2013, by

    PAOLA, Kan. — It was supposed to be a night for friends to get together and have some fun.  But...
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  • Family, friends remember 16-year-old Savannah Nash

    Posted on: 1:50 pm, May 22, 2013, by , updated on: 05:39pm, May 22, 2013

    NEAR HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Friends and family gathered Wednesday morning to say goodbye to Savannah Nash, a 16-year-old Cass County...
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  • Storm knocks out Pleasant Valley’s storm sirens, concerns residents

    Posted on: 12:01 pm, May 21, 2013, by , updated on: 01:15pm, May 21, 2013

    PLEASANT VALLEY, Mo. — As we enter the peak of the severe storm season, a northland community finds itself without...
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  • Church’s roof caves in, pastor grateful for outpouring of support

    Posted on: 6:57 am, May 20, 2013, by , and , updated on: 12:48pm, May 20, 2013

    INDEPENDENCE, Mo. –  “It’s just good to be alive,” said Doyle Ankrom, pastor of Full Gospel Assembly Church in Independence,...
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  • Teen dies in accident while texting

    Posted on: 11:49 am, May 17, 2013, by , updated on: 08:06pm, May 17, 2013

    HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Students at the high school here are mourning the death of a 16-year-old classmate, killed in a...
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  • Man faces new charges after deadly hit-and-run accident

    Posted on: 12:13 pm, May 16, 2013, by , updated on: 12:19pm, May 16, 2013

    OLATHE, Kan. — A man charged in a deadly hit-and-run accident has gotten into more trouble with the law. Brock...
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  • Man who faces child sex charges appears in court

    Posted on: 11:58 am, May 15, 2013, by , updated on: 07:23pm, May 15, 2013

    INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A 31-year-old man charged with statutory sodomy and other sex crimes appeared in Jackson County Court Wednesday...
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  • Jackson County drug courts commended for success with offenders

    Posted on: 11:29 am, May 13, 2013, by

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County celebrated the work it does through drug treatment courts on Monday. Drug courts in...
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  • 61 charged with firearms, drug violations in federal KC roundup

    Posted on: 12:28 pm, May 10, 2013, by , updated on: 01:31pm, May 10, 2013

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sixty-one people are being charged with federal firearms violations and drug trafficking crimes in the largest...
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    Federal charges
  • Multi-vehicle accident kills two on I-29

    Posted on: 6:45 am, May 9, 2013, by and , updated on: 05:35pm, May 9, 2013

    BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — A husband and wife are dead and nine others hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash Thursday morning...
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    I-29 traffic accident
  • KC rapper killed in house fire

    Posted on: 5:53 am, May 6, 2013, by , and , updated on: 05:30pm, May 6, 2013

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One man is dead after an early morning house fire near 54th and Chestnut in Kansas...
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