In Connecticut, Kenn Venit is often still recognized by people who watched him on Channel 8 as an anchor, reporter, weathercaster, talk show host, telethon host, High School Bowl moderator and Yankee Traveler feature reporter. He is in Connecticut’s Journalism Hall of Fame and has received two lifetime achievement awards.
After 15 years in broadcast journalism, Venit joined Primo Newservice, based in Connecticut and headed by ”The Father of Eyewitness News,” Al Primo. After 16 years of working with stations and cable channels, Venit launched his own media consulting firm.
He later began his third career, teaching at Quinnipiac University and Southern Connecticut State University. He teaches journalism and other courses, three at QU and two at SCSU, and also serves as an academic advisor and in the faculty senate at Quinnipiac, as well as on the academic integrity board.
Quinnipiac has honored Venit with an Excellence in Teaching Award. He has also received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the student government, and came in first in a “must-take professors” survey by The Quinnipiac student newspaper.
Venit has mentored thousands of people in his three careers, “paying back” his Temple mentors, Larry Bleinheim, John Roberts and Doug Perry. All of his teachers have passed away, except for the one who supervised his master’s degree work, Ed Trayes. Venit started his broadcast career at WFIL-TV6 (now WPV1), where Lew Klein was an executive. Klein approved Venit’s hiring for two part-time jobs and one full-time job.
He has been married to a Connecticut native (and former Temple staffer), Bonni, for 46 years, and has two daughters and seven grandchildren. Venit says being a Philly native and coming home to receive an award from his alma mater is a truly heartfelt experience.