Travers Mackel Biography
Travers Mackel is an American journalist working at WDSU serving as a News anchor at 4 and 5 pm. He has been working with the station since 2003.
Travers Mackel Career
Mackel works for WDSU, serving as a News Anchor at 4 & 5 PM Monday through Friday, and moderates the WDSU ‘Hot Seat’ segment Sunday night at 10:30 PM. While at the station he played a role in covering every major news story in the area for over a decade and says he truly loves what he does.
In 2016, Travers was named “Louisiana Newsperson Of The Year” by The Associated Press. Additionally, in 2014 he was named “Reporter Of The Year” in Louisiana by the same organization. Moreover, he was part of the WDSU News team awarded the National Murrow Award in 2018. Travers has been a part of WDSU’s winning submissions on four regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
He has also been the recipient of a prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to that, he was one for WDSU’s 2012 coverage of the Hubig’s Pies fire in the Marigny. IN 2015 he was a recipient of DSU’s documentary on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, Travers won received a National Headliner Award — one of the oldest and largest annual national awards recognizing journalistic merit.
Travers Mackel award
Moreover, he won the award for spot news coverage. One of Travers’ investigative stories was cited as a critical component in WDSU receiving the national Walter Cronkite Award for excellence in political journalism in 2015. In addition to that, he has covered high-profile public corruption and criminal trials.
He was the only television reporter to secure an on-camera interview with the former mayor since he was indicted, convicted, and jailed. In addition to that, Mackel has served as the station’s point person for the federal corruption trial of former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. Furthermore, he has covered the murder trial of the man who was convicted of shooting and killing former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.
Travers has also anchored the federal corruption case of former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard. In 2009, Travers spent several weeks in the Washington D.C. area covering the bribery trial of former Louisiana congressman William Jefferson. Moreover, he traveled to South Korea and Brazil as part of the Hearst Television team assigned to cover the Olympic Games in 2018 in PyeongChang and in 2016 in Rio.
Additionally, he was part of the WDSU news crew 2015 sent to upstate New York. To assist Hearst television station WPTZ with their continuing coverage of the Dannemora prison break. He also traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida in 2016 to cover Hurricane Matthew. On top of that, he was in both North Carolina and South Carolina covering Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Travers Mackel CNN
Mackel has also appeared on CNN numerous times and on MSNBC, including appearances on “The Rachel Maddow Show.” While in the station he played himself in an episode of the HBO series “Treme”. The show was shot in New Orleans and appeared as a reporter in the New Orleans shot the movie “This Is The End.” His biggest story he covered was Hurricane Katrina in the summer of 2005. Travers was one of only a handful of journalists to ride out the storm in the Louisiana Superdome and offer life. Also, firsthand reports as parts of the Superdome roof were ripped off.
Additionally, he was on a police boat, bringing viewers the story of rescue attempts hours after the levees broke in New Orleans when much of the city was underwater. Moreover, he was featured in the documentary “Seven Days That Changed New Orleans”. Traver also anchors much of the station’s round-the-clock coverage in the weeks following the storm.
Before joining WDSU, Mackel worked at KTVE-TV in Monroe, La where he served as an anchor and reporter. Prior to that, he served as a reporter at WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss for three years. Moreover, he has won nearly a dozen awards from the Press Club of New Orleans and The Associated Press of Louisiana. Furthermore, Travers graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans. He played shortstop on Loyola’s baseball team while in college.
Travers Mackel Age
Mackel likes to keep his personal life private and has not yet disclosed the year and month he was born. It is therefore not known when he celebrates his birthday. However, he might be in his 40s.
Travers Mackel Height
Mackel stands at the height of 5 feet 9 inches tall.
Travers Mackel Family
Mackel was born to his parents Judy Mackel and Late Frank Mackel. Additionally, he was raised alongside his twin brother Fletcher Mackel who works at WDSU as a sports anchor and a reporter.
Travers Mackel Wife
Mackel is married to Meg Gatto an anchor and a reporter at KVUE FOX 8 News. They tied the knot on May 25, 2018. Additionally, the couple welcomed their firstborn baby girl named Elizabeth Mackel on March 26, 2019. They were also blessed with a second girl Ellison Grace Mackel in January 2021.
Travers Mackel’s Net Worth
Mackel has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through being a News anchor.
Travers Mackel Salary
He earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Travers Mackel WDSU
Mackel is working at WDSU where he works alongside other famous anchors and reporters including;
- Elizabeth Kuebel
- Randi Rousseau
- Darryl Forges
- Morgan Lentes
- Chad Sabadie
- Sula Kim
- Gina Swanson
- Sharief Ishaq
- Fletcher Mackel
- Art Jarrett
- Devon Lucie
- Lee Southwick