Art Norman is a special contributor to NBC 5 News. His "Making a Difference" segments feature extraordinary people making a difference in their communities across the Chicago area. He also co-hosts "Tech Trends" segments with NBC 5’s Charlie Wojciechowski.
In 2021 Art was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists with the Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is "presented to journalists whose lifetime body of work has had a positive and long-lasting impact on the journalism profession."
Art is a frequent NBC 5 News ambassador making appearances at many community events.
Norman came to NBC 5 News as a general assignment reporter in July 1982 from WMAR-TV, in Baltimore, Md., where he worked as a reporter and weekend anchor since 1979. Prior to his tenure with WMAR-TV, Norman worked as a reporter at WPCQ-TV and WSOC-TV, both in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began his broadcasting career in 1969, as a television engineer at WCCB-TV, also in Charlotte.
In February 1990, Norman's initiative led to an NBC 5 News exclusive investigation of the Cook County Sheriff's Department, probing allegations of civil rights violations during a questionable drug raid on a suburban tavern.
During his career, Norman has received many honors for journalistic excellence. Most recently he received an Emmy Award for his contribution to NBC 5's coverage of the Chicago Auto Show special. He has also won Emmys for his spot news coverage of the Fox River Grove bus crash. His series "Cops and Robbers," which uncovered secret files on police officers with criminal records, was honored with two prestigious awards: a national Investigative Reporters and Editors Award and a 1992-93 Associated Press Award for "Best Investigative Reporting."
He also received a 1989 Chicago Emmy Award for his contributions to NBC 5's coverage of the Laurie Dann spot news story. He was an integral part of NBC 5's coverage of the Beirut hostage crisis, providing comprehensive reports on the fate of Geneva and St. Charles residents held captive by terrorists. His efforts were honored with a 1986 Emmy Award. In all, Norman has six Emmy Awards.
His other honors include: a 1987 Wilbur Award given by the Religious Public Relations Council for "Giving God The Glory," a documentary tracing Chicago's gospel history, and a 1984 International Radio and Television News Directors Award for his live coverage of the shooting of a divorce court judge and an attorney in a Daley Center courtroom.
His documentary on the plight of poor children won a 1978 School Bell Award from the National Association of Educators. In 1976, Norman worked as writer and photographer on the George Foster Peabody Award-winning edition of NBC's "Weekend Magazine." He won North Carolina's RTNDA Award for his coverage of a fatal air balloon crash in 1975.
Norman's involvement with the community is extensive. In addition to hosting numerous community events each year, Norman is a spokesman for the United Negro College Fund and serves as an on-air host of their telethon.
Norman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Physics from Johnson C. Smith University. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and holds a first class F.C.C. engineer’s license. Norman is married and lives in Evanston.