Robert MacNeil is a Canadian-American journalist and author, best known for co-anchoring the PBS news program The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour alongside Jim Lehrer. He was born on January 19, 1932, in Montreal, Canada, and began his career in journalism in the 1950s. MacNeil has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Peabody Award. In addition to his television career, MacNeil has written several books, including The Story of English, which explores the history and evolution of the English language. He is recognized for his thoughtful reporting and in-depth interviews, contributing significantly to American journalism.