David Begnaud has become an iconic figure in journalism, aptly dubbed "America's Storyteller." For nearly a decade, the Emmy Award-winning CBS News Contributor has traveled the country to cover disaster and tragedy with empathy, compassion, and integrity. David was hailed for his reporting on Hurricane Maria's aftermath in Puerto Rico, which won him the George Polk Award for public service as well as international praise for his dedication to telling the stories of those suffering and underserved. He spent more time covering Puerto Rico's recovery than any other network news correspondent, traveling to the island countless times and breaking numerous significant stories.

His expansive use of social media drove home his commitment to exposing injustice wherever he found it. Today, David continues to speak truth through his feature stories, stories that uplift us and remind us of our shared humanity. 

As a CBS News contributor, Begnaud previously served as the lead national correspondent for CBS Mornings, covering disasters, both man-made and natural, from massacres to mass shootings, earthquakes and volcanoes to a pandemic and civil unrest. He joined the network in 2015 and his reporting — featured across all CBS News broadcasts and platforms, including CBS Evening News, 48 Hours, CBS Sunday Morning, and CBS News 24/7 — has earned him some of journalism's most prestigious awards. In addition to the George Polk Award, Begnaud received Radio Television Digital News Association's First Amendment Leadership Award for his significant contribution to the protection of the First Amendment and freedom of the press.

Begnaud has covered major live news disasters with his distinctive, unmatched reporting. Begnaud's coverage of important national and international stories is also featured prominently on CBS News 24/7. Prior to CBS, Begnaud covered a wide variety of national breaking news from weather to crime for several news organizations. Previously, he created and reported for "Newsbreaker" at ORA-TV, a social media platform for current events and breaking news and was a contributing correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight," the No. 1 syndicated entertainment newsmagazine in the world.

His career began in local news at KLFY-TV as an unpaid "teen reporter" while in high school, in his home state of Louisiana. Upon graduation, KLFY-TV hired him as a full-time reporter. He later became the weekend morning and evening news anchor. During the week he attended college, and graduated from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 2005.