National Consumer Advocate

David Horowitz is a former reporter and anchor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles and a long-time advocate for consumer rights. Horowitz’ dedication to consumer advocacy was triggered after he was held at gunpoint while in the middle of a KNBC newscast in August 19, 1987. He was placed hostage live on the air and forced to read statements made by a gunman. It turned out that the gun used to threaten him was in fact, a toy gun. Horowitz eventually spearheaded a successful campaign to ban “look-alike” toy guns in various states across the United States.

In his young years, David Horowitz was a consistent straight A student and leader. He was Class ’54 at the New York School of Printing. After getting top referral from teacher Benjamin Greenwald to veteran NBC newscaster Irving Levine, he pursued a career in journalism. He later became a Vietnam war correspondent and cameraman.

Famous for his quote “Fight back! Don’t let anyone rip you off!”, David Horowitz has immersed himself in the cause of consumer advocacy for 35 years. He launched the Emmy Award-winning consumer rights show called Fight Back! With David Horowitz, a weekly show that ran from 1980 to 1992, which was an educational campaign to inform consumers of defective products that companies and corporations make.

Horowitz’ show was one of the longest-running programs under its genre. Among the most memorable segments of the show included the entertaining as well as informative commercial challenges which tested the veracity of products’ advertising claims. Several products were dropped from a helicopter, smashed with wrecking balls and subjected to durability tests.

Apart from his advocacy, he appeared on several shows including the Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Silver Spoons, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

He is also active in several affiliations including being a member of the Board for the National Broadcast Editorial Conference, City of Hope and the American Cancer Society.