A Yankee goes South...
NEWS PRODUCER
& REPORTER
July '77 to October '78
Developed NEWSROOM format within initial month at first television producing assignment. The newscast earned an 83-share in first ratings test.
Launched the conversion from film to tape news coverage.
Perhaps you recognize the fellow in the picture below. If not, you gotta watch more TV and less of the computer screen!
From the "I remember him when department," I knew this guy when he was thinner and didn't have one shard of silver hair. He was the Arkansas Attorney General when I worked at KAIT in Jonesboro. At the time, we did a monthly show with him. As the State A.G., he was also responsible for consumer justice. The show dealt with various rip-off warnings, crooked business "oportunities." and other scams. Oh, I have a few tales of the young politician. I'll add some of those later.
So come on back, ya hear?
It was painfully obvious, and more painful to admit it: There was NO changing the social if not racial attitudes in this part of the country - not for several generations. My stay here would not change that one iota. That bothered me more than the joy I got from what I was able to accomplish in broadcast journalism at KAIT.
That's why it was so incredible in this land filled with myopic prejudice to find a man with more compassion, empathy, insight, and wisdom than anyone I knew before or since. Other than making a few new friends during this period, meeting Harold Sherman remains one of the few fond memories of my stay in Arkansas.
I thought, "Oh god, get me out of here!" and the phone started ringing. Dick Clay, the sports guy, got it and said "Yo Duffer, it's for you." Click the LOGO to find out how the call was an answered prayer.
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