My FIRST Job as a Broadcast Journalist...
NEWS DIRECTOR &
TALK SHOW HOST
Early July '76 to Late July '77
The day after Hilliard told me his station wasn't big enough for both of us, I got a
Reporter job at a little radio station. It meant a 50% pay cut, but I was back in news.
Rather poetically, my last day at TV33 was 200-years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence... and I started at WGL on July 5th, 1976.
Six months later I was promoted to News Director and named Host of a daily call-in program, INTERCOM. When I started, the show was #13 in a 12-station market. Within one book it was #2, and very close to #1 - the powerhouse 50Kw WOWO. It was so successful, the boss doubled the show's air time!
I leaned to the left, to balance out most of the right leaning listeners.
When Dan Quayle launched his campaign for Congress - he chose MY show to make his first media appearance! I really thought I raked him over the coals and ruined his chances for election. Well.... what do I know?
My loyal audience jumped all over me when Dan put his foot in his mouth (without ANY help from me) saying things such as tada. Click the text link, or the picture to hear one of his gems. For several weeks, callers beat me to a pulp for the way I treated the future VP.
For the record: He's a nice guy and NO dumby. But Marilyn would make a better candidate - she's brilliant!
Callers also went crazy when I treated that "immoral writer" Richard Bach with the respect of a great teacher! When he took me flying in his old Bi-Plane to promote his new book, ILLUSIONS, I'm sure many listeners were hoping to hear a talk show host die on the air - even though we were "live on tape."
When we landed safely, I wondered if the audience erupted in a simultaneous roar because we both were still alive.
But, I really bit off more than I could chew when I endorsed the ERA! The station's hate mail doubled, and so did the ratings. A group called Eagle Forum organized a campaign to get me off the air and drive me nuts... which ever came first. They got my home phone number and called every hour, on the hour. My favorite was the woman assigned the 3AM duty, "My husband's the football coach at a local high school. He'll kick your fanny if you don't change your position."
Even so, half the town turned out for my going away party. The Mayor gave me a nice plaque and key to the city - and the right wingers probably think they won.
After a dozen months at WGL, I jumped at a chance to get back into TV ==> in NEWS!
Really, they lost someone who would die for their right to speak... while I head south to lose a rights battle.
Click the LOGO to make the trip south with me as I get my start my FIRST TV News job.
Click ICON to switch to DC Home Page.
Copyright © 2001 by Duffey Cybercations