This will start as an LA tv story, but rest assured end as an LA radio story. Like so many of us who have worked in radio/tv, I had a mentor who guided me along,, even though ever so briefly. With one year left at university before getting my radio/tv degree, I saw a notice on the bulletin board (yes, this was back in the day) that AFTRA was accepting applications for summer internships. I put my name in the hat, and lo and behold scored an internship at KABC Eyewitness News. I was floored, being invited to L.A.'s number one news station. So I spent the summer, mostly on assignment at the assignment desk, researching and setting up stories for the field reporters. On occasion I would be assigned to shadow a field reporter. Everyone was nice, but Morgan Williams was particularly nice. On the occasions I went to the field with her, she took the time to explain what she was doing and offer career advice, always with a smile. She had worked at KGFJ and post Eyewitness News at KBIG. Her kindness has never left me. Who was your mentor?
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Did You Have an LA Radio Mentor?
- Thread starter lvradioguy
- Start date
Let me just mention that Morgan Williams also spent several years doing news at KFI. Never met her, but absolutely one of my favorite news anchors to listen to. I'm sorry I missed her on TV.
I wouldn't call it mentorship in the traditional sense, but when I was 17 and two years into my career, I had a phone call with Charlie Tuna (this was 1973, when he was at KKDJ). I had intended to be on the phone with him for three minutes tops, but when he found out my age and where I was in my career path, he spent an hour giving advice and encouraging me to ask questions. Literally a life-changing call in terms of my attitude about success and generosity with one's time.
My mentor in L.A. was in television. Tom Schell was ABC News' West Coast Correspondent for at least 20 years (he was with the network for at least 30). He and I met in 1985, when he was doing a story out of KTNV, Las Vegas, where I was lead political reporter and weekend anchor, and continued to work together after I moved to KTVK in Phoenix in 1986. Tom believed that I would make a good successor for him when he retired and over the next several years, made important introductions and gave essential advice toward reaching that goal.
As a young man in my 30s, the idea of living in L.A., but covering every major story west of the Rockies was enormously appealing.
As Capital Cities reduced costs prior to selling ABC to Disney, they shut many of their overseas bureaus and relied on sending domestic correspondents to those areas when warranted. Tom got sent to cover trouble in South America and was shot. He was brought back to Los Angeles, recovered, was sent back months later, and was shot again. Neither was life-threatening.
I visited Tom in the hospital after both incidents and the second time he told me "Kid, you don't want this job." Never having aspired to being a war correspondent (total respect---those folks are a different breed), I had to agree, and stayed in local news for the remainder of my television career.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I can't say that I had any specific mentor, having already been in radio in the next market north (Oxnard-Ventura) before I turned 18, and was in my first PD gig in that same market within five years.
However, being even a smaller market PD did open a few doors to professional friendships that have lasted through the years. Bobby Rich and Jhani Kaye both go back over 40 years with me. Charlie Tuna, J.J. Jackson, Jim Carson, and Gary Owens were friends from fairly early on and only their passing ended same. I also count Shotgun Tom Kelly, Chuck Southcott, and Wink Martindale among those who -- while not mentors -- have always passed along something during our conversations that I found useful in my own career.
I don't know if this would count as a "mentor" but I did have the rare opportunity to spend an hour with Bill Drake about a year before he passed away and the conversation both validated my thought process about programming and gave me a few new insights.
However, being even a smaller market PD did open a few doors to professional friendships that have lasted through the years. Bobby Rich and Jhani Kaye both go back over 40 years with me. Charlie Tuna, J.J. Jackson, Jim Carson, and Gary Owens were friends from fairly early on and only their passing ended same. I also count Shotgun Tom Kelly, Chuck Southcott, and Wink Martindale among those who -- while not mentors -- have always passed along something during our conversations that I found useful in my own career.
I don't know if this would count as a "mentor" but I did have the rare opportunity to spend an hour with Bill Drake about a year before he passed away and the conversation both validated my thought process about programming and gave me a few new insights.
When I was 13 I started hanging around at WJMO (R&B) and WCUY (jazz) in Cleveland. Ken Hawkins, the PD of WJMO, saw that I'd do anything I was asked. So he decided to show me how to do more complex things than taking out the trash and cleaning the rest room and going for coffee. I learned to run the board, pull and file records, help with production. I got my 3rd Ticket and got to do transmitter readings and finally got board shifts for the Sunday ethnic shows.
And, since WJMO was the major Black station in the market, I was taken to all the shows and events, even when i was underage for club events. I helped voter registration and a bunch of community things as well, so got a feel for how a station should be part of its audience and community.
Biggest lesson learned: as I was the "white kid" at an R&B station, I quickly became "color blind" and made lots of new friends.
And, since WJMO was the major Black station in the market, I was taken to all the shows and events, even when i was underage for club events. I helped voter registration and a bunch of community things as well, so got a feel for how a station should be part of its audience and community.
Biggest lesson learned: as I was the "white kid" at an R&B station, I quickly became "color blind" and made lots of new friends.
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