Fred W. Friendly
- Biography
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Fred W. Friendly was an American television producer, journalist, and media executive who was instrumental in the development of broadcast journalism. He was born on March 3, 1915 in New York City to Jewish immigrants from Russia. He attended the City College of New York and graduated in 1936 with a degree in economics.
Early Career
Friendly began his career in radio in 1937, working as a producer for CBS Radio. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the network's chief producer in 1945. During this time, he produced a number of notable programs, including the popular quiz show "Information Please" and the news program "The World Today." He also produced the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960.
Development of Broadcast Journalism
In 1961, Friendly left CBS to become the president of the newly formed National Educational Television (NET). At NET, Friendly was instrumental in the development of broadcast journalism. He created the first nightly news program, "The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite," and the first documentary series, "The Twentieth Century." He also produced the first televised presidential debates between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960.
Legacy
Friendly's work in broadcast journalism had a lasting impact on the industry. He was a pioneer in the development of the modern news format, and his work helped to establish the standards for broadcast journalism. He was also a strong advocate for the First Amendment and was a vocal critic of censorship.
Friendly died in 1998 at the age of 83. He was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. His legacy lives on in the form of the Fred W. Friendly Seminars, which are held annually at Columbia University and are dedicated to exploring the ethical and legal issues of broadcast journalism.
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