Author: Staff

  • Stokes, Chuck

    WXYZ: TV Editorial Director.

    Chuck Stokes
    1988 Archive Photo

     

    Louis Stokes
    Louis Stokes, US Congressman, Father of Chuck Stokes

    References:

    In the news:

    • WXYZ-TV – August 19, 2015 – Louis Stokes, retired U.S. Congressman and father of WXYZ editorial director, passes away at age 90 (PDF)
    • WXYZ-TV – June 28, 2011 – Chuck Stokes inducted into Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame (JPG)

    • President Clinton’s Visit to WXYZ – February 9, 1993

      Segments from The New York Times [1] article:

      But before the policy debate begins, there are important, though small, details to consider, like the color of the set here. The White House wants “Presidential blue,” and lacking guidance on exactly what hue that is, the station has come up with a sky blue, faux marble backdrop. And the stool.

      “What I picked out wasn’t extravagant,” protested Diane Fiolek-Mandel, the design director for WXYZ, as she stood today amid workers building the set for Wednesday night. “But they insisted that we don’t use it. What they wanted was a very, very plain stool. Go figure. I think they’re so wrapped up in the Presidential image.” White House Says, No Fuss

      Jeff Eller, the White House director of media affairs, insisted that there was no fuss about the upholstered stool. “I don’t want to get into a stool argument,” he said. “This is not a huge sticking point for the future of the town hall.” [1]

      The article continues:

      Ms. Fiolek-Mandel said the attitudes of the Clinton people had changed. “They’re a lot more picky now,” she said. “Their attitude is different. This time, everyone says, ‘He’s the President now.’ Before, they were a lot looser.” [1]

      Finally:

      Chuck Stokes, the editorial and public affairs director for WXYZ, said he picked the 60 people who will sit in the studio here with Mr. Clinton out of as many as 1,000 people who suggested questions in calls or faxes. [1]

      References:

      1. The New York Times, February 10, 1993, Richard L. Berke – Revival Meeting Tonight For Clinton the Populist (PDF)

  • LeGoff, Jacques – ‘Jac’

    Jac LeGoff
    Jacques LeGoff – ‘Jac’

    WDIV: Editorial Driector, News Anchor.

    WXYZ: Deceased. TV news anchor, 1975-1983.

    WJBK: Anchor

    Former WXYZ-TV anchorman Jac LeGoff dies at 87

    Jac attended Northwestern University before enlisting in the Navy during WWII. He finished school at Columbia College in Chicago after the war. Jac worked in radio and television broadcasting since 1948, serving as production manager at the NBC affiliate in Youngstown, Ohio before coming to Detroit in 1953. He worked as television news anchor and news director at WJBK-TV (channel 2) in Detroit for 30 years, then as news anchor at WXYZ-TV (channel 7) for 10 years. He was also the editorial director and news anchor at WDIV-TV (channel 4) for ten years before retiring in 1990. He was a former member of east side Kiwanis Club and a former board member of Sacred heart Rehabilitation Center in Detroit. Current member of the National Academy of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences. Husband of Marguerite for 42 years and a blended family of seven children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  • Waniewski, Tom

    WXYZ: 1992-1996 Associate Producer/Writer.

    WTVG: Producer

    Tom Waniewski
    Broadcasting – February 12, 1990 – Page 61

    References:

    1. LinkedIn
    2. Twitter

    • WXYZ Employee News – Beverly Carr

      by Tom Waniewski, Associate Producer/Writer, News Department

      She’s a psychologist. She’s a public relations pro. She’s a calming voice for many angry soap opera fans whose shows are erased by a Presidential news conference.
      “And l have a black belt in shopping,” jokes Beverly Carr.

      Beverly Carr is the phone operator. Tucked into a cement comer between the newsroom and the videotape library, Beverly packs as much power in her index finger as E.T. She channeled an important news tip 10 the producer’s desk. Someone called and said former Michigan Representative Dennis Dutko in fact committed suicide.

      “l told the caller I would let him talk to someone in the newsroom,” Beverly said. “I knew the guy wasn’t some kook. I told him whatever he does, don’t hang up. I put the call right through to the producer’s desk.” Dukto in fact committed suicide. Channel 7 was the first station to break into regular programming with that news bulletin. It was the lead story on every Detroit station that night.

      Beverly CarrBeverly also provides advice, helpful hints and calms angry viewers. She has a folder filled with information the news department puts on the air. “I try to answer a lot of questions. I try to keep the simple calls out of the newsroom. calls that I have the answers to. I give advice that doesn’t get me in trouble. You have to have a lot of patience and be as pleasant as the callers will allow you to be,” says Beverly. And what if the caller doesn’t allow her to be so pleasant? ··If they’re swearing at me. I hang up on them,” she says.” And I don’t like heavy breathers. I’ll send them right into operator land!” I told you she had as much power as E.T.

      “She has the hardest job here,” says 5 o’clock Producer, Glenn Therrien.

      “I love it,” Beverly says as if to savor the challenge. “It’s exciting. It’s not a boring job. I really have a lot of fun.”

      Twenty-three (23) Januaries ago, the thought of fun brought Beverly to WXYZ. It was A cold but sunny day,” Beverly recalls. “l walked in and said I wanted to work here. I thought it’d be a fun place to work. It beat working for a steel company.”

      And while most of Beverly’s years at Channel 7 have been fun, not every day is a picnic in the-park. “I was here during the Detroit riots in the 60’s. I worked day and night, went home for a little sleep and came back.

      Things didn’t calm down for three days. We told people not to leave their homes. People kept calling. They wanted some assurance, someone they could actually talk to. I told them to stay home, things would be alright.”

      Since then, Beverly bas seen eight different Vice Presidents and General Managers at WXYZ. She’s watched technology change her work tools from old cord switchboards to her present System 75 computer phone. And she’s made a lot or friends. “l found a home here. There is a great family of people here. A lot of my co-workers have become good friends.”

      Beverly has three children, four grandchildren, “and a wonderful, retired husband.” She’s been married to Jack for 18 years. She’s planning a vacation with her sister to Yugoslavia. And she’s seen Dirty Dancing 28 times!

      If you want to talk with Beverly, maybe it’s best to call her. Right, Beverly?

      “Just a minute; I have to answer this … Channel 7 … You want 10 be in commercials?! Well, what I think you should do …. “

  • WXYZ Employee News – Beverly Carr

    by Tom Waniewski, Associate Producer/Writer, News Department

    She’s a psychologist. She’s a public relations pro. She’s a calming voice for many angry soap opera fans whose shows are erased by a Presidential news conference.
    “And l have a black belt in shopping,” jokes Beverly Carr.

    Beverly Carr is the phone operator. Tucked into a cement comer between the newsroom and the videotape library, Beverly packs as much power in her index finger as E.T. She channeled an important news tip 10 the producer’s desk. Someone called and said former Michigan Representative Dennis Dutko in fact committed suicide.

    “l told the caller I would let him talk to someone in the newsroom,” Beverly said. “I knew the guy wasn’t some kook. I told him whatever he does, don’t hang up. I put the call right through to the producer’s desk.” Dukto in fact committed suicide. Channel 7 was the first station to break into regular programming with that news bulletin. It was the lead story on every Detroit station that night.

    Beverly CarrBeverly also provides advice, helpful hints and calms angry viewers. She has a folder filled with information the news department puts on the air. “I try to answer a lot of questions. I try to keep the simple calls out of the newsroom. calls that I have the answers to. I give advice that doesn’t get me in trouble. You have to have a lot of patience and be as pleasant as the callers will allow you to be,” says Beverly. And what if the caller doesn’t allow her to be so pleasant? ··If they’re swearing at me. I hang up on them,” she says.” And I don’t like heavy breathers. I’ll send them right into operator land!” I told you she had as much power as E.T.

    “She has the hardest job here,” says 5 o’clock Producer, Glenn Therrien.

    “I love it,” Beverly says as if to savor the challenge. “It’s exciting. It’s not a boring job. I really have a lot of fun.”

    Twenty-three (23) Januaries ago, the thought of fun brought Beverly to WXYZ. It was A cold but sunny day,” Beverly recalls. “l walked in and said I wanted to work here. I thought it’d be a fun place to work. It beat working for a steel company.”

    And while most of Beverly’s years at Channel 7 have been fun, not every day is a picnic in the-park. “I was here during the Detroit riots in the 60’s. I worked day and night, went home for a little sleep and came back.

    Things didn’t calm down for three days. We told people not to leave their homes. People kept calling. They wanted some assurance, someone they could actually talk to. I told them to stay home, things would be alright.”

    Since then, Beverly bas seen eight different Vice Presidents and General Managers at WXYZ. She’s watched technology change her work tools from old cord switchboards to her present System 75 computer phone. And she’s made a lot or friends. “l found a home here. There is a great family of people here. A lot of my co-workers have become good friends.”

    Beverly has three children, four grandchildren, “and a wonderful, retired husband.” She’s been married to Jack for 18 years. She’s planning a vacation with her sister to Yugoslavia. And she’s seen Dirty Dancing 28 times!

    If you want to talk with Beverly, maybe it’s best to call her. Right, Beverly?

    “Just a minute; I have to answer this … Channel 7 … You want 10 be in commercials?! Well, what I think you should do …. “

  • Pie Eating Contest at the Station

    Yes, it’s real strawberries.

    Glenn Therrien – From Terry Pochert’s retirement collection (background) ?????, ?????, Geoff Pekarek, John Gildersleeve
    Glenn Therrien
    Glenn Therrien – From Terry Pochert’s retirement collection