Hillel The Elder was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. He is popularly known as the author of two sayings: (1) If I am not for
myself, who is for me? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not
now, then when?" and (2) the expression of the ethic of reciprocity, or "Golden Rule": "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."
Founded in 1968, News Broadcast
Network is the country's largest and leading independent producer and
distributor of broadcast and multimedia public relations and marketing
content for radio, television and the internet.
I worked for News Broadcast Network, based in New York City, for a little over 25 years. Prior to that my working life had been spent in commercial broadcasting, beginning in 1951 (I was 15 years old) at WGIV radio in Charlotte, NC. While in college (University of North Carolina) I worked at WCHL radio and WUNC-TV (I was the FIRST STUDENT Newscaster..in 1956..prior to that the newscasts were done by professors. I was paid $1 per newscast. After graduation (BS in English) I joined WSOC-TV as an announcer and first 11pm anchorman. (Prior to that, the duty was done by a series of "announcers," Brooks Lindsay being the most often assigned.)
In 1961 I was hired by WTOP-TV and radio in Washington as an "on air personality." From 1967 to 1969 I hosted my own morning TV interview show, called CADENCE. In 1969 I joined WMAL radio and worked there for 5 years, which was my last job in "commercial broadcasting."
Around 1986 I went to work for AUDIO TV FEATURES a PR (Public Relations) radio service, founded by an ex NBC newsman, Bob Kimmel. We were purchased by a similar company two years later that became News Broadcast Network. I worked there until the poor economic conditions forced my retirement at the end of 2013 at age 77.
Unlike the typical "Gold Watch" at retirement, I received a letter from Michael Hill, the owner of the company, that means more to me than any mere trinket:
I worked for News Broadcast Network, based in New York City, for a little over 25 years. Prior to that my working life had been spent in commercial broadcasting, beginning in 1951 (I was 15 years old) at WGIV radio in Charlotte, NC. While in college (University of North Carolina) I worked at WCHL radio and WUNC-TV (I was the FIRST STUDENT Newscaster..in 1956..prior to that the newscasts were done by professors. I was paid $1 per newscast. After graduation (BS in English) I joined WSOC-TV as an announcer and first 11pm anchorman. (Prior to that, the duty was done by a series of "announcers," Brooks Lindsay being the most often assigned.)
In 1961 I was hired by WTOP-TV and radio in Washington as an "on air personality." From 1967 to 1969 I hosted my own morning TV interview show, called CADENCE. In 1969 I joined WMAL radio and worked there for 5 years, which was my last job in "commercial broadcasting."
Around 1986 I went to work for AUDIO TV FEATURES a PR (Public Relations) radio service, founded by an ex NBC newsman, Bob Kimmel. We were purchased by a similar company two years later that became News Broadcast Network. I worked there until the poor economic conditions forced my retirement at the end of 2013 at age 77.
Unlike the typical "Gold Watch" at retirement, I received a letter from Michael Hill, the owner of the company, that means more to me than any mere trinket:
Hi
Lee. Thanks so much for your note. I really don’t know how to properly
thank you for all the wonderful years we‘ve been together. I still
remember Bob Kimmel telling me he had a sales guy in DC that we’d want
to keep after our
merger and my anxiety over whether we could afford another person there
and how you’d get along with our friend Burke.
But little did I know that Bob was
introducing us to someone who would be the radio life and soul of NBN
for a quarter of a century. You showed yourself right away to be not
just an extremely talented radio and TV announcer, writer,
and producer (which was no surprise to you and should not have been to
us given your resume) but more importantly one of the best people I’ve
known in a work situation-- unfailingly kind, gracious, cooperative,
loyal , hard working, and of course gifted with
a great radio voice that made even my dad jealous.
Lee, I will always cherish the fact that we
had a chance to work with someone like you and to share in your life. I
am truly sorry that we could not continue the company as it has been for
so many years, but sales have slid unremittingly
over the last 2 and a half years, and we could not find a way to stop
that. We will be able to continue in a much smaller fashion but the
heyday of broadcast public relations seems to have passed. There were
some good times and some years we all did well
and in my own mental history of NBN and its growth and success, you rank
at the top of the people who made it the special place to be that it
was for me and my brothers and for, I hope, you and many others as well.
Thank you so much for your offer to help when
needed, and I hope we’re busy enough that we need to take advantage of
that kindness. All my best to you, your wife and your family. I hope to
get down to DC in the next few months to
say good bye to Mary (you probably know that she decided it was best for
her and her family to take a job with one of our competitors) so
perhaps we can all have lunch together. Remember the lunches with burke
and art at that place over in Arlington?
Anyway, again all my best, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help your transition to the garden of the retired, and I hope to see you soon. Michael
Now, that's a pretty good way to "sign off" my broadcast career.
End of Brag.
-Ed
Anyway, again all my best, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help your transition to the garden of the retired, and I hope to see you soon. Michael
Now, that's a pretty good way to "sign off" my broadcast career.
End of Brag.
-Ed
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