Bill Jorgensen
Encyclopedia
Bill Jorgensen was the founding and longtime anchor of New York City
's WNEW-TV's (now WNYW
Fox 5) Ten O'Clock News from its inception on March 13, 1967 until he left in the spring of 1979 Jorgensen moved to WPIX-TV
, also in New York City, where he anchored the news until his retirement in 1987.
, where he had been principal anchor for NBC
affiliate KYW-TV (which later became NBC-owned WKYC-TV
), and later ABC
affiliate WEWS. When WNEW-TV began producing the Ten O'Clock News with Jorgenson at the helm, no other commercial television stations had a prime time newscast, though. New York Times television critic Jack Gould described the newscast as "a thoroughly professional news summary" due in part to "Mr. Jorgensen's durably pleasing style and demeanor. He suggests authority without affectation." The program was perhaps best known for the station break that preceded the newscast, where Tom Gregory
announced: "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?"
The Ten O'Clock News on WNEW followed a talk show hosted by Merv Griffin
and was followed by a local talk show hosted by Alan Burke
. Gould described the acerbic Burke
as "a piece of sandpaper wired for sound." The Ten O'Clock News rapidly built a substantial audience. Jorgensen was succeeded at WNEW by John Roland
, who had previously been a featured reporter and co-anchor. His signature signoff was "I'm Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time 'till next time."
Jorgensen had it written into his contract at WNEW that he was the only one who could use a TelePrompTer
, and this meant that when he was debriefing a reporter on set, the reporter would have to constantly look at his notes. By contract, Jorgensen would always look steadily into the camera, projecting an air of power and confidence. He warred bitterly with station management, including Ted Kavanau, then news director, who says Jorgensen "was a difficult guy, very moody, hardly talked to anybody, but when you turned on that camera, he performed brilliantly. He had a voice that was like fate reaching out to you."
with Pat Harper
on WPIX. In June 1980, days after Ted Turner
began the Cable News Network, WPIX began producing Independent Network News
, a prime time national newscast that ran throughout the United States on small independent television stations. The Miami Herald described Independent Network News as a half-hour program of national and international news as well as brief sports and weather segments, offered to participating stations during prime time, and therefore not in direct competition with the networks' evening newscasts. Jorgensen anchored both a 10:00 national newscast and a 10:30 local newscast on WPIX with Steve Bosh and Pat Harper. Tribune Broadcasting
hired Morton Dean
to replace the three anchors in 1985 and rebranded the program as USA Tonight.
article by Verne Gay, Jorgensen is currently living in Florida.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's WNEW-TV's (now WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
Fox 5) Ten O'Clock News from its inception on March 13, 1967 until he left in the spring of 1979 Jorgensen moved to WPIX-TV
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
, also in New York City, where he anchored the news until his retirement in 1987.
The Ten O'Clock News
Jorgenson was recruited to WNEW-TV from Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, where he had been principal anchor for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate KYW-TV (which later became NBC-owned WKYC-TV
WKYC-TV
WKYC, virtual channel 3 , is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Cleveland, Ohio, owned by the Gannett Company. Its studio is located on the shores of Lake Erie, while its transmitter is located in Parma, Ohio....
), and later ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WEWS. When WNEW-TV began producing the Ten O'Clock News with Jorgenson at the helm, no other commercial television stations had a prime time newscast, though. New York Times television critic Jack Gould described the newscast as "a thoroughly professional news summary" due in part to "Mr. Jorgensen's durably pleasing style and demeanor. He suggests authority without affectation." The program was perhaps best known for the station break that preceded the newscast, where Tom Gregory
Tom Gregory
Thomas R. Gregory was an American radio and television announcer and news anchor.Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Gregory served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he went to Seton Hall University in New Jersey, initially as a law student...
announced: "It's 10 P.M. Do you know where your children are?"
The Ten O'Clock News on WNEW followed a talk show hosted by Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
and was followed by a local talk show hosted by Alan Burke
Alan Burke
Alan S. Burke was an American conservative television and radio talk show host who was on the air primarily in New York City from 1966 to 1969 on WNEW . -Biography:...
. Gould described the acerbic Burke
Alan Burke
Alan S. Burke was an American conservative television and radio talk show host who was on the air primarily in New York City from 1966 to 1969 on WNEW . -Biography:...
as "a piece of sandpaper wired for sound." The Ten O'Clock News rapidly built a substantial audience. Jorgensen was succeeded at WNEW by John Roland
John Roland
John Roland is an American former news presenter and reporter.Roland, a Southern California native who graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 1964, began his broadcasting career in the 1960s. His first major assignment was for NBC News in Los Angeles in 1966. From there, he was...
, who had previously been a featured reporter and co-anchor. His signature signoff was "I'm Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time 'till next time."
Jorgensen had it written into his contract at WNEW that he was the only one who could use a TelePrompTer
Teleprompter
An autocue is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards...
, and this meant that when he was debriefing a reporter on set, the reporter would have to constantly look at his notes. By contract, Jorgensen would always look steadily into the camera, projecting an air of power and confidence. He warred bitterly with station management, including Ted Kavanau, then news director, who says Jorgensen "was a difficult guy, very moody, hardly talked to anybody, but when you turned on that camera, he performed brilliantly. He had a voice that was like fate reaching out to you."
WPIX / Independent Network News
Upon leaving WNEW, Jorgensen initially co-anchored Action NewsAction News
Action News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
with Pat Harper
Pat Harper
Patricia "Pat" Harper was an American television news anchor and reporter, and a fixture for nearly two decades on two New York City television stations...
on WPIX. In June 1980, days after Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
began the Cable News Network, WPIX began producing Independent Network News
Independent Network News (US)
The Independent Network News was a nationally-syndicated nightly news program, seen from June 1980 until June 1990. The newscast was designed to serve the same purpose as the nightly network news programs, and was produced by Tribune Company-owned station WPIX in New York...
, a prime time national newscast that ran throughout the United States on small independent television stations. The Miami Herald described Independent Network News as a half-hour program of national and international news as well as brief sports and weather segments, offered to participating stations during prime time, and therefore not in direct competition with the networks' evening newscasts. Jorgensen anchored both a 10:00 national newscast and a 10:30 local newscast on WPIX with Steve Bosh and Pat Harper. Tribune Broadcasting
Tribune Broadcasting
The Tribune Broadcasting Company is a group of radio and television stations located throughout the United States which are owned and operated by the Tribune Company, a media conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois and named for the flagship Chicago Tribune newspaper.- History :Tribune Broadcasting...
hired Morton Dean
Morton Dean
Morton Dean is an American television news journalist who has worked for CBS News and ABC News since the mid-1960s....
to replace the three anchors in 1985 and rebranded the program as USA Tonight.
Retirement
According to a 2004 NewsdayNewsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
article by Verne Gay, Jorgensen is currently living in Florida.
External links
- The Robert Manry Project The story of Jorgensen's 1965 "Scoop of the Year".