Harry Chapman (news anchor)
Encyclopedia
Harry Edwin Chapman was a news anchor at WTVF
CBS
(NewsChannel5) in Nashville, Tennessee
for 35 years before retiring in 2006. He was a long time co-host of the midday CBS
show "Talk of the Town" and still hosts "Words and Music" on NewsChannel5+.
and played football at Hart County High School until a broken arm ended his playing career. He started in broadcasting during high school at WKLY
in Hartwell. He then enrolled at the University of Georgia
where he earned his journalism degree from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism. While an undergraduate in Athens, he worked for Georgia Public Television and was hired by H. Randolph Holder to work at WGAU
and WNGC. As a student, he was also the voice of the Redcoat Band.
at WSB (AM)
and WSB-FM
in Atlanta, Georgia
. From 1967-1971, he worked both the night shift and the early afternoon shift for the station. During this time, he traveled back to Athens, Georgia
on Saturdays in the fall where he was the PA announcer at Sanford Stadium
for home football games.
In 1971, Chapman was hired by WTVF
(NewsChannel5) in Nashville, Tennessee
. He did everything from anchor the midday report to producing documentaries. He was the entertainment reporter covering the Country Music
industry in Nashville. In 1974, he teamed with Oprah Winfrey
to be Nashville's first male-female anchor team. He was the co-host of "Talk of the Town", the longest running locally produced talk show in the country. He still hosts "Words and Music" on (NewsChannel5+), where he conducts personal interviews with songwriters in Music City. Chapman is on staff at Belmont University
as the Director of Development and Major Gifts. He is also a contributing author for Southern Exposure Magazine.
WTVF
WTVF is the CBS-affiliated television station for Middle Tennessee that is licensed to Nashville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 5 from a transmitter north of downtown along I-24. Owned by Landmark Media Enterprises, the station has studios on James Robertson Parkway...
CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
(NewsChannel5) in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
for 35 years before retiring in 2006. He was a long time co-host of the midday CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
show "Talk of the Town" and still hosts "Words and Music" on NewsChannel5+.
Early life
Chapman grew up in Hartwell, GeorgiaHartwell, Georgia
Hartwell is a city in Hart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,188 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hart County.-Geography:Hartwell is located at . It sits upon the southern border of Lake Hartwell...
and played football at Hart County High School until a broken arm ended his playing career. He started in broadcasting during high school at WKLY
WKLY
WKLY is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. It is licensed to Hartwell, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by James E. Hicks & Billie F. Hicks, Partners and features programing from ABC Radio, CNN Radio and Westwood One....
in Hartwell. He then enrolled at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
where he earned his journalism degree from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism. While an undergraduate in Athens, he worked for Georgia Public Television and was hired by H. Randolph Holder to work at WGAU
WGAU
WGAU is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a News/Talk format. The transmitter is located at the studios in the Five Points area of Downtown Athens....
and WNGC. As a student, he was also the voice of the Redcoat Band.
Career
In the fall of 1967, Chapman was hired straight out of the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
at WSB (AM)
WSB (AM)
WSB — branded AM 750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB — is a commercial radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting a news/talk format. The station transmits with 50,000 watts of nondirectional power day and night, enjoying clear-channel status on its broadcast frequency according to the U.S...
and WSB-FM
WSB-FM
WSB-FM is an Atlanta radio station. Along with several other Atlanta radio stations, WSB-FM is owned by Cox Enterprises' Cox Media Group subsidiary, and is the group's flagship FM station...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. From 1967-1971, he worked both the night shift and the early afternoon shift for the station. During this time, he traveled back to Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
on Saturdays in the fall where he was the PA announcer at Sanford Stadium
Sanford Stadium
Sanford Stadium is the on-campus playing venue for football at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The 92,746-seat stadium is the seventh largest stadium in the NCAA. Architecturally, the stadium is known for the fact that its numerous expansions over the years have been...
for home football games.
In 1971, Chapman was hired by WTVF
WTVF
WTVF is the CBS-affiliated television station for Middle Tennessee that is licensed to Nashville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 5 from a transmitter north of downtown along I-24. Owned by Landmark Media Enterprises, the station has studios on James Robertson Parkway...
(NewsChannel5) in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. He did everything from anchor the midday report to producing documentaries. He was the entertainment reporter covering the Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
industry in Nashville. In 1974, he teamed with Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
to be Nashville's first male-female anchor team. He was the co-host of "Talk of the Town", the longest running locally produced talk show in the country. He still hosts "Words and Music" on (NewsChannel5+), where he conducts personal interviews with songwriters in Music City. Chapman is on staff at Belmont University
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
as the Director of Development and Major Gifts. He is also a contributing author for Southern Exposure Magazine.
Awards
- In 1998, the Georgia Legislature honored him with a resolution for his career accomplishments.
- He received the Country Music Awards Media Achievement Award in 2001.
- He received the John Holloman, Jr. Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism in 2004.