Harvey Ovshinsky
Encyclopedia
Harvey Ovshinsky is a journalist, story consultant media producer, film maker, and self described "Detroit Story Teller". Ovshinsky was raised in Detroit, Michigan
and attended Mumford High School. In 1965, at age 17, he founded and edited Fifth Estate, one of the longest running underground newspapers
. Fifth Estate has been continuously published to this day with help of staffers like Peter Werbe
who have worked the paper since soon after its establishment. Ovshinsky served as editor until 1968 when he was drafted and became a conscientious objector
to the war in Vietnam.
In 1970 (age 21), was hired as news director of WABX
, Detroit's alternative FM radio station.
Ovshinsky received a 1992 Peabody Award
and 1993 Emmy for the documentary Close to Home: The Tammy Boccomino Story, a film about the experiences of mother and son with HIV. In 2004 he received a "Career Achievement" award for his films from the Detroit Docs International Film Festival. In 1994 Ovshinsky received an Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Award Silver Baton and a Cine Golden Eagle Film and Video Competition award for "The Last Hit" a documentary film concerning youth violence. Ovshinsky is currently the president of HKO Media, a consulting and production firm.
Ovshinsky's father is autodidact inventor Stanford R. Ovshinsky. His son Noah Ovshinsky is a reporter for WDET
, the public radio station in Detroit. Ovshinsky's daughter, Natasha, is a physical education instructor at the Grosse Pointe Academy where Ovshinsky taught creative writing for 15 years. Ovshinsky met his wife, Cathie Kurek-Ovshinsky at Detroit’s Lafayette Clinic when she was a psychiatric nurse and he was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and attended Mumford High School. In 1965, at age 17, he founded and edited Fifth Estate, one of the longest running underground newspapers
Underground press
The underground press were the independently published and distributed underground papers associated with the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and other western nations....
. Fifth Estate has been continuously published to this day with help of staffers like Peter Werbe
Peter Werbe
Peter Werbe is a radio talk show host and political activist. He hosts Nightcall Sunday nights on Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM. Werbe's tenure, having commenced in 1970, makes him one of the longest broadcasting talk show hosts in radio history.-Nightcall:...
who have worked the paper since soon after its establishment. Ovshinsky served as editor until 1968 when he was drafted and became a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
to the war in Vietnam.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
In 1970 (age 21), was hired as news director of WABX
WABX-FM
WABX is a radio station in Evansville, Indiana, owned by South Central Communications. The station, which broadcasts at 107.5 FM, has aired a classic rock format since 1997. Monday through Saturday morning, WABX airs the The Big Show with John Boy and Billy...
, Detroit's alternative FM radio station.
Ovshinsky received a 1992 Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
and 1993 Emmy for the documentary Close to Home: The Tammy Boccomino Story, a film about the experiences of mother and son with HIV. In 2004 he received a "Career Achievement" award for his films from the Detroit Docs International Film Festival. In 1994 Ovshinsky received an Alfred I. duPont - Columbia University Award Silver Baton and a Cine Golden Eagle Film and Video Competition award for "The Last Hit" a documentary film concerning youth violence. Ovshinsky is currently the president of HKO Media, a consulting and production firm.
Ovshinsky's father is autodidact inventor Stanford R. Ovshinsky. His son Noah Ovshinsky is a reporter for WDET
WDET
WDET-FM is a public radio station in Detroit, Michigan. Licensed to Wayne State University in the city's Cass Corridor neighborhood, about a mile south of the New Center neighborhood, WDET broadcasts original programming as well as shows from National Public Radio, Public Radio International and...
, the public radio station in Detroit. Ovshinsky's daughter, Natasha, is a physical education instructor at the Grosse Pointe Academy where Ovshinsky taught creative writing for 15 years. Ovshinsky met his wife, Cathie Kurek-Ovshinsky at Detroit’s Lafayette Clinic when she was a psychiatric nurse and he was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era.