Jody Dean
Encyclopedia
Jody Dean is an American
journalist
and author
and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas
, Dean's career in broadcasting began in junior high school, in 1973 on WBAP-TV's "Museum of Horrors". After graduating from Ft. Worth's Paschal High School, Dean took a shift at Abilene Christian University
's campus radio station. Dean eventually left college for his first job, at KPAR Granbury. A few months later he was hired at 1360 KXOL, and has worked in Dallas-Ft. Worth ever since.
In 1980, Dean moved to 1190 KLIF - and in 1981 took on a 3-hour Tuesday overnight shift at Dallas' legendary KVIL. Dean was eventually promoted to evenings, but his ratings were disastrous. In 1987 he was taken off the air in lieu of a behind-the-scenes job as Morning Show producer, a move that resulted in seven years of tutelage under the direct oversight of National Broadcast Association Hall of Famer Ron Chapman - who remains Dean's close friend and mentor.
In 1991, Dean became executive producer for the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
, and in 1994, moved to KRLD to host a mid-day talk show. Again, his ratings as a solo ahost were disappointing - and in a last-ditch change was reassigned as co-anchor of the KRLD Morning News in 1999. That led to a collaboration with co-anchor Jack Hines that lasted for another six years - which included coverage of pivotal events such as the Oklahoma City bombing
, the Fort Worth Tornado
and 9/11.
In 1995, Dean was named cohost of KTVT's "Positively Texas!" - and afternoon talk and variety show. After initial success the show began languishing in the ratings, and Dean was approached about possibly switching to news. Dean began hosting the noon and 5 o'clock news with Rene Syler
on (by then) CBS-11 - followed by co-hosting duties with Maria Arita on The CBS-11 News at 4.
By 2005, Ron Chapman was at KLUV. Seeking a successor, he turned to Dean - who followed as KLUV Morning Show Host upon Chapman's retirement that year. Jody Dean and the Morning Team is now entering its 7th year of existence, and is also televised each weekday morning from 7 till 9 on KTXA-TV.
Dean was the original deejay, emcee and rodeo announcer at Billy Bob's Texas, and most recently served as the main public address announcer for Dallas Cowboys
home games at Cowboys Stadium. Dean has also served as public address announcer for the At&T Cotton Bowl since 2009. The KLUV Morning Show is co-hosted by Kathy Jones, traffic reporter Jonathan Hayes, Rebecca Black, and producer Bernie Mack. During his award-winning career Dean has worked with, interviewed, or performed with thousands of public figures, actors, musicians, authors, artists, and comics.
Dean's personal life has been tumultuous. Married four times, he has three children - two of whom are grown. An adoptee, Dean reunited with his birth-family in 2002 and maintains a close relationship with them. Raised in the Church of Christ
, Dean is a published author ("Finding God In the Evening News") and a frequent motivational and inspirational speaker. A professed Christian, Dean experienced a spiritual reawakening in 2002 - but openly continues to wrestle with personal choices, as chronicled in a 2003 article authored by Elise Pierce for D Magazine
.
In 2011, Dean appeared as a peripheral cast member on a cable reality show entitled "Most Eligible Dallas".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Dean's career in broadcasting began in junior high school, in 1973 on WBAP-TV's "Museum of Horrors". After graduating from Ft. Worth's Paschal High School, Dean took a shift at Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
's campus radio station. Dean eventually left college for his first job, at KPAR Granbury. A few months later he was hired at 1360 KXOL, and has worked in Dallas-Ft. Worth ever since.
In 1980, Dean moved to 1190 KLIF - and in 1981 took on a 3-hour Tuesday overnight shift at Dallas' legendary KVIL. Dean was eventually promoted to evenings, but his ratings were disastrous. In 1987 he was taken off the air in lieu of a behind-the-scenes job as Morning Show producer, a move that resulted in seven years of tutelage under the direct oversight of National Broadcast Association Hall of Famer Ron Chapman - who remains Dean's close friend and mentor.
In 1991, Dean became executive producer for the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
Dallas Cowboys Radio Network
The Dallas Cowboys Radio Network is an American radio network broadcasting all Dallas Cowboys football games to stations across all of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico during the NFL season. Beginning with the 2009 NFL season, it is the arm of CBS Radio and comprises over 50...
, and in 1994, moved to KRLD to host a mid-day talk show. Again, his ratings as a solo ahost were disappointing - and in a last-ditch change was reassigned as co-anchor of the KRLD Morning News in 1999. That led to a collaboration with co-anchor Jack Hines that lasted for another six years - which included coverage of pivotal events such as the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, the Fort Worth Tornado
Fort Worth Tornado
The Great 2000 Fort Worth Tornado occurred on March 28, 2000, moving eastward through the downtown area of Fort Worth, Texas .The tornado passed through the west side of Fort Worth at about 6:18 p.m. It tore a 4-mile path through the city, blowing out windows and causing significant damage to many...
and 9/11.
In 1995, Dean was named cohost of KTVT's "Positively Texas!" - and afternoon talk and variety show. After initial success the show began languishing in the ratings, and Dean was approached about possibly switching to news. Dean began hosting the noon and 5 o'clock news with Rene Syler
Rene Syler
René Syler cohosted CBS News' The Early Show from October 2002, when it debuted in its four-anchor format, until she left the program in December 2006...
on (by then) CBS-11 - followed by co-hosting duties with Maria Arita on The CBS-11 News at 4.
By 2005, Ron Chapman was at KLUV. Seeking a successor, he turned to Dean - who followed as KLUV Morning Show Host upon Chapman's retirement that year. Jody Dean and the Morning Team is now entering its 7th year of existence, and is also televised each weekday morning from 7 till 9 on KTXA-TV.
Dean was the original deejay, emcee and rodeo announcer at Billy Bob's Texas, and most recently served as the main public address announcer for Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
home games at Cowboys Stadium. Dean has also served as public address announcer for the At&T Cotton Bowl since 2009. The KLUV Morning Show is co-hosted by Kathy Jones, traffic reporter Jonathan Hayes, Rebecca Black, and producer Bernie Mack. During his award-winning career Dean has worked with, interviewed, or performed with thousands of public figures, actors, musicians, authors, artists, and comics.
Dean's personal life has been tumultuous. Married four times, he has three children - two of whom are grown. An adoptee, Dean reunited with his birth-family in 2002 and maintains a close relationship with them. Raised in the Church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
, Dean is a published author ("Finding God In the Evening News") and a frequent motivational and inspirational speaker. A professed Christian, Dean experienced a spiritual reawakening in 2002 - but openly continues to wrestle with personal choices, as chronicled in a 2003 article authored by Elise Pierce for D Magazine
D Magazine
This article is about the magazine about Dallas. For the Italian magazine, see La Repubblica.D Magazine is a monthly magazine covering Dallas-Fort Worth. It covers a range of topics including politics, business, food, fashion and lifestyle in the city of Dallas. The first issue was published in...
.
In 2011, Dean appeared as a peripheral cast member on a cable reality show entitled "Most Eligible Dallas".
Books
- Jody Dean, (2004), Finding God In The Evening News: A Broadcast Journalist Looks Beyond The Headlines, Renell, ISBN 0-8007-5972-9
External links
- Jody Dean's review of The Passion of the ChristThe Passion of the ChristThe Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...