The Radio Television News Association of Southern California is the latest organization to pay tribute to the legendary TV reporter Stan Chambers of KTLA. His career began in 1947 when there were only about 300 TVs in LA, and Stan was very generous with helping me research my screenplay on the Kathy Fiscus story, the first breaking news event covered on live TV news in 1949. Stan was one of the two live reporters on the scene for KTLA. He went on to cover virtually every significant event in Los Angeles from the Watts Riots to the Rodney King beating. Asked how he wanted to be remembered, Stan humbly said, "for being there, for being on the scene, for being part of the city." Stan officially retired in August, at the age of 86, but he is actively promoting a new CD and book at http://stan-chambers.com/
The program included a panel with Stan surrounded by four current news executives. KNX-KFWB's Andy Ludlum correctly pointed out that Stan's longevity on the air is a feat that no longer can be duplicated. The always gracious Stan didn't offer any insight as to how today's reporters might manage to avoid a mass layoff, a nasty news director or the perception that an experienced reporter can't Twitter and Facebook as well as a younger person who might have the added benefit of looking better in HD. Stan himself said it best, "It's the story that matters, not the reporter." Here's hoping he can inspire a whole new generation to get it first and get it right.
