If I have any questions about what’s been happening in Evansville, Ind., over the past 41 years, I know who to call. After all, he’s been telling people that daily, 2, 3 times a day, for the past 10,000 days or so. You could make a convincing argument that nobody knows as much about what’s […]
If I have any questions about what’s been happening in Evansville, Ind., over the past 41 years, I know who to call. After all, he’s been telling people that daily, 2, 3 times a day, for the past 10,000 days or so. You could make a convincing argument that nobody knows as much about what’s been happening there than David James.
But after 41 years of anchoring and reporting for WFIE, Raycom’s NBC affiliate in Evansville, David James retired last Friday.
In the often nomadic life of local TV news, it’s not easy or often that you can grow up in a city, go to college there and then sit down on live TV anchored to the same desk and broadcast the news for 41 years.
Think of all the research projects he’s survived, new owners, news directors, producers and marketing managers.
And while he may have fooled some of them for a time, it’s not possible to fool the viewers for that long. In the end, they know better than anyone.
I have had the good fortune of working alongside some local TV anchors, reporters and meteorologists who have spent decades in the same market, sometimes even at the same station.
I envy them.
If there is a hall of fame for local TV news people who have served in one market and even one station for their entire career, it’s making room for David James.
Here is what James wrote on his Facebook page about his retirement.
It’s been an emotional journey reporting both the triumphs and tragedies in my hometown. Few broadcasters have been able to stay put in one place for such a long time. I want to thank the viewers for their trust and support over the years. It’s always been my goal to be a responsible journalist and not to judge, but present the facts and all sides of a story. I look forward to new challenges and opportunities.
Comments (1)
Reader Interactions