46 Facts About Ed Godfrey

Ed Godfrey's achievements included pioneering Evening in 1975, the nation's first broadcast early evening news magazine show.

Ed Godfrey was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania on February 4,1931, the second of Col.

Ed Godfrey had moved with his military family nearly 20 times by the time he graduated from high school.

Ed Godfrey married Regina Suzanne "Sue" Pocalka in 1957 while attending college in Baltimore, Maryland.

Ed Godfrey began his career in broadcasting in 1959, joining Miami, Florida's WTVJ television station as a photographer.

Ed Godfrey continued moving up in broadcast news, becoming an award-winning, innovative broadcast news producer and news director in multiple markets.

Ed Godfrey was elected president of the RTNDA, an industry advocacy group founded to set standards for broadcast journalism and to defend the First Amendment in instances where broadcast media was being threatened.

Ed Godfrey testified in that capacity before the United States Congress on three separate occasions.

Ed Godfrey maintained a life-long insistence on integrity in journalism.

Ed Godfrey discouraged reporters from seeking quick sound bites from victims.

Ed Godfrey said in 1982 "Ralph Renick set the standard for local TV news nationally".

Ed Godfrey was one of two photographers who filmed documentary segments in the mental care wards of Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee and the Hollywood Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

Ed Godfrey became the executive producer of WTVJ's Newsnight, a daily, half-hour 7:00 pm news show.

Ed Godfrey joined KHOU as Assistant News Director in August, 1965.

Ed Godfrey was promoted to News Director two years later.

Ed Godfrey created the 30 Minutes news magazine show at KHOU and served as the show's producer.

In 1971 Ed Godfrey was hired as News Manager of KGW, then King Broadcasting's Portland, Oregon television station.

In 1975, Ed Godfrey managed the creation and introduction of KGW's Evening, the nation's first broadcast news magazine show.

Ed Godfrey left KGW in 1977 and was hired as News Director at WSB in Atlanta, the fourth news director hired by the station in three years.

Ed Godfrey quickly announced changes in the structure and pace of the station's newscast, saying "The newscasts will have a little different look, but as far as changes in faces, there will be none".

Ed Godfrey said "We're covering the news better, we're covering it differently, and we're covering more of it".

Ed Godfrey was fired from WSB on June 27,1980, part of a "house cleaning" that included the firing of the station's general manager, general sales manager, promotion director and production manager.

The next evening after having been fired, Ed Godfrey was awarded a regional Emmy Award for "Television News Excellence", one of twelve Emmy awards won that year by the WSB newsroom operation he had headed.

Ed Godfrey was hired as news director at WAVE TV in Louisville in 1980 and remained at that station until his retirement in 2000.

At the 1982 Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi annual convention, Ed Godfrey predicted "greater localization of newscasts in the future" and complained about the additional costs of then new satellite uplink dishes, saying he was using his "because he's been told to, but he thinks the cost should be charged to programming instead of news, because it's mostly used as a programming tool".

In 1990, Ed Godfrey developed FirstNews, then the earliest afternoon newscast in Louisville.

In 1993, Ed Godfrey was named Assistant to the General Manager, a position he held until his retirement in 2000.

In 1996, Ed Godfrey was one of "28 early career broadcast journalists" who presented discussions during the Taishoff Broadcasting Seminar.

Ed Godfrey was chosen by his peer fellows after being nominated by leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists based on "his past achievements in the broadcast field".

Ed Godfrey's opinion was sought by the US Congress on a number of matters.

Ed Godfrey testified before the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on September 18,1985, in support of televising US Senate sessions.

On July 20,1987, Ed Godfrey testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding the Broadcasting Improvements Act of 1987, commenting specifically on the standards for licensees and increasing minority ownership of broadcast stations.

Ed Godfrey was elected to two two-year terms as a director-at-large of the RTNDA, first in 1978 and then in 1980.

In 1979, Ed Godfrey was elected to the Executive Committee the RTNDA for a one-year term.

Ed Godfrey was elected president of the RTNDA in 1982 and served through 1984.

Ed Godfrey was the only candidate recommended by the nominating committee.

RTNDA treasurer Lou Prato said of Ed Godfrey "He was one of the most effective presidents we've ever had".

Ed Godfrey made an effort to abolish the Fairness Doctrine.

Ed Godfrey testified before the US Congress three times during his tenure.

Ed Godfrey protested "vigorously" to Reagan on behalf of RTNDA's 2,000 association members.

Ed Godfrey continued, saying that 30 states allowed radio and television access to criminal trials so that "we no longer have to rely on sketches and what the reporters thought they heard".

Ed Godfrey had the ability to spot talent early in a job applicant's career.

Ed Godfrey later promoted her to Noon and evening news producer at WAVE.

In 1980, Ed Godfrey hired Lansing as WAVE TV's chief news photographer.

Ed Godfrey was known on-air as the WAVE 3 News TroubleShooter for over 12 years.

Ed Godfrey died, aged 88 on June 18,2019, in Louisville, Kentucky after suffering complications from a fall earlier that year.