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While WJMA had covered news almost from the beginning, it was Chet Burgess who came to WJMA from the Washington and Lee journalism school as a news intern in 1973. It was an experiment to see if there was enough going on in Central Virginia to justify the expense of a news department. It didn't take long to realize there was a lot happening. Chet returned in the Spring of 1974 as WJMA's first fulltime news director. The news department would eventually grow to four with news "stringers" in Madison, Greene, and Louisa Counties. Between 1974 and 1985 the WJMA news department won 18 Virginia Associated Press news awards including Best Small Market News Operation and four Douglas Southall Freeman Awards for Public Service Through Broadcast Journalism. In 1992 Steve Ryerson won Best Spot News Coverage. News Director Phil Goodwin won a national Edward R. Murrow award for feature news in 1994.
WJMA's news staff -- (we're a bit shaky on some of the dates, so assistance would be appreciated.)
Chet Burgess, 1973-intern; ND June 1974--1976
Patricia McArver, stringer; ND 1978-1984
Phil Audibert, stringer 1976--1984; ND 1984--1986
John Lee, ND 1984--1986
Lila Young, ND
Dave Blount, ND
Tina Page Eschelman, ND
Hillary Homzie, ND
Steve Ryerson, ND--1991-1992
Phil Goodwin, ND 1993-present (the News Director position was vacant when Phil took the job in 1993)
Jean Purcell, stringer 1961--
Dorothy Mench, stringer
Jane Gardner, stringer
Ann Harrison, stringer
Andy Lax, stringer
Kiki Steele, stringer
Mary Moore, stringer
Bob Barnett, stringer, Madison County
Bill Woolfolk, stringer, summer 1983
Mitzi Clark, stringer Greene County
Barbara Potter, stringer
Rob Eure, stringer
Dudley Littlehales, stringer, Madison County
Reid Harrison, stringer
Chuck Strom, intern
Cotton Puryear, stringer
Patricia Hammil, stringer, Madison County
We been able to locate a few of the WJMA news "sounders" used over the years. The oldest was used from sometime in the 1960s to early in the 1970s. Arch Harrison recalls that the sounder is "the first few bars of an arrangement of the old nursery song Tom, Tom, The Piper's Son". This second sounder was adopted when WJMA joined the Virginia News Network. The final sample dates from 1986.
Hurricane Agnes struck Central Virginia in June of 1972. Here's an edited version of WJMA's 5 O'clock News round up story on Agnes. This was in the days before WJMA had a dedicated news department. This edited report runs almost 2 minutes. It includes Alex Formwalt, Ross Hunter and Arch Harrison.
Monday At One was recognized numerous times by the Associated Press for its contributions to public service through broadcast journalism. This is the opening segment of a Veterans Day Monday At One. The voices, in order, are from veterans Joe Samuels, William H. B. Thomas, Henry DeJarnette, Billy Trimmer, Tommy Brown and program host Phil Audibert.
This story of a balloon ride won an Associated Press award for Best Small Market Feature story for Phil Audibert.
Here's a 1984 newscast voiced by Tom Graves. This sample has been edited for length.
In 1994 Phil Goodwin's feature story "Water Discovered" about the rehabilitation of a drinking fountain on Main Street in Orange was chosen by the Radio Televison News Directors Association as the best in the country among small market radio stations. The story first won in RTNDA Region 13 consisting of stations in Deleware, Maryland, The District of Columbia and Virginia. It then went to national competition where it won again. Phil traveled to the national RTNDA meeting in Los Angeles where Andy Rooney presented the award to Phil. As he handed Phil the award, Rooney said "I heard your story. The writing was good." Phil says it was the highlight of his career. Pictures of the Murrow Award at in the Printed Items gallery. To hear the story again, click here.
