Another part of my childhood in the San Fernando Valley has passed away today. Hal Fishman, the longest-running anchor in television history and an icon of Los Angeles culture, died this morning after a bout with cancer.
I remember our family watching the nightly news on Channel 5, and Hal was there with the stories. He spoke with authority and professionalism, something that is lacking in today’s news. Consider what he said in his 1985 interview in the LA Times:
“When I was a professor, I used to tell my students, ‘You can’t have a properly functioning democracy without an enlightened electorate.’ It’s our job as newscasters to enlighten the electorate. We are the conduits of information.”
There is a huge difference between enlightenment and entertainment. News as Enlightenment informs people; News as Entertainment sensationalizes and trivializes issues. Hal Fishman knew the difference. He will be sorely missed.