Broadcasting the Local News

In Broadcasting the Local News, Volume 1, Lynn Boyd Hinds examines the foundational era of American television journalism. While millions of viewers prioritize local broadcasts over network news, the origins of this medium remain largely undocumented. Hinds, a former Pittsburgh broadcaster, focuses on KDKA-TV to illustrate how stations pioneered news formats in the mid-twentieth century. The book details how early broadcasters transitioned from simple radio-style reading to the sophisticated local news structures used today, including live remotes and in-studio anchors.

This history of United States state and local media explores how pioneers borrowed techniques from newspapers, radio, and motion picture newsreels. By analyzing the evolution of programs like Pitt Parade, the text provides a scholarly look at the performing arts and television history. Hinds utilizes interviews with broadcasting veterans to document the trial and error required to establish modern news conventions. This work serves as a significant contribution to the history and criticism of American television.