The Big Story

The Oral History of Philadelphia TV News
“He was much like the Walter Cronkite of Philadelphia.”-Ed Rendell, former Philadelphia Mayor and Pennsylvania Governor, about Jim Gardner, the trusted voice of WPVI’s Action News for 47 years

“We were the only station that stayed on the air continuously. We even pre-empted the CBS evening news.”-Larry Kane, anchor at WCAU, about covering the MOVE bombing

“The highs of working during the pandemic were keeping people informed of this deadly virus and what they had to do to take care of themselves and each other.”-Ukee Washington, KYW anchor, on the pandemic

The Big Story is David Grzybowski’s engrossing oral history of Philadelphia TV news from the perspective of reporters, photographers, producers, and news directors. Covering all the big stories from the late 1970s through the present, this fast-paced running commentary reflects on the uncertainty of the Three Mile Island disaster, the thrill of the Live Aid concert, the “Storm of the Century” (that wasn’t), and the championship victories of the Phillies and the Eagles, among other notable events, local, national, and global.

The Big Story features more than 200 interviews, including anecdotes from seasoned Philadelphia anchors Jim Gardner, Larry Kane, Lisa Thomas-Laury, Mike Jerrick, Vai Sikahema, Tamala Edwards, Pat Ciarrocchi, and Cecily Tynan, among others, about their experience on and off the job. Decision makers reflect on how to cover hot news stories such as Pennsylvania State Treasure R. Budd Dwyer’s on-air suicide. (“It was a big bloody horrifying mess,” according to Chris Wagner, WPVI anchor.)

Grzybowski highlights the Mummers, the launch of Good Day Philadelphia, off-the-air scandals, and how the Action News style secured a loyal following with Philadelphians while the Eyewitness News format competed hard to gain ratings. But the Big Story is how The Big Story provides compelling stories about Philadelphia’s news breakers and newsmakers.

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