2 20 27 https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/946af4404e42afef1b7693fb2d0de462.mp4 2a5c23ea284c83be9ab137fd91ebb075 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound It's pretty much have a bomb thrown at you. It was tough. What do you think is going to be like having buffalo one newspaper? I think it's going to be much worse than having a two newspaper town. Any community is better off with two competing major metropolitan dailies, people in working depression and during hard times. They can't afford it. If the economy was better than they could support to pay this Good evening once again, everyone I'm Bob Koop. You know, it's been one full year now since the buffalo courier Express published its final edition. On tonight we're going to take a look back at the paper that once reached three quarters of a million readers here in Western New York. We're also going to look ahead to the future of newspapers in our area. But perhaps more importantly, we're going to talk about how the closing of one business in this case the buffalo courier Express, has affected each and every one of us a little bit later on in this program. I'll be joined by Doug Smith, former career editor now best known to our viewers as news four's fun Ranger. We'll also be talking with AD lapping, who's been in the newspaper business for more than 60 years. News credits include managing editor of the Detroit times and the Chicago Herald American. And from Boston we'll be talking with Jim Baker, the former radio TV critic from The courier Express whose column still appears in several local newspapers. Jim's now with the Boston Herald which is owned by News America, the company that almost took over the courier Express But first, some history. The Buffalo courier Express will cease publication with its Sunday edition of September 19. Unless a buyer is found, who will continue publication of the morning and Sunday paper. We make this announcement needless to say, with great regret this wasn't the first time and it certainly wouldn't be the last that a newspaper went out of business three months earlier in Cleveland, Ohio. The Press shocked that city by shutting down after 103 years of operation but perhaps because of recent store and plant closings here. Buffalo wasn't going to take the death of its morning paper lying down. Sure enough, six days later. This is a much happier day than the one we had last Tuesday. I'm delighted to announce the conditional sale of the buffalo courier Express by Cole's media company to News America publishing Incorporated. News America, the publishing Empire run by Rupert Murdoch has taken over several papers in financial trouble. And he's also taken on a lot of criticism. The New York Post on the courier Express are both newspapers but the courier was never like this. Look at these headlines. This is what's known as a tabloid newspaper. You're gonna have two papers, fighting to create a quality product in a vacuum without the money's not the staff, but the personnel but all that you need to put out a good product which is what the news is strive to do with the courier strive to do in past years. This is no time for Murdoch. This is not his time. But this was a chance to save the courier and most of its jobs with a couple of conditions. They came right out and said that we're going to have if something were to continue to expect a lot harder work. Murdoch's demands the continued strong support of the business community and the cooperation of the courier staff and cutting costs and people between 30 and 40%. And News America had to know in less than three days these agreements must be achieved before midnight Thursday in view of the closure date set by colts media on September 19. Sunday. Well, it wasn't that easy. If the courier could have to work force 30 to 40%. The Buffalo News would be forced to make similar cuts to stay competitive, and the newspaper guild with union members at both papers wasn't happy. With the way the cuts were to be made. While the stumbling block was not the cuts themselves. If they were talking about 90, we might have been able to agree to 90 from the president 156 Whenever it got to that it was the issue of how they would be cut. Their notion is that they should pick and choose that somehow. Everyone who works there ought to think like Rupert Murdoch ought to be able to do what Rupert Murdoch wants. Three days later, the Buffalo Courier Express published its final edition on Sunday, September 19 1982. Well, then on Monday, September 20, the Buffalo News came out with its first sunrise edition available at newsstands throughout the area, but not readily available for home delivery. The next day, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle announced its plans to spread West offering some local news and sports coverage and own delivery and Courier Express territory to the east of Erie County. Two weeks after that the Niagara Gazette made it switch to mornings and began its spread into Erie County with delivery in parts of Amherst and the tunnel Wanda's then on October 11th. The Buffalo evening it was made switch formal, changing its name permanently to the Buffalo News for all its additions. And we'll take a look at some of the effects of the courier Express closing when we come back in just a moment. With me now is Doug Smith. Our fun ranging chief Gorham, a theater and movie critic jack of all trades rack on tour and other things here news for also though, the former entertainment editor of the buffalo courier Express. Doug started working here at Channel Four, six weeks after the courier stopped publication. He was one of the lucky ones. lucky indeed Bob and thanks to you and to everybody else and all my new friends out there. Now as you indicated not everybody could find a job. 1100 people lost their jobs when the courier Express folded. And as rich Newberg now tells us some of the people who could least afford to lose their jobs or the very people who still haven't found work. Life has been a struggle during the past year in this resume ski household daughter Melanie was four years old when her mother gave birth to twins in February. Seven months later, the Courier folded and next Doug Smith lost his job as a circulation truck driver. Is pretty much of a bomb, you know, thrown at you it was tough. And I still find it tough. It gets tougher now because the weeks turn into months and then months almost turn into a year now and you know, he still doesn't have anything and it's I'm putting a spot where I have to start looking and it's really hard with three little ones at home. If they were teenagers, I think it'd be a lot different. In order to feed his family. Nick had to rely on food stamps and the house he and Murray probably purchased in June of 82 now has a lien placed against it by the welfare department. Nick with a bachelor's degree in history never thought he'd wind up on welfare. It's just not right because after why you go for interviews here they want experience to now buy. I really want to do something now I have to go to school and get retrained because for four and a half years in college I do have in is just not going to find the job driving a truck for the courier was not a very challenging job for Nick but he would have grossed with overtime 18 to $20,000. He finished out the year. Marine who once worked in the couriers classified section at planned on returning to work after having the twins. But now this resume skis must save every penny they can sacrificing the good life they once knew. Can't remember the last time we went to the show or last time we went to a restaurant, you know and you try to find money for that you just can't now it's tough. Up in the attic Nick keeps his mementos from the Courier including a mock coffin he and others belt for closing day the coffin is stuffed with old courier newspapers. And some final editions have been laid to rest inside the Courier boxes that Nick has kept for posterity To show my kids is someplace of a newspaper. I used to be here at this newspaper. I missed a lot of good friends especially over in the transportation department. We had a lot of good, very good times over there. It's tough to look at a year later, but how many people remain out of work? Do you have any fingers on it? Well, Bob, I was at a reunion party last night and that was a great lot of fun. But the interesting thing about that was I was just tickled at the number of people that kept coming up and telling me that they'd found jobs even in the last couple of weeks. But I'd say about 30% of the 1100 remain out of work and many of those that are working are only marginally employed. Now the funny thing is it practically every editor and high ranking executive found a comparable job. Publisher Roger Parkinson became publisher of the Minneapolis Star Tribune back with a Carl's media people and executive editor Joel Kramer eventually joined him as an executive editor out there. But among the reporters in the sub editors many fine familiar names remain unattached to jobs. sports writer Phil Rinaldo old honest Harry, he considers himself retired. Rita Smith, a courier Express women's editor who so often touched all our hearts and did so many charitable things remains without work. On the other hand, TV columnist Jim Baker went from local weeklies and radio to Boston to Hartford and back to Boston, where he writes for The Herald America about the instability of the television business. Controversial Doug Turner joined the Washington Bureau, the Buffalo News, a lot of people surprised at that he does a bang up job and that doesn't surprise me at all. Columnist Carol Stevens and Eric Brady married shortly before the courier closed and they went hand in hand to USA Today in Washington. J. Boyer became the film critic for The Orlando Florida star Sentinel almost the day that the Courier closed, but columnist Mike Haley became film critic for The Denver Post. Just this past month, the news hired about 30 courier writers and editors but not very many columnist, probably the best known Louise Canelli, former Features Editor now a feature writer, artists top tools took his easel and caustic went down to the news and remains a nationwide syndication but Microsoft Liana opened his own cartoon studio then took a cartooning job with the Baltimore news American, among other photographers, Mickey Osterreicher signed on to a WKBW TV, Ron Muscat. He went to the Buffalo News and Ron Shefali that was on Ron makan Muscat. His staff became the chief photographer for the Niagara Gazette, Bob. It's a long long list and if anybody wants if anybody wants to find out what happened to some of the courier then give me a call after the show. And I'll try to give them a hand but for most of them, piecework, part time work, or just sitting there waiting for the phone to ring and there but for the grace of God and Channel Four, go live. Thank you. Okay, thanks, Doug. And when we come back in just a moment, we'll be taking a look at some of the other effects of the courier Express closing, stay with us. Well, as you might expect, it didn't take very long for the economics of the local newspaper business to change. The Buffalo News saw the most dramatic changes with its daily and Saturday circulation up significantly. At its Sunday circulation almost double. Advertisers also felt the loss of the courier express as the news raised its advertising rates some as much as 119% in the past year, over the Niagara Gazette, circulation Rose 8% of the daily paper 12% for the Sunday paper after the courier folded. Almost all of that growth was informed courier Express strongholds Lockport for instance, circulation there has risen to 100% and that gives that circulation in the Tonawanda is is also up 170% It's good news to publishers, Susan Clark Jackson, We're surprised at how well we've been received in portions of Amherst and Tonawanda. Frankly, we hadn't planned to go in to town on Monday as far as we have, but receptions just been so good that then we've gone one street farther. It's good there. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has increased its circulation by about 2000 but almost all of that in Orleans, Genesee Wyoming and Allegheny County's fringe areas are the courier the six day a week Tonawanda news has made no effort to pick up any additional subscribers but its advertising sales have risen 10% Since the courier went out people there at the tunnel on a news though attribute that the weekly circulation changes For the past year but has seen a 30% growth in advertising revenues, a raucous picked up a few courier Express columnist and along the way expanded from a 12 page paper to 20 pages. Publishers are now considering putting out more than one paper a week. As for the effect of all of this on morning television, well in the last three readings period since the courier Express folded morning television, viewing of all channels in Western New York. As you can see there, they've all gone up. Well, now these are all changes that can be measured in dollars and cents less concrete is what may happen to a papers quality when it becomes the only game in town. Joining us now is Edie lapping whose newspaper experience spans much of the century and includes some of the major papers in the country. It's been 17 years of the Buffalo News before retiring back in 1974. And in your opinion, what's been the overall impact on the Buffalo News and on the Buffalo community of the folding of the Courier Express? I think the quality of the Buffalo News has increased sharply. I think they're giving a better paper to the community. They have more news, it's easier to read they have more opinions, opinions by letters to the editor and opinions by a nationally known syndicated columnist. You know that that opinion, though, would run counter to what most people would think because they're the only game in town. Why should they even bother. People? Like to write their opinions. The opinion column in the Buffalo News I've noticed has increased sharply since the courier folded. More people are writing I think there are 120 letters coming in there every week which gave a reflection of what the people in Buffalo and the Buffalo area think about events. And that gives them an opportunity that they didn't have in such measure before. Now we were talking a little bit earlier and one of the significant comments that you made that really kind of surprised me buffalo is pretty much an afternoon newspaper town right now does have that sunrise addition. But you are you're predicting that in the near future. The Buffalo News would become a morning paper. I do that because the trend nationally is toward morning newspapers to in the next five years there will be a great drive in this country for shorter work week and shorter work days, which means that people will have more time to give to themselves. They will play in the afternoon. They will not be reading in the afternoon. Furthermore, morning paper give us the advertiser and the reader more time to read the paper and find out what is going on. I see ad laughing thank you for offering those comments in your opinion over 60 years in the journalism business. We appreciate it. Thank you a number of questions of course arise out of the closing of a newspaper we talked with Buffalo News Editor Marie light about some of them. We have to be careful that people definitely tend to say, Well, you're the only game in town therefore you will be able to do this and that and what difference does it make it does make a difference with I have a peculiar philosophy for an editor. And I've gotten into trouble in some editors meetings about it about a newspaper. being the same as a supermarket, people who buy our newspaper are same as customers in a supermarket. If they do not like the product, they can go elsewhere. Now you say in a one paper towels, we're gonna go elsewhere. They can turn on channel four or channel two or seven or 17 or 29. They can read their weekly newspapers, they can read community newspapers, neighborhood newspapers and the city. There is no monopoly really. Monopoly really that's an interesting comment coming from Marie light. Do you necessarily agree, Doug? Oh, what does he mean by there was no monopoly. He certainly doesn't have a monopoly on giving out information. I mean, he's in competition with people passing out the Watchtower downtown and in competition with people putting graffiti on the one of the Clinton Street bridges, but he it's not so much of monopolies they have a responsibility. You may not have a monopoly on the dissemination business, but he certainly has a monopoly on reading habits and he has he has 24 hours a day. Now the gentleman we have right here with us, of course is Jim Baker. You may be familiar with him as a former television editor with the buffalo courier Express. Jim is with us out of Boston right now where he is working for the buffalo apartment of Boston Herald American. Rupert Murdoch bought that paper and has changed the face of the state Boston journalism quite a bit. made it a little spicier in in Beantown Jim What do you think would have happened had Rupert Murdoch gotten here in Buffalo? I think number one, it would have been a smash success, especially with the style of paper that we are producing here in Boston. The circulation is over 400,000 Now I'm talking about daily circulation. It's nearly doubled. What it was, in the days not so long ago days of the Boston Herald American. And the style is flashy, that it's big on sports, for example, a 14 to 44 page Sunday Sports section alone. It's big on news and entertainment and it's it's fun to read. It's colorful. I think the people of Buffalo miss that style, and I think it would give them a choice if they had it. Well, Jim, you're talking now about the guys you're working for. But I'm still gonna ask you when people go into the supermarket and the teller paper you're working for from the National Enquirer? What does it look like? Yes, they can and the mainly in the section that I deal with, again, that 44 Page sports section that I talked about it, it looks in some ways like the New York Post it in style it is. It is flashy, as I said, but I can't think of a thing that that for example a sports fan would want that isn't in that paper it's just as complete as can be. And again I am you know I'm talking about the man I'm working for but I would have loved to see that product in Buffalo Jim is this what we're Is this what we're reduced to though that we have to show such a change in style for two newspapers to compete, that you have to have this tabloid screaming banner headline sort of newspaper as a as opposed to a rather conservative and staid operation for both to stay in business. I don't think it's necessary, but I think in a limited market and a market that is as smaller as Western New York and particularly Buffalo has become I think it's if you're talking about sales, I think you ought to give them a wide choice, give the people a wide choice. And right now, a colorful product one that is really big on sports and entertainment, in my opinion is not there and it's here in spades. In Boston, I mean, the acceptance of it is remarkable. You come into the city in the morning and you see people walking both papers, both sides of the street as you come out of the tunnel. Those of you that are familiar with Boston, you'll see one brave soul or soul walking down the middle and the end as the traffic is jammed up. It's exciting to see and it's vibrant. And I would have loved to see this kind of thing happen in Buffalo and I was saying to Bob the other day that in the last couple of years the courier Express if they made an error in strategy it was in trying to become more respectable and more responsible than the Buffalo News, which had the respectability and responsibility market all cornered, that they maybe should have tried to play the game on a different turf. Do you feel that way? Now, Jim? Well, I don't think you have to be one or the other. I think you can be colorful and responsible I think you can do both. The first thing you should have is accuracy. The second thing you should have is you should be as colorful. There is no excuse for dull writing and dull reporting and dull editing. And thank goodness that isn't the case where I am. Well, we heard that Christian a union leader of the Buffalo News, just simply deploring the thought that Murdoch was going to come in or was going to horrify Buffalonians with his horrible product. Do you think that Buffalonians many buff that they would have been strong like you know, old world old Eastern European reaction to this seminal paper, telling us something if if they had embraced the Murdoch product, at the very least the people who didn't want to stay there under under him would have had a job for a few months while they went out and looked. The choice that they selected was to me and sanity. So, I mean, they you had to you they had no choice with what they chose. I mean they went out the door. They had no job. They're the people that didn't want to stay with Murdoch at least would have had a job for a while while they looked. And that's what proved to be the case here in Boston. There weren't wholesale changes. Mr. Murdoch kept the people that he wanted and he kept streamline the product. And it seems he's turned it completely around. I'm talking about a successful story here. Jim, you still have some contacts here in Buffalo. You keep in touch with a lot of the folks around town? I sure do. Would you give us a prediction from your standpoint, even though it is from above 400 miles away? Does buffalo stand the chance of ever bringing back another quality independent morning voice? I think it does have a chance but what it needs what needs to happen is for the advertising community that has been that has seen tripled ad rates there for the financial community for the leaders of that community. And you know the names they have to get together and decide that their community that they are a part of deserves a choice that it deserves a couple of products and not just one in print journalism, and I'm talking about the inner city of Buffalo. Now there are there are places like Niagara Falls and Dunkirk that have a good choice. But that's what it takes the community leaders to get together and back it. Because I love that city. And I'd love to see you have a choice again. Okay, Jim Baker, Doug Smith. Thank you very much. And we'll be back with more in just a moment. Well now here we are one year after the closing of the buffalo courier Express but no morning paper on our doorstep and still no plans for a local morning paper. There are a couple of possibilities however, gets USA Today which celebrated its first birthday just last week, when they began offering home delivery around Western New York this month. And there are some plans by at least one local businessman to attorneys that a group of former courier Express employees to get another morning papers started. They're working on a Monday through Friday tabloid that would be called the buffalo morning sun. specific plans for that new paper should be announced in the next month. or so. But there was still the question. Can this area support a morning newspaper? We ask what you thought? Well, I think buffalo shouldn't be a one paper town. The news was a lot better when it had some competition really does need to newspapers so we can have both viewpoints on different sides because one newspaper might have a tendency to be biased towards a different viewpoint. It's good. It's just better to have two newspapers. In any competitive situation. I think we can use an additional newspaper in town to give a more diversified view and what we have right now. I think buffalo is large enough city that it should have two newspapers. I really do miss a carrier, because it has certain articles in there like this new one. It's okay. But it's interesting. We get a lot of phone calls from people saying why can't we have home delivery of sunrise? We go into those streets. And what we find is most of those people are buying the afternoon additions to the news and really don't want the Morning Edition delivered. We'll find three four or sometimes two homes that are straight, which wanted and we can't establish routes. Buffalo still basically is an afternoon newspaper town. There's just no question about that. Well, earlier tonight at six o'clock on us for Buffalo we asked what you think about buffalo as a morning newspaper town. And here's what we found out the question was very simply can buffalo support a full time home delivered morning newspaper and the response that we got was overwhelming. Yes, by 95%. Well, it doesn't take much to realize that there is a need for an independent, strong and competitive morning paper in Western New York. Some voices of course will claim that this is an afternoon newspaper town but it appears that people feel otherwise. But why did the courier fool if there is such a need? There? Are many, many reasons not the least among them a decline in readership across the board all around the country, as well as a greater dependence on television for more and more information. But as broadcast journalists, we can only hope that that trend will be reversed and that a diversity of opinion, both print and broadcast media, and all sorts of information will be available to Western New Yorkers in the very near future. That's our program for tonight. Thank you very much for joining us. Good night. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Morning After: The Demise of the Courier Express Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist) Description An account of the resource Buffalo, New York became a one newspaper town on September 19, 1982. It lost The Courier Express, the popular morning and Sunday newspaper that had begun publishing in 1926. This News 4 television special hosted by the late Bob Koop looks back on the reasons why the newspaper could no longer compete with The Buffalo News and the impact of the Courier’s folding on its former staff members and its readers. Staff members of the Courier Express voted down the opportunity to work under Rupert Murdoch’s News America. It would have meant transitioning to a tabloid newspaper as well as staff cuts of between 30 and 40 percent. When the paper shut down, eleven hundred people were out of work. Buffalo’s depressed economy at the time made it difficult for many of those workers to find jobs. Some had to go on welfare. The demise of the Courier Express followed the closings of other major newspapers throughout the country, including the Cleveland Press, which shut down three months earlier. It had been operating for 103 years. The roots of The Courier Express date back to 1828 according to SUNY Buffalo State, which has possession of the Courier Express archives. As the E.H. Butler Library at Buffalo State points out, “From 1828 to 1926, twelve separate newspapers merged during those years, ending with the formation of the Buffalo Courier-Express…” Mark Twain once was a columnist for one of those papers, the Buffalo Morning Express. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Koop, Bob (Program Host) Smith, Doug (Former Courier Express Entertainment Editor/News 4 “Fun Ranger") Baker, Jim (Former Courier Express Radio-TV Critic) Lapping, Ed (Veteran Newspaper Editor) Jasen, Carol (WIVB-TV Reporter) Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter) Sacks, Karen (Producer) Vandivort, Dave (Director) Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Wigginton, Chris (Photographer, Editor) Cantwell, Bill (Photographer) Santana, Dave (Photographer) Ayers, Don (Technical Staff) Clemons, Mickey (Technical Staff) Johnson, Len (Technical Staff) Johnson, Rex (Technical Staff) Kerner, Kathy (Technical Staff) Novelli, John (Technical Staff) Pels, Godon (Technical Staff) Rozek, Dan (Technical Staff) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1983 Subject The topic of the resource Buffalo (N.Y.)--History--Newspapers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/9608c62813347269c9fea71b1ae16072.mp4 2586965e8d2cdd4e414d6957cca6a070 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Bread for the needy was distributed to 20 different social agencies today in Buffalo, but as Rich Newberg reports the giveaway is viewed as only a beginning. The first few cases containing some of the 3500 loaves of bread on hand, were loaded into a car on its way back to a daycare center in the city. The bread was donated by am and A's and though this is the result of a two year grassroots effort at getting a food bank network underway, its organizers candidly admit that the impact of this giveaway will be minimal. A drop in the bucket, a drop in the bucket, but it'll begin it'll it'll start the ball rolling and that's the big thing. Other .. other people will have food to give and they'll suddenly be aware of the fact that they're hungry people and there's an agency now to deal with it. That's the big thing. I live a block away. Willie Simmons was also thinking about food as he tried to keep warm near a trash can fire. He was thinking about feeding his two children. Willie Jr., seven, and Melissa, three. Their father was laid off three years ago as a shipping clerk. So now Willie Simmons tries to hustle a few bucks as the big refrigeration trucks pull into the loading docks. Basically down here. It's just the truck drivers be down here trying to cut you know, whatever. unload trucks load them up. Well, you know, it's hard to get diapers and milk and the eyes and ears, clothes and shoes. Willie chooses to avoid charity to provide for his children. But the bread that is now being distributed is for families that simply cannot make ends meet families that will gladly receive their fair share has been really difficult. I mean, you barely can make ends meet and you got to turn to the social services and they blacking out some people and some people didn't like noon and you just got to make the best of it. Well, you put a piece of butter on it and you can make a meal. You really can't and bonus. This bread is being dispensed at CAO headquarters at Harvard place where they say the job of feeding the needy is never over. Rich Newberg, news four, Buffalo His name is Harvey Bryant and right now that appears to be all that he has in life. A named rich Newberg reports now on a man who has taken up residence underneath the New York state thruway. This is home for 67 year old Harvey Brian. A few pieces of cardboard shielding him from the elements under the Thruway at Scott and Columbia streets. Recreation for Mr. Bryant is rolling a cigarette from a piece of newspaper. He does it in one smooth, uninterrupted motion. It is a skill he perfected while drifting from city to city for 30 years. Harvey Bryan is a hobo. He laughs when you ask him how he survives. Can this be a little bit gray if you have to go into the trash to get the food? This Mr. Bryant who says he has lived here for five months is concerned about the buffalo winter ahead. He says his health is failing. I'm sick already. I'm sick -- is pretty bad. While the rest of us entered Good Samaritans Richard Williams and his fiancee Dorothy Liu. They befriended Mr. Bryant this week and they can't understand why nobody has helped. I think it's a shame. You shouldn't have to live like this. Who's going to do anything? That's how I want to know what is he going to get help? No. The answer is yes. Because Mr. Brian's two friends brought his situation to our attention. We got the city involved. Two men from the Department of Human Resources found Harvey Bryant toting a railroad tie for firewood. Buffalo has had some frosty nights this week. I think everybody should have a proper place to live and this is this is really deplorable. And we're here to help Harvey and we're gonna see that it's done. Mr. Bryan thanked us and said he would be grateful for a roof over his head. He left behind his dinner of two rather crisp pieces of pizza and most of his worldly possessions, Catholic Charities and the city of Buffalo will make sure he is well fed and properly cared for which Neubert news for update. Buffalo soup kitchens are expecting a very busy winter this year but as rich Newberg reports for us now the city is gearing up to help those whose needs are the greatest. Could be a long and cold winter for Buffalo's hungry and homeless population. Matthew. Demand for food and shelter may be greater than current facilities can provide. We know it's gonna be tough. Well, there's more and more hungry people coming in every day more we see more new faces every day. Last week we found Harvey Bryant living under the New York State Thruway we learned today he is being observed at the VA hospital for possible neurological damage due to muggings. city agencies that finally came to his aid found he was unable to collect his social security benefits because he has no permanent address. But the problem As winter approaches goes beyond the so called street people. Could you end up on the streets this winter. Diane Cole is living in a house without furniture with her two sons. What happens if you don't get furniture? Because I wouldn't be homeless I won't even know where to go to children. What are your concerns about them? How to do everything to ward off a possible crisis. This winter. The federal government is making millions of dollars available to cities across the country and buffalo we'll share on that funding. We would like to make a collective effort so we can get everyone together, bring them together and cut some of the red tape that it takes to help some of our homeless people. For those looking toward winter with sorrowful eyes. There is now hope hope that the Harvey Bryant's will be few and far between rich Newberg views for Buffalo Here's a man who feeds about 200 people a day in his soup kitchen on Massachusetts Street here in Buffalo News. Ford's rich Newberg now has the story of a man who discovered his calling the hard way. Come on, here we go. can eat all that nobody goes hungry who enters Sunny Beat's soup kitchen known as helping hands do they get a hug and everybody knows they are welcome here. For me. It's a satisfaction that I'm able to help. There were times when I needed help and no one was there. Sonny Nieto knows what it's like to be down and out. He went through a painful period in his life, but even when he was committing crimes that landed him in federal prison. He never forgot the poor. It was nine years ago when Sonny Miotto went to prison for writing bad checks. He had been addicted to prescription drugs for a skin ailment that still leaves scars all over his body today, put yourself covered with crawling neons and being stung with bees the same time though he was confused and sick at the time. He acted like a modern day Robin Hood using the stolen money to buy food, clothing and furniture for the needy. I guess it's always been in me to help people. I always wanted to be a monk good preaching hopefully like that, but never did achieve them. So this was my way of doing it. Now Sonny Nieto operates his soup kitchen and food pantry through donations. Many of those he helps don't know his story, but they realized they would be lost without helping hands. I don't know where I would be. I mean, I would probably be out in the streets looking for food. So what motivates this man who runs Helping Hands faith? I think he has faith in himself that he wants to help people. If we can't help somebody along the way. What good are we good at we were nothing rich Newberg us for update Life will go on for the man who just wants to be called Jeff. It's day one just as life goes on for 100 to 150 others who on any given day live just out of sight in buffaloes tunnels under bridges and abandoned homes and in the streets in order to go over to cold blue tonight the van will be there. Okay. Stay warm. While there are well over 5000 homeless people a year in Erie County. Who are in and out of shelters. Only a small percentage, perhaps 50 or 60 will try and tough it out. When the weather becomes severe. Jeff was one of them. Most of the time was wildlife. Survival was only in real bad weather. Jeff somehow survived for two years, mostly living around this shopping center in North buffalo until the blizzards and the bone chilling temperatures of recent unrelenting buffalo winters. Finally, claimed both of his legs. Yeah. Jason Flores who reaches out to the homeless for the matt urban Hope Center had become concerned when Jeff could no longer be found. He finally tracked him down at the Erie County Medical Center where Jeff's life had been saved before after frostbite had earlier claimed some of his toes and part of one of his legs. This time, Jason made a vow at Jeff's bedside. We'll do what we have to do. Jeff will not return to the streets. We'll make sure that Thanks Jeff. We're gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss everybody. Jeff now is about to begin a new chapter of his life, mustering up the strength that helped him battle alcoholism, and long stretches of time without a job. He was once a cook. arrangements have been made to place Jeff in his own apartment. That's where he is heading now. But he has concerns. In the farming neighborhood, I've never been there before. I got to meet new people and everything. So that's a wheel. But this time Jeff has a network of people who not only believe in him, but are in a position to help what you're trying to instill in him. That he's gotten. He has what it takes to to to get past this and he can live safely. Jeff is now part of the housing first program, which places the chronically homeless in permanent supportive housing. He's in an apartment he's not in the street sees he has food, he has clothing, he gets a phone. Yes TV, everything needs to move on to the next level in his life. But that last part solely rests with Jeff now. He's taking a positive approach. I can reach the door hangers on your closet. I'm not worried about that. There will be help for him to reach new goals. I appreciate the help. I definitely want to get back to work if I can. I'm sure there's work out there at some point. You got to have a positive attitude. I've got 10 I'm gonna get get through and get by Jason Flores has something to offer to the homeless people he is about to encounter me come into to offer them hope to hook them up with services. He knows where they live. They live in the places where life passes them by staying warm. Do you want to go into shelter? cold blue tonight. Want somebody come pick you up? The man declined shelter but knows where the van will be parked? If he becomes desperate. As ironic as it is, you know, in the shadows of the million dollar buildings that were building down the canal side. We still have homelessness. You know we still have people sleeping under bridges and, you know in tunnels here under this tunnel next to these railroad tracks. A homeless dormitory of blankets and mattresses on hard rocks. It looks like there's some probably two people sleeping here you see some some woman's undergarments here and most likely a male is probably accompanying her. This shivering raccoon is now living in this space that jar Vaughn brown used to call home setup right here. Right now they're outside homeless people just appear nobody's around anymore. It's just you in the streets. And if you can find someone to help you, it's a blessing. Jason Flores was a blessing to Javon. He worked with him for a year after finding him under a frozen blanket. And he was laying in the blanket and it was literally a sheet of ice it was frozen solid. Giovane now works at the Matt Urban Hope Center and plans on earning an associate's degree in business. He is proof says Jason that every living soul on the street can be say his story is what keeps me going. Clients that are difficult to work with and hard to engage with. I just think Javon and did the effort that he put into it. Eventually it does pay off in the end Well, the bars that went up under these bridges have had a chilling effect on relations between homeless advocates and buffalo city police. The bars stretch across the concrete slabs were Buffalo's homeless find shelter from the elements homeless people like Pierre and others suddenly disappeared from sight and from the outreach workers who were trying to help them. Now we can't find them. So it can't find you. You can't house you, you know, so it's just more challenging for us to be able to find them. There are more than three dozen chronically homeless people who live like this in Buffalo and there have been coordinated efforts with the police to get them off the streets and into housing. But no warning was given even though Buffalo Police knew the bars would be put up by the State Department of Transportation. We get blindsided by a narrow minded approach that actually makes it more difficult for us to achieve our goal. Buffalo Police say there have been community complaints about heroin needles on sidewalks and public lewdness, but agencies dealing with the homeless would like to have had at least a heads up because once you violate somebody's trust, it's hard to rebuild that. Coming up at six why Buffalo was positioned to become a city solving the problems of the chronically homeless, Rich Newberg, News Four How sweet it's been to see buffalo, Bing again, is going to be back it's going to be bigger and better than it ever was before, with a billion dollars earmarked by the state for growth and development Buffalo's on the move And yet we are a city still struggling with issues of homelessness, inner city crime and failing schools with stagnated within it changing superintendents and in an environment where we see all kinds of opportunities opening up for people. It's not happening for the poor and minority people in the city. of Buffalo. We are still one of the poorest cities in America. It has always troubled me deeply to see the chronically homeless living in the shadows of the city. Stay warm if you want to go into shelter, get your vital. Some I got to know including Jeff, most of the time was away life. Survival was only in real bad weather. Jeff somehow survived for two years, mostly living around this shopping center in North buffalo. Until the blizzards and a bone chilling temperatures of recent unrelenting buffalo winters finally claimed both of his legs. Yeah, I followed his story even as he was given his own apartment. Thanks to the outreach agencies. That are making great strides to eliminate chronic homelessness and buffalo. But only months after I reported on Jeff's attempt at a new life. I learned that he had passed away reverting back to drinking, compromising his health even further. A Life in the balance should we be doing more to help the mentally ill cope in society? I raised that question 16 years ago, working with Tom Vetter, a gifted photo journalist with a deep social conscience. We entered the world of men and women trying to desperately eke out a life in boarding houses and on the streets are physically more intense. I can't handle it when I'm off my medication and then just try and commit suicide. They were existing from day to day, but many could have received much greater care. You have to meet all the needs. If you meet only part of them. It falls apart Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Hungry and the Homeless of Buffalo Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist) Description An account of the resource 1 In 1979 the Buffalo Food Pantry was created to assist residents who couldn’t afford to feed their families. As the project developed, there were still independent efforts to feed the hungry. In 1980, the Bread Giveaway was one such effort. An organizer expressed the hope that the community would become aware of the fact that, “There are hungry people and there’s an agency now to deal with it.” Only half a block away from the place where bread was being distributed, a poverty-stricken, laid-off shipping clerk tried to offer his services to load and unload trucks in a desperate attempt to provide milk and other essentials for his two children. 2 For some of Buffalo’s homeless, living quarters are concrete spaces under the New York State Thruway. Some use cardboard to shield themselves from the elements. 67 year old Harvey Bryant was one of them. He was a “hobo” who was barely surviving on food from trash cans. His health was failing when a Buffalo family came to his aid. The City of Buffalo’s Human Resources Department and Catholic Charities were made aware of the case and immediately provided Mr. Bryant with shelter, while also addressing some of his other basic needs. 3 Buffalo soup kitchens faced increased demand in the 1980s during a period when the city experienced economic decline. Families suddenly found themselves in dire need. The federal government set aside money for cities hoping to do more for the homeless and the hungry. Buffalo’s Department of Human Services vowed to cut through red tape in order to help the neediest. 4 Sunny Miano, a modern day Robin Hood, stole money to provide for the needy of Buffalo. He served time for writing bad checks. He then established a soup kitchen called Helping Hands. He became a beloved life-saver for the poor. His operating philosophy: “If we can’t help somebody along the way, what good are we? We’re nothing!” 5 As we entered the new millennium, there were still more than hundred homeless people in Buffalo living in tunnels, under bridges, in abandoned homes, and on the streets. One of the most compelling and heartbreaking stories was about a man named “Jeff.” He lost both legs to frostbite. Various agencies came to his aid. He was provided a furnished apartment, but sadly, according to reports, he reverted back to heavy drinking and passed away. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Terranova, Michael (Digital Editor) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1981-2015 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness--New York (State)--Buffalo Homeless persons--New York (State)--Buffalo Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving image Relation A related resource <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/document/1810" target="_blank" title="A Life in the Balance: Struggles of the Mentally Ill" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Life in the Balance: Struggles of the Mentally Ill</a> Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/fa186319491c5e959b41ed868003f5bf.mp4 cf7fbcec005aa43be35b92a1fca9b763 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Terry Anderson, a journalist living in Beirut was abducted by the Islamic Jihad. They pushed Terry into the back of this green Mercedes and sped off. Anderson was the longest held of more than a dozen Western hostages in Lebanon. After nearly seven years in captivity in Beirut. He was a reporter who became part of the story he covered. I spent a year and a half solitary all together. It was the most difficult experience in my life. I almost went insane. Being held hostage and not being able to talk I discovered that I need people because we didn't know if we're gonna live 1985 to 1991. I and others spent those years in damp, dirty basements and small cells. I find it difficult to keep my hopes and my courage high The last American to be free and sort of arrived with joyous welcome. Harry Anderson's exit marks the end of the American hostage ordeal in Lebanon. All of us had a lot of problems. One of them went into a mental hospital and never got out before he died. I no one that looked at his family and said I like anymore and went up in the mountains became a hermit until he died of cancer. We were all damaged in a lot of different ways. And my problem was I sounded good. And I convinced myself and everybody else and I wasn't. I've been married three times and divorced three times. But you know you asked me if I changed. I'll tell you. My answer to that is I don't know. Ask my ex wives. Am I a jerk because I'm a jerk or because I was a hostage? I can't tell anymore. I was very happy to get out but this was my homecoming. This is where my people are That was a great celebration when I came up. We were having a bad time in America. I kind of symbolized something good. I believed in what I was doing, and I still do. But I started teaching I didn't have any idea what I thought I know this stuff. I'll teach them and they'll listen and I always tell students if you don't really have a passion for it, if you don't think it's something you really have to do. Every year, dozens of journalists most donate their homes, underwritten. Fortunately, violence, This is the most dangerous period for journalism we've ever had a lot of foreign journalism as being done by what used to call freelancers, independent journalists. They don't have much support. My daughter was one of those independent journalists. It's dangerous. It's also important. Being involved with the Committee to Protect Journalists. That's one of the most important things that I do because I'm so passionate about journalism. One of my friends had a strength sense of humor when I came home he said to me: how does it feel to know that when you die, no matter when that is no matter what else you've done your obituary will read Terry Anderson former hostage. I've come to the point where that seven years is important to me, but it's part of my life. It's not who I am. It's hoped the end of the Gulf War will mean the end of captivity for Terry Anderson. The former Batavia resident is beginning his seventh year as a hostage in Lebanon tonight. Use for his rich Newberg within our nation's capitol today we're Anderson's family joined by other Western New Yorkers heard promises that Terry Anderson is not forgotten. When these Washington school children were just coming into the world or learning how to walk, Terry Anderson was taken hostage in Lebanon. His sister Peggy say has kept the torch of Hope burning since her brother disappeared six years ago. Today she was reassured that a political solution may be close at hand for the hostages. It will be an act of governments. We're closer now than surely we have ever been. Your government has not forgotten. Many. Former hostages placed yellow roses next to the names of those who have died at the hands of terrorists in Lebanon before the Desert Storm. A new world order that cannot happen as long as there are hostages anywhere in the Middle East. As the Dooleys of Buffalo made their plea to the captors, children marked the second two months of Terry Anderson's captivity. It is a haunting image that never lets go of those who have volunteered to help. There was a strong western New York presence here in Washington today measured in terms of personal commitment among those who made the journey here. I knew that if my brother was in this situation, I would want others to help me. Me to hear things like this and I just want to do all I can to support them Washington school children marched for the hostages today, while petitions from students at Union East Elementary and Cheektowaga. Were ready for delivery to President Bush and the torture of Hope continued to burn in Washington Rich Newberg News Four update Attention was punctuated by the beating of the helicopter blades thank you so you stared straight ahead showing little emotion until Terry Anderson emerged. Then with tears in her eyes. She rushed forward to embrace her brother. Flashing thumbs up thank you overworld for six and a half year mission was complete. As they walked toward the hospital entrance, Terry broke away to greet the tours of reporters and photographers, his colleagues, journalists thanking them personally for keeping the faith a wave to the crowd with six year old Sulamei by his side, the daughter he has never known. Then he emerged on the hospital balcony with fellow hostages Joseph Scipio and Alan Steen, all basking in the warmth of their newfound freedom. And despite the ordeal of six and a half years captivity, Anderson displayed the good humor and charm which provided so much comfort to the other hostages when they were being held. He had some fond thoughts for the people who kept vigil in his hometown of Batavia, New York I will be up there to see you soon I hope. I owe them a lot. Andy had high praise for the dog a determination of his sister and her global efforts to free up It's great to have a sister like that. Anderson is resting now he will undergo a battery of medical tests. But the people at the V's bought in the hospital who have seen many of the hostages come and go see Anderson looks surprisingly fit and well. Some describe them as being robust. The release of Terry Anderson from years of brutal captivity has brought a mood of jubilation to his hometown of Batavia. That's where rich Newberg joins us now for a live report, Rich? Thanks, Jackie and Kevin. There was some uncertainty here at the beginning of the day, but by day's end, Batavia breathed a collective sigh of relief and now if you follow the yellow ribbons on Main Street, they will lead you here to the engine house. restaurant, where a party is still going strong. Night Batavia celebrates a party six and three quarter years in the making. My feelings are just great. I've been jumping up and down all day long. I said I haven't even been able to do the things I'm supposed to do because I forgotten what that was. And everybody is just almost giddy. They're so happy to see how this person we can be so proud of him. A prayer service at the Salvation Army headquarters in Batavia brought people together for a more solemn reflection on the past six years and on the day when Terry Anderson was taken captive. Since that day, the people of this community have never given up hope. There has been a constant vigil of prayer surrounding Terry and his family and his loved ones. And today we gather in a day of celebration. Terry has been released. As Terry Anderson emerged from captivity and made his way from Lebanon to Syria, his relatives and key supporters here in Batavia were monitoring every move as the drama unfolded on television. Terry Anderson's videotaped appearance reading a message by his captors, gave his sister in law some reassurance that Terry was not only coherent, but apparently in good health. He looks healthy, feisty as ever. I fully expect that he's going to cope with everything that's coming his way. When live pictures of a free Terry Anderson were carried on network television. Terry's former high school classmate Steve Hawley was amazed at what he saw. I think he looks unbelievably good. It looks better than than any tape we've ever seen him use. It's got an unbelievably good sense of humor. He just said to somebody, you've had a wreck for seven years and I have and we know that's not true. They were personal, quiet statements made today by those who had to express themselves. The protective covering over the bust of Terry Anderson at the Genesee country mall was removed. So Peggy Says cousin Linda could place a yellow rose and a dog near Terry's hand and the chain that symbolized his captivity. And McDonald from Batavia Middle School, felt compelled to do something to express her joy. She was six years old when Terry Anderson was taken captive. And we're so happy he's out because I can just imagine how terrible it was for him over there. So it's party night in Batavia, also a night when people here are looking forward to the next step, a homecoming for Terry Anderson. You know, many of those who worked so hard to free Terry Anderson really never met the man and they are just waiting for the time when he comes back to Batavia the place that his sister in law said today, he still calls home. Rich, over the last six and a half years you have been down to the Batavia community many times covering different aspects of the story is the one word that you could use to describe the emotion tonight. Is it a collective sigh of Thank God it's over? Sure it is. It's relief, but Batavia of course has been put on the map nationally and perhaps even internationally and there's a I think a feeling of pride. I think that's the word I would use for Batavia tonight proud of Terry Anderson and the fact that he spent his boyhood right here in Batavia, New York. And Rich you've watched the transformation in that city today, haven't you? It's been six and a half years in the making for the celebration, but you've been there all day long and you must have been seeing signs and ribbons go up all day. Oh, yes, I was out there with the ribbons. Shoolchildren were putting up ribbons that that really was the lesson because these kids were just starting school when Terry Anderson was taken captive and they and they've learned the meaning of freedom over the years. And Terry Anderson represents to them. A symbol of hope and courage and now freedom. It'll be wonderful when they can break that chain on that piece of artwork at the mall down there. There'll be a great day and I hope she comes here soon. You've done a great job. Have a good night and thank you very much for the repack if you're watching WIVB TV News Four Buffalo with Bob Carroll Jimson meteorologist Chuck gurney and Van Miller with big board sports. This is News four and six. Better late than ever Jerry Anderson gets a pile of belated birthday wishes. Good evening, everyone. He took the Big Apple by storm on his us arrival. Tonight. Former hostage Terry Anderson is the star attraction in the nation's capital. As news force. Richard Newberg reports now it has been another day full of smiles and welcomes With his daughter and Sulamay's mother by his side. Terry Anderson was broken home to freedom with a ceremony featuring schoolchildren mocking each of Terry's seven birthdays that passed while he was in captivity. And children. Let's hear it. It was a moving ceremony but not without its lighter moments. from our Washington Redskins kicker Mark Mosley presented Terry Anderson with a team chiding him about being from the Buffalo area and supporting the Buffalo Bills I put my autograph on this ball but this year's and I have to say this was tongue in cheek as Terry is a Buffalo Bill fan, but this year is coming Superbowl fans but I really feel it's probably gonna be between the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills and we'll have to wait and see the TV. Peggy Say says she relied on moral support from Western New Yorkers who had joined her in Washington. Well, Batavia and thank you for all the support. We'll see you down the line. Terry Anderson has said he wants to get on with his life. He still said he was overwhelmed with his Washington welcome. But on a political note, I asked the former hostage what he would tell President Bush at a meeting later in the day. What I said before I think he got it right I think he did the right thing. It took a long time. It was frustrating to enormously difficult and complex question. But all the Americans are free now. And then in between the President and several of the former hostages gave the chief executive a chance to reflect on the impact of the past three and a quarter years. Your light on the simple truth that days and years apart. burn away the trivial things we once thought had value to reveal what truly matters in life, family, faith, hope and love. Now, in just a few minutes, the President with some of the former hostages present will light the National Christmas Tree. And Bob and Carol I guess it's worth noting that this will be the first time in eight Christmases that no American is being held captive in Lebanon. It's good to see him there at the White House. Rich I saw him in baseball and you've seen them now in Washington. Do you get the impression they just want to get these welcome homes behind them and actually get home. He's a very gracious man but through the smiles and his moves are starting to feel a little lumbering as he as he moves he can tell he's strained a little bit. Doesn't want to answer any more questions. You had trouble with my question. Didn't want to really answer it. But he is always gracious. He is a wonder with a crowd. Whether it's one on one or with a crowd. He's something and to be in his presence was really an honor today. Okay, Rich Newberg reporting live from Washington, DC. Thanks very much. Well, he was held hostage for years in Lebanon some two decades ago. And now news four's Michelle McClintock reports. Former AP Middle East correspondent Terry Anderson is bringing a message of peace and freedom to his hometown of Batavia. It's hard to believe it was over 25 years ago that Terry Anderson was captured in Lebanon in 1985. Western New Yorkers became very familiar with his story because Anderson is originally from Batavia. His sister Peggy se worked tirelessly for six and a half years to free her brother from the hands of Hezbollah Shiite militants to be released several times over the past two years. The former Mideast correspondent for the AP was held captive for seven years in the Middle East. Anderson says the current turmoil in the region is evidence that people there are yearning for freedom. I think it is particularly poignant. Right at the moment after you watch the 85 million Egyptians stand up in peace, to claim their freedom. Anderson is on the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization that monitors attacks on the press. Ironically, Lara Logan is on the board of directors. She's the CBS News correspondent who was brutally attacked last week in Cairo. They burned Al Jezerra's office, they confiscated their equipment. They beaten the rest of journalists. Why? Because they knew as long as those journalists were free and telling the story that people were gonna win. Anderson says he doesn't miss reporting. He says he has a greater mission now to promote peace. That's why he's back here in Batavia. A new peace garden will be planted here to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. And as he looks back to the Middle East, Anderson says he's hopeful for peace and a region so badly in need of freedom. Michelle McClintock for the 10 O'Clock News. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Terry Anderson: Freed Hostage Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist) Description An account of the resource Terry Anderson, who grew up in Batavia, New York, was abducted by Hezbollah militants in Beirut, Lebanon on March 16, 1985. He was serving as the Associated Press’ chief Middle East correspondent at the time he was taken hostage. Anderson was held for six years and nine months, the longest of a group of Americans taken hostage at the time. The abductions were an attempt to drive U.S. military forces from Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war. Anderson was released on December 4, 1991. From the time of his abduction, his sister Peggy Say worked tirelessly for his release. Her efforts were covered extensively by the Buffalo news media and often made national and world headlines. She was perhaps the most covered of all the hostages’ relatives. On December 4, 1991, Terry Anderson was finally released by his captors. His 2,455 days as a prisoner included about a year and a half in solitary confinement. WIVB-TV anchor, the late Bob Koop, traveled to Wiesbaden, Germany for Anderson’s first meeting with the press. His report includes Peggy Say’s joyful embrace of her brother, one of the most moving moments of his newly found freedom. This series of reports begins with a CNN recap of Anderson’s ordeal and later life activities. A sequence of reports follows, beginning with the time leading up to his release, his reunion with his sister, first statements as a free man, reaction in Batavia, and finally, Anderson’s return to Batavia in 2011 while on a “mission of peace.” Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Michael Terranova (Digital Editor) Koop, Bob (Reporter) McClintick, Michele (Reporter) CNN (from YouTube) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985 - 2011 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/collections/show/10" target="_blank" title="Rich Newberg Reports Collection" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rich Newberg Reports Collection</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Relation A related resource <a href="http://digital.buffalolib.org/collections/show/10" target="_blank" title="Rich Newberg Reports Collection" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rich Newberg Reports Collection</a> Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Video/mp4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1990-2015 Language A language of the resource eng https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/fee5730134e3ddcf8c81795400549e48.mp4 ee470dc63e68d429d0ad9b353467303c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 07:11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Manny Fried: A Guiding Presence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter) Description An account of the resource When Manny Fried was blacklisted during the McCarthy era in the 1950s, he says the union rank and file he represented as an organizer stood by him. He said he never lost hope in the American people because of that support. He was being investigated for his association with the Communist Party. His refusal to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee earned the respect of Albert Einstein, who sent him a note on April 16, 1954 saying, “You did the right thing and fulfilled your duty as a citizen.” After finding it impossible to find work in the US, Fried took a job with a Canadian company as a life insurance salesmen. He established his voice as a playwright, author, actor and teacher. He began teaching creative writing at Buffalo State College in 1972. Later in life he sued the FBI for emotional and financial damage, claiming he and his family were harassed and intimidated by twenty-five agents under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover. Fried’s book, “The Un-American,” retells the nightmare he and his family were made to endure. When Manny Fried passed away in 2011 at the age of 97, Buffalo News columnist Colin Dabkowski wrote, “He remained a guiding presence in Buffalo’s theater, literary and social activist communities and was widely regarded as the most important figure on Buffalo’s theater scene.” Manny Fried told his story to Rich Newberg, who produced three reports in 1993 and 1994. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-03-01 1994-06-02 1994-06-09 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2023-11-15 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Subject The topic of the resource Labor--New York (State)--Buffalo. Playwriting. https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/a8fa6930c56ada2afe7a525a72ed6764.mp4 4de5603a36c5eddc300b5668ff44d6f8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 54:21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Manny Fried : Life Reflections Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter) Description An account of the resource <strong>Interview One</strong><br />Manny Fried turns 80 and reflects on his life and the struggles he endured after being blacklisted from 1956 to 1972 for his political beliefs. He says that growing up as one of nine children, “We were taught to be honest and stick up for your rights.” In his books and plays he writes about relationships inside the labor movement. “I tried hard to be a voice for the American worker,” he tells Rich Newberg.<br /><br />He talks about refusing to answer any questions by the House Un-American Activities Committee, and about receiving support from Albert Einstein. Fried says the committee did not have a constitutional right to exist. He says he has no regrets, even though his life has been tough. He says, “I’ve tried to embody my experience in plays I write and the novels I write.”<br /><br />The interview is conducted at the Alleyway Theater before scenes are rehearsed for his play “Big Ben Hood.” Fried says the underlying theme is, “The need to be true to yourself, the need to have integrity, and the need to make a choice and not try to stand on the fence.”<br /><br />When the interview ends, the actors on stage celebrate Manny Fried's birthday, surprising him with a song and a cake. He joins them on stage and blows out the candles with one breath. The actors, including Jim Santella, pay tribute to Fried, pointing out his honesty and integrity.<br />March 1, 1993<br />Interview Runs: 12:36<br />21:18 including b-roll<br /><br /><strong>Interview Two</strong><br />In 1994 Manny Fried is interviewed by Rich Newberg at home, where he discusses his lawsuit against the FBI and the price he paid for being labeled “the most dangerous man in Western New York.”<br /><br />At age 81, he discusses the lawsuit he filed against the FBI based on testimony he learned two years earlier from a former FBI worker. He says the woman told him that the FBI set up 25 agents to follow him around the clock, bug his conversations, read his mail and work toward getting him indicted.<br /><br />Fried says the most important goal of his lawsuit is to “have them admit what they did... and to make amends and so it’s not easy for them to do it again.” He says former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, through his agents, damaged his marriage and convinced neighbors not to allow their children to play with his children. Fried says the agents assigned to his case also convinced friends of his wife Rhoda, who came from an upper class Buffalo family, to stop socializing with her. He says they went to her friends’ employers or clients and pressured them to stay away from the Fried family.<br /><br />Rhoda’s family owned the upscale Park Lane Restaurant and apartment building on Gates Circle in Buffalo. She had been a part owner but was barred from entering the restaurant according to Fried, after a priest called for a boycott of the establishment.<br />Fried blames the actions of government agents for breaking his wife’s spirit and believes they were probably responsible for her death. He says she had become an alcoholic and a heavy smoker and eventually had a stroke.<br /><br />He says he has no regrets having been a member of the Communist Party in Western New York, whose goals locally he says were to “better the standard of living, the wages and the working conditions of the people here.” But he adds, “The only sense of guilt I have about this whole thing is what my wife and kids went through and the part I played in sticking up for these ideals.” He says, “They went through hell on account of it and that bothers me yet!”<br /><br />The number one hope expresses at age 81 is that “working people are able to get decent jobs and don’t have to worry where their bread’s coming from.” He adds, “I want people to have enough to eat. I want them to have decent homes. I want them to get along. That’s what I want.”<br /><br />[June 9, 1994] <br />[Interview Runs: 31:01] <br />[32:58 including b-roll] Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993-03-01 1994-06-09 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2023-11-15 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Rich Newberg Reports Collection Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Language A language of the resource eng Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Subject The topic of the resource Labor--New York (State)--Buffalo. Playwriting. https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/76d0a86169fbb11a02d744766a9e5020.mp4 a95517785b37be0b62bb90968a2a9e18 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Bully Project Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich Description An account of the resource Serious incidents of school bullying were receiving national attention in 2011. President Barrack Obama held a White House conference on preventing bullying after high profile cases of teenage suicides struck a national nerve. In Western New York, worried parents of young victims of bullying were concerned that their school districts were not dealing effectively with the issue. A rash of incidents on school buses targeted students as young as six years old. WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg reported on young children being tormented and found that school superintendents were reluctant to go on-camera to discuss the issue. Parents said bullies were not being punished, even after repeated incidents were documented. There was enough pubic interest in the growing problem to warrant a special WIVB-TV presentation. On March 2, 2011, large portions of the 5 and 6 o’clock newscasts were set aside to feature a panel of experts who took calls from concerned viewers. They addressed issues including whether or not a targeted child should fight back. Parents were also advised to look for signs indicating that their child might be a victim of bullying. It was noted that victims can carry deep emotional scars. There were calls for serious interventions by school districts that had been reluctant to take direct action against known bullies. The segments ended with high profile celebrities and politicians, including President Obama, offering words of encouragement to those who were being tormented at school. Students were urged not to remain silent and to seek help from those they trust, including parents and teachers. Legendary Buffalo boxer “Baby Joe” Mesi told a group of public school children that he had been a victim of bullying. The former world heavyweight contender said he built up his self confidence by learning how to box. “Too often the voice of the victim, the target of the bully, goes unheard,” said WIVB-TV General Manager Chris Musial. He added, “Young people still feel trapped, abused and tormented. We at WIVB-News 4 and CW23-WNLO are committed to digging deeper in our coverage of this important issue. Whether it begins in the schoolyard or school bus, or in cyberspace through online taunting or texting, we will continue our efforts to find solutions that lead to an end of these horrible actions by bullies.” “The Bully Project” was honored with a national Sigma Delta Chi Public Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist) George Richert (Reporter) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011-02-03 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2024-01-29 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Subject The topic of the resource Education--New York (State)--Buffalo Education--New York (State)--Erie County Bullying Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Language A language of the resource eng Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4 Extent The size or duration of the resource. 22:47 https://digital.buffalolib.org/files/original/fe73d7e3ba4dd3e54a480742145b8318.mp4 62c8a3719023495d05230af4ea671e64 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich Newberg Reports Collection Description An account of the resource This collection of long-form reports by retired WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg covers a wide range of social issues, Buffalo history and the arts. Mr. Newberg retired from the Buffalo CBS network affiliate at the end of 2015, after serving the station for thirty-seven years in various roles including main anchor, reporter and documentarian. <br /><br />His New York Emmy Award winning pieces explore the abortion debate, care of the mentally ill, the African American struggle for civil rights, and the lessons of the Holocaust, among many topics. His video memoir, “One Reporter’s Journey, “ reflects on his forty-six year career, beginning as an advocate for those without a voice. <br /><br />"My hope," says Newberg, “is that this collection will provide a lasting chronicle of life and issues in Buffalo during the latter part of the 20th century and into the new millennium." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Badillo Beat: A Unique Partnership Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist) Description An account of the resource On September 30, 1997, WIVB-TV created a mentoring program for high school students at the Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy in Buffalo. The goal was to initially expose them to the inner workings of a television newsroom and teach them the basics of broadcast journalism and production. News 4 anchor Rich Newberg and news photographer Tom Vetter conducted workshops with the final goal of creating a TV news magazine program called “The Badillo Beat.” Fernando Correa, an 8th grade student who showed great potential in front of the camera, anchored the program, taking viewers into the heart of Buffalo’s Hispanic community. The purpose was to address important unresolved social issues. The items featured in this compilation include reports on what transpired during the course of the project and the student produced program that was presented to the school on June 23, 1998. Buffalo mayor Anthony Masiello had praised the initiative, telling students at the partnership signing ceremony that they were being given “an opportunity to grow” at a time when “communications is everything.” He said, “We live in an international marketplace. By the time you are adults, we’ll be communicating with all parts of the world every single day visa-a-vis TV and journalism, computers and telecommunications.” The Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy already had facilities and equipment used to videotape important school events. Rich Newberg told them that having entry into a television station and a professional newsroom could be a major step toward a career in broadcast journalism. However, he cautioned them that, “Unless you go for it, unless you want want it badly enough and work for it, it is not going to come to you. All we can offer you is the opportunity to see what television is all about.” Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Vetter, Tom (News photographer) Rice, Marie (Reporter) Murphy, Kurt (Graphic artist) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1997-09-30 1998-06-23 Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2024-03-08 Subject The topic of the resource PS 076 Herman Badillo Bilingual Academy Journalism, Elementary school Journalism and education Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes. Type The nature or genre of the resource Moving Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video/mp4