1985
Citation:
Jeanne Findlater has been vice president and general manger of WXYZ-TV since 1979, and during her time in this position she has gained a reputation as an outstanding broadcaster and committed citizen. Currently at WXYZ, 1600 hours of locally produced broadcasts, including five hours of live news and information daily offered to the viewing public.
Prior to her present position, she was program director at WXYZ where she emphasized quality and quantity in programs geared toward servicing the local community. Under her guidance WXYZ was awarded a number of national program awards, including the Action for Children Television Award for Children Series “Hot Fudge”. She has produced numerous programs which have addressed community issues and through her editorial comments has urged the cause of scholarship among young people. She initiated two major health programs which administer health care to the public annually; The Children’s Immunization Fair and Health-O-Rama.
Ms. Findlater joined WXYZ as a staff producer in 1971, and then became assistant program director. She has been associate editor of Detroit Magazine, a publication of The Detroit Free Press, a producer for Kaiser Broadcasting in Detroit, of the Lou Gordon Show and of an evening news show for Detroit’s public television station, WTVS. She began her career path as a teacher of mentally retarded children in the Detroit Public School System after graduating with honors from Wayne Sate University.
Ms. Findlater has served on the boards of industry, business, and community organizations including the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Detroit Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Adcraft Club, Orchestra Hall, the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and the United Foundation. She has received various honors and awards from several of these organizations, including the Urban League, Wayne State University, American Women in Radio and Television, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Fair Housing and Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Detroit.
Award was presented at the Works of Mercy Dinner, 1985.