In case you missed it: Farewell, Stan Chambers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWkz9zq9y0A

By Jon Weisman

The only broadcaster with a longer tenure in Los Angeles than Vin Scully was Stan Chambers. Chambers, who joined KTLA in December 1947, mere weeks after the station opened, was a direct connection to the origins of television in this city.

Ed Arnold, Pat Harvey, Vin Scully and Stan Chambers at the Golden Mike awards in 2007.

His passing today, along with that of Gary Owens, marks the end of a devastating week in broadcast journalism, but the farewell to a time where you could reach out and talk to someone who could tell you first-hand, “This is how it all began.” Because he was there.

One of the absolute privileges in my career was the opportunity to spend an hour with Chambers and his longtime KTLA colleague Hal Fishman in 2007 for this Variety story that covered six decades of history. I really treasure that piece and that memory. Fishman’s concluding thought: “Instead of a decline from excellence, let’s have a striving for excellence.”

Tales of the hard-bitten journalist abound in literature, television and film, but what you realize when you read about people like Chambers, Bob Simon and David Carr — all of whom we lost in this grotesque 48-hour period — is how they never sacrificed their humanity for their talent. That’s not to say they didn’t have their personal challenges or foibles, but they were true people of the people. It goes without saying that Scully embodies this as well.

You don’t have to be a jerk to succeed. You can be dedicated without being myopic. Cynicism isn’t required when skepticism will do the trick. Be the best you can be, in and out of the office.

Every so often, I’ll make a comment about getting older. The truth is, I suffer less about what the passing years are doing to me than about what they do to the people I respect and cherish.

And with that, on to the smaller picture …
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