Walt Wurfel, whose career spanned the worlds of radio, print and politics in colorful ways, died last Thursday at The Kensington, a Falls Church, VA assisted living facility, where he had been living for the last year and a half. He was 81. In radio circles,
Wurfel is perhaps best known for his decade of service to the National Association of Broadcasters, where he was senior VP of Communications from 1986-1997. That put him at the center of industry lobbying efforts that contributed to passage of the landmark Telecom Act of 1996. Before joining the trade group, Wurfel was already well known on Capitol Hill, having served as White House deputy press secretary under Jody Powell during the Carter administration and as press secretary to Hubert Humphrey’s presidential primary campaign in 1972.
Wurfel’s media career ranged from show leather reporting to corporate positions in the C-suite. He was operations director of radio stations in Middletown and Utica, NY at Straus Broadcasting Group and assistant news director WTSJ-TV San Juan, Puerto Rico. A graduate of Stanford University and the Columbia University School of Journalism, Wurfel worked as a reporter for the Washington Evening Star and as foreign editor and then political editor at the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times. His newspaper career took him to the VP of Corporate Communications position at Gannett Co.
Attribution: insideradio.com/
Full Story: Wurfel
Past friends and co-workers (If you have any photos, website links, etc., please contact Phil)
Richard Wilson Lee - December 25, 1934 - November 10, 2018
Dick Lee, who passed away Nov. 10 in Brookings, was former head of the journalism department at SDSU. He arrived there in 1978, when I was managing editor of this newspaper. Getting to know him was my good fortune because he was one of the best journalists, and men, that I ever knew.
He knew his craft and he knew people. His avuncular manner allowed him to form relationships with those from all walks, including some who distrusted the media.
He was well educated, with a doctorate degree in mass communications. He came from a newspaper family. He had practical experience to bolster his academic credentials, working on weekly and daily newspapers, including the Washington Star.
Attribution:Noel Hamiel, brookingsregister.com
Full Story: Journalist
He knew his craft and he knew people. His avuncular manner allowed him to form relationships with those from all walks, including some who distrusted the media.
He was well educated, with a doctorate degree in mass communications. He came from a newspaper family. He had practical experience to bolster his academic credentials, working on weekly and daily newspapers, including the Washington Star.
Attribution:Noel Hamiel, brookingsregister.com
Full Story: Journalist
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