Pat Harvey, Newseum Hall of Famer
Last Thursday CBS 2 news’ Pat Harvey was one of five journalists inducted into the National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) Hall of Fame at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
Annually NABJ honor celebrated black journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the news industry. More than 45 journalists have been initiated into the esteemed Hall of Fame within the past 19 years.
More than a personality, Harvey is the most identifiable face on television in Los Angeles. For more than 23 years Harvey has been an invited guest to millions of Southern California television viewers homes and one of the most prominent news anchors in Los Angeles.
Harvey is clearly the model of success for women in television news. She long ago recognized the importance of appearance and credibility to the survival of on-air personalities.
“I have always been interested in social issues that affect politics,” says Harvey. She attributes this social awareness to her parents. “Every morning at the breakfast table, my parents would discuss politics. My parents were very active in the Detroit community. They were working class people. My dad was a union man, who worked at Cadillac motors, and my mom was a schoolteacher.”
In 1981, Harvey was apart of the inaugural anchor teams that launched CNN Headline News in Atlanta. Later, as anchor for CNN’s Daybreak newscast, she regularly interviewed heads of state and other dignitaries. Pat joined Chicago Superstation WGN as a news anchor in 1985, where she was seen on cable systems throughout the United States and South America.
She joined former Walt Disney owned and operated KCAL TV in 1989. In April 2010, Harvey began co-anchoring for KCAL sister station CBS 2 TV.
Harvey is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades’ including 19 Emmys.
“Because of her connections and longevity in the Los Angeles market, Pat can pick up the phone and reach newsmakers,” says Paul Magers, who co-anchors with Harvey. “Because of her longevity in this business she can often provide context to stories. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Harvey takes pleasure in being able to make a difference by bringing things to light.
“I rather report on issues that have value,” says Harvey.
Tony Cox, Associate Professor of Television Journalism at California State University and contributor to NPR, has been a longtime admirer of Harvey.
He maintains, “She is the complete package,” and is aware of the power of her position. This is often observed by her community involvement.
Cox also notes that Harvey has “Status Conferral.” This means the audience confers on you a certain status based on you being on the air.
“What they expect is honesty and a social responsibility,” he says. “Not everyone on the air lives up to his or her responsibility.”
The other inductees included Gwen Ifill of Washington Week and PBS NewsHour, Johnathan Rodgers, former TV One President and CEO, and President of CBS’ television stations group, Wallace Terry (Posthumously), former deputy bureau chief for Time magazine in Saigo, and Ruth Allen Ollison, media personality and esteemed Pastor of Beulah Land Community Church in San Antonio TX.?
