In May 1964, after my final spring-semester exams at Columbia, the Writers Guild agreed to allow me to work for a week as a writer for WNEW Radio News. I don’t know if, at the age of 20, I was the youngest writer WNEW ever employed, but it was a thrill, and I got to work with some of the greatest people the business was ever privileged to employ.
Here is the schedule for that unforgettable week.
Others on the schedule are:
Jack Pluntze, later to become assistant news director, then news director;
John (Jack) Laurence, later a correspondent for CBS News in Vietnam, creator of the award-winning “World of Charlie Company;”
Mike Stein, later assistant news director and news director;
Ike Pappas, later CBS News correspondent;
Rudy Ruderman, later assistant news director and news director;
Al Wasser, later senior producer at ABC News and CBS News;
Christopher Glenn, later producer and host of CBS’ “In the News;”
Ed Scott, who had been one of Murrow’s writers at CBS; and,
Loren (Larry) Craft, transfer from the Daily News.
Contributed by Andy Fisher
Postedit: Thank you, Marianne, for formatting and posting the story of my wonderful week as a rookie writer at WNEW. The following week I turned back into a pumpkin and resumed the copy boy duties I had been doing since 1962.
Among the credits for that astounding staff of colleagues, I should have mentioned that Mike Stein went on to be Peter Jennings’ writer at ABC’s “World News Tonight.”
Thanks for posting your dad’s wonderful commentary*. I remember its original airing very well. I had just returned to the station after three years in the Army and 16 months with the Metromedia station in Philadelphia, WIP. One of my jobs was writing your dad’s 6:00 and 7:30 newscasts.
I was also a newlywed; my Jersey-girl wife was the daughter of a crusty old Italian-American butcher, Stanley Cozza, who rarely had anything good to say to anyone about anything. He was, however, a
Sharon Cozza Fisher and Stanley Cozza
long-running fan of WNEW, his loyalty dating back decades, and because I had gone to work for his favorite radio station, I could never do anything wrong.
Over the years, WNEW’s music policy drifted away from the American standards that had made its reputation, and Stanley drifted with it. Fortunately, he didn’t blame me for the changes, and, a decade later in 1979, when the standards returned to the station, Stanley returned with them. The radio in his grocery store in East Orange went on — tuned to WNEW — when he opened the place in the morning, and it stayed there all day. Ted Brown was a special favorite.
By then, I had left WNEW 1130 — but not the premises — to do the morning news on WNEW-FM, working in the same newsroom, if not on the same frequency. When I left at Christmastime in 1981 for NBC, where I would spend the rest of my career, WNEW 1130 had
Ann Reinking
just circulated a snazzy poster with Broadway star Ann Reinking striking a pose, and as a farewell gift, a whole bunch of staffers autographed the back of it, saluting the big fan, my father-in-law Stanley Cozza.
It’s been sitting in a box for lo these many years, but here it is. I have transcribed the autographs from the back of the poster.
Stanly Cozza WNEW signatures
Thanks again, so much, for your loyalty to the station we all loved so much and the staff who made it great.
Best regards, Andy Fisher
*Editor’s Note: The commentary to which Mr. Fisher refers was posted Feb 6, 2024, and written for broadcast on WNEW-AM February 13, 1970 by Mr. Edward C. Brown.
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INSCRIPTIONS ON WNEW 1130 POSTER FOR STANLEY COZZA
Stanley – Thank you and Merry Christmas – Tom Whalen
Stanley! We like the music here too! (Especially those of us with a little gray hair!) Keep listening – Happy Holidays! Mike Prelee, News Director
To Stanley – The young lady on the other side is Ann Reinking. I’m sending her to you on Arbor Day. Be prepared – William B.
To Stanley You were my “best” call in the past 175 years. Stay tuned — or come in and work with me!! Best, Ted Brown
Stanley – Glad you like our station, we appreciate your listening. Now what can we do about Andy? Best wishes, Bob Hagen
Stan – My man – I hear that you are cool & dig purple. Warmest regards Al Jazzbeaux Collins
Stanley – You are obviously a gentleman with cultured taste and refined judgment when you pick a station to listen to… but… have you had a hearing check-up lately? Merry Christmas John Kennelly
From one with ALL gray hair — for Stanley Steamer — Bruce Charles —
To Stanley Cozza… Thanks for listening to our hard-working WNEW news team… Best wishes, Mona Rivera
Dear Stan, In reference to the above by Mona Rivera, the true “hard work” is that of the listener. You must be a very hard worker. Best of everything from the Bald One, Charles Scott King
TO STAN – Christmas full time – the year around for you from a part-time milkman – Gordon Hammett
Others on the schedule are:
