Belo Mourns Passing of a Television Industry Legend, Former Executive H. Martin Haag, Jr.
10 Janeiro 2004 - 10:12PM
PR Newswire (US)
Belo Mourns Passing of a Television Industry Legend, Former
Executive H. Martin Haag, Jr. DALLAS, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- H.
Martin (Marty) Haag, Jr., former senior vice president/News of Belo
Corp.'s Television Group and an executive of the Company for 27
years before his retirement in 2000, died today at the age of 69.
Haag, one of the television industry's most respected news
executives, received a special George Foster Peabody Award in 2001
for his longstanding contributions to journalism and the broadcast
industry. Since his retirement, Haag had worked as a consultant and
served as visiting professional in the journalism division at
Southern Methodist University, where he taught several courses.
"Marty Haag personified journalism in the highest sense," said
Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and chief executive officer
of Belo. "Marty was a news executive of unparalleled ability,
creativity and integrity whose belief in fairness framed a deep
understanding of the role of a free press in American democracy. In
the last part of his distinguished career at Belo, and even after
his retirement, Marty's influence extended throughout the Company's
print and electronic news organizations. All of us at Belo are
truly fortunate to have had Marty Haag in our midst for more than
30 years." Haag held the position of senior vice president/News
from 1989 to 2000, guiding the development of Belo television news
services for 18 newsrooms. He joined Belo in 1973 as executive news
director of WFAA-TV (ABC) in Dallas/Fort Worth, where he supervised
all phases of the station's news operations for 16 years. Haag
played a key role in transforming WFAA from a small local news
organization in 1974 into what is consistently recognized as one of
the best local news operations in the country. Under Haag's
direction, the station won five Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia
University Awards, more than any other major- market television
station during his tenure. The station also won a Peabody award in
1988. "His eye for talent was extraordinary," said Kathy Clements,
president and general manager of WFAA. "Marty guided the careers of
many a journalist and mentored hundreds of young people over the
years. His newsroom leadership and commitment to excellence helped
set standards we observe to this day. He has a special place in our
hearts, and we will miss him dearly." Prior to joining Belo, Haag
held prominent broadcast positions throughout the country,
including national assignment editor of NBC in New York, executive
news director of WKYC-TV in Cleveland, executive news director of
KTTV in Los Angeles and assistant news director of WCBS-TV in New
York. Haag earned a bachelor of journalism degree from the
University of Missouri and a master's degree in journalism from
Columbia University. His professional career began during his
college years as a radio newsman with KBIA, Columbia, MO, and
sports editor with the Columbia Missourian. During his career, Haag
served as director of the Texas-Oklahoma region of the Radio
Television News Directors Association, president of the Dallas
chapter of SPJ-Sigma Delta Chi, and on the board of directors of
Associated Press Broadcasters. Haag was honored with numerous
industry and civic awards. He was named "Journalist of the Year" in
1978 by the Dallas chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists. The Dallas Press Club awarded him its most prestigious
honor, the J. B. Marryat Memorial Award, in 1981, the first time a
television journalist had been chosen as the recipient. In March
2000, Haag was presented the First Amendment Service Award by the
Radio Television News Directors Foundation. In 1995, Belo presented
Haag with the William H. Seay Award, the Company's highest honor,
which recognizes personal integrity, loyalty, community commitment
and journalistic standards. Haag is survived by his wife, Susan,
and sons Richard, Andrew and Matthew. About Belo Belo Corp. is one
of the nation's largest media companies with a diversified group of
market-leading television, newspaper, cable and interactive media
assets. A Fortune 1000 company with approximately 7,800 employees
and $1.4 billion in annual revenues, Belo operates news and
information franchises in some of America's most dynamic markets
and regions, including Texas, the Northwest, the Southwest, Rhode
Island, and the Mid- Atlantic region. Belo owns 19 television
stations (six in the top 15 markets) reaching 13.8 percent of U.S.
television households; owns or operates 10 cable news channels; and
manages one television station through a local marketing agreement.
Belo's daily newspapers include The Dallas Morning News, The
Providence Journal, The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA) and the
Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, TX). Belo Interactive's new media
businesses include more than 30 Web sites, several interactive
alliances, and a broad range of Internet-based products. Additional
information, including earnings releases, is available online at
http://www.belo.com/. DATASOURCE: Belo Corp. CONTACT: Scott
Baradell, Vice President, Corporate Communications, of Belo,
+1-214-683-0082 Web site: http://www.belo.com/
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