Ward Quaal

In his three-hour interview, Ward Quaal (1919-2010) describes his lifelong association with Chicago television station WGN, including his beginning as an announcer and working his way up to station manager and later president of the WGN Continental Broadcasting Company. Quaal describes the programming on WGN through the years as well as the evolution of television technology. He outlines WGN's conversion to a "superstation" and the station's subsequent financial success. He speaks about working closely with government agencies in matters regarding the broadcast industry (allocation of stations, the Fairness Doctrine, etc.) as well as the government's role in regulating the industry. Quaal passionately advocates the need for local stations to provide their communities with relevant programming. He also talks about writing the textbook Broadcast Management, and its usefulness to aspiring station managers. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 12, 2004 in Chicago, IL.