John Roland
Encyclopedia
John Roland is an American former news presenter
and reporter.
Roland, a Southern California
native who graduated from California State University, Long Beach
in 1964, began his broadcasting
career in the 1960s. His first major assignment was for NBC News
in Los Angeles
in 1966. From there, he was hired as a reporter by KTTV
, where he covered the Robert F. Kennedy
assassination
and the Charles Manson
trial
, and then went to sister station WNEW-TV (now WNYW
) in New York City
beginning in December, 1969. He remained with channel 5 for the remainder of his broadcasting career.
In his early years with WNEW/WNYW, he was a political reporter and weekend presenter for The 10 O'Clock News, and even did a cooking segment that was shown frequently on the newscast. He took over as the main presenter for the weeknight edition in 1979 after Bill Jorgensen
, who had presented the newscast from its start in 1967, left to join the rival station WPIX
. Over the years, Roland's co-presenters included Bill McCreary, Cora-Ann Mihalik and Rosanna Scotto
. He left the 10:00 newscast in 2003 in order to prepare for his role as presenter of the new 5:00 and 6:00 PM newscasts that WNYW was preparing, which were launched that fall. His long run with the station came to an end on his retirement
on June 4, 2004. He is currently a compensated spokesperson for the volume law firm Wilens and Baker. Poster ads with his image can be seen throughout the NYC subway system.
Roland is legally separated from his current wife, Joanna (married since 2003).
, a mentally-ill homeless woman whom the Koch Administration sought to have confined to a mental hospital for treatment. Brown, who was represented by the New York City chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
, successfully challenged her incarceration in court. The interview quickly degenerated into an argument after Roland related his own personal experiences when encountering Brown on the street. "You say that the only thing that was wrong with you was that you were homeless," Roland told her. "I walked by you almost every day. You used to talk to yourself. I used to try to give you money. Sometimes you'd take it. Sometimes you'd set it on fire." Roland added, "You used to run out on Second Avenue in front of cars. You used to go to the bathroom on the sidewalk. You would defecate on the sidewalk. You would urinate on the sidewalk. You're saying the only thing wrong with you was you were homeless?" Brown replied that she urinated on the sidewalk because she had no place to go. Roland's tone grew angrier, and he often interrupted her when she spoke.
After the interview, numerous people called the station to protest Roland's treatment of Brown. The next day, the station suspended Roland, explaining that his emotions prevailed over his objectivity. Roland personally apologized to Brown, and the station broadcast a taped apology from him. "A great many of you found that I was very rude and impolite toward Joyce Brown last night, that I was very insensitive," Roland said. "And you know something? You're right. I was. I called Joyce Brown and apologized to her. I let emotions replace the objectivity I am known for. For that, I am sorry." Roland, however, did receive support from a number of New Yorkers, who believed that he reflected their frustrations with constantly dealing with homeless people on the streets with mental or substance abuse problems (or both).
After serving his brief suspension, Roland returned to the air.
. Roland needed 18 blood transfusions, and doctors removed a part of his colon. Roland successfully recovered and returned to work at the station in late October.
(1980), Eyewitness
(1981) and The Object of My Affection
(1998). He played himself in The Scout (1994).
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
and reporter.
Roland, a Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
native who graduated from California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
in 1964, began his broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career in the 1960s. His first major assignment was for NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1966. From there, he was hired as a reporter by KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
, where he covered the Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
and the Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
trial
Trial (law)
In law, a trial is when parties to a dispute come together to present information in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court...
, and then went to sister station WNEW-TV (now WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
beginning in December, 1969. He remained with channel 5 for the remainder of his broadcasting career.
In his early years with WNEW/WNYW, he was a political reporter and weekend presenter for The 10 O'Clock News, and even did a cooking segment that was shown frequently on the newscast. He took over as the main presenter for the weeknight edition in 1979 after Bill Jorgensen
Bill Jorgensen
Bill Jorgensen was the founding and longtime anchor of New York City's WNEW-TV's Ten O'Clock News from its inception on March 13, 1967 until he left in the spring of 1979 Jorgensen moved to WPIX-TV, also in New York City, where he anchored the news until his retirement in 1987.-The Ten O'Clock...
, who had presented the newscast from its start in 1967, left to join the rival station WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
. Over the years, Roland's co-presenters included Bill McCreary, Cora-Ann Mihalik and Rosanna Scotto
Rosanna Scotto
Rosanna Scotto is an American news anchor. She currently anchors WNYW's Good Day New York with Greg Kelly. Previously, Scotto anchored at 5 and 10 P.M. with Ernie Anastos and Fox 5 Live at 11 A.M. Scotto has been the lead female news anchor since 1990...
. He left the 10:00 newscast in 2003 in order to prepare for his role as presenter of the new 5:00 and 6:00 PM newscasts that WNYW was preparing, which were launched that fall. His long run with the station came to an end on his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
on June 4, 2004. He is currently a compensated spokesperson for the volume law firm Wilens and Baker. Poster ads with his image can be seen throughout the NYC subway system.
Roland is legally separated from his current wife, Joanna (married since 2003).
Personal heroics
On May 11, 1983, Roland and his then-girlfriend were having a late-night dinner at the Racing Club, a restaurant on New York City's East Side. Three armed men entered the restaurant and attempted to rob customers. Roland disarmed one of the robbers and shot him in the leg. The other two robbers then attacked Roland. One of them struck him with a pistol, causing a laceration on his head that required 36 stitches. The police managed to arrest the three robbers and their getaway driver as they attempted to flee from the scene.Controversy
In January 1988, Roland was suspended by WNYW-TV (Fox) after an on-air argument with Joyce Patricia BrownJoyce Patricia Brown
Joyce Patricia Brown was a mentally ill homeless person who defeated New York City's efforts to force her into a psychiatric treatment program...
, a mentally-ill homeless woman whom the Koch Administration sought to have confined to a mental hospital for treatment. Brown, who was represented by the New York City chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, successfully challenged her incarceration in court. The interview quickly degenerated into an argument after Roland related his own personal experiences when encountering Brown on the street. "You say that the only thing that was wrong with you was that you were homeless," Roland told her. "I walked by you almost every day. You used to talk to yourself. I used to try to give you money. Sometimes you'd take it. Sometimes you'd set it on fire." Roland added, "You used to run out on Second Avenue in front of cars. You used to go to the bathroom on the sidewalk. You would defecate on the sidewalk. You would urinate on the sidewalk. You're saying the only thing wrong with you was you were homeless?" Brown replied that she urinated on the sidewalk because she had no place to go. Roland's tone grew angrier, and he often interrupted her when she spoke.
After the interview, numerous people called the station to protest Roland's treatment of Brown. The next day, the station suspended Roland, explaining that his emotions prevailed over his objectivity. Roland personally apologized to Brown, and the station broadcast a taped apology from him. "A great many of you found that I was very rude and impolite toward Joyce Brown last night, that I was very insensitive," Roland said. "And you know something? You're right. I was. I called Joyce Brown and apologized to her. I let emotions replace the objectivity I am known for. For that, I am sorry." Roland, however, did receive support from a number of New Yorkers, who believed that he reflected their frustrations with constantly dealing with homeless people on the streets with mental or substance abuse problems (or both).
After serving his brief suspension, Roland returned to the air.
Illness
On September 10, 2002, Roland was rushed to hospital after experiencing diverticulitisDiverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon...
. Roland needed 18 blood transfusions, and doctors removed a part of his colon. Roland successfully recovered and returned to work at the station in late October.
Film appearances
Roland has appeared in several films, credited as a television anchor and himself once. Roland played television anchors in Hero at LargeHero at Large
Hero at Large is a 1980 comedy film starring John Ritter and Anne Archer. The film was written by former Disney screenwriter, AJ Carothers and directed by Martin Davidson. The original music score was composed by Patrick Williams.-Plot:...
(1980), Eyewitness
Eyewitness
Eyewitness may refer to:*Witness, someone who has knowledge about a crime or dramatic event through seeing it firsthand*Eyewitness , natural history television series*Eyewitness *Eyewitness...
(1981) and The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection
The Object of My Affection is a 1998 romantic comedy film, adapted from the book of the same title by Stephen McCauley, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The story concerns a pregnant New York social worker who develops romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and the complications...
(1998). He played himself in The Scout (1994).
External links
- Prominent Cal Lambda alumni
- Veteran Fox Anchor Just Keeps On Roland Along, by Scott Williams. New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, July 1, 1997. Retrieved on January 1, 2008.