Steve Powers
Encyclopedia
Steve Powers is a musician, journalist and teacher who has had a 45 year career in New York City radio and television, as well as academia.
where he worked at the student radio station, WUVA
. He was a member of the UVa Jazz Club, once integrating the university auditorium playing in a concert with Dizzy Gillespie
, an experience he repeated thirty years later when he played another concert with Gillespie, at New York's Blue Note
club. After UVa, Powers attended the City College of New York
where he became editor of Roundhouse Magazine; in 1956 he received a degree in Business Administration from CCNY. In 1987 Powers earned a Ph.D. from New York University
, in Neil Postman
's Media Ecology
program.
in Puerto Rico
, Powers returned to the New York area and started looking for work as a jazz disc jockey. He was hired by radio station WADS
, in Ansonia, Connecticut
in 1961 as a newscaster. He subsequently worked as a newscaster and news director for several radio stations in Connecticut. In 1963 he anchored the coverage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy
on WICC
for 13 straight hours.
Powers moved to WMCA
radio in New York and went on to anchor his own morning drive-time news/talk show. He left WMCA in 1972 to become a correspondent at ABC radio
network news and worked at RKO radio network news.
In 1980, Powers became an anchor/reporter on television at WNYW
-TV, NY (Fox-TV) where he worked for 13 years. He was the first reporter to cover John Lennon
's death on December 8, 1980, broadcasting the first network radio reports while assisting with WNYW-TV's television coverage of the story. From 1980-1993 he was the anchor/reporter for WNYW-TV Channel 5 News, where he was awarded an Emmy Award
in 1981; in 1986 he was also nominated for an Emmy for an Outstanding Feature story. In later years, Powers was the anchor of noon-6:00 P.M.newscasts for New York Times Radio, and the writer/producer/voice of the "Health Times" medical reports on WQXR-FM
, NY. He signed off for the last time from New York Times radio in June 2007.
In addition to his work in radio and television, Powers served as a college professor in the field of media communications. From 1976 to 1993 Powers periodically taught as an adjunct professor at the Columbia School of Journalism, The New School
, and New York University. In 1993, he became an Associate Professor at St. John's University teaching journalism and media.
Powers has also lent his voice narrating Aaron Copland
's Lincoln Portrait
in concert and has appeared in diverse commercials and documentaries.
played with Willie Rodriguez
, Charlie Palmieri
and Randy Carlos as well as playing drums with Tony Bennett
, Joe Jones
, and David Amram
.
Education
Born in New York City, Powers attended the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he worked at the student radio station, WUVA
WUVA
WUVA is a Urban Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia, serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia. WUVA is owned and operated by WUVA, Inc.-External links:*...
. He was a member of the UVa Jazz Club, once integrating the university auditorium playing in a concert with Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, an experience he repeated thirty years later when he played another concert with Gillespie, at New York's Blue Note
Blue Note (jazz clubs)
The Blue Note is a jazz club and restaurant located at in Greenwich Village, New York City. Opened in 1981 by owner and founder Danny Bensusan, the club is now considered one of the world's most famous jazz venues...
club. After UVa, Powers attended the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
where he became editor of Roundhouse Magazine; in 1956 he received a degree in Business Administration from CCNY. In 1987 Powers earned a Ph.D. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, in Neil Postman
Neil Postman
Neil Postman was an American author, media theorist and cultural critic, who is best known by the general public for his 1985 book about television, Amusing Ourselves to Death. For more than forty years, he was associated with New York University...
's Media Ecology
Media ecology
Media ecology is a contested term within media studies having different meanings within European and North American contexts. The North American definition refers to aninterdisciplinary field of media theory and media design involving the study of "symbolic environment, or the socially constructed,...
program.
Journalism career
After graduating from CCNY in 1956, and serving as a Search and Rescue officer in the United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Powers returned to the New York area and started looking for work as a jazz disc jockey. He was hired by radio station WADS
WADS
WADS is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Religious format. Licensed to Ansonia, Connecticut, USA, it serves the Bridgeport area. The station is currently owned by Radio Amor....
, in Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia, Connecticut
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, on the Naugatuck River, immediately north of Derby and about northwest of New Haven. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North railroad...
in 1961 as a newscaster. He subsequently worked as a newscaster and news director for several radio stations in Connecticut. In 1963 he anchored the coverage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
on WICC
WICC (AM)
WICC is a news and information radio station in Bridgeport, Connecticut, owned by Cumulus Media. Its signal reaches down into Long Island, New York.-History:...
for 13 straight hours.
Powers moved to WMCA
WMCA
WMCA, 570 AM, is a radio station in New York City, most known for its "Good Guys" Top 40 era in the 1960s. It is currently owned by Salem Communications and plays a Christian radio format...
radio in New York and went on to anchor his own morning drive-time news/talk show. He left WMCA in 1972 to become a correspondent at ABC radio
ABC Radio
Cumulus Media Networks is an American radio network owned and operated by Cumulus Media. it controlled many of the assets of the former ABC Radio Networks, which Citadel Broadcasting purchased in June 2007...
network news and worked at RKO radio network news.
In 1980, Powers became an anchor/reporter on television at 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...
-TV, NY (Fox-TV) where he worked for 13 years. He was the first reporter to cover John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's death on December 8, 1980, broadcasting the first network radio reports while assisting with WNYW-TV's television coverage of the story. From 1980-1993 he was the anchor/reporter for WNYW-TV Channel 5 News, where he was awarded an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in 1981; in 1986 he was also nominated for an Emmy for an Outstanding Feature story. In later years, Powers was the anchor of noon-6:00 P.M.newscasts for New York Times Radio, and the writer/producer/voice of the "Health Times" medical reports on WQXR-FM
WQXR-FM
WQXR-FM is an American classical radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, and serving the New York City metropolitan area. It is the most-listened-to classical-music station in the United States, with an average quarter-hour audience of 63,000...
, NY. He signed off for the last time from New York Times radio in June 2007.
In addition to his work in radio and television, Powers served as a college professor in the field of media communications. From 1976 to 1993 Powers periodically taught as an adjunct professor at the Columbia School of Journalism, The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
, and New York University. In 1993, he became an Associate Professor at St. John's University teaching journalism and media.
Powers has also lent his voice narrating Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
's Lincoln Portrait
Lincoln Portrait
Lincoln Portrait is a classical orchestral work written by the American composer Aaron Copland. The work involves a full orchestra, with particular emphasis on the brass section at climactic moments. The work is narrated with the reading of excerpts of Abraham Lincoln's great documents, including...
in concert and has appeared in diverse commercials and documentaries.
Books authored
In 1992 Powers co-authored the book How to Watch TV News with media theory pioneer Neil Postman. The book is an explication of the difference between what TV news says it is presenting and what it actually delivers - "real news" versus entertainment fodder - illuminating the biases, strengths, and weaknesses of TV news as well as the influence of commercials. It has been adopted by college professors and teachers as required reading for their journalism and media literacy courses. Powers released a new updated edition of the book (Penguin Books, June 23, 2008). This newly revised edition explores the power of the Internet and the abundance of cable channels and their influences on the devolving quality of America’s television news programming.Music career
In addition to the Gillespie concerts, Powers had a career as a professional musician. He taught himself Latin percussion and becameplayed with Willie Rodriguez
Willie Rodriguez
William Vicente Rodriguez is a former West Indian cricketer who played in five Tests from 1962 to 1968....
, Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards".-Early years:...
and Randy Carlos as well as playing drums with Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
, Joe Jones
Joe Jones
Joe Jones may refer to:* Joe Jones , American painter, muralist, and lithographer* Joe Jones , avant-garde musician associated with Fluxus...
, and David Amram
David Amram
David Amram is an American composer, musician, conductor, and writer. As a classical composer and performer, his integration of jazz , ethnic and folk music has led him to work with the likes of Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Willie Nelson, Langston...
.
Personal life
Powers lives in upstate New York with his wife, Sheri Powers, and his grandson Hip Hop artist Dov Powers. He has four adult children by a previous marriage: Lisa, Marisa, Laura and Anthony.Professional honors and awards
- 1970 Clio Award, Broadcast Radio Promo
- 1978 NY Board of Education Career Award, Helping Youths
- 1981 Group Emmy Award, Member Best News Broadcast
- 1981 NY Press Club Deadline Award, Best TV News Reporting on a Breaking Story
- 1982 UPI NYS Broadcast Nomination, Best Enterprise TV Awards News Reporting
- 1986 Emmy Nomination Best Feature