Fred Young

Inducted 2009

Fred I. Young retired from his post as Senior Vice President, News, for Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., in December 2008, concluding a distinguished 46-year career.  Young continues to serve in an advisory and consulting role with the company and its television stations.

As Senior Vice President, News, Young oversaw news operations at Hearst-Argyle TV stations in 26 markets throughout 22 states, as well as the Hearst-Argyle Washington, D.C., News Bureau, which services the Company’s television news departments.  He had served as vice president, news, upon Hearst-Argyle’s formation in August 1997, through the combination of Hearst Broadcasting and Argyle Television, Inc.

The Hearst-Argyle station group has earned an unrivalled five consecutive USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Awards for excellence in television political journalism – and, in March 2009, a Peabody Award -- in recognition of election-coverage initiatives championed by Young beginning in 2000.  The Hearst-Argyle stations have been the recipients of many of television’s other highest awards for excellence in journalism, including the du Pont-Columbia Journalism Award, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, the National Headliner Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Emmy.  Its 2009 Peabody marked the company’s fifth in seven years. Hearst-Argyle’s journalism in recent years has spurred community and regulatory action in support of environmentalism and children’s safety, among other causes.

In March 2002, Young received a First Amendment Service Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Foundation.  In April 2009 the Radio-Television News Directors Association presented Young with the Paul White Award, its highest honor.  Young was one of only two of the Award’s 53 recipients (which have included Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow) to have been a career local-TV news professional.

Young joined Hearst Broadcasting in October 1962, serving for 25 years at WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, as vice president and general manager, news director, and in other news management positions. During his years there, WTAE-TV received numerous local and national awards for quality programming and community service. He was also an advocate for a number of First Amendment and journalistic issues.

Young is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, from whom he received a Broadcaster of the Year Award. He is also past chairman of the Telecommunications Advisory Committee of Pennsylvania State University, and is a member of the Radio-Television News Directors’ Association. A graduate of Duquesne University, he is also a past president of the Congregation Brothers of Israel in Newtown PA.