Ron Kershaw was an American television news executive responsible for some of the television news innovations that we take for granted today. Considered somewhat a genius,[1] Kershaw was the news director in several large cities across the United States including New York, Chicago and Baltimore.
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In 1974, Kershaw was hired by WBAL-TV in Baltimore to shore up its sagging news ratings. He introduced the Action News format, hired young, gifted new talent and moved the station from last to first in less than a year. Sue Simmons and Spencer Christian were two of Kershaw's proteges who went on to become big names in TV news. Kershaw moved on to WNBC-TV in New York where he collaborated with Peter Sang in bringing the "control room" set into tv news. The set was large and used innovative lighting to create a look that was new to tv news at that time.[2] Kershaw was also mentor to Bucky Gunts, now an award-winning television news director [3] who worked for Kershaw in Baltimore and Chicago.
Prior to his move to Baltimore, Kershaw had been dating Jessica Savitch, a news reporter who had worked for a rival television station in Texas. Kershaw helped develop her skills as a reporter during their stormy 10-year on-again and off-again relationship. [1] The relationship was depicted in the made for television movie: Almost Golden, about the life of Jessica Savitch.[2] In 1987, Kershaw met Giselle Fernandez, whom he had hired as a reporter at WBBM-TV. They found they had a lot in common and soon they were engaged to be married. It was never to be.[4] Kershaw died in July 1989 of pancreatic and liver cancer.
Kershaw is survived by his son, Beau Kershaw, an award winning photojournalist at Kershaw's old station, WBAL-TV in Baltimore.[3][4][5] Young Kershaw's awards include seven Emmy Awards[6] a Peabody Award and the duPont-Columbia silver baton.[7]
Survived by his daughter Lee Ann Kershaw and his son Beau Kershaw.