Lloyd Jackson: Black pioneer in radio
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2409/1/Lloyd-Jackson-Black-pioneer-in-radio/Page1.html
Cornelius Fortune
By Cornelius Fortune
Published on 02/20/2008
Lloyd Jackson, WJR assistant news director, says radio is as much about immediacy as it is about intimacy.
LLOYD JACKSON is the first African American to hold a news management posistion in the history of WJR AM 760. - Andre Smith photo
Lloyd Jackson, WJR assistant news director, says radio is as much about immediacy as it is about intimacy.
He has spent most of his life behind a microphone, the consummate news journalist, telling the stories of the community he loves. Like any major city, Detroit has its issues, he noted, but never once had he considered launching his career anywhere else.
“I was told many times that when you get your first job you’re going to have to go somewhere else,” Jackson said. “I’m sure that happens, (but) I just always thought I could stay here and be in this market. I worked very hard.”
Starting out as a high school DJ, it wasn’t until after he got an opportunity to see a radio station up close that he decided to go to Specs Howard School of Broadcasting. Jackson, while still taking classes, landed work at a religious station in Royal Oak and worked at WJLB during John Mason’s tenure in the mid to late ’80s.
Professionally, he sites his time at WQBH working for Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg as a kind of learning lab.
“That was the place where I really honed my skills,” Jackson said. “I really owe a lot to Martha Jean ‘The Queen’ and WQBH. She allowed me to make mistakes. She was instrumental in not only giving me the chance and getting my confidence up, she gave me my first interview with Coleman Young. That was a great interview.”
Jackson continued to grow in confidence and eventually was offered a part-time position at WJR while performing his news duties at WJZZ (the FM jazz station). He would work at WJZZ from 5 a.m. until noon, then dash off to WJR for a 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift. This went on for about a year, until the untimely death of respected broadcast journalist Bill Black. Jackson was offered a full-time position at WJR.
“I covered the mayor and the City Council. Then I was asked to become an assignment editor,” he said. “Not too long after that I became assistant news director. I’ve been assistant news director for five years.”
He is proud of his total 15 years at WJR and for being the first African American to serve in that position in the history of the station.
Jackson’s colleagues Tony Mottley and Cliff Russell, from Detroit Public Television’s “American Black Journal,” say that Jackson was a disciplined journalist from the start.
“He had been a serious journalist early on in his career, and I’m not surprised that he has risen to the level that he’s at,” Mottley said. “Lloyd Jackson’s been prepared for a long time, and he’s had to pay a lot of dues. He didn’t just wake up and get in that position.”
Mottley admits there are people who are significantly less qualified who achieve more by virtue of their skin color.
“I think that is the reality,” he said. “I’m proud of Lloyd. I’m excited about what he’ll do in the future. I think he understands the history of those who have come before him, and that’s important.”
Russell interned at WJR early in his career and had the honor of working with and being mentored by Bill Black.
“He was a giant of WJR. For a Lloyd Jackson to follow in the footsteps of Bill Black and to surpass us all is gratifying and makes me happy,” Russell said. “I think it’s very important for journalism to have a diverse pool. It gives us a more comprehensive look at our community. Everybody brings their experience to the table. It’s important that Lloyd Jackson and others have an opportunity to do that.”
WJR was Jackson’s dream job.
“WJR was a place I wanted to end up,” he said. “I’m a radio person; to me, you go to WJR you’ve gotten to the big time in the city of Detroit as far as radio is concerned.”
He is not afraid to admit that sometimes it is difficult to be objective.
“A lot of times, it’s stories about young people that are hard to deal with, especially when they’re being abused,” Jackson said. “You still have to be professional. Believe me, I have an opinion on a lot of things. I’m not a talk show host, I’m a newsperson, but you still take some of those things home with you sometimes.”
He understands that he brings a unique voice to WJR.
“I think I bring another perspective to WJR of the neighborhood and the citizens of Detroit,” Jackson said. “There are certain stories that are sensitive to the citizens of Detroit that are sensitive to me as well. I bring some of that to it, and bring some different stories into this place that wouldn’t normally get on the air here.”
Starting March 9, he will be hosting a new radio program sponsored by Oakwood Hospital, airing on Sundays. All this comes at an interesting time for Black Americans during an election year that could see the first Black president.
“Radio is so important this year for African Americans because of this election, I think we’re witnessing history,” Jackson said. “Have a goal and stick to that goal and, believe me, a lot of times we might not hit the bull’s-eye, but we’ll get pretty close.”
Lloyd Jackson can be heard on “The Big Story” Tuesdays through Fridays, 7 p.m., on WJR 760 AM.
Lloyd Jackson, WJR assistant news director, says radio is as much about immediacy as it is about intimacy. WJR assistant news director
LLOYD JACKSON is the first African American to hold a news management posistion in the history of WJR AM 760. - Andre Smith photo
Lloyd Jackson, WJR assistant news director, says radio is as much about immediacy as it is about intimacy.
He has spent most of his life behind a microphone, the consummate news journalist, telling the stories of the community he loves. Like any major city, Detroit has its issues, he noted, but never once had he considered launching his career anywhere else.
“I was told many times that when you get your first job you’re going to have to go somewhere else,” Jackson said. “I’m sure that happens, (but) I just always thought I could stay here and be in this market. I worked very hard.”
Starting out as a high school DJ, it wasn’t until after he got an opportunity to see a radio station up close that he decided to go to Specs Howard School of Broadcasting. Jackson, while still taking classes, landed work at a religious station in Royal Oak and worked at WJLB during John Mason’s tenure in the mid to late ’80s.
Professionally, he sites his time at WQBH working for Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg as a kind of learning lab.
“That was the place where I really honed my skills,” Jackson said. “I really owe a lot to Martha Jean ‘The Queen’ and WQBH. She allowed me to make mistakes. She was instrumental in not only giving me the chance and getting my confidence up, she gave me my first interview with Coleman Young. That was a great interview.”
Jackson continued to grow in confidence and eventually was offered a part-time position at WJR while performing his news duties at WJZZ (the FM jazz station). He would work at WJZZ from 5 a.m. until noon, then dash off to WJR for a 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift. This went on for about a year, until the untimely death of respected broadcast journalist Bill Black. Jackson was offered a full-time position at WJR.
“I covered the mayor and the City Council. Then I was asked to become an assignment editor,” he said. “Not too long after that I became assistant news director. I’ve been assistant news director for five years.”
He is proud of his total 15 years at WJR and for being the first African American to serve in that position in the history of the station.
Jackson’s colleagues Tony Mottley and Cliff Russell, from Detroit Public Television’s “American Black Journal,” say that Jackson was a disciplined journalist from the start.
“He had been a serious journalist early on in his career, and I’m not surprised that he has risen to the level that he’s at,” Mottley said. “Lloyd Jackson’s been prepared for a long time, and he’s had to pay a lot of dues. He didn’t just wake up and get in that position.”
Mottley admits there are people who are significantly less qualified who achieve more by virtue of their skin color.
“I think that is the reality,” he said. “I’m proud of Lloyd. I’m excited about what he’ll do in the future. I think he understands the history of those who have come before him, and that’s important.”
Russell interned at WJR early in his career and had the honor of working with and being mentored by Bill Black.
“He was a giant of WJR. For a Lloyd Jackson to follow in the footsteps of Bill Black and to surpass us all is gratifying and makes me happy,” Russell said. “I think it’s very important for journalism to have a diverse pool. It gives us a more comprehensive look at our community. Everybody brings their experience to the table. It’s important that Lloyd Jackson and others have an opportunity to do that.”
WJR was Jackson’s dream job.
“WJR was a place I wanted to end up,” he said. “I’m a radio person; to me, you go to WJR you’ve gotten to the big time in the city of Detroit as far as radio is concerned.”
He is not afraid to admit that sometimes it is difficult to be objective.
“A lot of times, it’s stories about young people that are hard to deal with, especially when they’re being abused,” Jackson said. “You still have to be professional. Believe me, I have an opinion on a lot of things. I’m not a talk show host, I’m a newsperson, but you still take some of those things home with you sometimes.”
He understands that he brings a unique voice to WJR.
“I think I bring another perspective to WJR of the neighborhood and the citizens of Detroit,” Jackson said. “There are certain stories that are sensitive to the citizens of Detroit that are sensitive to me as well. I bring some of that to it, and bring some different stories into this place that wouldn’t normally get on the air here.”
Starting March 9, he will be hosting a new radio program sponsored by Oakwood Hospital, airing on Sundays. All this comes at an interesting time for Black Americans during an election year that could see the first Black president.
“Radio is so important this year for African Americans because of this election, I think we’re witnessing history,” Jackson said. “Have a goal and stick to that goal and, believe me, a lot of times we might not hit the bull’s-eye, but we’ll get pretty close.”
Lloyd Jackson can be heard on “The Big Story” Tuesdays through Fridays, 7 p.m., on WJR 760 AM.