Bill Scott's background in radio, television, cable and multi-media technologies
and journalism spans seven decades. Born on July 4, 1933 he passed away on
Having joined in 2012, he currently is Executive Vice President of South Florida PBS, Florida's largest public broadcasting company. At South Florida PBS he is responsible for programming on WPBT2, Miami-Dade; WXEL-TV, the Palm Beaches; and the Health Channel, America's only 24/7 television channel devoted to health.
While he is widely recognized for implementing the WINS all news radio New York You "Give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world" format, his career combined outstanding journalism experience with successful management and cofporate relations abilities. Additionally, he was for 3 years Florida Atlantic University's Distinguished Visiting Professor, Broadcast Journalism and Media. He also was elected to New York's City College Communications Hall of Fame, joining numerous distinguished journalists, authors and film industry Academy-Award winners.
An award-winning journalist, he has covered major news stories including the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the manned space program from its inception and every presidential campaign and convention over two decades. He was appointed Executive Editor in October, 1974 and launched the successful all-news radio format for WINS, N.Y., "You Give us 22 Minutes and We'll Give You the World" and was promoted to VP/General Manager a year later. In 1978 Bill was put in charge Of the Group W Westinghouse Broadcasting radio group of news, public affairs and community involvement stations across the country and was also named Vice President for News for the organization's radio and TV stations. He also served as President and CEO of a joint venture in cable between ABC-TV and Group W (now CBS).
As President of Bill Scott New Media, he provided consulting services involving television, radio, cable and the new media technologies to media and journalism companies including McGraw-Hill, CBS and the Associated Press.Radio division. 1984-87.
He is the former President of the PAX Television Network, with PAX's 61 owned stations forming the backbone of the network. He also was a Director of Paxson Communications Corporation board.
Mr. Scott served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Travel Channel national cable TV network. In less than one year he more than doubled the Channel's
asset value by developing and securing new programming with such stars as Michael Caine, Jane Seymour and Pierce Brosnan. He was also Executive Producer of the special program "Travelin' With Harry Connick, Jr." 1990-92. From 1983 through 1987, Mr. Scott was Executive Vice President, Westinghouse Broadcasting Television Group. In that capacity he was responsible for strategic planning for the TV Station group, Production Company (producer and syndicator of programs for television) and Group W Satellite Communications, a television and cable program production and distribution organization. In this capacity he also served on the Executive Committee of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which worked with government and television and film industry groups in an effort to establish international production standards. From 1981 through 1983, Mr. Scott served as President and Chief Operating Officer of an American Broadcasting Company (ABC)/Westinghouse Broadcasting joint venture for cable television, Satellite News Channel. In this role, he worked closely with the President of ABC News and Sports and launched the cable television news service, setting up regional news coverage arrangements with major television stations. Mr. Scott was Senior Vice President, Group W Radio. In that position, he was responsible for the performance of radio stations located in major markets across the United States. In a period of just over a year, his planning and management techniques helped achieve record-setting programming and profit growth. During this time he also mentored minority students who sought careers in broadcast journalism. Prior to Mr. Scott's appointment as Senior Vice President of the Westinghouse Radio Group, he was for four years integrally involved with the management of the group's flagship station, all-news WINS, New York. As Vice President/General Manager he led it to ratings leadership. While at WINS, Mr. Scott introduced the "You Give Us 22 Minutes, We'll Give You the World" news format,. Mr. Scott also served as Vice President, News, for Westinghouse Broadcasting. In that capacity, he oversaw and directed the company's news efforts, on national, international and local levels, including news bureaus around the world. Mr. Scott's extensive broadcasting background includes four years as Vice President, Programming, News and Public Affairs of the Straus Broadcasting Group. He also hosted a news-oriented talk show on its flagship station WMCA, New York from 1970 to 1973. In June, 1972 he created and co-hosted an award-winning special program "Black and White", engendering frank and open discussion between members of both communities to address racial tensions. The program was also broadcast live on WLIB which served a predominantly Black audience. In his NY Times review, critic John J. O'Connor wrote:".. .fascinating going beyond cliches about polarization and various degrees of militancy."
Additionally, as a reporter he was part of the top-rated, award-winning Channel 5, New York news team from 1973 to 1974, which established the 10 o'clock news in major markets. From 1956 to 1957, he served as Director of Film Operations for National Telefilm Associates, (NTA) a television film network. (From 1957 to 1959 he was Director of News for Radio Press International, a syndicated news service for 300 radio stations where he also worked with Canadian Press/Broadcast News to establish a broadcast news network across Canada. An award-winning journalist and innovative corporate executive, Mr. Scott's career has taken him from covering the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy and reporting on the manned space. Program. Bill has been honored with almost every major news and public affairs award offered by the industry for his reporting, writing and investigative journalism. Mr. Scott has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the William Benton Foundation, which at the time owned the Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster. He also teamed with Ms. Lucy Benson, a former Undersecretary of State for Intelligence Affairs in the Carter Administration, to set up a company to advise corporate CEO's on public positioning of their companies. Mr. Scott has also been called upon to serve the United States government. The Carter Administration appointed him as a member of a five-person "Blue Ribbon" panel in 1978 to evaluate and make recommendations on the worldwide operations of the Voice of America. This involved interviewing and interfacing with American ambassadors around the world. The panel's report recommended a number of changes in operations, including a redistribution of the agency's assets to provide increased coverage of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. For its work, the panel received a special VOA commendation. During the Reagan Administration, Mr. Scott's views were sought by the USIA and the VOA as it considered changes in their Latin American operations. Bill Scott has been Vice Chairman, United Press International Broadcast Advisory board; Chairman, Tuck/Dartmouth Economic Understanding Awards; Board member of PBS' "Inside Story" project; Treasurer of the National News Council; and Senior Fellow of the Gannett Urban Journalism Center-Northwestern Medill School. Mr. Scott also has been a member of the Advisory Board of Clarke & Company, a Boston-based Crisis Communications Company. He has been a member of Boston University's College of Communication Executive Committee. Mr. Scott has been a guest speaker on news media at Harvard Business School's Advanced Management program, Stanford University and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has consulted the Nine Network of Australia and worked with the late CBS Chairman William S. Paley on a special broadcast company positioning and development project. Mr. Scott considers himself fortunate to have served on a number of
committees with Dr. Frank Stanton, the legendary CBS President.
In addition, Mr. Scott has been involved in numerous community activities. The
Council of Churches honored his work in promoting community understanding. Mr. Scott
has worked with volunteer organizations, such as "Call For Action", and his investigative
reporting on their work addressing slum housing and medical care for the needy led to
new laws and administrative procedures to attack slum housing in New York and provide
greater access to medical care for the underserved.
An honors graduate of City College of New York in 1954 , Mr. Scott and his
teams have won numerous awards for broadcast news and documentary reporting and
production, programming and promotion. Among them:
Edward R. Murrow Documentary Award and Robert F. Kennedy
Documentary Award, for "Slumlords".
Council of Churches Award for Interracial Programs, including the
program "Black and White".
Ohio State Journalism Award for Documentary "Prescription for
Medicaid".
Four-time winner, RTNDA News and Editorial Awards (while with Straus
Broadcasting/WMCA)
Five-time winner New York State AP and UPI News Investigative and
Editorial Awards (while with WMCA and Straus Broadcasting).
CLIO Award for On-Air Radio promotion.
Public Relations Society Award for Broadcast.
Bill Scott is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served at the Northern Area
Command headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. After a two-year tour of duty from 1954
to 1956 he received an Honorable Discharge.
He is survived by his wife, Meredith Hollaus Scott, and two daughters from a
prior marriage, Karyn Gail Scott and Stacey Anne Scott
A celebration of life gathering for Seymour will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Babione - Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremat, 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Following the celebration of life gathering will be a committal service from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at External Service Location, 451 SW 4th Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33432.
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