20 Years and Growing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2006
Contact: Judy Stiles
(417) 625-9777

 

Judy Stiles

JOPLIN , MO (SNS) - The month of May marks the twentieth anniversary for Judy Stiles to produce and host the weekly news interview program Newsmakers, shown locally on KGCS-TV and other television stations. Stiles began producing the program in May of 1986. Over the past 20 years, she has produced more than 1000 programs, interviewing more than 1100 different people.

 

The first Newsmakers program produced by Stiles aired on May 7, 1986. It featured a follow-up to a Joplin City Council meeting where topics of discussion ranged from rezoning for group homes to funding for renovation work on the Union Depot. The first in-studio program produced featured an interview with Chuck Surface, who was serving as a local state representative at the time.

 

“When looking over the list of topics and guests from the past 20 years, you can really get a glimpse of area history,” says Stiles. “I’ve been fortunate to interview many community leaders and visiting dignitaries, as well as representatives from local organizations contributing to our community. Their interviews are a slice of Joplin and Missouri Southern history. I’ve learned so much myself over the years, through these interview programs.”

 

Newsmakers initially aired solely on the Missouri Southern television station. It began airing in 1987 on KOZJ-TV, the Joplin station for Ozarks Public Television. “When the local station went on the air, they were looking for locally-produced programs to serve the Joplin area, and Newsmakers filled that role,” says Stiles.

 

KOAM-TV picked up Newsmakers for airing starting in 1997, providing a public service/interview program for its local viewers. Newsmakers continues to air on all three stations, making it perhaps the most-widely distributed local program in the Joplin television market.

 

“We’re able to reach quite a few television viewers through our airing on all three stations. We appreciate the continued support from KOZJ and KOAM,” adds Stiles.

 

Judy Stiles is the General Manager of KGCS-TV at Missouri Southern State University. She came to Southern in 1986, working initially as the Community Service Director the campus television station and KXMS radio. Stiles earned a Bachelor’s of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master’s of Arts Degree from Pittsburg State University.

 

KGCS-TV is in the process of producing a special 20 th anniversary program for Newsmakers, to air this summer.