WDRB-TV is adding former Courier-Journal columnist Betty Winston Baye as a weekly “Point of View” contributor. She’ll be the first regular contributor on the segments made famous locally by G.M Bill Lamb.
Her comments will air on Mondays at 4 and 10.
WDRB announced the move with this release:
WDRB-TV’s “Point of View” editorials, which have featured President and General Manager Bill Lamb’s opinions during the station’s newscasts since 2002, will soon expand to include the views of former newspaper columnist Betty Winston Baye on a weekly basis. Ms. Baye’s contributions will air each Monday on the 4PM and 10PM newscasts and will premiere on December 12.
Ms. Baye, a native of New York City and a 1980 graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, began her newspaper career in 1981 as a reporter for the Daily Argus in Mount Vernon, New York. She came to Louisville as a reporter for the Courier-Journal in 1984, and was an editorial writer/columnist for the newspaper from 1991 until this year.
“We originally created ‘Point of View’ almost ten years ago with the intent of offering a perspective on the news that better reflected the values and opinions of our viewing public than the other available alternatives,” said Lamb. “Instead of being slavishly devoted to intensely conservative or liberal positions, we’ve always tried to put common sense above dogmatism, and I think we’ve succeeded in that regard.
“But even though we’ve always welcomed dissenting opinions, airing scores of guest editorials and responses over the years, this latest step will represent the first time we’ve ever featured the opinions of another individual besides me on a regular, ongoing basis. I think it’s safe to say that Betty may look at many things differently than I do, and I think our audience will benefit from the even wider spectrum of opinion she’ll be providing.”
Ms. Baye observed that “For more than two decades, it’s been my privilege to weigh in on topics of interest to my community in print. Now, I’m embracing a new opportunity to have my say on television, and I am excited about becoming a regular contributor to WDRB’s ‘Point of View.’
“People who’ve read my columns over the years, even when they didn’t agree, have said they appreciated my honesty, my passion and the fact that I often made them think about issues in a slightly different way. That will not change. I’m still going to be me.
“Bill Lamb has always said the real purpose of ‘Point of View’ is to stimulate community conversation and he’s succeeded in doing that. So now that WDRB has invited me to add my voice to the mix, my commitment is to build on a foundation that’s already been laid by speaking truth to power as I see it to an even larger audience.”
