Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-05-05

Duration: 00:12:58

Subjects: WEST, JEAN | Journalists | WAFB-TV (Television station: Baton Rouge, La.) | African Americans | Women

Contributors:

• Hinton, Rob Host
• Stewart, Genevieve Producer
• West, Jean Interviewee
• Britt, Donna Interviewee

This segment from the May 5, 1985, episode of the series “Folks” features Genevieve Stewart’s profile of journalist Jean West, a news anchor with WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge. Stewart reports that West holds the distinction of being the first African American to anchor a news broadcast in Baton Rouge. Stewart also reports that West and her co-anchor Donna Britt are the first female co-anchor team in Louisiana. West discusses: what she likes about journalism; her background in theater; her family; the hardest part of being a journalist; talking to kids in the community; not thinking of herself as a minority; how she describes herself; and her career aspirations. Stewart also interviews Donna Britt, West’s co-anchor, who discusses working with West and being part of the first female co-anchor team in the state. Host: Rob Hinton