Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story

COMING SOON!

Sela Ward stars in the true story of one of America's first female news anchors, depicting her rapid rise to the top and her tragic early death. (1995)

Biography

1 2

NEXT >>

Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story
born: 01-02-1947
died: 23-10-1983

The fact-based true story of the rapid rise to fame and untimely death of Jessica Savitch - one of America's first female news anchors.

As a teenager, Jessica's career in broadcasting began with voice-overs at an Atlantic City radio station. She eventually received her own programme called Teen Corner where she played music and discussed current events.

Jessica Savitch majored in communications at Ithaca College. Her local broadcasting work led her into modelling jobs and television commercials. After college, she was employed at CBS in New York, which led to her eventual hiring at KHOU-TV in Texas.

In 1972, she was spotted by a TV news talent scout who recommended her to KYW-TV in Philadelphia, which was looking for a fresh young face to compete with a rival station's news team.

She took the job for a small amount of money, but soon signed an extremely favourable contract, allowing her to move into a Washington Square luxury apartment.

Jessica got her first national exposure during KYW's nationally televised debate between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter in 1976. Within a year of that debate, she was covering the U.S. Senate at NBC.

Critics and old-school broadcasters felt that she lacked the experience for national network news; But audiences loved her, and she soon became one of the most popular NBC anchors.

As her career skyrocketed however, her unstable personal life became increasingly messy.

1 2

NEXT >>