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{{Infobox Person
|name = Dwight Lauderdale
|image =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|04|24}}<ref name=justnews>{{cite web |url=http://www.justnews.com/station/15982514/detail.html |title=Dwight Lauderdale Signing Off After 32 Years |accessdate=2009-01-13}}</ref>
|birth_date =
|birth_place = [[Columbus, Ohio]]<ref name=justnews/><ref name=hsjinterview> {{cite web |url=http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/editionid/13739/articleid/179032/Default.aspx |title=Dwight Lauderdale: The roads that led to Success: Part of the Famous person Interview class project |accessdate=2008-12-05|author=Angelique Gayle |date=2007-11-09 |publisher=The Harbinger}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Columbus]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|other_names =
|known_for =
|occupation = [[television news]] [[news presenter|News anchor]],<br />[[commentatorPundit (expert)|Commentator]]
|nationality = [[United States|American]]
}}
'''Dwight Lauderdale''' (born April 24, 1951 in [[Columbus, Ohio]])<ref name=justnews/> is a former TV [[news anchor]]. He was the first [[African American]] news anchor in [[South Florida]] and became one of the state's most watched and longest running anchors.<ref name=MiamiHeraldArchive> [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=miamii&p_multi=MH|&p_product=MH&p_theme=realcities2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Dwight%20Lauderdale&s_dispstring=Dwight%20Lauderdale&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&xcal_useweights=no&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0= "Miami Herald (Archived)] (fee-based article retrieval)</ref>
==Career==
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At age 17, after winning an oratorical contest, Lauderdale received a job offer from the news director at [[WTVN-TV]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]) in Columbus.<ref name=hsjinterview/><ref name=miaminightout>{{cite web |url=http://www.miaminightout.com/spotlight/interviews/012002/index.shtml |title=Interview with Dwight Lauderdale |accessdate=2008-12-05 |publisher=Miami Night Out}}</ref> He accepted the job and started work in November, 1968, part-time at night, processing film.<ref name=miaminightout/> (Some sources claim it was WSYX-TV).<ref name=miaminightout/> He did not have to drop school to accept the job.<ref name=sunsentinel> {{cite news |author=Tom Jicha |title=Channel 10's Dwight Lauderdale to retire in May |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfl-0225-lauderdale-retirement,0,6020554.story |work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]] |accessdate=05 December 2008 |date=25 February 2008}} </ref>. He did everything from processing film, to writing news copy, to producing, and for on-air talent. He completed his education at [[Ohio University]], majoring in Communications and graduating ''cum laude'' in 1973.<ref name=hsjinterview/>
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In 1974, Lauderdale moved to South Florida for a reporting opportunity at Channel 7 ([[WCKT-TV]], at the time). Two years later, [[WPLG]] offered him a three-year contract as a reporter/weekend anchor, and he accepted the job. He quickly established himself as a prolific street reporter, working half a dozen stories per day, including the [[Mariel Boatlift]]. He also managed to score the first one-on-one interview of [[Bill Clinton]]'s presidency. More than anything, he remembers the rigid ground rules: " Seven minutes only, and they were standing there with a stopwatch".<ref name=miamiherald> [http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/tv/story/433339.html "Miami Herald" ] </ref> He was bumped up to the weeknight anchor desk in June 1985 on an interim basis, which was made permanent the following January.<ref name=sunsentinel/> His first anchor partner was [[Ann Bishop]] and has since shared anchor duties with Diane Magnum, Kristi Krueger and Laurie Jennings.
'''Dwight Lauderdale ''' started out as South Florida's first black [[News program|TV news]] anchor and wound up as one of it's most watched and
longest running anchors <code><ref name=Miami_Herald> {{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/tv/story/433339.html|title=Miami_Herald}} </ref></code> <br /><br />
==Early Life==
<br /><br />
Dwight Lauderdale was born and raised in a [[Working class|working-class]] suburb of Columbus, Ohio <code><ref name=Interview> {{cite web|url=http://my.highschooljournalism.org/fl/miamilakes/mlec/article.cfm?eid=9914&aid=150520|title=Interview}} </ref></code> He describes his parents as "hardworking". "My parents" he says " were strict disciplinarians, and while I thought it was unfair back then, I'm glad they were that way because it kept me out of trouble " His father, in particular, taught him the importance of being himself. "My father" he says " taught me to never allow anyone to define who I am, that I am the only one who can do that. He taught me to not think of myself as a victim " <ref name=Interview/> He took this lesson to heart and started on a path that would include entering and winning many oratorical (speech) contests thateventually led to him being publically recognized in local newspaper articles. One such article would lead to a phone call that would set him on the path to become South Florida's first black anchor.<ref name=Miami_Herald/> <br /><br />
==In the News==
<br /><br />
At 17 years of old, young Dwight Lauderdale would be called into the principal's office to return a phone call from the news
director at WTVN-TV (ABC) <ref name=Interview/>
<code><ref name=Mno_Interview> {{cite web|url=http://www.miaminightout.com/spotlight/interviews/012002/index.shtml|title=Mno_Interview}} </ref></code> in Columbus. He'd read an article
about Dwight's winning an oratorical contest and made him an offer to learn the [[News media|news business]] from the bottom up.
He accepted the job and started work in November, 1968, part-time at night, processing film. <ref name=Mno_Interview/> (Note: Some sources claim it was [[WSYX]]-TV <ref name=Mno_Interview/> It wasn't terribly exciting, according
to Lauderdale. but " I was able to do my homework while the film was in the processor" , <code><ref name=Sun_Sentinel> {{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfl-0225-lauderdale-retirement,0,6020554.story|title=Sun_Sentinel}} </ref></code> and it '''did''' hook him
on the business. He did everything from processing the film, to news writing, to producing, even substiuting for
on-air talent. He even found time to complete his education by attending [[Ohio University]], majoring in Communications
and graduating ''cum laude'' (with honors) in 1973 <ref name=Interview/> <br /><br />
==Dwight moves to South Florida==
<br /><br />
In 1974, Dwight moved down to South Florida. " I decided" , he said " I wanted to live somewhere where I would never again
have to scrape ice off my windshield. " <ref name=Sun_Sentinel/> </ref>
That and a reporting opportunity at [[Channel 7]] (WCKT-TV, at the time) was available, which Lauderdale took and got.
When I got here in 1974 [ to work at WCKT, which channel 7 was known as at the time] there was usually one black
reporter at each station, then it grew to one man and one woman" <ref name=Miami_Herald/> Two years later, WPLG (chanel 10) offerd him a three-year contract as a reporter / weekend anchor, and he accepted the job.
He quickly established himself as a prolific street reporter, working half a dozen stories per day, including the Miami River
Cops Case, to the [[Mariel boatlift|Mariel Boatlift]]. He also managed to score the first one-on-one interview of President Clinton's presidency.
More than anything, he remembers the rigid ground rules, " Seven minutes only, and they were standing there with a
stopwatch" <ref name=Miami_Herald/>.
He was bumped up to the weeknight anchor desk in June 1985 on an interm basis, which was made permanent the following January.
<ref name=Sun_Sentinel/>
His first anchor partner was the legendary Ann Bishop, who told him, "I need you and you need me. Let's make this work"
<ref name=Sun_Sentinel/>
He's since shared anchor duties with Diane Magnum, Kristi Krueger and Laurie Jennings. [[Charles Perez]] has been tapped
to be Jenning's new partner. <ref name=Sun_Sentinel/>
<br /><br />
==On Camera==
<br /><br />
Dwight Lauderdale was known, among many things, for his sense of style. He always wore sleek suits and had impeccable diction on
air. One of his producers was asked for footage of a messily attired Lauerdale for a blooper reel, to which he replied
icily " There's no such thing. That would be like the sun rising in Key West" <ref name=Miami_Herald/> His hair, described by former WPLG producer, Steve
Wasserman as " a full 70's Afro and bushy mustache" <ref name=Miami_Herald/>
became a more conventional [[high and tight]] hair cut, the mustache left about a decade ago.
" I got tired" Lauderdale says " of having to have it dyed. The station's consultants always told us " A little bit of gray
on your head looks okay, but under your nose, it looks like snot '" <ref name=Miami_Herald/>
"I anchored with Dwight for about a decade. He IS Local 10 News. Dwight is an incredible journalist, a professional, a
compassionate communicator, and a great friend " says [[Channel 10]] news anchor Kristi Krueger.
" Dwight and I have co-anchored together for two-and-a-half years now. He makes my job *so* much easier -- I can't imagine what life
will be like at work when he retires next year [this already happened] I say that because Dwight is always the consummate
professional." said friend and colleague Laurie Jennings.
"Dwight Lauderdale is a leader in our newsroom" says Vice President and General Manager Dave Boylan His experience allows him to put news events into a context that very few other news people have in this market. He is professional in his approach and always works hard to see that we get the story right" . <ref name=Miami_Herald/> This passion to "get the story right" led him to issue an on-the-air reprimand to a [[local news]] station for rushing to beat the competition to get a story on the air. The story was proven to be false. <p> " Now it is part of our job to bring you the news as soon as we can. But it is our responsibility to make sure that information is right...
breaking into a regularly scheduled program with a fictious story does nothing but erode the credibility of professional journalism
everywhere " said Lauderdale. <ref name=Interview/>
<br /><br />
==Dwight on Dwight==
<br /><br />
Dwight Lauderdale's road to success has had it's fair share of bumps and obstacles, but according to him, the biggest obstacle
he faces regulary is himself. "My biggest struggle" he says "has been with myself. I tend to be a perfectionist and
expect to be perfect every day on live television" . He confessed to watching tapes, repeatedly, in which he made errors during
a newscast to figure out what went wrong and why.
"As I look back on it now, that was stupid. No one is perfect. Why should I expect to be ? I was putting unecesary pressure on myself " <ref name=Interview/>
<br /><br />
==Dwight and Lasik==
<br /><br />
In July 2004, Dwight Lauderdale briefly went from delivering the news to making the news by televising his Lasik
surgery. Lauderdale, who was farsighted, learned that he might be a candidate for corrective [[eye surgery]] after viewing
a news story about this surgery on his own station. Lauderdale sought a consultation when he realized just how critical the
surgery was to his job performance. He never had a problem reading the telepromter, which was 20 feet away from him.
He would, however, have a problem if he had to read from a script without his glasses. It happened only once
in what he refers to has his worse case scenario.
"Something happened to the teleprompter" he said "and I had the script in my hand (with no glasses) , and I
could not read it. Fortunately, I was able to remember enough about the story that I could tell the viewers what the story was
about. It was the most uncomfortable feeling in the world; all this was happening while I was live on the air. At that point
I realized that I had to do something "
Lauderdale was treated by monovision and modified monovision (two strategies to treat each eye, one for reading and one
for distance). " I was on and off the table in less than 10 minutes. It's actually more agonizing for the people
watching it because it looks like you should feel something and you feel nothing - your eyes are numb. You feel someone touching
you, and that's it. I was suprised at how easy it is - this is the most fascinating aspect of it. The preparation time was
more than the actual proceedure." says Lauderdale. Just minutes after the surgery, he was able to read his watch. An hour
after the surgery he was able to read a resteraunt menu without glasses, for the first time in seven years.
"I wish I had done it sooner" he says. <code><ref name=Lasik> {{cite web|url=http://wwww.mleye.com/mediaroom_art_040701.asp|title=Lasik}} </ref></code>
<br /><br />
==Dwight retires==
<br /><br />
In February 25, 2008, Dwight Lauderdale announced that he would be retiring in May of that same year.
"Every time I tried to tell anyone, including my bosses, they all had the same reaction, 'You'll change your mind '" said
Lauderdale. He didn't. <ref name=Sun_Sentinel/>
"I told everyone that all along, but nobody believed me. A few months back, [WPLG manger] Dave Boylan even showed me the plans
for the new building the station will move into next year and pointed out where my office will be. ' I'll be sure to give it a look
when I visit' I told him " he continues. <ref name=Miami_Herald/>
" Since I was 17 years old, I've been punching the time clock of TV news. I want to have some choices. I'll work at my own pace,
and you better believe it won't be at night. Forty years of working nights takes a toll on your body." he says. <ref name=Interview/>
<br /><br />
==Awards,Scholarships and Community Involvement==
<br /><br />
Among Dwight Lauderdale's many awards are the N.A.T.A.S Silver Circle <!-- Could it be, SATAN? :) --> Award, The Ohio State Award and
two Florida Emmy's as well as a readers award in [[Sun-Sentinel]] (in 1998 ) as the number one Anchor in the market and
South Florida Magazine named him best news anchor in 1990. <ref name=Mno_Interview/> . Additionally, Dwight Lauderdale has a scholarship in his name (The Dwight Lauderdale Scholarship) at [[Barry University]]
which is awarded to students in broadcast communiucations each seminar. <code><ref name=Local_10>{{cite web|url=http://www.local10.com/news/16216683/detail.html|title=Local_10}} </ref></code>
In addition, he considers reaching out to the community to be a big part ofd his career, like telling aspiring students about the work
it takes to get to where he is and the endurance it takes to get there. <ref name=Interview/>
Sometimes, it's just for the fun of it, like when he judged a Jamaican Jerk <!-- Anyone dares to vandalise this will be BITTEN!! BE WARNED --> Festival at Markham Park [Sunrise, Florida] on Sep 24. " I love Jamaican foods, and particularly jerk" he says.
<br /><br />
==Lasik==
<!-- Trivia has been removed, per WP:TRIVIA & per consensus on this page, please refrain from adding any trivia here -->
In July 2004, Lauderdale had his [[Lasik]] surgery televised. Lauderdale, who was farsighted, learned that he might be a candidate for corrective [[eye surgery]] after viewing a news story about this surgery on his own station. Lauderdale sought a consultation when he realized just how critical the surgery was to his job performance. He never had a problem reading the [[teleprompter]], which was 20 feet away from him, but did have a problem one time when he had to read from a script without his glasses. Lauderdale was treated by monovision and modified monovision (two strategies to treat each eye, one for reading and one for distance).<ref name=millenium> [http://www.mleye.com/mediaroom_art_040701.asp "Millenium Laser Eye Center" ] </ref>
==Retirement==
On February 25, 2008, Dwight Lauderdale announced that he would be retiring in May of that year.<ref name=hsjinterview/> WPLG's final broadcast with Lauderdale as an anchor was on May 22, 2008.<ref name=sunsentinelretire>{{cite news |author=Tom Jicha |title=How Channel 10 anchor Dwight Lauderdale will spend his retirement |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/sfl-dwight-lauderdale,0,6093032.story |work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]] |date=14 May 2008 |accessdate=5 January 2009}} </ref> [[Charles Perez]] has been appointed Laurie Jennings' new partner.<ref name=sunsentinel/>
==Awards==
Dwight Lauderdale has been awarded the N.A.T.A.S Silver Circle Award, The Ohio State Award, and two Florida Emmy's, as well as a Sun-Sentinel reader's award in 1998 as the number one Anchor in the market. South Florida Magazine named him best news anchor in 1990.<ref name=miaminightout/>. Additionally, Dwight Lauderdale has a scholarship in his name (The Dwight Lauderdale Scholarship) at [[Barry University]] which is awarded to students in broadcast communications each seminar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local10.com/news/16216683/detail.html|title=Barry Scholarship Named In Honor Of Dwight Lauderdale|date=2008-05-09|work=Local 10 News|publisher=Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc|accessdate=2008-12-05|archivedate=2008-12-05|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5cqZOHNNU}}</ref>
==References==
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{{Lifetime|1951||Lauderdale, Dwight}}
[[Category:American television news anchors]]
{{Lifetime|1951||Lauderdale, Dwight}}
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