On October 1, 1975, Troy University launched TSU-TV Nightly News, a 30-minute student-produced program that aired live from videotape using 16mm film and slides from the ground floor of Wallace Hall. Fifty years later, TROY TrojanVision is now an award-winning flagship program that produces three live broadcasts daily, where students continue to learn how to anchor, report, shoot, edit and direct.
When TSU-TV Nightly News first aired, it was anchored by Joe Griffin, who served as the director of programming. Dr. Nicholas D’Andrea, an assistant professor of geography, delivered the weeknight weather forecast, while Gary Stogner, director of university relations, presented the sports report.
James Clower, former director of TROY’s department of radio and television, spent 37 years working with students in TSU-TV.
“We’ve seen individuals’ lives impacted here,” Clower shared. “I recently had a student from the 80s call me, out of the blue, the other day, and he gave me his heartfelt thanks for what Troy University and TSU-TV meant to him and how it affected his life. Every time we get one of those calls, I think of all that time we had, and even through the many trials and tribulations we had, it was all worth it.”
Executive producer Jeff Herring has been with TrojanVision for half the program’s existence.
“I could not have imagined how much it’s grown and changed in these fifty years,” Herring said. “I’ve seen so many amazingly talented people come through the program and move on to excel in their careers. I can’t wait to see where we go from here, and what is in store for future journalism students who join our program.”
For Aaron Taylor, Director of Television, the 50th anniversary represents an opportunity to highlight TrojanVision’s remarkable evolution and lasting impact.
“Being able to celebrate 50 years of TrojanVision is going to be amazing,” Taylor shared. “I certainly hope we can get as many people as we can who have been involved in those 50 years. To be able to share the impact TrojanVision has had, for as long as it has, is going to be fun.”
As someone whose career began at TrojanVision, TV Production Coordinator Paige Ray has a special appreciation for the program’s impact on students.
“It’s really a full circle moment because I was here 10 years ago, and now I’m here in a professional role. TrojanVision gave me my career, and now my career is spent helping TrojanVision, it’s really neat and I’m so proud of it.”
In honor of five decades of storytelling, connection, and innovation, TrojanVision will host its 50th Anniversary Gala on Friday, October 3. The celebration will include a presentation of awards to distinguished alumni, and guests will enjoy a special screening of a documentary that captures five decades of the program’s evolution.
More information and tickets for the gala can be found here.
This article was provided by Whitney Bowers, Communications Coordinator for the College of Arts and Humanities
