Hal Fishman

Hal Fishman (August 25, 1931 – August 7, 2007) was the longest-running news anchor in the history of American television, having served on-air for Los Angeles television stations continuously between 1960 and his death in 2007. He was also a record-holding aviator. A Brooklyn native, he received his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University where he worked at the campus radio station. He also received a master's degree in political science from U... more

Hal Fishman (August 25, 1931 – August 7, 2007) was the longest-running news anchor in the history of American television, having served on-air for Los Angeles television stations continuously between 1960 and his death in 2007. He was also a record-holding aviator. A Brooklyn native, he received his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University where he worked at the campus radio station. He also received a master's degree in political science from UCLA in 1956, and planned for a career in academia (he actually worked as an assistant political science professor at California State University, Los Angeles for two years). However, after KCOP Channel 13 approached him to teach an on-air course, the station invited him to anchor his own segment. Fishman had been on the air continuously since June 20, 1960, moving from KCOP to KTLA in 1965. That same year, Fishman had major exposure as a field reporter for KTLA when he helped cover the Watts Riots live from the Los Angeles Police Department... less