Inducted 2026
She used TV for social justice.
Jeanne Findlater, the first female in the United States to lead a major television station, used her platform as ABC vice president and general manager of WXYZ TV-Detroit to advocate for social justice. During her years at the station, she worked to air news and informational programs to meet community needs.
In her first job at the station, she created “Town Meeting,” a live program with an audience that discussed issues. When told to fill the 6 a.m. slot, she dared to produce 180 graphic medical programs for women. Jeanne produced programs featuring young musicians, as well as “From Protest to Politics” on the Civil Rights struggle.
Later, as director of programming, she added quarterly prime-time specials. She added “Hot Fudge” with puppets that talked about feelings that won a national Action for Children’s Television award. Off campus, an annual picnic offered free vaccines for kids. Another campaign provided “Coats for Kids.” In “Brightest and Best” cameos, high school valedictorians made public service announcements that aired throughout the day for three weeks. The idea was copied nationally.
As general manager, Jeanne had the power to create a groundbreaking series to teach adults literacy. The award-winning “Learn to Read” aired nationally on ABC stations and was viewed by millions. She delivered the “Tell them you’re from Detroit” campaign to a dispirited city, ran condom commercials and commentaries and opened the door to frank discussions about ending the silence about contraception. Jeanne expanded news programming and editorialized about issues including voting rights, free school lunches, fair housing, redlining and the Equal Rights Amendment.
She is in the Michigan Broadcasters Hall of Fame, received its lifetime achievement award, and has a (shared) Pulitzer from her work at the Detroit Free Press.