Daily News | Al Primo, creator of Eyewitness News, dies at 87
Albert “Al” Primo, 87, who transformed television news when he created the now-ubiquitous Eyewitness News format, died on Thursday, Sept. 29, at his home in Old Greenwich, Conn.
Integral to Mr. Primo’s vision were newsrooms that looked more like the communities they were covering. Soon after taking a top role at KYW-TV, he began meeting with civic leaders in Philadelphia. His brainchild emphasized action on video, the perception that reporters were always on the scene when news was breaking, the familial coanchor arrangement with quippy banter, music and graphics, and a more narrative storytelling approach. These elements still define local TV news stations across the country and some national TV news programs., a children’s television program that still airs and publishes online today.
”What I can tell you about Al is he really revolutionized the news business,” she said, noting that his death came as a “shock.” Shestack emphasized Mr. Primo’s drive to hire people of color like Haynes and prominent newspaper columnist Claude Lewis, who was Black. “He was a very dynamic personality,” she said. “He was forward looking.”