Biography

Journalist - Filmmaker - Songwriter

I write here, not as a journalist, but as citizen. The views expressed are my own.

As a storyteller, I try to get as close to the truth as possible in a world ruled largely by fear, greed and deception. At the heart of this blog is a desire to offer wisdom and guidance to my adult children as they navigate their lives. I'll also address other audiences, as appropriate, particularly the media. We live to learn. What I know is what I have to share.

An award-winning producer for network, cable and public television, public radio and the Internet with extensive experience managing all aspects of news coverage; writing and producing newscasts, feature reports, breaking-news stories, live events, talk shows, documentaries, personality profiles, political reports, special coverage and Webcasts.

'TRUTH SESSIONS' - Executive Producer
(Seattle, WA -- 06/07 to present)
Created and produced 'Truth Sessions', an ongoing multi-media documentary series that gives voice to the unheard and illuminates the common struggles of life.

DIVERSITY FILMS – Documentary Filmmaker
(Seattle, WA – 08/05 – 01/09)
Producer/Co-Investigator for ‘Why Us?’, a multi-year documentary project produced by Diversity Films about HIV/AIDS and African-Americans.

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS - Video Chronicler
(Seattle, WA – 01/04 to 07/05)
Produced nature documentaries (video chronicles) of travelers’ voyages to exotic locales aboard small expedition ships. Shot, wrote, narrated, edited, scored, mastered and duplicated programs onboard while at sea.

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO - Radio Commentator
(Seattle, WA – 09/03 to 12/03)
Wrote and narrated series of commentaries for NPR’s ‘Day to Day’ program.

PRODUCTION FOUNDRY - Contract Producer
(Seattle, WA – 03/03 to 11/03)
Produced news stories for production company’s European clients for broadcast in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

MSNBC.COM – Senior Producer
(Redmond, WA – 06/96 to 11/01)
Key member of team that launched leading Internet news site, a joint venture of NBC News and Microsoft. Managed editorial, multimedia, interactive and design teams producing daily breaking news, special coverage, cover pages, partner collaborations and Webcasts. Site honored in 1999/2000 with Online Journalism Award, Eppy and Webby Awards.

TIME INC. NEW MEDIA - Features Producer
(New York, NY - 1995 to 1996)
Wrote and produced television stories on cyberspace, science and technology based on Time magazine articles for 'The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour' and The Discovery Channel.

POLITICS – Political Coverage Producer
(1976/1980/1996/1998/2000)
Covered presidential bids of Gerald Ford in 1976 and George Bush in 1980 for ABC News and election-night returns in 1996, 1998 and 2000 for MSNBC.com. Produced live, daylong, interactive Webcasts from the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles and the Republican Convention in Philadelphia in 2000.

GUILBAULT PRODUCTIONS - Program Developer
(New York, NY - 1993 to 1995)
Wrote television program proposals, movie treatments and musical compositions.

WILLIAM BENTON FELLOWSHIPS – Fellow
(Chicago, IL - 1991 to 1992)
One of twelve journalists selected for fellowship at the University of Chicago. Studied leadership, creativity, women’s issues, the origins of war and contemporary media.

‘AMERICAN AGENDA’ – Special Assignment Producer
(New York, NY - 1988 to 1990)
Produced special education stories for the ‘American Agenda’ segment of ABC News’ ‘World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.’

ABC NEWS - Senior Producer
(New York, NY - 1982 to 1993)
Managed teams of reporters, producers, writers, directors, camera crews and editors to create award-winning reports for 'World News Tonight with Peter Jennings' and network specials.

‘THE LAST WORD’ - Program Producer
(New York, NY – 1982 to 1983)
Program Producer for live, late-night network interview show that followed ‘Nightline’ on ABC, hosted by Greg Jackson and Phil Donahue.

‘WORLD NEWS TONIGHT – Saturday/Sunday’ - Senior Producer>
(New York, NY - 1982)
Planned and produced ABC News’ weekend newscasts anchored by Sam Donaldson and Tom Jarriel.

CNN - Senior/Executive Producer
(Atlanta, GA - 1980 to 1982)
One of the original Senior Producers at Cable News Network. Co-created, developed and produced a live, daily, two-hour news/talk program. Also produced feature reports, special events, live coverage and documentaries.

ABC NEWS - Field Producer
(Washington, D.C. - 1975 to 1980)
Produced breaking-news reports and original features on domestic, political and international news for the network's primary evening and morning news broadcasts. Anchors included Harry Reasoner, Howard K. Smith, Barbara Walters, Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson and Peter Jennings.

AWARDS

DuPont/Columbia
• ‘Children in Crisis’ - ABC (1991)
• ‘US/USSR: A Balance of Powers’ - ABC (1983)

Emmy
•‘A Line in the Sand: What Did America Win?’ - ABC (1991)
• ‘US/USSR: A Balance of Powers’ - ABC (1983)

Headliner
• ‘US/USSR: A Balance of Powers’ - ABC (1983)

Comments

[Don French]

Just curious, your background sounds like someone my wife Donna and I new in DC in the mid 70's while in the Navy. If so sounds like you've had a successful career and were able to follow your dream.

WOuld love to hear from you.
Don French
Don.french@crgibson.com