Bill McCreary

Broadcast news changed over time, and welcomed more people of a different hue during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Pioneer Bill McCreary, who anchored his own report under his own name, made it from government schools in New York City to achieving success in the field of television journalism.

He succeeded at no one else’s expense. That’s why he should be a household name, worthy of inclusion in a game of trivia. As of this writing, he doesn’t even have a Wikipedia entry, and he should.

Despite being a relative unknown, McCreary is a former vice president for Fox News Channel 5 in New York whose success surpassed anchors of every race there. How did he do it? Education. He said he focused on learning, and that’s what led him to achieve at such a high level.

If there were a game with just his name and profession, it could include his many accomplishments. Players could keep themselves busy and entertained just discussing his groundbreaking news program.

With the notion that this esteemed journalist not being among the most well-known, there would be a perfect game discovering McCreary’s talent. His integrity, honesty, and professionalism should be disseminated in the game. There should be an opportunity for players to reap the knowledge of his life and career. Additionally, they should be able to name his many attainments and his truth. To show McCreary’s prowess on the television screen would be a topic of discussion in the game.

To completely give the props to this newsman would mean to clarify, cut through and showcase all of his powers. He has the smoothness and assuredness necessary to be an asset in his craft. The patience and timing required to conduct an interview would be an excellent addition to the overall appeal of the contest. The trivia would add to the understanding of the might behind this man. All of his works would be able to reach the young to the senior citizens. If the game is played correctly, there should be enjoyment in discovering the facts behind this most distinguished gentleman.

McCreary’s relative anonymity amongst his peers would make any pure trivia game about him difficult. If they had to identify him amongst a list of other black broadcasters, they’d find it very challenging indeed compared to Oprah and Gayle King, Bryant Gumbel and Lester Holt, McCreary is an unknown.

Such a game would be so difficult in fact, it would have to offer players some new ways to discover the correct answers, without using Internet, though even there, they’d have to know where to look.

The game could start with questions like “Which black journalist interviewed President Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela, but isn’t Oprah Winfrey?”

McCreary was the trailblazer they’d never heard of.

After a few rounds of “I didn’t know that,” and “Wow, he interviewed him, too?” would lead players to wonder what other unsung heroes have escaped their notice, and perhaps inspire then to find out.

To not recognize the fact McCreary is a luminary is a great injustice. But those who never heard of him, could become enlightened through the power of discovery. It could be a starting point for young people in their efforts to find a career. If Mr. Mcreary can be the starting point for them to have their own reports, that would be an ideal statement for all.

In time, the game might even become a hit as more people became aware of his excellence, and he would finally get the public recognition he so richly deserves. After all, without his efforts, there may never be a Don Lemon or TJ Holmes. One wonders if these two men even know they owe their careers to leaders like McCreary.