Highlights for Joel Lawhon

• Action News 5 6:00 PM Newscast January 7, 1985

  Action News 5 hour long newscast that air January 7, 1985. At this time, WRAL was still an affiliate with the ABC network.

  One of the main stories of the day was Jim Martin’s first full day as Governor of North Carolina. (full coverage of his inauguration on January 6 is available on this website) Other stories of the day were reported by Shelly Kofler, Sharon Nash, Connie Howard, Tim Kent, Tina Seldon, Fred Taylor, Denece Boyer, Renee McCoy and Joe Oliver. Sports with Tom Suiter. Weather with Bob Debardelaben. Editorial by Joel Lawhon.

  The commercials that aired that day are included as well.

• Joel Lawhon

  Former WRAL-TV news anchorman in April 1965 staff photo

• Premiere of the hour long Action News 5 newscast at 6pm

  WRAL-TV launched the hour long version of Action News 5 at 6:00PM on June 14, 1982. You will also see vintage commercials that aired during the newscast. WRAL News had been preparing for this moment for a couple of years. The preps ranged from a ramp-up of resources ranging from reporters, photographers, producers, to moving to newsroom/set. You will notice that Charlie Gaddy does not have a co-anchor at this point. Bobbie Battista, former co-anchor joined CNN in Atlanta in December, 1981. Adele Arakawa would join Charlie on March 14, 1983.
  The news department manager was Steve Grissom. The newscast was produced by Connie Lane and directed by Pam Parris -Allen.
  If you look closely at the end of the newscast, you can see a crowd of people at the back of the newsroom (left of the Action News 5 logo) standing in the shadows; they are huddled around a television set watching the premiere.
  *NOTE* You will notice several quick video break-ups during “The Money Desk” segment with reporter Tim Smith.

• Joel Lawhon Editorial

  Joel Lawhon, former news director at WRAL-TV, delivers one of the editorials during the evening newscast. This one was produced on September 26, 1985.

• Primary 76 with Joel Lawhon

  WRAL News Director Joel Lawhon intros the 1976 candidates for the US House of Representatives from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th districts of North Carolina.