Bill Jorgensen

“Thanking you for your time this time, until next time.”

One of the most innovative and trusted newsmen in Cleveland media, Bill Jorgensen studied under renowned analyst Quincy Howe at the University of Illinois’ school of journalism. He got a lot of attention at WTVN / Columbus, and when the announcement came in 1958 that Jorgensen was heading north to WERE / Cleveland, the Columbus Dispatch ran a letter stating, “He enlightened the people of this city as no other newscaster has had the courage to do.”

Jorgensen got international headlines in September 1959 while covering the U.S. visit of Russian premier Nikita Krushchev who took the opportunity to throw cow manure at the newsman during a stop at a farm. In 1961 he made the switch to Cleveland’s KYW-TV, and three years later joined the news department at WEWS. It was in the summer of 1965 that Plain Dealer copy editor Robert Manry piloted a tiny sailboat named Tinkerbelle from Falmouth, Massachusetts, on a 3800 mile trip navigating rough waters to Falmouth, England, and Jorgensen had a plan. Along with producer Tom Piskura and general manager Don Perris, Jorgensen arranged to pay a surprise Manry enroute and presented him with food, mail and a copy of the Cleveland Press. His was a back handed slap at the competition because WEWS and the Press were both owned by Scripps-Howard.

Jorgensen joined WNEW-TV in 1967 where he was praised by the New York Times for his ability to deliver “a thoroughly professional news summary”. He would sign off his newscasts stating, “Thanking you for your time this time, until next time.” He later anchored news at WPIX-TV in that same city. Jorgensen died at age 93 in March 2024. His daughter, Rebekah, has authored a book, Anchor: The Making of a Newsman, that reflects on Jorgensen’s career and influence. She also points out that Jorgensen had deep respect and affection for the audience in Northeast Ohio.