Interview with Stacy Smith, KDKA-TV
by: Damon Claus

Stacy Smith is currently a co-anchor for KDKA – TV news in Pittsburgh.  Prior to being hired by KDKA he worked for a variety of radio and television news stations across the country. In 1983 Stacy joined KDKA as a reporter and has been with the station ever since. Aside from being honored by the AP and UPI for his outstanding achievements, Smith has also received several Emmy awards for his impressive reporting and broadcasting skills.  Smith currently lives in a suburb of Pittsburgh with his wife, Sharon, and their two children.

Q: What year did you graduate from Marian College and what was your degree in? Did you always know when you were going to school that you wanted to be a reporter?

A: I graduated form Marian College in 1971.  My degree is in Theatre and Drama.  At first, I thought I wanted to be a history teacher but I always was attracted to broadcasting.  By the time I was a junior I had decided broadcasting was my love but Marian did not offer a major in any area of communications or journalism.  The closest was Theatre and Drama.  So, since I did not want to transfer to another school I made T&D my major.

Q: You worked for several different news stations across the country before coming to KDKA in 1983. Do you believe you have found what you would call a “home” for your career? Or do you have expectations about moving to a different station?

A: At this point, I have no desire to leave Pittsburgh for another broadcasting endeavor. However, I have learned that one never says never.

Q: You suffered from polio as a child and your mother originally thought you would be completely paralyzed. To what do you attribute your unquestionable success in your field, despite being afflicted with such a serious illness?

A: It may sound corny and I am not the first to say it, but I do believe it.  God has given each of us a talent. It is up to us to discover what that talent is and then to utilize it to the best of our abilities.  There are times we face obstacles that we must overcome to achieve success in utilizing our talents and some of those times the obstacles cannot be overcome, such as racism or discrimination.  My obstacle did not prevent me from using the voice God gave me.

Q: You once gave an interview in which you stated, “When we find out something we can't do, we either find a way around it or we just don't do that,” in reference to being affected by polio. Have there been times in your career when you were limited by the disease? Have there been times when others have unfairly tried to limit you?

A: I cannot remember a time that I was limited in pursuing a story.  At the same time, I have not put myself into a situation in covering a story that would limit my ability to do it. No, I do not know of a time that I was denied or overlooked.

Q: You have been the recipient of many prestigious awards, including several Emmys. What would you consider to be the achievement you are most proud of, with regards to your profession?

A: The awards are the icing.  I cannot think of one particular achievement. Instead I view certain stories as their own reward.

Q: In addition to the on-air and job related work that you do, you are very involved in the community. You have served on the Board of Directors of Harmarville Rehabilitations Center, Three Rivers Council for Independent Living, and have been chairman of the Board of Directors of Family House of Pittsburgh. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement outside of work?

A: Again, it may seem corny but it is my family and close friends.  There will be a time when there won't be a teleprompter, or a camera or a microphone. They will be wonderful memories but my family and friends should always be there.

Q: As many of the residents of Pittsburgh, I am sure you were personally affected by the crash of flight 427 in 1994. Unfortunately, given your job, you were not able to show your emotions on the air and had to remain vigilant throughout the ordeal. How hard was it to remain composed and serve as an objective news anchor during that trying time?

A: Interesting question and I don't know that I have a good response.  There is something that takes place when I am on the air and it allows me to be in front of the camera and, in this case, ad-lib through the entire evening and somehow not let it affect me personally. I know that when the camera is on, and especially in such tragic times such as 427, or 9-11, I have a responsibility to report what I know and to do it as professionally as I can. The time that it was the most difficult the night of 427 was when I was told by someone whom the viewers could not see, one of our producers, that there were no survivors.  On camera I asked for the viewers' patience while I turned and spoke to the producer and asked "Are you absolutely sure?" Then I turned back to the camera and said something like "I have just been told, there are no survivors.  Everyone has perished."  That was not easy.

Q: Are there any other times in your career that it was extremely difficult to put both your professionalism and your objectivity before your own emotions?

A: Not yet.

Q: Although, your achievements speak for themselves and you have unquestionably had a great deal of success in your field, no one is without critics. Do you listen to those who may criticize you? And if so, how much do you take their comments to heart?

A: I will listen to critics who have a legitimate comment. If it is based only on whether they like or dislike me I cannot let that affect me.

Q: Being a news anchor for a historic station such as KDKA must come with a certain level of responsibility to uphold its prestigious name. Do you ever feel as though you are held to a higher level of standards than your competitors?

A: Whether it is KDKA or WLBC in Muncie, Ind., I have always tried to be a professional.  I have erred at times, but at least I try because, in the end, whatever I do will reflect not only on the station but also on me.

Q: In addition to the responsibility of representing the KDKA name, you must also be granted certain privileges that other stations may not. If this is the case, when has this aided you in getting the information that others did not?

A: I would not call it "privileges" that we at KDKA have.  What we do have is a reputation (for the most part) of being fair in our reporting and also of having a large audience.  Those two elements are usually taken into account by the person I, or we, are requesting to interview and they can make the difference in KDKA obtaining the interview or the information before others.

Q: Who has been the most intriguing person to meet or interview in your career? Are there other people that you have aspirations of one day meeting or interviewing?

A: I have asked questions of presidents and the "bum" on the street.  The bum was a much more interesting interview because of his circumstances and it was the only time I have allowed the phrase "God damn" to be used in one of my stories. Without question, the most remarkable person I have ever met was Pope John Paul II.  When you were in his presence, you knew you were with someone who was very special.  My personal time with him was no more   than 30 seconds, but those few seconds will stay with me for the rest of my life.