Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Date: 1988-04-25
Duration: 00:02:24

Subject: South Africa - Apartheid; Apartheid - Protests
People: Backman, Jack; Bolling, Royal, Sr.; Dukakis, Michael; George, Christy; Hermann, Joseph; Keverian, George; Murphy, Ric; Vilakazi, Themba;
Geography: South Africa|

Clip Description
Christy George reports that Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to divest its pension funds from South Africa five years ago. She adds that apartheid opponents are backing a selective purchasing bill that would bar the state from buying goods and services from companies who do business in South Africa. George's report includes footage of Ric Murphy (State Purchasing Agent) testifying in support of the bill in front of state legislators. George reports that Joseph Hermann (Chairman, State Administration Committee) wants the state to stop doing business with all countries with repressive governments. George's report includes footage of Hermann testifying before state legislators. George notes that Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) supports the bill. She adds that the bill will probably not be passed in time to help his presidential campaign. George's report includes footage of Dukakis addressing a crowd and footage of Jack Backman (former State Senator) speaking in support of Dukakis. Georges' report is also accompanied by footage of scenes from apartheid South Africa and by footage of IBM workers and laborers in South Africa.

Series Description
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973 to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a balance between local and national stories, between politics and the Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30, 1991.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/ton/programs/5737_01