Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Program: Ten O'Clock News broadcast
Date: 1982-03-31
Subject: Middle East; Race relations; Airports and landing fields; Violence
Geography: Middle East|

Clip Description
Christopher Lydon opens a Ten O'Clock News broadcast by reading the day's headlines. Lydon reports that Ronald Reagan (US President) has spoken out against the movement for a nuclear freeze, but would consider talks with the Soviet Union to reduce nuclear arms. Christy George reports that the five defendants charged in the William Atkinson case have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. George notes that Atkinson died after the defendants allegedly chased him onto the MBTA tracks at the Savin Hill MBTA station. The report includes footage of the five defendants in the courtroom with John Kiernan (Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County). George interviews Francine Atkinson (sister of William Atkinson), David Venator (United Church of Christ), and Joseph Feaster (President, Boston NAACP) about the case. Venator says that the defendants should be charged with civil rights violations. Lydon reads local news headlines. Lydon reports that John Williams (former political coordinator for Mayor Kevin White) was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion; that George Collatos (former employee of the Boston Redevelopment Authority) has also been found guilty on federal charges of bribe-taking. Charles Bennett reports that World Airways has filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Massport, citing their responsibility in the crash of a World Airways jet at Logan Airport in January. Bennett notes that World Airways is seeking $75 million in damages from the FAA and Massport. Bennett's report includes footage of James Meehan (attorney, World Airways) and William Coleman (Massport Director of Aviation) talking about the case. Janet Wu reports that Kevin White (Mayor, City of Boston) has agreed to support an MBTA request for $14 million in return for a fare reduction and the restoration of bus and trolley service in Boston; that local mayors and selectmen are angry at White and James O'Leary (MBTA General Manager) for making a private agreement. Wu notes that the MBTA Advisory Board is skeptical of O'Leary's request for $14 million in additional funds. Wu's reports includes footage of MBTA Advisors John Weaver, Bernice Staller, and George Collela speaking at an MBTA Advisory Board meeting. Lydon reads international headlines. Lydon reports on peace talks in Jerusalem led by Lord Peter Carrington (Head, European Economic Community).Owen Paterson reports from Iran on the war between Iraq and Iran.Michael Buerk reports from San Salvador on the elections in El Salvador. Buerk notes that the winners have not been decided; that the right-wing ARENA party is claiming victory.Lydon interviews Anthony Lewis (New York Times columnist), who has recently returned from the Middle East, about Israeli policy in the West Bank.Callie Crossley reports that a study by the New England Journal of Medicine has published a study on the effects of the combined use of Valium and oral contraceptives. Crossley's report includes footage from an interview with Dr. Darrell Abernathy (Tufts University School of Medicine).

Program Description
Christopher Lydon opens a Ten O'Clock News broadcast by reading the day's headlines. Lydon reports that Ronald Reagan (US President) has spoken out against the movement for a nuclear freeze, but would consider talks with the Soviet Union to reduce nuclear arms. Christy George reports that the five defendants charged in the William Atkinson case have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. George notes that Atkinson died after the defendants allegedly chased him onto the MBTA tracks at the Savin Hill MBTA station. The report includes footage of the five defendants in the courtroom with John Kiernan (Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County). George interviews Francine Atkinson (sister of William Atkinson), David Venator (United Church of Christ), and Joseph Feaster (President, Boston NAACP) about the case. Venator says that the defendants should be charged with civil rights violations. Lydon reads local news headlines. Lydon reports that John Williams (former political coordinator for Mayor Kevin White) was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion; that George Collatos (former employee of the Boston Redevelopment Authority) has also been found guilty on federal charges of bribe-taking. Charles Bennett reports that World Airways has filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Massport, citing their responsibility in the crash of a World Airways jet at Logan Airport in January. Bennett notes that World Airways is seeking $75 million in damages from the FAA and Massport. Bennett's report includes footage of James Meehan (attorney, World Airways) and William Coleman (Massport Director of Aviation) talking about the case. Janet Wu reports that Kevin White (Mayor, City of Boston) has agreed to support an MBTA request for $14 million in return for a fare reduction and the restoration of bus and trolley service in Boston; that local mayors and selectmen are angry at White and James O'Leary (MBTA General Manager) for making a private agreement. Wu notes that the MBTA Advisory Board is skeptical of O'Leary's request for $14 million in additional funds. Wu's reports includes footage of MBTA Advisors John Weaver, Bernice Staller, and George Collela speaking at an MBTA Advisory Board meeting. Lydon reads international headlines. Lydon reports on peace talks in Jerusalem led by Lord Peter Carrington (Head, European Economic Community).Owen Paterson reports from Iran on the war between Iraq and Iran.Michael Buerk reports from San Salvador on the elections in El Salvador. Buerk notes that the winners have not been decided; that the right-wing ARENA party is claiming victory.Lydon interviews Anthony Lewis (New York Times columnist), who has recently returned from the Middle East, about Israeli policy in the West Bank.Callie Crossley reports that a study by the New England Journal of Medicine has published a study on the effects of the combined use of Valium and oral contraceptives. Crossley's report includes footage from an interview with Dr. Darrell Abernathy (Tufts University School of Medicine).

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/101_02