James McGaffin

Jim McGaffin had a forty-four year career in Nebraska broadcasting. Starting as a reporter for WOW (AM) 590 kHz radio in Omaha he became News Director of WOW AM-FM-TV in 1950. McGaffin left that position in 1968 to become Public Affairs Director for the WOW stations. He retired in 1984.

As chair of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Freedom of Information Committee, McGaffin represented broadcasters during the development of legislation, which resulted in the Nebraska Open Meetings, Nebraska Open Records and the Nebraska Free Flow of Information Act (Shield Law protecting reporter's sources).

McGaffin also served on the media committee, which drafted the Nebraska Bar-Press Guidelines (responsible reporting to avoid prejudicial references.)

While McGaffin was working in commercial broadcasting he was appointed to serve on the Nebraska Educational Television Commission, which operated a nine-station non-commercial television network. He later was elected chair of the NET Commission.

McGaffin also was the president of the Nebraska Associated Press Broadcast News Association and the president of the Nebraska United Press International News Association.

The Nebraska Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named McGaffin "JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR." The University of Nebraska at Omaha honored McGaffin with the Communication Achievement Award and Creighton University recognized him with the Professional Journalism Achievement Award