The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Broadcast Pioneers member Amy Buckman

Broadcast Pioneers member Amy Buckman attributes her interest in broadcast journalism to growing up in a home where the TV news was always on, and discussed, at dinnertime. Visiting the WMMR studios with her big brother, mid-70s, Assistant Program Director Dennis Wilen, further sparked her interest. They created “The Amy and Dennis Show” on a reel-to-reel machine, complete with sound effects and Amy’s observations of that day’s Mummers’ Parade. Joining 6abc many years later was the realization of a young Philadelphia broadcaster’s New Year’s Day dream.

While a student at Lower Merion High School, Amy interned on The Wally Kennedy Show on WCAU-AM. She went on to receive both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she was a news anchor on WNUR-FM, a copy editor at the Daily Northwestern, a reporter for Florida Today and the Washington, D.C., reporter for WEEK-TV in Peoria, Ill. During college breaks, Amy worked as a producer at WCAU-AM and desk assistant at WCAU-TV.

After graduating Kappa Tau Alpha from Medill, Amy joined WOC-TV (later KWQC-TV) in Davenport, Iowa. She was the morning anchor and a general assignment reporter. Her coverage of an equestrian camp for autistic children won an award from the National Autism Society. And she was the first television reporter in the Quad Cities to cover Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah during the holiday season.

Amy joined 6abc, WPVI in September 1989, as coordinating producer for AM/Philadelphia, hosted by her high school mentor, Broadcast Pioneers member Wally Kennedy, and by member Lizabeth Starr (Liz Matt). Marilyn Phister, the executive producer, and later programming director, Rebecca Campbell, encouraged her efforts to go back on the air. Amy was instrumental in the reimagining of AM/Philadelphia into the more news-oriented AM/Live, working with the team, including Karen Rogers, to produce daily coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial, a number of exclusive jailhouse interviews with newsmakers including Tanya Dacri, Kevin Brinkley and Sylvia Seegrist, and numerous celebrity interviews – her favorite being Oprah Winfrey. She also produced numerous 6abc specials, including the very first Philadelphia Auto Show broadcast and the Liberty Medal.

Amy moved to Action News full-time after the cancellation of AM/Live’s successor, Philly After Midnight. She was a morning show and general assignment reporter who was eventually tapped for the money-saving franchise “Saving with 6abc,” which she produced and reported both on-air and online.

After more than 28 years in broadcasting, Amy left 6abc and became the Manager of Public Relations and Special Events for Philadelphia Media Network, publisher of the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. She played a key role in developing events as an additional revenue stream for the legacy publisher and increasing interaction between writers and readers through events, enhanced social media and a Speakers Bureau.

In March of 2018, Amy returned “home” to the Lower Merion School District, as the Director of School and Community Relations. She is guiding the District’s strategic communications as the Board and Administration deal with complex issues including the state’s fastest-growing student population and school safety.

Amy is eternally grateful to her biggest fan and supporter, her college sweetheart-turned-husband, Terry Buckman, and their sons, Jason, William and Micah.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com