1988 Overview:

From the information available, the reoccurent topics throughout the year are politics and criminal activity. In politics, there is a focus on the 1988 election, both local and national races, although Raford mostly focuses on the 31st congressional district election.

Photo: YouTube via WYRK

 

Month Overview

January

During this month Radford has a focus on crime, but also covers the Free Trade Pact between US and Canada. He follows the debate about agreeing to a trade pact (both the implications of agreeing to it and not agreeing to it) from both the US and Canada sides. Keith follows this as a part of the Buffalo Eyewitness Team. He does a three part series reporting on it in the month of January.

  • January 29: In a letter discussing the coverage of the Milton Jones verdict, Radford recieves special praise from the News Station

February

Throughout February Radford spends time reporting on various family and criminal court cases. He also discusses the economy in a three part series.

  • February 17-19: Radford hosts the three part series "You're Fired". He talks with people who have been fired to find out how they have coped. With this series he also discusses the economy overall

March

Radford spends much of March discussing the 1988 election coming up in November.

  • Important Note: Radford recieves a note regarding the increased ratings in the month of March, especially among the 6 o'clock news and Eyewitness Team

April

Radford consistently reports on the violence (including rape, murder, and shootings) in Buffalo. He continues to follow criminal court cases.

May

Radford shares with viewers the end of the year reports regarding school and budget votes as well as summer construction. Additonally, he continues to be involved in high profile investigations and criminal events.

  • May 6-11: reports on the recently release of Robert Kleason, a man who had been charged with murder, assault, and being involved in a shooting.
  • Radford follows and reports on Mafalda DiTomasso's search for her son, Robert, an Air Force lieutenant, whose plane was shot down. His remains where never found leading her to believe the government was lying and her son was still alive.

June

Radford analyzes police department re-organiztion and the usage of drugs such as heroin in Buffallo and shares his conclusions with viewers.

  • Important Topic: Buffalo has a connection to the NASA space shuttle as a UB student is involved with it. A letter is sent to Keith that there may be a special on this in the fall.

July

Radford reports on accidents that occured within the month. He includes a motorcycle accident, truck accident, and plane crash. Although some of these accidents resulted in death, others did not.

  • Segment: Radford reports on the criminal investigation of Edwin Meese.
  • Segment: Due to his interest in aviation Radford spends time focusing on aviation accidents. He notes that in western New York there have ben a fair number of accidents involving small, private planes.

August

Radford continues to focus on criminal activty and mentions how Buffalo is known across the nation for a lot of crime.

  • August 9: Radford looks at crime prevention programs such as the neighborhood watch. He describes how these programs work; their basis is volunteers watching over their community.

September

Radford reports on school openings for the new school year and the impact on airlines. He also spends much of the month reminding viewers that primaries and election day are coming up in November. He has a recurring segement that updates viewers on Buffalo Bills center Will Grant and his wife being arrested on drug charges.

  • September 7: Updates on air fare prices and additonal flights
  • September 21: Grant and his wife go to court over drug charges

October

With elections nearing, much of Radford's time on air is spent updating viewers on candidates, polls, and various election news.

  • October 3-10: Focus on 31st congressional race and presidential election

November

Radford continues to follow and report on the Buffalo Bills football season. He also spends time reporting on the Canadian election. He explains how the Canadian election will impact Buffalo due to the city's proximity to Canada as well as the implications of the Free Trade Pact between the US and Canada (which he reported on in January).

December

During the Nitecast Radford continues his trend of reporting on criminal activity. He also recaps the year's criminal activity in the three part Rear Ender series. He discusses aircraft threats, accidents and crashes.

  • December 6: Reports that an Amherest doctor who performed abortions was charged with attacking anti-abortion protesters outside his home. This story goes deeper though as Radford reports--the doctor was singled out as a Jewish man
  • December 7: honoring those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.
  • December 26-29: Reared Ender three part series

 

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