Former FCC Chairman Newton Minow dies at 97

A distinguished Chicagoan, he helped create public television and was known for famous speech declaring TV a “vast wasteland”

One of the most prominent figures in early years of television as a government official has died. 

Newton Minow passed away Saturday at the age of 97, surrounded by family at his Chicago home. As many of you know, he’s best known for his declaration of the then-emerging medium of television “a vast wasteland” during a speech at a National Association of Broadcasters gathering in 1961. But he also made great contributions, including the formation of public television and helping establish ultra high frequency channels on the TV spectrum (known as UHF), where an boom of newly-created independent stations took place in the 1960s and 1970s, later becoming the backbone of the emerging Fox, UPN, The WB, and Ion broadcast networks.

“Newt was an advocate for the essential role that trusted, independent news and information play in civil society, and he believed that an informed and engaged citizenry is foundational to a well-functioning democracy,” said Sandra Cordova Micek, president and CEO of WTTW and WFMT, where Minow served as a board member. “Newt was a mentor, friend, philanthropist, leader and an inspiration to all who knew him throughout his many years of service in the public and private sectors. His legacy will continue to have an impact for generations to come.”

Minow once served in Gov. Adlai Stevenson’s administration as a aide for his presidential campaigns and an attorney in his law firm. After John F. Kennedy became president in 1961, Minow was appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, where he was instrumental in forming public television, including passing the law mandating UHF receivers in all televisions manufactured in the U.S. in 1964 in order to help public television grow (WTTW itself was established in 1955.) Three years later, Congress passed the law establishing the Public Broadcasting Service (which replaced National Educational Television in 1970) and National Public Radio. 

But it was “the speech” he was most known for with a lot of people taking it out of context, focusing on the “wasteland” part – especially with the violent-for-its-time episode of ABC’s Bus Stop triggering several hearings on television violence (Bus Stop producer Roy Huggins fired back at Minow in a piece written for trade magazine Television Quarterly – I wrote about that controversial episode back in January as part of a piece about HBO Max’s Velma.) Minow in fact, was a supporter of the medium; in his speech, he was concerned about kids spending too much time watching the set. Of course, Hollywood took umbridge, with famed producer Sherwood Schwartz naming the boat the castaways of Gilligan’s Island on when they became were shipwrecked the S.S. Minnow. 

Minow left the FCC in 1963 to return to Chicago and join Encyclopedia Britannica in a general counsel role. He later returned to practicing law two years later and did so for the rest of his life. He was also a huge figure in local television, joining WTTW’s board in 1967 and helped create membership drives, auctions, and win its first Emmy award under his watch. Minow also was a donor to the station and often appeared on the station’s nightly public affairs show Chicago Tonight, which he watched regularly. WTTW established a fellowship under his name to inspire the next generation of journalists and aspiring storytellers. 

Minow received numerous honors throughout his life, including the Presidential Medal Of Freedom from President Barack Obama, who he had a professional relationship with as he was an intern in Minow’s law office. 

“Newt Minow was a dear friend, mentor and early supporter of mine,” said Obama on Twitter. “He also embodied the ideal of public service – helping launch the satellites that made nationwide broadcasts possible, cementing presidential debates as a national institution, helping usher in public television, and reminding the media of its obligation to foster a well-informed citizenry.” 

While most people singled out two words Minow in a speech he made, he was known for more than that – he was actually an advocate for the medium despite serving less than two years as FCC Chairman – he accomplished more during his short tenure than Ajit Pai did during his four year term. He also demonstrated that television and radio should be ambassadors for public service in our democracy- one now in peril as media companies emphasize profit over anything else. Minow will be missed.