Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Nielsen.
Hi Barbara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois. I moved to San Diego in the summer of 1979 with my parents. I was seventeen years old. I went to Poway High School. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and for that, I will always be grateful. I went to San Diego State and received my bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1985. My first career job was at CNN in Atlanta where I worked 1986-1989. I was a video journalist–operating studio cameras, floor directing, teleprompter, and tape playback. I eventually passed the editing test and was a videotape editor until I left in September 1989. I returned to San Diego to work for CBS 8 KFMB-TV. I was and editor until 1998 when I accepted the offer to be the tape producer, overseeing editing. In 2005 the position was eliminated when we went non-linear because it was no longer necessary. I returned to editing, working on afternoon and evening newscasts once again. In 2018 I pitched the News 8 Throwback concept and management accepted. We have the most extensive archive in San Diego and it just may be the best in the entire country, and I wanted to share it with San Diego and the world. History was always my favorite subject in school so what could be better than digging into the history of San Diego through the news archive? I have learned so much and it’s a great privilege to present the information I’ve gathered with the public.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
CBS 8 is dedicated to serving our community by offering several newscasts a day. That is our top priority. I keep very busy daily working on the 3:30, 4, 5, 6:30, 10, and 11 pm newscasts. It doesn’t leave a lot of time for my passion project, so every spare moment I have, I’m researching the past. I still manage to post several “new” stories weekly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
CBS 8 Editor, News 8 Throwback Producer, Archivist, licensing agent. This is the description of the News 8 Throwback playlist on YouTube: San Diego memories here! Welcome to News 8 Throwback. KFMB-TV was the first television station in San Diego and was launched on May 16, 1949. We have a vast library and we are sharing the treasures buried in it. These videos offer a look back at the history of San Diego as seen through the lenses of News 8 photojournalists throughout the decades. It’s so exciting presenting them to a whole new audience. When Larry Himmel checked out nightlife in 1979, he could never have imagined his five part series would be seen on a website called YouTube. The playlist of oldies but goodies grows weekly so check back often. It’s a portal to the past. And you never know–you or someone you know just might be in one. Is there something you’d like to see?
Archivist: I am the go-to person for file. My motto is if we have it, I will find it. It’s always been that way. I enjoy searching the card files 1952-1991 and the computer database.
Licensing agent: We have gained the reputation through News 8 Throwback that we have the goods. Documentary and feature filmmakers from around the world have licensed our film and tape. I provide our film and tape to Kurator, a licensing and rights management platform. It is loaded with CBS 8 video–so anyone looking for Tegna treasures can find them there. Tegna owns CBS 8. Recent documentaries and films we’re featured in: Jaws@50, Monster Season 2: Menendez, The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd, Called Up: The Emmett Ashford Story, Wildfires: Cedar Fire, Surviving Jaws, and The Beach Boys.
This is an article about me:
https://www.sohosandiego.org/enews/0524news8throwback.htm
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cbs8.com/throwback
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaPMn2PMzxdHd0–3sTr_La3wNsnb7NyQ
- Other: https://kurator.com/en/marketplace/search?keywords=tegna+san+diego
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