Maurice Wolfe "Reese" Schonfeld (November 5, 1931 – July 28, 2020) was an American television journalist and executive. Trained as a lawyer, he co-founded CNN with Ted Turner in 1980, and went on to establish Food Network in 1993.
Schonfeld was born in Newark, New Jersey, on November 5, 1931.[1] He was of Jewish descent, the grandson of Yiddish-speaking immigrants.[2] His father, Philip, worked as a partner in a glass-and-mirror company; his mother, Sarah (Wolfe), was a housewife, secretary, and bookkeeper. He got the nickname "Reese" as a result of his younger sister's mispronunciation of Maurice.[1] He graduated from Weequahic High School.[2] He went on study at Dartmouth College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1953.[1] He subsequently earned an M.A. and J.D. degrees from Columbia University.[3][2] However, he never went into practice.[1]
Career
Schonfeld began his career with United Press Movietone News in 1956. Later he became vice president of United Press International Television News; when its U.S. business was purchased by Television News Inc. (TVN) in 1974, he joined that company for a year. In 1975, after TVN folded, he founded the Independent Television News Association, a service that provided independent television stations with pooled news coverage via satellite.[4][5]
Birth of CNN
Ted Turner approached Schonfeld to find out about satellites. Schonfeld recalls Turner asking him how much a satellite would cost, and upon hearing the sum Turner exclaimed "only a million dollars a year?", after which Turner acquired his first satellite. Approximately a year later he was approached again by Turner, who wanted to found a 15-hour all-news channel.[6] Schonfeld convinced Turner to increase to a 24-hour news channel. Schonfeld calculated it could be done with a staff of approximately 300 if they used an all-electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions.[6] It would require an initial investment of $15–20 million and several million dollars per month to operate.[6] In 1979, Turner sold his North Carolina station, WRET, to fund the transaction and established its headquarters in lower-cost, non-union Atlanta.[6] Schonfeld was appointed first president and chief executive of the then-named Cable News Network (CNN).[6] He hired Burt Reinhardt as vice president of the network; Sam Zelman as vice president of news and executive producer; Bill MacPhail as head of sports; Ted Kavanau as director of personnel; and Jim Kitchell, former general manager of news at NBC, as vice president of production and operations.[6] While at CNN, Schonfeld is credited with originating the 24-hourcable news concept. In 1982, Schonfeld was succeeded as CEO by Ted Turner after a dispute over Schonfeld's firing of Sandi Freeman and was succeeded as president by CNN's executive vice president, Burt Reinhardt.[7]
Schonfeld subsequently worked with Time Warner in planning the International Business Channel. He designed and implemented the Medical News Network, an interactive TV news service, for Whittle Communications in 1993. He also served on the board of Robert Halmi International before it was sold to Hallmark.[4]
In 1992, Schonfeld began developing Food Network (originally the TV Food Network), which launched on November 23, 1993. He acted as president of the network, which was sold to Belo Broadcasting in 1996 and was later resold to the E. W. Scripps Company. Schonfeld sold his interest in Food Network to Scripps in 1999. He continued consulting for various media projects and occasionally contributed to The Huffington Post.[4]
Personal life
Schonfeld was married to Pat O'Gorman,[9] sister of poet Ned O'Gorman,[10] until his death. They had one child— Juliette. He was previously married to Karen Lamberti which ended in divorce, together they had 5 children; Alexander, Ellen, Orrin, William, and Ida.[1] Schonfeld was the author of Me and Ted Against the World, an account of the development and early history of CNN,[1] and "The Global Battle for Cultural Domination", an essay in Developing Cultures: Essays on Cultural Change.[11]
"Shadow of a gunman", Columbia Journalism Review, 1975. (available to read here)
References
Notes
^ abcdefghiSandomir, Richard (July 28, 2020). "Reese Schonfeld, a Founder of CNN and Food Network, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
^ abc"Judith Weinraub interview of Reese Schonfeld" August 18, 2009
^James Verini, Reese's Pieces: Mr. Schonfeld, Forgotten Founder of CNN, Is a Man of Many Projects, The New York Observer, January 28, 2001
^ abc"Reese Schonfeld". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
^ abcdefBarkin, Steve M. (September 16, 2016). American Television News: The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest: The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest. Taylor & Francis. ISBN9781315290911.
^Wiseman, Lauren (May 10, 2011). "Burt Reinhardt dies at 91: Newsman helped launch CNN". Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
^"Maurice "Reese" Wolfe Schonfeld, LLB, Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. April 29, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
^Sugar, Rachel (November 2017). "How Food Network Turned Big-city Chef Culture Into Middle-America Pop Culture". New York. Pat O'Gorman, executive producer, wife of Reese Schonfeld
^Martin, Douglas (March 7, 2014). "Ned O'Gorman, 84, Dies; Poet Founded Innovative Harlem School". The New York Times.
^Harrison, Lawrence E.; Kagan, Jerome, eds. (September 10, 2012). Developing Cultures: Essays on Cultural Change. Routledge. pp. 305–328. ISBN9781135927301.
^Stelter, Brian (July 28, 2020). "Reese Schonfeld, CNN's founding president, has died at 88". CNN. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
General
Biography, The Huffington Post
Kevin Downey, Reese Schonfeld on the rise and fall of CNN, Media Life Magazine, March 19, 2001
reese, schonfeld, maurice, wolfe, reese, schonfeld, november, 1931, july, 2020, american, television, journalist, executive, trained, lawyer, founded, with, turner, 1980, went, establish, food, network, 1993, bornmaurice, wolfe, schonfeld, 1931, november, 1931. Maurice Wolfe Reese Schonfeld November 5 1931 July 28 2020 was an American television journalist and executive Trained as a lawyer he co founded CNN with Ted Turner in 1980 and went on to establish Food Network in 1993 Reese SchonfeldBornMaurice Wolfe Schonfeld 1931 11 05 November 5 1931Newark New Jersey U S DiedJuly 28 2020 2020 07 28 aged 88 Manhattan New York U S EducationDartmouth College BA Columbia University MA JD OccupationMedia executiveSpouse s Pat O Gorman Karen Lamberti 1959 1970 ChildrenAlexander Ellen Orrin William Juliette IdaRelativesNed O Gorman brother in law Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Birth of CNN 2 2 Post CNN 3 Personal life 4 Bibliography 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 General 6 External linksEarly life and education EditSchonfeld was born in Newark New Jersey on November 5 1931 1 He was of Jewish descent the grandson of Yiddish speaking immigrants 2 His father Philip worked as a partner in a glass and mirror company his mother Sarah Wolfe was a housewife secretary and bookkeeper He got the nickname Reese as a result of his younger sister s mispronunciation of Maurice 1 He graduated from Weequahic High School 2 He went on study at Dartmouth College obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1953 1 He subsequently earned an M A and J D degrees from Columbia University 3 2 However he never went into practice 1 Career EditSchonfeld began his career with United Press Movietone News in 1956 Later he became vice president of United Press International Television News when its U S business was purchased by Television News Inc TVN in 1974 he joined that company for a year In 1975 after TVN folded he founded the Independent Television News Association a service that provided independent television stations with pooled news coverage via satellite 4 5 Birth of CNN Edit Ted Turner approached Schonfeld to find out about satellites Schonfeld recalls Turner asking him how much a satellite would cost and upon hearing the sum Turner exclaimed only a million dollars a year after which Turner acquired his first satellite Approximately a year later he was approached again by Turner who wanted to found a 15 hour all news channel 6 Schonfeld convinced Turner to increase to a 24 hour news channel Schonfeld calculated it could be done with a staff of approximately 300 if they used an all electronic newsroom and satellites for all transmissions 6 It would require an initial investment of 15 20 million and several million dollars per month to operate 6 In 1979 Turner sold his North Carolina station WRET to fund the transaction and established its headquarters in lower cost non union Atlanta 6 Schonfeld was appointed first president and chief executive of the then named Cable News Network CNN 6 He hired Burt Reinhardt as vice president of the network Sam Zelman as vice president of news and executive producer Bill MacPhail as head of sports Ted Kavanau as director of personnel and Jim Kitchell former general manager of news at NBC as vice president of production and operations 6 While at CNN Schonfeld is credited with originating the 24 hour cable news concept In 1982 Schonfeld was succeeded as CEO by Ted Turner after a dispute over Schonfeld s firing of Sandi Freeman and was succeeded as president by CNN s executive vice president Burt Reinhardt 7 Post CNN Edit After leaving CNN Schonfeld joined Cablevision Systems in New York where he developed and oversaw the first 24 hour all news service on a local cable system News 12 Long Island 1 He also produced People Magazine on TV for CBS 1 and assisted in developing News Channel 8 for Allbritton Communications Company 8 Schonfeld subsequently worked with Time Warner in planning the International Business Channel He designed and implemented the Medical News Network an interactive TV news service for Whittle Communications in 1993 He also served on the board of Robert Halmi International before it was sold to Hallmark 4 In 1992 Schonfeld began developing Food Network originally the TV Food Network which launched on November 23 1993 He acted as president of the network which was sold to Belo Broadcasting in 1996 and was later resold to the E W Scripps Company Schonfeld sold his interest in Food Network to Scripps in 1999 He continued consulting for various media projects and occasionally contributed to The Huffington Post 4 Personal life EditSchonfeld was married to Pat O Gorman 9 sister of poet Ned O Gorman 10 until his death They had one child Juliette He was previously married to Karen Lamberti which ended in divorce together they had 5 children Alexander Ellen Orrin William and Ida 1 Schonfeld was the author of Me and Ted Against the World an account of the development and early history of CNN 1 and The Global Battle for Cultural Domination an essay in Developing Cultures Essays on Cultural Change 11 Schonfeld died on July 28 2020 at his home in Manhattan He was 88 and had suffered from complications of Alzheimer s disease 1 12 Bibliography EditMe and Ted Against the World The Unauthorized Story of the Founding of CNN Harper Collins 2001 ISBN 0 06 019746 3 ISBN 978 0 06 019746 9 Developing Cultures Essays on Cultural Change Routledge 2006 ISBN 0 415 95282 4 ISBN 978 0 415 95282 8 Shadow of a gunman Columbia Journalism Review 1975 available to read here References EditNotes Edit a b c d e f g h i Sandomir Richard July 28 2020 Reese Schonfeld a Founder of CNN and Food Network Dies at 88 The New York Times Retrieved July 28 2020 a b c Judith Weinraub interview of Reese Schonfeld August 18 2009 James Verini Reese s Pieces Mr Schonfeld Forgotten Founder of CNN Is a Man of Many Projects The New York Observer January 28 2001 a b c Reese Schonfeld The Huffington Post Retrieved July 28 2020 Patrick Parsons 2008 Blue Skies A History of Cable Television page 381 Temple University Press ISBN 1 59213 287 1 ISBN 978 1 59213 287 4 804 pages a b c d e f Barkin Steve M September 16 2016 American Television News The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest Taylor amp Francis ISBN 9781315290911 Wiseman Lauren May 10 2011 Burt Reinhardt dies at 91 Newsman helped launch CNN Washington Post Retrieved May 19 2011 Maurice Reese Wolfe Schonfeld LLB Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who s Who 24 7 Press Release Newswire April 29 2019 Retrieved July 28 2020 Sugar Rachel November 2017 How Food Network Turned Big city Chef Culture Into Middle America Pop Culture New York Pat O Gorman executive producer wife of Reese Schonfeld Martin Douglas March 7 2014 Ned O Gorman 84 Dies Poet Founded Innovative Harlem School The New York Times Harrison Lawrence E Kagan Jerome eds September 10 2012 Developing Cultures Essays on Cultural Change Routledge pp 305 328 ISBN 9781135927301 Stelter Brian July 28 2020 Reese Schonfeld CNN s founding president has died at 88 CNN Retrieved July 28 2020 General Edit Biography The Huffington Post Kevin Downey Reese Schonfeld on the rise and fall of CNN Media Life Magazine March 19 2001External links EditAppearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reese Schonfeld amp oldid 1106329649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
