TVNewsCheck: A new documentary traces the popularity of local TV news to one man, Al Primo
Journalism faculty Brian Calfano receives industry praise for documentary
Brian Calfano, professor of journalism at the University of Cincinnati, is receiving kudos for his recently released documentary: "Al Primo & His Eyewitness News Revolution."
Brian Calfano, professor of journalism at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/provided.
“I highly recommend the film to everybody, especially those in the TV news business,” writes Paul Greeley of TVNewsCheck, a broadcasting trade publication. Greeley notes that the film has already won multiple film/documentary awards.
The documentary has been a passion project for Calfano, a veteran news reporter and UC faculty member since 2016, who established the Center for Local News in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2023.
The documentary focuses on Eyewitness News creator Al Primo (1935-2022). Primo was an American television news executive who is credited with creating the Eyewitness News format. Hundreds of markets took on the Eyewitness News name to label their own featured local newscasts and others continue to use Primo's concept under different names for their own formats.
Primo is also credited with discovering and mentoring Rivera, who rose to national prominence in 1975 for pushing for, and anchoring, the first public airing of “The Zapruder Film” — a 1963 home movie of the Kennedy assassination taken by bystander Abraham Zapruder — on ABC’s Good Night America.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
‘Designer drug’ shows early neuroprotective signal in acute ischemic stroke
October 28, 2025
Medscape highlighted new trial results led by the University of Cincinnati's Eva Mistry that found an experimental drug shows promise in protecting injured brain cells for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Meet the young talent reshaping Cincinnati’s startup scene
October 28, 2025
Five University of Cincinnati students were honored for their impactful entrepreneurship on the Cincy Inno Under 25 list. We’ll explain what makes each student – and their startup – stand out.
Is menstrual fluid ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
October 27, 2025
The Guardian recently reported that period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions — including endometriosis.