Hal Fishman
 Click for video | On April 20, 1992, Hal Fishman received his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The tribute came as no surprise in the midst of a career that spanned nearly five decades. Hal's strong connection with Southern Californians, along with his journalistic integrity, made him one of the brightest stars in KTLA's 60-year history.
Hal Fishman was the longest-running anchor in television history. A 47-year news veteran, Hal first joined KTLA in 1965, and anchored KTLA Prime News continuously since 1975, bringing the show to prime time dominance. Along with serving as an anchor for Prime News, Hal was also the show's managing editor.
 Hal was on track for a career as a college professor when television station KCOP invited him to teach an on-air class in politics in 1960. He agreed, and "American Political Parties in Politics" became so successful that the station asked him back to anchor his own segment on the news. Hal made the jump to KTLA in 1965, the year of the Watts riots. His coverage of that event helped KTLA win an Emmy and a Peabody Award.
Hal was the bearer of good news and bad news to the television viewers of Los Angeles, including the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the visit of Pope John Paul II, the Sylmar and Northridge earthquakes and helped to break the Rodney King beating story, among many others.
Hal was a multi-award winning journalist whose honors include the prestigious Governors Award from the Los Angeles Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1987 and the Outstanding Broadcast Journalism award, one of journalism's highest honors, from the Society of Professional Journalists.
In 2005, APTRA honored Hal with a "Best Newswriting" award for his nightly commentaries. In 2002, the Associated Press Television-Radio Association (APTRA) presented Hal with its first Lifetime Achievement Award and also named Hal "Best News Anchor" for the third consecutive year.
The Los Angeles Press Club also honored Hal and his Prime News colleagues with an award for Best Regularly Scheduled Daily News Program for their coverage of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Southern California Radio and Television News Association honored Hal for Best News Commentary in 2004 and 2005. Hal received an Emmy Award for Best Light News Story-Single Report and a Golden Mike for Best Original News Commentary.
 In the summer of 2000, on the occasion of his 40th anniversary in television news broadcasting, KTLA named its newsroom "The Hal Fishman Newsroom" in recognition of his devoted service to the station and community. Those in attendance included co-workers and former co-workers, city, county and state officials, as well as reporters and anchors from stations across Los Angeles who put competition aside to honor Hal's journalistic excellence.
Hal was honored again by KTLA in the summer of 2007 as part of the station's 60th anniversary celebration. The event was held at the Autry National Center, with many dignitaries in attendance. Click here for more on the gala.
Just one day after the 2007 gala in his honor, Hal collapsed at his home as the result of a severe infection. While being treated in the hospital, doctors discovered colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Days later, on August 7, 2007, Hal Fishman passed away. He was 75.
In addition to being a widely respected newsman, Hal was also a pilot and the holder of 12 official world aviation records for speed and altitude. Los Angeles felt Hal's loss deeply, but the memory of his trusted presence on television lives on in the hearts of many.
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