We're Standing By

By Al Allen

“We’re Standing By.”

Say “Al Allen” in Metro Detroit, and people smile, thinking of the cheerful reporter who greeted them through their TV screens every morning… broadcasting live from frigid freeway overpasses, crime scenes, celebrations, and just about anywhere.

Al Allen’s iconic voice an

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atkins & Greenspan Publishing
• Release date: Jul 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781945875434

Al Allen

After a half-century career in journalism, Al Allen is known and loved as a legend and an icon amongst viewers across Southeast Michigan. Born Andrew Long in segregated Little Rock, Arkansas, he moved to Detroit with his family as a teenager, and attended Mumford High School. There he fell in love with journalism while reporting on trends and events for the school's internal news broadcast, Spotlight on Mumford. He returned to Little Rock in 1969 to serve as news director at KOKY radio. Two years later, he moved back to Detroit, becoming a reporter and news director at WCXI-AM and WGPR-FM, then as news and public affairs director at WJLB-FM. Al began his 28-year career with WJBK Fox 2 News in March of 1984. Al's commitment to high-integrity journalism earned him many local and national awards. United Press International and the Associated Press both awarded him for his reporting on "The Otto Wendell Story." UPI and AP, along with the National Association of Black Journalists, bestowed Al with awards for "Merry-Go-Round of Denial: The Black Alcoholic." His trailblazing work on "Crime by Color, Black on Black," a documentary that examined the issues surrounding black-on-black crime in Detroit, earned him the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. And his report - "Motown: Where Did Our Love Go?" - earned an Associated Press award and was nominated for an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Al retired from Fox 2 News in 2012. He celebrates 51 years of marriage to Alfreda Long, and enjoys spending time with his son, Andrew Long, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Yolanda; and his two grandsons, Andrew III and Evan.

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An easy, fun, and riveting read, laced with… some sexy ‘sound bites’ that will leave you in stitches... literally LOL! The book, penned by a local broadcast legend, gives you a look at the evolution of local news programming and provides historical perspectives on the Civil Rights Movement, race relations, and so much more... A must read!

Vickie Thomas, WWJ/Entercom Radio

National Association of Black Journalists

Al Allen was legendary when my career started in Detroit TV. Being from Detroit, I knew of him, but we’d never met. That is, until I got my break in the business as the Fox 2 News Morning traffic reporter in 1998. Al also reported on this show. He gave me the most warm welcome and years of supportive friendship. He was the hardest working, had the most sources, and could turn around more stories in a day than any reporter in town, including the ones half his age and younger. And he did it all without ever looking tired, and always with his smile and endearing laugh at the end of the day. Al Allen taught me so much about the business as a young reporter. He was a great mentor, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

Rhonda Walker

Reporter, WDIV Detroit

"We’re Standing By is the consummate collection of inside perspectives from the man we saw outside every morning on Fox 2. Al’s stories are like written conversations with him — entertaining, insightful, inspirational, and revealing. It’s a must-read, and an ‘I-can’t-put-it-down’ for all who have watched, known, and loved Al Allen."

Karen Dumas

CEO, Images & Ideas, Inc.

Al Allen is a legend, no doubt. He has paved the way for so many in print and broadcast journalism, and is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. This collection of his famed stories and unshared memories of his time in front of the camera are enjoyable, insightful, and a must-read for everyone.

John Mason

Detroit Radio Personality

We’re

Standing By

Al Allen

Atkins & Greenspan Publishing

Copyrighted Material

We’re Standing By

Copyright © 2018 Al Allen

All Rights Reserved


No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system

or transmitted, in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without prior written permission from

the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

For information about this title or to order other books

and/or electronic media, contact the publisher:


Atkins & Greenspan Publishing


18530 Mack Avenue, Suite 166

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

ISBN:

978-1-945875-41-0 (Hardcover)

978-1-945875-42-7 (Paperback)

978-1-945875-43-4 (eBook)

Printed in the United States of America

Cover and Interior design: Van-garde Imagery, Inc.

Cover photo: Richard Roethler

Photograph courtesy of station WJBK

Photographs used with permission. All uncredited

photographs courtesy of Al Allen’s personal collection.

Dedication

We’re Standing By. Dedicated to the best grandsons a family can have, Andrew III and Evan, along with the rest of the family.

Wife, Alfreda, son, Andrew Jr., and daughter-in-law, Yolanda.

Can’t forget the lady who would call the station and

say, Tell that boy to put a hat on his head, or

Tell him he’s too close to the street! — my mama.

Acknowledgements

I

t was not my

looks, voice, or writing skills that made me who I am today.

It was a team that helped open the door. Can’t name everyone, but you know who you are.

Thanks for your blessings, support, and advice.

One in particular: Kathy Young Welch.

Kathy was my assistant news director at WJLB-FM 98. I had some crazy ideas, and Kathy helped make those crazy ideas come to reality.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 Overworked and Underpaid

Chapter 2 Mis-cue

Chapter