Crowson Credits Timing, Foley For TV Success
By Matt Jones
Lemke Ledger Staff
Charles Crowson can sum up his career pretty easily: being in the right place at the right time.
Crowson, a reporter in his second stint with Little Rock’s KTHV, won an Emmy for impeccable timing with his two-part series “Tony Alamo; Past and Present,” which aired last year for the CBS affiliate.
“He’s an eccentric, self-proclaimed ‘world pastor,’” said Crowson, who won for best religion piece along with photojournalist Neil Sommerlatte. “What we did was (go) back about 30 years to when he first started in Arkansas and did a background check by talking to former members.”
Alamo was sentenced to prison in 1994 for federal tax evasion. When he was released from prison in 1998, Alamo relocated his compound to Fouke, a small town about 20 miles south of Texarkana.
“It really changed the complexion of that small town,” Crowson said.
Alamo, long a controversial figure in Arkansas, made headlines again in September 2008 when federal and state authorities raided his compound in southwest Arkansas on allegations of child abuse. The timing couldn’t have been better for Crowson with the Mid-America Emmys two weeks away.
Crowson, a 1997 graduate of the University of Arkansas, thought the stories were good, but wasn’t sure they were worthy of an award.
“I honestly believe the only reason I won that Emmy was because he became relevant in the news cycle again,” Crowson said.
Journalism professor Larry Foley, also nominated for an Emmy at the ceremony, said Crowson’s win was good recognition for the UA.
“When Charley won he got up there and talked about us and the program,” Foley said. “I told him beforehand, ‘I’ve won this before, but I hope you win. I’d rather you win than me.’ And I meant that. And he won and it was so much fun.”
Crowson also won an Edward R. Murrow regional award for the series. Crowson said he is humbled by the recognition the series has received.
“Anything I’ve done beyond the norm of a credible, reliable journalist has been being in the right place at the right time,” Crowson said. “I don’t claim to have any magic touch or brand ability. I like to tell stories. I learned that from Larry Foley. He was the one who instilled in me the ability to tell a good story using effective writing, effective video and effective interviews.
“When you put those together and they mix in a tapestry of a well-told story, if you’re lucky, people will remember it.”