Anchor and reporter Ken Boddie can be seen co-anchoring KOIN News 6's weekend newscasts and reporting during the week.
His first broadcasting job was at WHCU Radio in Ithaca, N.Y. He said that he enjoyed it so much that he decided to make broadcasting his career.
As a child, Ken's ambition was to be the first person on his mother's side of the family to graduate from college. He accomplished that goal at Cornell University.
One of Ken's teachers in junior high school, Andrew Ray, had a significant impact upon Ken's life. Ray taught his students that high standards lead to exceptional work. He had a reputation for not giving any of his students an "A" grade. But Ken, determined to receive that "A", worked diligently and made the grade. He's still proud of that achievement.
When Ken was about 14, he got his first job working as a stock boy at a neighborhood supermarket. He recalled getting up at the crack of dawn to work before school. He said that getting up so early taught him about the importance of discipline.
Fortunately for Ken, those early morning workdays are in the past. He doesn't have to arrive at the KOIN 6 newsroom until about 9 a.m.
Off the air, Ken is a sports buff. He enjoys playing golf, but admits that he's not very good. He's also a big fan of professional basketball.
Ken also likes watching movies. Some of his favorites include "Glory," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Do the Right Thing," and "Schindler's List." Ken thinks that Bill Cosby is the greatest. He was one of the first African-Americans to star in a dramatic series and he's been a pioneer in changing a lot of attitudes, with his positive portrayals of African-Americans, Ken said.
Ken wants everyone to know that he takes the power of television quite seriously, and although celebrity and recognition are a byproduct, they are not the goal. He believes that what journalists do has a significant effect on people's lives, and every story should be written and communicated clearly, accurately and without bias.
You can e-mail Ken at kboddie@koin.com.
