Jules Bergman

Jules Bergman (March 21, 1929 – February 11, 1987), a broadcast writer and journalist, served as Science Editor for ABC News from 1961 until his death in 1987. He is most remembered for his coverage of the American space program.

A native of New York City, Bergman was educated at the City College of New York and Indiana University. While doing postgraduate work at Columbia University, Bergman held a Sloan-Rockefeller Advanced Science Writing Fellowship, which he completed in 1960.

ABC News

Bergman began his journalism career in 1949 at "Time" magazine. He briefly worked at CBS News, then joined the news staff of WFDR-FM in New York, eventually becoming the station's assistant news director.

Bergman joined ABC News as a writer in 1953, specializing in science issues. In the late 1950s he began covering the activities of the Space Task Group. Bergman was named Science Editor in 1961, the same year that the first manned Vostok and Mercury flights took place.

Though he became most famous for his work on covering space missions, Bergman covered stories in a range of areas, including aviation, defense matters, medicine, health, astronomy and public safety. He was also pressed into service as a general assignment reporter on some special occasions. For example, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, Bergman was sent to New York's Times Square to report on citizens' reactions to the President's death.

The Space Program

Bergman began covering developments in space exploration during the 1950s. He went on to cover the entirety of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs for ABC. He also covered many of the first flights of the Space Shuttle.

Bergman's reporting for ABC was noted for its direct style. In contrast to the more avuncular style of CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, Bergman's reporting took a very serious tone, and was very direct (to the point of seeming pessimistic at times) about the possible consequences of any mishaps or accidents that took place during a spaceflight. In order to more fully understand the astronauts and their missions, Bergman often took part in the same training and simulations that the astronauts did.

Bergman also covered the missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's unmanned space probes, notably the Viking and Voyager programs.

Other science reporting

Though best known for his reporting on space issues, Bergman also filed many reports on medical issues for ABC. He reported on such issues as organ transplantation, arthritis, communicable diseases, the hazards of asbestos, and advances in the treatment of cancer.

Bergman was also well known for his reporting on aviation and defense matters. A licensed pilot, he wrote many articles on aviation, and wrote books, including "Ninety Seconds to Space: The Story of the X-15" (1960) and "Anyone Can Fly" (1964; reissued 1977). Bergman also reported on major aviation developments and disasters for ABC, and also covered the development of new weapons systems for the military of the United States.

Bergman also covered energy issues, including the oil crisis of the 1970s. He was also a major contributor to ABC's coverage of the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

Bergman was also a contributor to ABC's "Close-Up" series of documentaries. He won an Emmy for his work on the half-hour documentary "Close-Up: On Fire". Bergman was also a guest host on the ABC public affairs series "Issues and Answers", and also contributed to other ABC programs, including "Good Morning America". In cooperation with ABC's "Wide World of Sports", Bergman also covered Evel Knievel's 1974 attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon.

Final years

Bergman was diagnosed with a nonmalignant brain tumor and underwent surgery in the late 1970s. In the years following, he underwent additional surgeries to remove additional growths, and took anti-seizure medications.

Bergman was found dead in his New York apartment on February 11, 1987. His passing was reported not just by ABC News, but also on the CBS and NBC nightly newscasts. A memorial service was held four days later in New York City, at which Bergman was eulogized by NASA astronaut Joseph P. Allen.

Memorials and Pop Culture

The National Association of Physician Broadcasters named its award for excellence in reporting after Jules Bergman. The award was named for Bergman until 1999.

Many television documentaries have featured clips from Bergman's reporting on the American space program. Footage of Bergman's reports also figured prominently in the 1995 motion picture "Apollo 13", and he guest starred (playing himself) on The Six Million Dollar Man episode "The Rescue of Athena One." In addition, Bergman was portrayed by actor Andrew Rubin in an episode of the 1998 HBO miniseries "From The Earth To The Moon".

References

Barron, James. "Jules Bergman, 57, Science Editor of ABC News for 25 Years, Dies." "New York Times" 13 Feb 1987.

Murray, Michael D., ed. "The Encyclopedia of TV News." Greenwood Publishing Group: 1999. p. 15-16.

External links

* [http://alamo.nmsu.edu/~nbrewer/brewberg1.htm A brief career synopsis]
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/spaceprogram/spaceprogram.htm Essay, "The Space Program and Television," from the Museum of Broadcast Communications]