Wednesday, July 16, 2003 4:37 PM
BY SASHA SILVER
Kitty Felde, host for two years of KPCC’s talk show, “Talk of the City,” has had a huge year as measured by the awards showered upon her. She has been named Journalist of the Year by both the Los Angeles Press Club and the Los Angeles Society of Professional Journalists.
“Local news has long been a passion of mine, and to have this opportunity at a station that shares that passion is incredibly exciting,” said Felde.
Her co-workers wholeheartedly agree. Larry Mantle, host of KPCC’s popular “AirTalk,” said, “One of [Kitty’s] great strengths is that she’s adept at talking about a wide range of topics and is extremely knowledgeable about Southern California, its various communities and the wide range of people who live here.”
Paul Glickman, KPCC’s news director, said Kitty has “been at the forefront of KPCC’s effort to take our public affairs programs out of the studio” and into the community.
Kitty entered journalism 19 years ago, after she tried out for a sports talk show. “I didn’t win, but I was one of ten finalists. I had no radio experience. I was an actor.”
Despite not landing the job, Kitty pursued radio journalism. She volunteered at the local radio station KLON. Since then, Kitty has reported for NPR, Monitor Radio, Associated Press and KCRW. She also co-hosted KCET’s “Life and Times.”
Her print articles have appeared in USA Weekend, Buzz magazine, The Forward,
Kitty Felde, host of “Talk of the City” Journalist and playwright
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Christian Science Monitor, Texas Observer, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.
The Rodney King and Reginald Denny beat- ing trials, and Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman murder trial, led her to courthouse reporting. She was a commentator for CNN, CBS, and CNBC, and a legal affairs correspon- dent and occasional host for KCRW’s “Which Way, LA.” Felde has also covered the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, logging more hours at court than any other American reporter.
Seven years ago, she joined KPCC. “Radio is fun and challenging,” said Kitty. “It was hard for me to find challenges as an actor. But with radio, I feel like I’m learning something every day… It’s exciting.”
Kitty is a playwright as well. Her play about Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter, “Alice,” premiered at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. and “A Patch of Earth” received the Maxim Mazumdar Award for Best New Play of 1999. For years, she has also volunteered to teach playwriting to inner-city kids through the pro- gram Heart of Los Angeles Youth Theater (HOLA).
Kitty has been awarded 10 Golden Mikes, six Golden Medallions from the State Bar of California, two Silver Gavels, seven Associated Press TV and Radio Association awards and two Literacy in Media Awards.
When asked about being named Radio Journalist of the Year on June 21 by the Press Club, Kitty said, “It was unbelievable! It’s the biggest honor because it’s your peers making that decision. You think, ‘nobody’s listening.’
You think you’re
laboring in
anonymity, but
an honor like this
lets you know that you’re not.”
Glickman says, “I’m thrilled for Kitty.” Adds Mantle, “Kitty is a tremendous asset to KPCC and I feel very fortunate to be able to be her co- worker. I’m so glad [the Los Angeles Press Club] honored her for the superb job she does every day.”
KPCC is a corporate member of the Press Club, allowing Kitty and other staffers to be club members under the station’s name.
So, what does the future hold? “What I’d like goal-wise,” Kitty said, is “to expand the ‘Book Club of the Air for Young Adults.’ I’d like that to be national, so that the kids could not only listen online but also either e-mail or call in to participate. I want to get the word out to younger radio listeners.”
And she’d love to continue doing radio and writing her plays. “I think I can do it. I hope.”
