Headline: "GREG WAS A TRIPLE THREAT IN THE ST. LOUIS MEDIA"
Reporter: By Mary Edwards

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Sun., Jan. 5, 2003
Section: SPECIAL SECTION, Page: E5, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

One of the joys of my job at KWMU is the opportunity to meet and work with a number of outstanding human beings.
     Right at the top of that list is Greg Freeman. As producer of Greg's talk show, "St. Louis on the Air, " I had the privilege of working with him on an almost daily basis for more than three years.

First, he was an excellent host. He came into the job with outstanding journalistic skills and both a great knowledge of and a love for St. Louis and its people. He always came prepared for each show, but another reason that he was so effective is that the show was never about him.
    
He asked insightful questions, then allowed his guests the chance to tell their stories. He showed genuine interest in what they had to say, and always made them feel totally at ease with his gentle manner and bright smile.
    
Greg was equally good when dealing with callers. He allowed them the opportunity to have their say and never showed the annoyance one might expect when the occasional caller would try to get a point on the air that was not related to the day's topic or would say something so outrageous that most others would have found it hard to be civil.

As others have stated in the last few days, Greg was an extremely humble person. He was never one to toot his own horn concerning his many accomplishments or awards. When someone complimented him on the talk show, he was quick to share the credit with me and regularly stated that he loved doing the show but had no idea why the station's management entrusted it to him.

Bill McClellan related in his column on Wednesday that Greg had recently spoken to the St. Louis Society about living with disability.
     What Greg didn't share with that audience was that he had turned down the opportunity to fly to New York that day to discuss affirmative action on the Phil Donahue Show because he had already committed to the speaking engagement.

Perhaps the thing that I will most remember about Greg is his indomitable spirit and optimism. As his muscular dystrophy and kidneys worsened, it became increasingly difficult for him to get into the radio station to do his show. Being a proud man and not wanting to be a burden, he was reluctant to ask for or accept help. Fearing for his safety, we finally had to insist that he allow someone to help him in and out of the station each day, and he accepted the assistance with true grace.

Although "St. Louis on the Air" will continue, there will be an unspeakable void at KWMU and in the hearts of all St. Louisans. KWMU invites Greg's friends and fans to share their thoughts in an hourlong tribute on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.
    Beyond that, if there is anything we can do to honor Greg's memory, it would be to remember the causes he championed and to follow his example in forging ahead in the face of adversity and always to keep smiling.


Headline: "GREG WAS A TRIPLE THREAT IN THE ST. LOUIS MEDIA"
Reporter: By Anne-Marie Berger

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Sun., Jan. 5, 2003
Section: SPECIAL SECTION, Page: E5, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

For a year and a half, I was fortunate enough to work beside Greg as a producer and director of "Mosaic." I have to admit, when I joined the Mosaic team I was extremely intimidated. I was walking into a show that had already been in production for some time and was hosted by a man who, let's face it, was a lot smarter than me.
    
Greg was a triple threat in the St. Louis media, holding prominent roles in print, radio, and television. With Greg's credentials and connection to the St. Louis community, I was afraid I wouldn't fit in.

And then I met him. Greg's kindness immediately put me at ease, and I realized that his knowledge, commitment, and experience was nothing to be intimidated by, but something to aspire to.

In the television industry, the Emmy Award signifies greatness, and in his four years as host of "Mosaic, " Greg received two.
   Greg addressed issues such as racial polarization, handguns, cancer, education and transportation. Greg was a great friend of St. Louis, and used Mosaic as a platform to educate and promote positive change in this region. Greg has left a legacy for all of us at Channel 9 to continue to use the gift of television as a positive influence in our community.


Headline: "GREG WAS A TRIPLE THREAT IN THE ST. LOUIS MEDIA"
Reporter: By Michael Hardgrove

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Sun., Jan. 5, 2003
Section: SPECIAL SECTION, Page: E5, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

I had the good luck to be president of KETC during the time that Greg Freeman's smiling face appeared regularly on Channel 9.
   As a public television station, KETC is always interested in programming that offers opportunity for exploring rebirth of the city and fruitful dialogue among the races. These topics were, of course, major themes in Greg Freeman's life and work.

Greg first appeared on Channel 9 in the mid-1990s when host Martin Duggan invited him to be a guest on Donnybrook. Viewers of this half-hour of polite conversation on local issues know that successful panelists have the ability to express and defend their views with wit, verve, passion and, if necessary, a silence that says everything. Greg was a perfect fit and became a frequent guest on the program.

In 1997 Greg moved from panelist on one program to host of his own: "Mosaic with Greg Freeman." Here, through one-on-one interviews or visits with multiple guests, he guided sparkling conversations on the many ideas and arguments that were of consequence to him.
   In its four years on the air, "Mosaic" received two Mid-America Emmy Awards. It is interesting to me that these 1998 and 2001 awards for excellence in interview-discussion programs were given to a program hosted by a person whose main job was not television.


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