October 29, 1974 - MPR’s Sam Ford reports on Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman boxing match held in Zaire, Africa. Ford visits Minneapolis Auditorium and interviews attendees present for a closed circuit viewing of fight hyped as “Fight of the Century.”
October 3, 1974 - Walter Cronkite defends advocacy journalism and states that it belongs on the op-ed page of a newspaper and not as headline news.
September 19, 1974 - The Council of American Witches hold their fourth convention in Minneapolis. Chairman Carl Weschcke says witches are socially conscious people, wanting to save mankind from self-destruction.
July 10, 1974 - MPR’s Sam Ford reports on the battle over proposed ordinance being reviewed by St. Paul City Council. The ordinance (commonly referred to as the “Gay Rights” ordinance) would ban discrimination because of affectional or sexual preference. Ford highlights two differing views towards ordinance…the opposition of St. Paul Firefighters Local 21 and support from the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights.
June 24, 1974 - Following a Conservative Baptist Convention held here in St. Paul, this program focuses on subject of “Baptists”. Includes report segments, music selections, speeches, and interviews with Professor Bruce Shelley of the Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary in Denver; Dr. Russell Shive, national director of the Conservative Baptist Association; and Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield.
May 24, 1974 - MPR’s Sam Ford reports on Stokely Carmichael speech at the AIM Headquarters in St. Paul. Carmichael states capitalism is major oppressor of people of color in this country and has decimated Indian land. Carmichael concludes it can only be changed through a revolutionary struggle with bloodshed.
April 29, 1974 - Model Cities was created by the 1966 Model Cities Grant passed during the Johnson Administration. In 1968 Minneapolis began their Model Cities project planning to improve a designated neighborhood. In 1973 President Nixon attempted to phase out Model Cities. However, the federals courts ordered President Nixon to spend the money Congress allocated for the program.
April 28, 1974 - Excerpt of Julian Bond speaking at Macalester College in St. Paul. He comments on the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and the kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst.
April 26, 1974 - Hooks says too often blacks move out of poverty and forget the brothers and sisters still living where there?s too little. We have to stay together, believe in each other, rid ourselves of self-hate. Hooks, the only black on the FCC, criticized broadcasters and warned them to get their act together, affirmative action and equality is the law of the land and all he wants them to do is to obey the law. Wants to make communications media more responsible. They distort the news, present imbalanced image of black life. Blacks not only able to play basketball, football or sing, they have distinguished scholars, doctors, lawyers and people trying to make things better. Network TV ignores major black events like NAACP awards, but when black crime occurs networks spend two minutes to cover that. We?re tired of that kind of distortion and imagery.
April 25, 1974 - Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin Hooks says media does a poor job of representing minorities, emphasizing the sensational over achievements and ignoring events affecting minority communities.