Ken Woo Archives - Grady College

Grady Salutes will be virtual this year. Plan to join our celebration on Facebook and YouTube at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 16.

Video credit: Atlanta Image ArtsKen Woo has taken the basic skills he learned in film making, photography and editing at Grady College and created an incredibly varied background in his nearly 40 years of serving as director of photography, cameraman and documentary producer.

“I learned a lot of the basics that I still rely on today in photography, film making, editing, writing, and most important, storytelling,” Woo, a journalism major, said. “The technical knowledge I learned about photography applies to all cameras that I work with even with today’s digital equipment, as well as the editing techniques I developed.”

Woo has an enduring work ethic, something that started when he was in college working in the college’s audio/visual department and bar tending at night. Woo was also a writer and features editor for the Red & Black and a disk jockey for WUOG where he played alternative music and fusion jazz from midnight until 3 a.m.

“The writing I did for the Red & Black and the on-air work I did at WUOG gave me a great insight into a broader knowledge of media that was an important foundation to the work in TV and film that followed,” Woo said. “I especially loved doing the late night radio shows with WUOG. Having a faithful audience that I built up over the course of my stint there was really cool and gave me a lot of confidence.”

Following graduation, Woo’s big break came at CBS where he worked numerous shows like the “Young & the Restless,” “Bold & the Beautiful,” “Price Is Right,” “Archie Bunker’s Place” and “Mama’s Family.” He also worked on freelance shows such the Grammys and Emmys.

In the miscellaneous broadcast category, Woo was one of four cameramen hired by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson in 1985 to shoot the music video “We Are the World” for HBO.

“What a totally amazing night that was,” Wood said.

In 1987, Woo turned to full-time freelance work focusing on live sports, news magazines, documentaries and features. Woo became a director of photography in the early 1990s, working on everything from the Olympic Games, IronMan and Tour de France to several Super Bowls, Final Four Championships and several US Open tournaments for tennis and golf. In total, Woo has filmed 15 Olympic Games.

Woo’s hard work has paid off with accolades through the year. He has 27 Emmy Awards, including three prime time Emmy’s for the Opening Ceremonies at the Salt Lake City, Torino and Beijing Olympic Games and a Peabody Award for his work on ESPN’s “30 for 30” series. In 2019, Woo was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

In addition to Clark, other members of the 2020 Fellowship class include Allison Ausband (ABJ ’83), Chris Clark (ABJ ’61), Eugenia Harvey (ABJ ‘ 82) and Carol Ramos (ABJ ’79) and Dick Helton.

Editor’s Note: The Fellowship induction, along with recognition of the 2020 Alumni Awards recipients, will take place virtually on April 16, 2021 at 7 p.m. on our YouTube and Facebook pages. Visit our Grady Salutes webpage for the latest updates.

Grady College proudly announces the newest class of Grady Fellows, a recognition honoring friends of the college whose accomplishments, friendship and service to the industries they serve have made a positive impact on the college and its students.

“This year’s class of Grady Fellows represents the full breadth and depth of the college,” said Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College. “From senior leaders in business to broadcast icons and radio legends, it’s a true testament to the quality of the nominations for this, our highest recognition.”

The Fellowship induction, along with the recognition of the 2020 Alumni Awards, will take place Thursday, Oct. 1 at Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership.

The 2020 Fellowship class includes:

Allison Ausband (ABJ ’83)

Current job: Senior vice president – in-flight service, Delta Air Lines
Grady College major: Journalism

Allison Ausband has spent her professional career at Delta Air Lines, a company she joined in 1985 as a flight attendant. Working her way through positions of greater responsibility, Ausband currently leads a team of 24,000 flight attendants, supervisory and support personnel around the globe, as well as Delta’s onboard global food and beverage operation and experience. Her key responsibilities include leading her team to ensure 200 million Delta customers have an enjoyable flight experience while maintaining a focus on safety.

Chris Clark (ABJ ’61)

Current job: Adjunct professor of broadcast journalism, Middle Tennessee State University
Grady College major: Journalism

When Chris Clark retired as news anchor at WTVF in Nashville, a station he served for nearly 41 years, he was one of the longest-tenured anchors in American television history. In the earlier years of his tenure, Clark also served as the station’s news director, leading the station’s conversion from film to electronic news coverage, among the first to convert to what is now the broadcast standard throughout the world. Following his retirement in 2007, he was appointed to the Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies at the university, leading to his current position as adjunct professor.

Clark serves on the Grady Board of Trust.

Carol Ramos-Helton (ABJ ’79) and Dick Helton

Current jobs: U.S. correspondent for radio New Zealand (Carol); host KNX morning show (Dick)
Grady College major: Journalism (Carol)

Carol and Dick Helton have each earned strong reputations in radio and television broadcasting that have resulted in several Emmy and Golden Mike nominations and awards.

Prior to working in international radio, Carol was the news director and morning drive news anchor and talk show host at KABC Talk Radio in Los Angeles. She moved to LA in the mid 90s to become morning drive anchor at All-News KFWB.

In addition to his host responsibilities at KNX, Dick also works as senior political correspondent for the station and has been at the heart of the station’s political coverage for the past twenty-two years.

Eugenia Harvey (ABJ ’82)

Current jobs: Executive producer and project director of the multi-platform initiatives at WNET, New York
Grady College major: Journalism

Eugenia Harvey has left an indelible mark on the world of news media as a veteran broadcast journalist on ABC News’ “PrimeTime Live” and “48 Hours” (CBS), as well as serving as an executive producer for “Third Rail with OZY,” and shows on CNN and BET.

Harvey has also served as a producer for “Race Matters: Solutions” on PBS NewsHour with Charlayne Hunter-Gault (ABJ ’63).

Ken Woo (ABJ ’78)

Current jobs: Freelance director of photography and cameraman work
Grady College major: Journalism

Ken Woo has an incredibly varied background in his nearly 40 years of serving as director of photography, cameraman and documentary producer.

Woo’s big break came at CBS where he worked numerous shows like the “Young & the Restless,” “Bold & the Beautiful,” “Price Is Right,” “Archie Bunker’s Place” and “Mama’s Family.”

In 1987, Woo turned to fulltime freelance work focusing on live sports, news magazines, documentaries and features. Woo became a director of photography in the early 1990s, working on everything from the Olympics, IronMan and Tour de France to several Super Bowls, Final Four Championships and several US Open tournaments for tennis and golf.

Tag: Ken Woo

Fellowship Profile: Ken Woo (ABJ ’78)