The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 99

LOCAL FOCUS 6 TVs 4 Conway interviews Dale Curry, Dallas Co. tax assessor Selma broadcaster Anchorman's position not always glamorous The 23-year-old Bay Minette native Is as recognizable on Broad Street in Selma as Rather is along Madison Avenue in New York and, while he doesn't admit to any greedy tendencies, he wouldn't mind trading places. "You run into people on the street who say they see you in their living room each night," said Conway. "They say you are their newsman. After a while you learn recognition is nice, but It can't be eaten or put in the bank." Conway has been WSLA's anchorman since February 1980 following a stint with a Marion radio station after graduating from the University of Alabama in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in broadcasting.

Working for a small town television station is a way of picking up experience and paying dues for what hopefully will come later, said Conway, adding the industry is extremely competitive and "being In the right place at the right time often helps." Covering world events doesn't concern Conway, whose assistance comes from new? director Evelyn Babcock and sports director Ken White. Other than that, WSLA's "air personalities" are weatherman Ralph Williams whose primary job is selling swimming pools and Larry Morris, who slips Into the sports desk after spending the day selling and trying to sell advertising to keep the station illve. Conway said it Is not unusual for him to By ALVIN BENN Wett Alabama Bureau SELMA Glory and glamour surround Dan Rather. Tom Conway's trappings befit a beast. of burden at times as he lugs around his own camera, lights and recorder.

Both are television anchormen, but that is where the similarity ends because the chasm dividing them is as deep and wide as a video Grand Canyon. Rather relies on a large staff of writers, correspondents, producers, directors and technicians to put together his nightly half-hour of news. He has the entire CBS network to help. Conway, on the other hand, has few folks to lend a hand as he prepares the news each night for Selma's WSLA-TV. When Rather signs off with a smile and "until tomorrow," Conway is adjusting his tie and checking over copy he typed moments before in a tiny news department tucked away in a corner of one of the country's smallest television stations.

WSLA-TV ranks 205th out of 211 television markets and could be compared with a small weekly newspaper trying to survive in the shadow of metropolitan giants. Thus, local news is the key to success and the small town anchorman must be able to communicate with the man who cuts his hair as well as the politician he See CONWAY, page 42 covers each day. Advcrtitar-Journol TV Showtime, December 13-19, 1981.