Barbara Watson (Kaufman)

Her Story

The following is an e-mail from Barbara Watson Kaufman to Gerry Wilkinson......Nice to hear from you. Joel Albert had let me know about the WRTI website 2 weeks ago but I had only a few minutes to look through it because I was about to leave on vacation. Just got back on Tuesday. Even before I got your message yesterday, I did plan to contact you to let you know that Barbara Watson Kaufman is alive and well, and living in New Jersey.

I'm attaching a copy of my "official" Bellcore company bio so you can see what I've been doing during the past 40 years since I graduated in June 1958. FYI, Bellcore is a privately-owned telecommunications engineering and consulting company (with about 5,500 employees) which had been owned by the regional Bell companies until Nov. 1997. It's now part of Science Applications International Corp., a high-tech company working in government and defense.

Please let me know if you'd like more personal information and I'd be happy to send it along (such as the fact that my husband, Paul, and I were married 10 days after my graduation just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary!).

Glad to know John Roberts is alive and well! He was a very special influence on my career and helped me win the 1957 Scholarship Award from the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). Give him my best. Other faculty members who were near and dear to me were Del Dusenbury, Bill Seibel, Phil Klein, Doug Perry, Jackie Steck, Joe Carter, and Alex Shevlin who used to produce the weekly radio broadcasts on WFIL-AM aimed at Phila. public schools, on which many of us from WRTI appeared.

Looking forward to hearing from you again and meeting you soon. Let me know when you're having another reunion.

Barbara

The following is a second e-mail from Barbara Watson Kaufman to Gerry Wilkinson......Thanks for all your efforts. I'm having such fun revisiting my old haunts and seeing all my old friends! And NOBODY here at the office believes that pretty young girl in the pictures is ME!!! (Guess I've changed a bit. When I can locate a decent current picture, I'll send it along.)

Ironic that Norm Childs couldn't identify me. We were really close friends, and he even visited me at my home in North Jersey in 1960, about 2 years after I graduated. He was on active duty, having gotten his ROTC commission after he graduated in 1959. Also, I seem to remember that at some point, I was Traffic Manager of WRTI-AM and Editor of the station's newsletter "On Audition." Wonder if any of those are still floating around.

Stay in touch. This is great fun! Barbara

Barbara's Bio

As Bellcore's Director of Analyst Relations and Executive Communications, Barbara Kaufman heads a group charged with strengthening ties between the telecommunications industry analyst community and Bellcore. She and her group serve as the conduit for information about Bellcore and the point of contact when analysts come to Bellcore for assistance with their own research.

A long-time public relations professional, Barbara has held a variety of positions in Bellcore's Public Relations organization since joining the company in 1985. As Media Relations Manager, she led an industry-wide public relations team that helped launch the National ISDN network in 1992. She also produced press conferences and media tours to introduce Bellcore products and services to industry analysts and to business and industry press throughout the country.

As Manager of the former Bellcore Public Relations Education Program(PREP), she administered a series of training seminars held throughout the country for telephone company public relations professionals. Courses included media relations, marketing, advertising, financial communications, issues management, government relations, community relations, and telecommunications technology. She also served as editor of Bellcore's "Review," a monthly telecommunications technology newsletter, and produced monthly information packages for telephone company publication editors as Manager of Editorial Services. Before she came to Bellcore, Barbara was Public Relations Manager at Congoleum Corporation where she was also responsible for the company's internal and external news publications. She began her career as Editor of "The Twin-Boro News," a weekly community newspaper in Bergen County, New Jersey, a position she held for nearly 10 years. Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia and a Master of Arts in Organizational Dynamics from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Barbara and her husband, Paul, live in Bergenfield, New Jersey. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Reprinted from the April 29, 1957 issue of the WRTI-FM RadioGram (Program guide)

WRTI CO-ED WINS AWARD IN RADIO & TV

Barbara Watson, a junior in Temple's Communications curriculum, has been named recipient of the 1957 American Women in Radio and Television Scholarship award.

The $500 scholarship award will be given to Miss Watson at the AWRT National Convention on April 26.

Miss Watson won the award on the basis of her superior scholastic standing, a strong interest in the radio field and her ability to work well with others. She had done outstanding work in the field, both at WRTI and WFIL. At WRTI, she is serving as assistant Music Director. Last year, Miss Watson was editor of the station publication, "ON AUDITION," and previous to that, served as Traffic Manager for three semester. She also has made frequent appearances in the Studio Schoolhouse series over WFIL.

Miss Watson is also a member of Theta Sigma Phi, the National Fraternity for Women in Journalism.