Former OHIO and WOUB Student Todd Baucher is inducted into the Ohio AP Media Editors Hall of Fame

A former 51�� and WOUB student has recently been inducted in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Hall of Fame. Todd Baucher graduated from 51�� with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1978 and recently retired after more than 41 years as a reporter and anchor at WTAP TV in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

“I was honored to be inducted into the Ohio APME Hall of Fame,” said Baucher. “I was inducted on April 3, along with fellow 51�� alum Alan Miller, who recently retired from the Columbus Dispatch.”

Baucher graduated from Mentor High School near Cleveland and knew that he wanted to go to college at 51�� for a couple of reasons.

“My parents met at 51��, so I was a true product of the university,” said Baucher with a laugh. “I also knew that 51�� had a very good broadcasting program, and I wanted to be a broadcaster. At a young age I would practice during TV shows in front of mirrors.”

As soon as Baucher got on campus, he started to work on the radio, first in the residence halls, then at ACRN and finally at WOUB.

“I started on the production side of WOUB, working in broadcast audio and as a studio floor manager,” said Baucher. “But by my junior year, I started working on the news side and got on air on both radio and television.”

“WOUB taught me how to get up before 5 a.m.,” said Baucher laughing. “I was the morning anchor on a radio program called AM Athens. I remember trudging up to work at 5 and 5:30 – in the middle of a blizzard that happened in the winter of 1978. I also remember travelling to McConnelsville to cover the November election, and the area got fogged in. It took us about an hour and a half to get back to Athens because of the foggy conditions. But I learned what needed to be done to cover the story.”

After graduation, Baucher got his first job at a radio station in Marietta, where he was the news director. He says he held that title because it was a one-person news department. Then a couple of years later, he landed a reporter/anchor role at WTAP TV.

Todd covered many big stories over his four decades in Parkersburg including the Shell Chemical explosion and fire in 1994 and the IEI recycling facility fire that burned for nine days in 2017. He has also covered visits to the area from every President from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. He says the Mid-Ohio Valley was a good fit for him.

“I always wanted to be in TV and ended up entrenched in this area,” saud Baucher. “I was very knowledgeable about what was going on in the region. It was a good place for me.”

In addition to the Ohio APME Hall of Fame, Baucher has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Associated Press of the Virginias (Virginia and West Virginia), and numerous awards from the AP in both states.

So far, Baucher is enjoying his retirement and says when he looks back on his career, the foundation came from 51�� and WOUB.

“I learned about writing stories and the mechanics of putting together a news story at WOUB,” said Baucher. “And the fact that WOUB is located in southeast Ohio, it helped me get a perspective on this area that helped me throughout my news career in the Mid-Ohio Valley.”

To learn more about WOUB, visit woub.org.

Tags: