KTVU Community Affairs Director Rosy Chu Retiring

KTVU Oakland, Calif. (DMA 6), Director of Community Affairs and Public Service Rosy Chu announced today that she will retire from the Cox Media Fox affiliate in December after more than 42 years with the station.

“I lived the dream being able to travel from San Francisco and cross the Bay Bridge to land my dream job at KTVU in 1971,” she said.

“Rosy’s commitment to the community and to KTVU and TV36 is unprecedented,” said KTVU VP-GM Tom Raponi. “She has made an impact on our stations and the community for over four decades which all of us are grateful for. Her steady presence in building community outreach, enhancing the lives of those she meets and her relationships with community leaders will be missed dearly.”

Chu got her start as a secretary in the art department, then moved on to a number of producer roles.  From 1985 to 1988, she was the producer of 2 at Noon — the first newscast outside the Ten O’clock News on KTVU.  In 1989, she took on her current role as director of community affairs and public service.

In that role, Chu has been an ambassador for KTVU and a resource for the community. She has traveled throughout California and to China and Australia, hosting and producing a number of documentaries.  She also has hosted and produced a variety of public affairs programs, including four years as a news and talk show producer. Some of Chu’s most memorable interviews include, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, United Farm Workers Founder Cesar Chavez and author and activist, Gloria Steinem.

According to KTVU, Chu was among the first woman of Asian descent to work behind-the-scenes in the television industry. She was the first Asian American woman to host and produce a regularly scheduled talk show, All the People in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She was an early member of Asians in Mass Media and the National Asian American Telecommunications Association.  Chu also served on the founding Board of Directors for the San Francisco Chapter of Asian American Journalist Association and was the first Asian American on the Board of Governor’s for the San Francisco Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In 1990, Chu helped launch Bay Area People, the Bay Area’s longest running public affairs program, according to the station. She has also directed some of the Bay Area’s largest television public affairs projects such as Family 2 Family, One Warm Coat and Cox Conserves Heroes.

In 2005, Chu was inducted into the Silver Circle Club of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (SF Chapter).  She has been nominated for 8 regional Emmy Awards, winning 1.  Her work has been recognized by numerous community groups and national organizations including: The Take A Bigger Role Life Savers Video Excellence Award; the National Broadcasters Association Children’s Television Award; N.Y. Film and Video Festival Awards, California School Boards Foundation Documentary Media Award, the California Teachers’ Association Media Excellence Awards and American Women in Radio and Television.

In 2010, Chu was recognized   by the Asian American Journalist Association as being a pioneer and one of the first Asian American public affairs producer, host and manager in television. Most recently Chu was recognized in 2012 by the Black Women Organized for Political Action as a Powerful Women of the Bay, recognizing her contributions as an outstanding woman in her field.