Nancy Callaway Fyffe
After graduating from University High School in Bloomington, Indiana, Nancy Callaway Fyffe went on to attend Indiana University studying Radio-TV Mass Communications.
WLWI-TV out of Indianapolis, Indiana was Callaway Fyffe’s first hire out of her undergrad. The market was almost completely male dominated in 1972 when she began with Channel 13 – she became the first woman to direct television in Indianapolis.
During her three years with WLWI-TV, Nancy Callaway Fyffe produced and directed the Peabody-winning series “Issues in the Light,” along with “Female Criminals, The Double Standard.” Indianapolis was home to the oldest women’s prison in the country and Callaway Fyffe’s series was the first television documentary ever made about female prisoners.
Each week she produced fourteen local public service shows and each month Callaway Fyffe hosted a talk show discussing issues local to the city of Indianapolis, as well as directing evening newscasts.
In August of 1974, Nancy Callaway Fyffe moved to Kansas City, Missouri where, once again, she was the first ever female director in the market working for KMBC-TV. She produced live newscasts, special remote broadcasts, daily talk shows and commercials. Callaway Fyfee was known as the “TV 9 Cartoon Fairy” from the time she spent promoting Saturday morning cartoons.
The first ever computerized graphic promotionals which aired in the Kansas City market were created by Nancy Callaway Fyffe. KMBC-TV sent her to New York City to learn production in the new, revolutionary technology. Several of NBC Sports’ Kansas City Chief football broadcasts between 1974 and 1978 were produced by Callaway Fyffe, as she worked freelance during her time in Missouri. The broadcasts aired on several networks all around the nation.
Along with NBC, Callaway Fyffe also worked freelance for ABC News. Most notably, Nancy Callaway Fyffe was a director for the coverage of the 1976 Republican Convention in Kansas City and segments of the NCAA College Baseball World Series in nearby Omaha, Nebraska.
Leaving Kansas City, Missouri after four years with KMBC-TV, Nancy Callaway Fyffe moved to Chicago, Illinois to work for WLS-TV. In the Chicago market, Callaway Fyffe was responsible for directing prime time newscasts, ABC sports programs and network news specials, along with several different documentaries and talk shows.
In 1981, Nancy Callaway Fyffe moved to New York City to direct freelance for ABC full time. She directed segments for programs like Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Nightline and produced coverage for political conventions, election night results, and even the first six space shuttle flights.
For CBS, Callaway Fyffe developed and directed the award winning “Signature” series. “Signature” was a 30-minute interview program known for its unique style. Special guests included celebrities, artists, politicians, and authors such as Pearl Bailey and David Letterman. The series aired from 1981 to 1982.
Nancy Callaway Fyffe was also the Supervising Producer for VH1, part of the MTV Network, while in New York City. She also held the title as Special Creative Consultant for “City Under Siege,” an Emmy Award winning documentary which aired on all Fox Network Stations.
She furthered her education in 1985 with a masters degree in liberal arts (writing and sociology) from Sarah Lawrence College’s graduate program.
After her time in New York City, Nancy Callaway Fyffe moved out west to work in consulting as Vice President of Fyffe Callaway and Associates. Her work included newscast critiques, talent coaching, writing seminars, strategic thinking for management and promotion, as well as set and graphic design. Fyffe Callaway and Associates served stations all around the nation including KCBS-TV of Los Angeles, Sinclair Broadcast Group, and River City Broadcast stations.
Callaway Fyffe returned back to school once again earning a MPW in Professional Writing from University of Southern California in 1996.
After over a decade in broadcast news and management consulting, Callaway Fyffe was recruited for WTIU-TV in Bloomington, Indiana with a mandate to create programming for PBS Network. Relocating back to her hometown in the late 90s, Callaway Fyffe was the first female station manager for WTIU-TV. Callaway Fyffe was known for creating various programs, including a news department for daily on-air broadcasts and an award-winning children’s program – the “Friday Zone,” and the documentary “Different by Design” featuring Columbus, Indiana and its National Historical Landmarks of Architecture. The work she directed while with WTIU-TV has been broadcasted nationally.
After briefly working as a script scout for Gannaway Films of Los Angeles, Callaway Fyffe returned to Fyffe and Callaway associates as a freelance producer, director, communications consultant, and owner.
Nancy Callaway Fyffe has served on non-profit boards, the Alumni board for Sarah Lawrence College, and currently as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Indiana University Media School.
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By: Grace Romine
Information provided by Nancy Callaway Fyffe