Vermont Public Television’s weekly Friday night roundtable with local journalists, “Vermont This Week,” marks years 30 today.
The public television station has, over the years, invited the likes of Hamilton Davis, Tom Slayton, Chris Graff, Diane Derby, Sue Allen, Peter Freyne, Nick Monsarrat, John Dillon, Shay Totten, Louis Porter, Darren Allen and Jack Hoffman on the show to talk shop about politics and the major public policy matters of the day. A few of the early regulars — Candy Page, Sam Hemingway and Ross Sneyd — still appear on the show.
The half-hour program was the brainchild of Jack Barry, the “dean of Vermont broadcasters.” He modeled the show after Washington Week and featured print reporters at the start. Later broadcast reporters were included.
Joe Merone became senior producer in 1992 when Barry retired. The program has since been hosted by Peter Freyne, Chris Graff, Mark Johnson and Stewart Ledbetter.
“Vermont This Week” has been a mainstay for Vermonters who want to hear what reporters think about the stories and the politicians they’ve covered. Congratulations to the team at VPT.
For a trip down memory lane, check out the pictures on the VPT website.
