Assignment the World

A Sojourn in Omaha Continues a Lifetime of World Adventures for this Newsman John Hlavacek, a reporter known for landing the biggest stories of the 40s and 50s somehow ended up in Omaha, Nebraska, in the 60s. For one who filed breaking stories from the farthest reaches of the globe, a Midwestern American city seemed an unlikely stepping stone. However, an insightful executive team at a local NBC affiliate saw the potential of having Hlavacek join their team. He began his career as a news analyst and foreign-correspondent-in-residence in the studios of KMTV-3, navigating new challenges of being on camera (rather than behind it). After a chance proposal to the executives, he had a new assignment-the world. Hlavacek took Omaha viewers on an exciting journey as he traversed the globe with his wife and fellow journalist, Pegge Parker, and sent stories back to his new home. Assignment-The World: This is The John Hlavacek Report, 1964-1966 chronicles a new era in television, where a local affiliate could venture beyond its viewing area to bring stories of interest to their own viewers. Here, Hlavacek shares his memories from his travels and the antics of the news team with whom he worked.