Career
Considered somewhat a genius, Kershaw was the news director in several large cities across the United States including New York, Chicago and Baltimore. In 1974, Kershaw was hired by WBAL-television in Baltimore to shore up its sagging news ratings. He introduced the Action News format, hired young, gifted new talent and moved the station from last to first in less than a year.
Sue Simmons and Spencer Christian were two of Kershaw"s protégés who went on to become big names in television news.
Kershaw moved on to W National Broadcasting Company-television in New York where he collaborated with Peter Sang in bringing the "control room" set into television news. Kershaw was also mentor to Bucky Gunts, now an award-winning television news director who worked for Kershaw in Baltimore and Chicago.
Prior to his move to Baltimore, Kershaw had been dating Jessica Savitch, a news reporter who had worked for a rival television station in Texas. Kershaw helped develop her skills as a reporter during their stormy 10-year on-again and off-again relationship.
The relationship was depicted in the made for television movie: Almost Golden, about the life of Jessica Savitch.
In 1987, Kershaw met Giselle Fernandez, whom he had hired as a reporter at WBBM-TV-television They were engaged to be married when Kershaw died of pancreatic and liver cancer in July 1989 at age 44.
