Retired broadcaster Warren Doremus was among the first reporters on the scene when riots broke out in northeast Rochester in July, 1964.
He discussed that night with WXXI's Alex Crichton:
Despite numerous media accounts on issues of concern to African Americans in this community, Doremus says the riots still came as a jolting surprise to the people of Rochester.
He said the story of that magnitude demanded coverage, and they were able to give it considerable airtime.
And they subsequently examined those issues as they had lasting effect.
Doremus, now 88 years old, retired in 1991 after a 45 year career in broadcasting.