Former WTOC anchor Doug Weathers reflects on decades-long broadcasting career

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Veteran broadcaster Doug Weathers started as an assistant janitor at 90 cents an hour eventually became vice president of WTOC and the Savannah Broadcasting Company, interviewing presidents and documenting decades of history along the way.

The journalist began his career as a film editor while also working as an assistant janitor, spending 12 hours preparing film and using the remaining 28 hours of his 40-hour work week cleaning the station.

“I started as assistant janitor so to speak,” he said. “And when I left I was the vice president of WTOC the Savannah Broadcasting Company and I was very very proud.”

Presidential interviews and career highlights

The broadcaster followed Jimmy Carter’s political rise from Georgia Democratic Party head through his roles as senator, governor and eventually president.

“I had followed Jimmy Carter from the time that he was the Democratic head of the Georgia Democratic Party,” he said. “Then he was a senator and and then he ran for governor and then he ran for the presidency and I was right in there with all of that.”

He described Carter as “a very trustworthy honest Christian man” and said they considered each other friends. The journalist also interviewed Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush during his career.

Advice for young people

The veteran broadcaster encouraged young people to persevere through setbacks.

“Never quit always take that other step going forward,” he said. “Sometimes you’d take one step forward two steps backwards but don’t give up on that take two steps forward one step backwards and you’ll be surprised what happens.”

He emphasized the importance of doing every job well, noting that learning to splice film became “the catapult to my career.”

The journalist said his work allowed him to be “in the homes of thousands and thousands of people” throughout South Georgia and the coastal region.