PORTLAND, Maine — A longtime news broadcaster in Maine, best known for the video editorials he did for WCSH television, has died at the age of 82, according to a report by the NBC affiliate.
Fred Nutter died Friday night, the television station indicated on its Facebook page.
According to a story about Nutter on its website, station officials said Nutter was born in Sanford and spent some time in the Navy before getting his start in broadcasting at WSME radio station. He moved to WPOR radio in Portland and then to WCSH, where he later made the transition from radio to television.
Nutter started at WCSH in 1965, covering Portland City Hall, the State House in Augusta and serving as news director before becoming the station’s editorial director, in which he became known for signing off with the phrase, “That’s our opinion. We welcome yours,” according to the story.
In a 1999 interview with Don Nicoll of Bates College, Nutter said he grew up in Alfred and spent four years in the Navy during the Korean War before attending Emerson College in Boston. In his freshman high school yearbook, he said, he listed “Want to work at WCSH radio” as his career goal.
Nutter told Nicoll that one thing he liked about getting into television news in the early days of the industry was that it enabled viewers to hear and see politicians directly, for themselves.
“I’ve been convinced since I got into this business that if you’re going to bull[crap] people, make sure there’s not a TV camera around,” Nutter said. “Because it looks right into your soul and people can detect it just as fast as they can snap a finger.”
Nutter retired from WCSH in the late 2000s. He is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren and his wife of 55 years, Joan Nutter, the WCSH story indicated.
