Audience research pioneer Frank Magid dead at 78
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Associated Press - February 8, 2010 5:34 PM ET
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - Family member say Frank Magid of Cedar Rapids, whose audience research firm developed "Good Morning America" for ABC and dramatically changed the face of local television news, has died at the age of 78.
Magid, a Chicago-born Korean War veteran who served as a professor of psychology, anthropology and statistics at Coe College, before founding Frank Magid and Associates, died Friday of lymphoma in Santa Barbara, Calif.
His firm made its name three decades ago as consultants to local television stations, which redid their local news in Magid's "Action News" format. Magid's techniques were later adopted almost universally by U.S. television stations.
The firm is still principally owned by the Magid family, and Frank Magid's son, Brent, is now chief executive officer.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
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