Name: John E. Craft, Ph.D.
Facebook: John Craft
Age: 79
Title: Professor Emeritus
Married/Single: Married to Adela Craft
Kids: Lauren Craft, DVM and Jennifer Craft-Hurst. Grand-daughter Abbey Hurst. Stepdaughters: Ana and Alejandra, and step granddaughter Charlotta
City you live in: Ahwatukee
A typical day in my life includes…checking many sources of news and information while drinking several cups of coffee.
I was born…on my grandfather’s farm in Southeastern Ohio, which had been awarded to my family in the early 1800s for service in the Revolutionary War.
My favorite thing about Arizona…is the very diverse environment and the ability to interact with nature.
I’m listening to…KJZZ public radio.
My family…is very important to me.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be….I have had a 3-hour private lunch with Walter Cronkite and that was a very important event for me.
One thing I cannot live without…is some form of daily mass communications information.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…a TV cameraman, photographer, drummer in a band, actor, architect, air force pilot.
I’m inspired by…those who overcome great odds to achieve their goals.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…the vitriolic political environment that now exists in the United States, as well as in many other countries.
My first job was…a farm hand working in the hay fields.
My favorite escape…is reading action-adventure fiction novels.
My life…has become comfortable.
I’m currently working on…home repair of several houses.
Bio: Dr. John Craft taught broadcasting classes at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication for 49 years. During that time, he also served as the school’s director of graduate studies. Prior to his arriving in Arizona, he worked in public and educational broadcasting as director of instructional television at Ohio University, and in West Virginia as director of educational television for a county school district. At those institutions he established and managed educational media systems, as well as produced and directed television programs.
During his years at ASU, he conducted and published media studies and textbooks. During the summers and sabbatical leaves, he consulted with media corporations and produced documentaries for national distribution over public television. His television programs on traveling Route 66 through Arizona have won many awards, as well as having achieved international distribution. Craft was also involved in franchising cable television systems, engineering and building television facilities for school districts and hospitals in the Southwest and served as the founding director of the Samaritan Health System video services department for its hospitals in Phoenix.
He has been a member and officer of numerous professional media organizations. In 2008, he was presented with the outstanding broadcast teaching award by the Arizona Broadcasters Association. In 2022, he received an Emmy signifying the presentation of the Governors’ Award by the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his outstanding service and contribution to the community and profession. Craft, a longtime member of that organization, had previously served as its president, as well as trustee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In addition, he is one of only 18 broadcasters in the Southwest region selected for inclusion into the Gold Circle Society for outstanding service to the profession and community for more than 50 years.
