Meet the 2019 Award Winners: Maine Sportscaster Bill Green

Today’s award spotlight is on NSMA 2019 Maine Sportscaster of the Year, Bill Green. The iconic Maine broadcaster retired from News Center Maine (WCSH-TV in Portland and WLBZ-TV in Bangor) in November of 2019 after a stunning 47 year long career. Green began working in the business at the age of 18 while still a student at the University of Maine at Orono, as a sportscaster on WLBZ-TV. Seven years after working as a full time reporter, Green began Bill Green's Maine, his weekly magazine program.

This will be Green’s third win as Maine Sportscaster of the Year, his first being in 1983. Green has also been inducted into the Maine Broadcasters’ Hall of fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. He pledged to continue work with a nonprofit organization after his retirement as well as participate in some of his former network’s projects in 2020.

Green briefly spoke with NSMA on his career and other thoughts regarding the industry.

NSMA: What was your career path like on the way to your current position?

Bill Green: I simply went to work every day. I looked for work to be done. I learned my craft. It really worked out well.

NSMA: What is your favorite thing about your job?

BG: Knowing what's going on in the world. Having access to news makers. Being able to ask questions for myself. Performing an important service to my viewers. Working with people in the newsroom who seemed to get younger every year. Plus, a lot of times when there was bad weather, we got free doughnuts!

NSMA: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

BG: Maybe my retirement. We did a one-hour special statewide. Not a lot of people go out that way. I just feel I had a thousand highlights.

NSMA: What is the best piece of advice you have for people pursuing a career in sports media?

BG: You are working in a new media world. Build a personal brand that you can take with you from place to place.

Written by NSMA intern, Brian Cohen