Steve Bell papers and audiovisual recordings

Stephen Bell was born on December 9, 1935 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. As an avid sports lover, Bell hoped to become a football coach, but an ankle injury forced him to change his career path. His love of broadcasting grew when he attended Iowa's Central College. In college, he worked Sundays at KBOE radio and frequently filled in for other broadcasters during vacations. After graduating with a degree in history, Bell joined WOI radio/TV in Ames, Iowa. Bell eventually earned his MSJ degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Bell worked as an anchor and correspondent at WGN radio, CBS Omaha, and WNEW radio. In 1967, Bell began his network career at ABC radio in New York City. He returned to television when he volunteered to go to Vietnam as a correspondent, and Bell, his wife Joyce, and their two daughters moved to Asia in 1970. His family lived in Hong Kong while Bell worked in Vietnam and Cambodia, occasionally spending time with them on his leaves. While in Cambodia, Bell and his crew were captured by the Viet Cong and held at gun point for two hours. They were eventually released, but managed to record the incident.

Upon his return to the United States, Bell began working on Good Morning America, where he would work for 11 years. In August of 1992, Bell was hired by Ball State University to serve as the first Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Professor of Telecommunications. Bell taught courses on reporting critical issues and news production. He also moderated election debates, hosted public affairs programs, chaired community forums, wrote op-ed pieces for The Star Press, and served as an elder in his local Presbyterian church. Bell retired from Ball State in 2007.

During his career, Bell reported on the East Harlem riots, the Newark riots, the assassination and funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the assassination of Robert Kennedy, the Vietnam cease-fire, the POW release at Hanoi, the Laos war, martial law in the Philippines, the Watergate scandal and resignation of Richard Nixon, and Muhammad Anwar El Sadat's visit to Israel. Bell has won many awards including Emmy Awards, an Overseas Press Club Award, Headliner's Award, Alumni Merit Award from Northwestern University, and honorary degrees from Central College, St. Anselm College, and George Washington University.