Alumni Oral History: Larry Ott
Interview with Larry Ott, July 8, 2025
In the interview, alumnus Larry Ott recounts his childhood interest in aspects of communication, including ham radios, theater, and music in high school, which led to his matriculation to Fordham University’s communications arts major. At Fordham, Ott worked at WFUV and WNEW. After graduating in 1964, Ott chose Annenberg’s new master’s program over alternatives, attracted by its blend of practical training and theory. He describes the school’s curriculum, fellow student cohort, and encounters with faculty, including George Gerbner, Charles Siepmann, George Dessart, and Arthur Brodbeck.
Ott’s post-Annenberg career is described, including working in psychological operations in the Army during the Vietnam War, which led to a 16-year career with the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) as a television production and director. Ott recounts his secret, urgent work for a 1983 UN Security Council presentation related to the Soviet Union’s shooting down a Korean Air Lines flight. He also describes his subsequent career, including a six-year stint in Saudi Arabia for the U.S. Treasury Department. The interview includes Ott’s description of freelance work, including international satellite projects for organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). A through-line in the interview is Ott’s description of his lifelong use of the mix of practical and theoretical skills he acquired while at the Annenberg School.