McHugh and Hoffman.

McHugh and Hoffman, the first television news consulting firm, was founded in 1962 by Philip McHugh and Peter Hoffman, formerly of Detroit's Campbell-Ewald advertising agency.

In 1962 newscasts had a very serious appearance. The work of McHugh and Hoffman found that viewers wanted more than just a laundry list of facts or a retelling of what was already available in newspapers. Instead of excessive talk of government and civic affairs, television news viewers were interested in hearing about social problems such as crime and decay. McHugh and Hoffman pioneered the "Eyewitness News" format, where reporters appeared on camera and covered a broader range of social issues. Weather and human interest content became "news you can use." In part due to the work of consultants, newscasts began to make better use of the television medium and started to include more pictorial content. The work of McHugh and Hoffman was also instrumental in introducing female anchors and reporters to the television news industry.

The research of McHugh and Hoffman, Inc. was steeped in social class analysis based upon the work of pioneering anthropologist Lloyd Warner. Many of McHugh and Hoffman's reports contain an "explanation of social class," accompanied by Warner's diamond-shaped diagrams which illustrate the stratification of class systems in the United States. The studies were based on the total population, not just an upper-middle class and upper class audience. While working class viewers found traditional television news stuffy, McHugh and Hoffman provided newsrooms with data and recommendations concerning how newscasts should respond to audience ratings. What was formerly viewed as a public service came to be an avenue for generating profit.

McHugh and Hoffman, Inc. also provided consultations for a small amount of non-news television programs, such as Sing Along With Mitch and The Mike Douglas Show .

John E. ("Jack") Bowen III became president of McHugh and Hoffman in 1985 and chairman - CEO in 1988. He died 3 March 2007.

In 1993 Market Strategies, Inc. (MSI) of Southfield, Michigan acquired McHugh and Hoffman, Inc. and the consulting firm was reincorporated as a subsidiary of MSI under a slightly different name (McHugh & Hoffman). MSI closed McHugh & Hoffman in 1999.

From the guide to the McHugh and Hoffman records, 1957-1995, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)