He transferred to a journalism career with a self-syndicated news column in 1972, which was subsequently picked up and distributed nationally as Ron Hendren In Washington by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

This led to a career as an on-air commentator and critic at the NBC owned and operated station WRC-TV in Washington D.C. During his tenure at WRC, Hendren was a visiting lecturer in journalism at the University of Maryland at College Park.

While at UNC, he was a member of the Men's Residence Council[3] and also wrote for The Daily Tar Heel, the school's independent student newspaper.

About his writing, Editor & Publisher stated, "Ron Hendren sees Washington through eyes still shining with the fire of youth....he gives political columning a new and refreshing twist.

[5] During his time with the column, he wrote on many political issues including Turkey–United States relations with Gerald Ford,[6] the equal-time rule as it applies to television stations and presidential candidates,[7] and the investigation of Vice President Spiro Agnew and his subsequent resignation from office.

He subsequently joined KQED (TV), the public television station in San Francisco as a commentator, for which he won a regional Emmy in 1978.

[12][13] NBC went from on-air critic to gossip television critique which was performed by correspondents Jane Pauley and Tom Brokaw.

[13] Critics called the move a "loss for the series,"[14] with TV Guide stating, "those few minutes of his reviews may well have been NBC's finest hour."

During his time at The Today Show and Entertainment Tonight, Hendren had a daily commentary that ran on KNBC news in Los Angeles.

[18] After his time at Entertainment Tonight, Hendren hosted the syndicated daily television show All About Us, part of LBS Communications' INDAY programming.