CNN Taps Two More Local TV Execs To Fill Newly Created Programming Roles

By Chris Ariens 

Bart Feder, (right) chairman of The FeedRoom, (and former news director at WABC-TV) and Scott Matthews, who is currently VP of News at WNYW in New York, are both joining CNN.

Feder becomes senior VP for current programming, and Matthews becomes director of programming. Feder will report to CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein and Matthews reports to Feder. Both are newly created positions.

The hiring of Matthews means that CNN has hired away two newsroom executives from two Fox O&Os. It was announced in November that Katherine Green who was VP of News at WTTG in Washington, DC was joining CNN International.

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The CNN press release is after the jump…


CNN U.S. Taps Veteran Journalists for Leading Programming Roles

Network Names Bart Feder as SVP for Current Programming, Scott Matthews as Director of Programming

Building upon the successes of such programs as The Situation Room, Lou Dobbs Tonight and Anderson Cooper 360º and the advent of CNN’s unrivaled political coverage, CNN/U.S. has hired two accomplished journalists who will continue to expand the network’s commitment to high quality journalism and innovation, it was announced today by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S.

Bart Feder, chairman of The FeedRoom, an online video provider, becomes senior vice president for current programming, and Scott Matthews, vice president and news director of WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV in New York City, becomes director of programming. Both are newly created positions within CNN/U.S. with Feder reporting to Klein and Matthews reporting to Feder. Feder’s appointment is effective immediately, and Matthews begins on Monday, Feb. 11.

In his role, Feder will be based at CNN in New York and will oversee all on-air programming for CNN/U.S. as well as coordinate efforts with CNN.com and other digital ventures to distribute CNN programming across multiple platforms. Matthews will serve as the network’s primary programming executive in Atlanta, responsible for all CNN/U.S. newscasts emanating from CNN headquarters.

“Both Bart and Scott are the perfect fit for CNN/U.S., as throughout their careers, each of them has emphasized in-depth reporting and innovative storytelling everywhere they’ve been,” Klein said. “They’re going to play a major role in expanding upon the journalistic and ratings momentum underway at CNN.”

Feder comes to CNN as a seasoned and award-winning journalist whose career combines experience as a major market television executive with leadership in digital media and Web video. At The FeedRoom, where he succeeded Klein as CEO, Feder oversaw the company’s efforts to provide high-quality Web video and digital media applications for media, publishing, government and corporate clients including ESPN, The New York Times, General Motors and others.

Before joining The FeedRoom in 2000, Feder served as news director for WABC-TV in New York, where he earned an Alfred I. duPont Award, an Edward R. Murrow award and other accolades for the groundbreaking series “Room 104 – The Overcrowding Crisis” about New York City public schools. He has also served as news director for WHDH-TV in Boston, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., and KOVR-TV in Sacramento, Calif.

Matthews joins CNN after serving as vice president and news director for WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV in New York City, managing a staff of more than 200 people and producing eight hours of news each day. He held similar roles at WTXF-TV in Philadelphia and WFXT-TV in Boston, earning a reputation as a director who improved local journalism through an emphasis on quality reporting and humanistic values. Matthews’ career also includes significant investigative reporting experience, which involved stints as executive producer for investigative reporting at WNYW-TV in New York and KNXV-TV in Phoenix.

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