Janelle Rodriguez, who has been been VP of Programming at CNN for the last three years, is joining NBC News as SVP of Editorial, reporting to NBC News president Deborah Turness.
Rodriguez will coordinate enterprise and original storytelling and breaking news coverage. She will oversee the Investigations and Medical units as well as the Booking team and lead the division-wide editorial planning meetings.
“In this role her job is to focus on one thing – journalism – and to bring together the great talent, assets and experience at NBC News to better serve the entire organization,” writes Turness in a note to staff, obtained by TVNewser.
Early next year, NBC News will unveil an integrated digital and broadcast newsgathering Hub. Rodriguez, who joins next month, will play a central role at the Hub.
“To know Janelle is to see her deep passion for news, and her keen ability to find the sharpest angle in every story,” writes Turness. “It’s that sensibility, along with her experience bringing together various platforms to best tell those stories, that will position her for success here.”
Turness says she’s been searching for the right candidate for six months. The news division is still looking to hire an SVP of the “Today” show following the disastrous hiring/dismissal of Jamie Horowitz last month.