Paul Dughi has been named vice president and general manager of WAAY, Calkins Media’s ABC affiliate in Huntsville-Decatur, Ala. He will begin at the station in January.
In a note announcing the hire, Jeff Benninghoff, the vice president and general manager of sister station WWSB, said Dughi brings “an impressive track record in broadcasting.” Dughi was previously the president of Cowles California Media Company, which owns and operates six stations in California. He is a former general manager of KNDO-KNDU in Yakima and news director at WBNS in Columbus, KHQ in Spokane and WAEO in Rhinelander, Wisc.
Dughi replaces Art Lanham, who tipsters tell us resigned in October. Read Benninghoff’s note after the jump.
From: Benninghoff, Jeff
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 9:45 PM
To: WWSB Managers
Subject: WAAY GM Announcement
Hello all,
It is my pleasure to announce that Paul Dughi will become the next Vice President and General Manager of WAAY ABC 31. Paul comes to us with an impressive track record in broadcasting.
Paul Dughi is currently the President of Cowles California Media Company, which owns/operates six television stations in California, associated with CBS, FOX, Telemundo and CW networks, as well as a network of 30 news and consumer websites.
Dughi has 30 years in the broadcasting business working as Anchor, Reporter, News Director, General Manager, and now Group President. He has won more than 30 regional, statewide, and national awards from the Radio & Television News Director’s Association, Associated Press, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and United Press International for Reporting, Producing, Web, and Public Service.
Previously, he was General Manager at KNDO-TV/ KNDU-TV in Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA where has also served as VP/Technology for Cowles television stations.
Dughi is on the faculty at the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism and has conducted dozens of seminars on news, ethics, promotion, and branding for various state Broadcast Associations, stations, and station groups.
As Vice President & Executive Director of The Producing SchoolSM at the Broadcast Image Group, Dughi worked as a strategic consultant and trainer at some of America’s top television stations, including those owned by Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst-Argyle, Post-Newsweek, Cox Broadcasting, Raycom Media, Journal Broadcasting, Freedom Broadcasting, and Fox.
He has also worked as News Director at WBNS-TV, one of the country’s top-rated CBS affiliates, KHQ-TV in Spokane, WA, and WAEO-TV in Rhinelander, WI.
Paul and his wife Michelle will be relocating from Spreckels, CA. They have three children and a grandson.
Paul will be coming on board in January.
Jeff