ABC News has hired an industry veteran to fill an important, new role.
Network president James Goldston announced this morning that Marie Nelson is joining ABC News as svp, integrated content strategy.
“Marie will work closely with leaders across the news division to strengthen our brand with multicultural audiences,” Goldston stated in an internal note to staff. “She’ll help unify our efforts to diversify our content so it’s even more robust and identify opportunities to better connect with and understand our viewers, readers and listeners.”
Nelson will also assist the HR and Talent teams “in our goal to attract, develop and retain a workforce that mirrors our global audience.”
She comes to ABC News from PBS, where she served as vp of news, public affairs and independent film. In that capacity, Nelson led strategy for the public broadcaster’s celebrated programming, including PBS NewsHour, Frontline, POV and Independent Lens.
Nelson actually began her broadcast television career at ABC News at World News Tonight and Nightline, and she’ll be based in Washington for this new position.
TVNewser obtained Goldston’s internal note to staff:
Team,
I’m pleased to announce that Marie Nelson is joining ABC News as Senior Vice President, Integrated Content Strategy.
This is an important new role for ABC News. Marie will work closely with leaders across the news division to strengthen our brand with multicultural audiences. She’ll help unify our efforts to diversify our content so it’s even more robust and identify opportunities to better connect with and understand our viewers, readers and listeners.
She will also assist the HR and Talent teams in our goal to attract, develop and retain a workforce that mirrors our global audience. Marie starts work on August 5. She will be based in Washington DC and will also spend much of her time in New York.
Marie possesses an in-depth understanding of the news landscape, and, throughout her impressive career spanning a wide cross section of media and news, she has created opportunities for diverse talent and storytelling.
She comes to ABC from PBS, where she was the Vice President for news, public affairs and independent film, leading the programming strategy for its award-winning newscasts and series, including PBS NewsHour, Frontline, POV and Independent Lens. In addition, she oversaw the network’s programming for the elections in 2016 and 2018. Under her leadership this year, PBS garnered 47 News and Documentary Emmy nominations, the most of any media organization.
She also served as PBS executive in charge for several Oscar-nominated documentary films directed by diverse filmmakers, including I Am Not Your Negro, Hale County This Morning, This Evening and Minding the Gap.
Prior to joining PBS Marie was WGBH Boston’s executive producer of national programs, where she oversaw several high-profile documentaries and piloted a weekly late-night debate program with Ozy Media’s Carlos Watson and America After Ferguson, a live town hall on race with Gwen Ifill.
During her tenure as vice president & executive producer of news & original programming at Viacom/BET Networks, Marie led the long-form group and her team won the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism.
Marie also launched NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin, which is widely recognized for adding new and more diverse voices to public radio, and led it to double-digit growth. She began her broadcast career at ABC News at World News Tonight and Nightline.
As you know, one of our most important priorities this year is to accelerate the pace of change at ABC News. Marie brings a wealth of experience that will be crucial to our efforts to build a diverse workforce, strengthen our culture and ensure our journalism is distinguished by being meaningful and inclusive.
Please join me in welcoming Marie back to ABC News.
James