WAPT news director Bruce Barkley (pictured) is moving from Jackson, Miss. to Greenville, S.C., where he will take over as news director of WYFF.
It is a move within Hearst for Barkley, who has served as WAPT’s news director since 2000. He will step into the role vacated by Justin Antoniotti, who is leaving WYFF to serve as news director for another Hearst station, WATE in Pittsburgh.
“We feel very fortunate to welcome someone of Bruce’s experience and knowledge,” WYFF general manager John Soapes said in a statement. “He has a proven track record of creating outstanding local television news programming, all while providing superior leadership and building great teams.”
Ben Hart, who has been assistant news director of WAPT since 2010, will step into the news director role at the Jackson ABC affiliate. Hart is a graduate of Mississippi State University.
“He has an impressive record as a newsroom leader and is passionate about serving the viewers,” WAPT general manager Stuart Kellogg said in a statement. “Ben’s strong journalistic background, managerial knowledge and experience covering in-depth news in Mississippi will help us to continue to build on those strengths.”