In an attempt to better connect with viewers, president and co-head of CBS News and Television Stations Wendy McMahon has created new roles at locally owned stations.
The company is establishing Executive Producers, Impacting Communities roles in 13 markets where the station group produces local newscasts, including in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. The producers, who will report to news directors at their stations, will be asked to develop a “more grassroots relationship” with local markets so the station group can report on news at the neighborhood level, McMahon said.
McMahon said she is looking to “spark conversations that ultimately lead to positive change” and hopes the new hires “introduce us to people and places we may otherwise never know about … showcasing the champions and the change-makers among us.”
“There will be no confusing activity with accomplishment, nor will we be caught up in comparing our story selection to the competition,” said McMahon. “Instead, our focus will be on super-serving our communities with original reporting that resonates with our audience and makes a measurable impact.”