KABC has promoted assistant news director Pam Chen to vp and news director of the ABC station in Los Angeles.
Chen will be responsible for overseeing the station and the news content. This move makes Chen the first Asian American to lead a news department at a network-owned local station in L.A.
“Pam Chen is an innovative journalist, producer, mentor and leader at KABC, equally and fiercely dedicated to both the success of Eyewitness News and the people in the newsroom that she works with daily. Pam shows that hard work, character, compassion and commitment are the ingredients for success. I am confident in her leadership and look forward to what is to come,” said Cheryl Fair, president and gm of the station.
“It’s an absolute honor to be entrusted to lead this newsroom,” said Chen. “The Eyewitness News team is comprised of world-class individuals that I’ve been working side-by-side and collaborating with throughout my 15 years at KABC. I am looking forward to leading this remarkable team as we continue to strengthen the connections to our local communities across Southern California through high-impact hyperlocal and relevant storytelling.”
Chen started at KABC as a morning producer and later transitioned to producer on the 4 and 5 p.m. news programs. Chen moved to produce KABC’s syndicated show, On the Red Carpet, before returning to news as an executive producer. In 2019, she was promoted to assistant news director, where she oversaw business initiatives and the group-wide community journalist program.
Under her leadership last year, the station won three Edward R. Murrow Awards.