Hearst Television Promotes Paige Harrison To News Vice President

Paige Harrison, a veteran television news executive who has served in five of Hearst Television’s largest TV markets, has been promoted to the corporate position of vice president, news, at Hearst Television, effective July 1.  Harrison will relocate to Hearst Television’s New York City headquarters.

Harrison has served since 2017 as news director of the company’s flagship station, WCVB-TV, Boston’s perennial TV news leader. Harrison, who will report to Barbara Maushard, senior vice president, news, succeeds Andrew Vrees, who was recently named president and general manager of WMUR, the Hearst Television ABC affiliate in Manchester, N.H.  Harrison’s successor as WCVB news director will be announced at a later date.

“Paige has had tremendous success at every assignment throughout her career with Hearst,” said Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb.  “Most notably, her leadership style and insight make her not only an exceptional addition to our outstanding corporate team, but an invaluable resource for our local news leadership and national enterprise news units.”

As WCVB news director, Harrison managed all operations of the news department, which produces more than 45 hours of newscasts weekly, including breaking news, weather and sports, special coverage, its “5 Investigates” series, NewsCenter 5 Primetime specials, and all of the station’s digital and social media news initiatives. In her four years leading the unit, WCVB’s news department earned dozens of awards for journalism and community service, including regional EMMY Awards, regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, National Headliner Awards, a Gracie Award and a Gabriel Award — frequently earning “Station of the Year” honors and often sweeping the regional competition.

In her 18 years with the company, Harrison has served within news operations for five Hearst Television stations across the country. Before joining WCVB, she was news director at WPBF-TV, Hearst Television’s ABC affiliate serving the West Palm Beach, Florida, TV market. She previously worked in news management positions at WESH Orlando, Fla.; KOCO Oklahoma City; and WTAE-TV Pittsburgh.

“Paige’s breadth and depth of experience is universally recognized by her colleagues and industry peers,” Maushard added. “Her keen eye for news and the evolution of news consumption positions her perfectly to help move Hearst Television news operations forward in serving audiences with relevant, factual content wherever they seek it.”

A Michigan native, Harrison was raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and began her television career there as a producer and director. She has also worked in Toronto, Ottawa and Barrie, Ont.