WESH-WKCF Orlando GM Jim Carter To Retire

James J. Carter, president and general manager of Hearst’s Orlando, Fla. (DMA 19), duopoly of WESH (NBC) and WKCF (CW) since 2008, will retire this summer, concluding a career spanning more than four decades in radio and television. Carter’s successor will be announced at a future date.

“Jim has been an integral leader for Hearst Television, with a track record of success at every Hearst business that he’s managed,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television’s president. “His career is distinguished by quality journalism, local programming, community service and thoughtful leadership.”

“I’ve been honored to call myself a broadcaster for 44 years and so fortunate to work for the finest in the business for the last three decades,” Carter said.

In addition to the recently announced regional RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for “Overall Excellence,” WESH recently earned three first-place awards from the Florida Associated Press. During Carter’s time in Orlando, WESH has earned a USC Walter Cronkite Award for political journalism and WKCF twice received an APEX Award as the CW Network’s Model Affiliate of the Year. 

Before moving to Central Florida, Carter served for nearly a decade as president-GM of WLKY Louisville, Ky.

Carter moved to WLKY from WTAE Pittsburgh, where he was VP-sales.  Previously, Carter was VP-GM of WTAE-AM/WVTY-FM, where he oversaw WTAE-AM’s format change making it Pittsburgh’s first full-time, locally produced news/talk station.

Carter began his career as an account executive with Lloyd Advertising in Omaha, Neb., later joining WOW-AM Omaha, and, at age 26, he was appointed station manager of KEZO-FM Omaha.

A native of Chicago, Carter holds a journalism degree from Drake University. Carter has served on the boards of the state broadcaster associations for Florida, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.