CBS Local Taps Kristine Strain As Denver News Director

Award-winning journalist Kristine Strain has been named news director of CBS News and Television Stations’ local businesses in Denver, including KCNC (CBS), CBSN Denver and CBSDenver.com.

Strain is assuming her new role, effective immediately, after having served as the assistant news director at KCNC since 2004. She is succeeding Tim Wieland, who was the station’s news director for 17 years prior to being named KCNC general manager in August.

“I know I speak for our entire team when I say we are very fortunate to have Kristine as a member of our CBS Denver family for the past 21 years,” Wieland said. “She has played a key role in helping us do an outstanding job of serving our viewers and community partners. In addition, she is an exceptional journalist and a thoughtful and inspiring leader who is both liked and respected by her colleagues. We now look forward to having her serve as our news director and help us make the most of our opportunities to be part of the newly unified CBS News and Stations organization.”

“It’s an honor and privilege to succeed Tim Wieland as news director at CBS Denver,” Strain said. “I love my colleagues and am so proud of the team spirit and collaboration that exists here. I look forward to continuing this shared experience as we work together to reimagine and grow our business across our broadcast, streaming and digital platforms.”

Since Strain joined KCNC in 2000, the station’s news department has received a Peabody Award, three national Edward R. Murrow Awards, several regional Murrow Awards (including the award for Overall Excellence), and numerous Emmys. She joined the station as an executive producer, then was named managing editor in 2002.

Prior to KCNC, Strain worked as an executive producer at WITI Milwaukee. Before that, she was the 10 p.m. newscast producer at WCCO Minneapolis-St. Paul. Her background also includes stints as a producer at KMBC and WDAF Kansas City, KAKE Wichita, Kan., and KSNT Topeka, Kan.

Strain has been in the broadcast industry since the age of 15. She got her start by hosting a show called Teen Scene that she produced along with other teenagers for a public television station in Miami, where she grew up.

Strain has attended the Poynter Institute both as a student and a visiting faculty member. She graduated from the University of Kansas, with degrees in journalism and political science. Strain also has an MBA from the University of Denver’s Daniels School of Business, where she graduated with honors.