Mary Baynes Upped To News Director At CBS’s Sacramento Duopoly

Veteran local news executive Mary Baynes has been named vice president and news director at CBS News and Stations’ Sacramento, Calif., stations — KOVR (CBS) and KMAX (CW) — as well as the CBS News Sacramento streaming channel and CBSSacramento.com.

Baynes is assuming her new role, effective immediately, after serving as the assistant news director at KOVR and KMAX since January 2019. She succeeds Mike Dello Stritto, who in February was named vice president and news director at CBS News and Stations’ Los Angeles properties.

Deborah Collura, KOVR-KMAX vice president and general manager, said: “Mary has done a tremendous job of overseeing our newsroom the past few months and has thoroughly impressed me and her colleagues by providing poised and thoughtful leadership on a daily basis,” Collura said. “I am also in awe over how she has led our coverage of breaking news. We are thrilled to be able to give Mary this well-deserved promotion and look forward to having her continue to provide a steady and experienced hand as the leader of our news team.”

Prior to serving as the assistant news director at KOVR-KMAX, Baynes spent four-plus years as an executive producer at KCBS-KCAL, the CBS-owned stations in her hometown of Los Angeles. Before that, she spent four years with KOVR and KMAX, first as a line producer and then as an executive producer.

Baynes began her career in television news as a line producer at KSBW Salinas, Calif.

Baynes earned her bachelor’s degree in radio, television, film and broadcast journalism from California State University, San Jose.