Stephanie Linton Named WESH News Director

Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate WESH Orlando, Fla., today appointed Stephanie Linton news director, effective immediately.

Since early 2019, Linton has headed the news operation at WPBF, Hearst’s ABC affiliate serving the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. Under her leadership as news director, Hearst said, “WPBF has become the market’s news leader. While navigating the challenges of the pandemic, she successfully expanded programming and launched a sports initiative to shine a spotlight on local athletes. Linton also shared her talents by serving on the ABC NewsOne advisory board.”

Linton’s career has taken her across the country, including an early-career post as a producer at WPBF. With more than 20 years of experience in local broadcast news, she was the assistant news director at KGO San Francisco, and was assistant news director at WSOC Charlotte, N.C., and an executive producer at WFOR Miami.

WESH President-GM John Soapes said: “Stephanie’s breadth of experience in various newsrooms and depth of knowledge in Florida make her the ideal news executive to join our award-winning team. She exemplifies the Hearst Television culture and high standards for journalism and community service.”

Linton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in telecommunication news from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, where she graduated with high honors.