Waypoint Media Names Corporate News Director

Station group owner Waypoint Media has hired Elden Hale Jr. as its corporate director of news as part of its plans to increase its local news output. Hale will oversee news operations at all of Waypoint Media’s stations as well as WYDC Elmira, N.Y.

Waypoint Media owns eight stations (three full power, the rest LPTVs), all affiliated with several networks via subchannels.

This is a reunion between Hale and Waypoint co-owner Bill Christian who worked together at WNEP Scranton, Pa. Hale was the president-GM of WNEP and went on to oversee stations in Norfolk, Va.; Hartford, Conn.; and Nashville. Hale also served as EVP-COO of the New York Times Co. Broadcast Group and was SVP of the Meredith Local Media Group of television stations.

“We are so excited to be working with Elden again,” says Bill Christian, who also owns WYDC Elmira. “Having someone with his expertise and history of leading stations in the production of quality local news is a big win for our stations and communities.”

“Elden Hale’s reputation for being the consummate leader in the creation of quality television is unmatched in our industry,” says Waypoint Media founder Mike Reed, “We are beyond excited to bring someone who has guided and managed No. 1 television stations and media groups for decades to our team.”

Hale earned a business degree from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

The Waypoint stations:

Meridian, MS

WMDN — CBS, Bounce

WGBC — Fox, NBC

WMDN — MeTV

Hattiesburg, MS

WHPM — Fox, This TV, MeTV

Jonesboro, AR

KJNB  — CBS, Fox, MeTV, MNT

Lafayette, IN

WPBI — Fox, NBC

WPBY — ABC, MeTV, MNT

Jackson, TN

WNBJ — NBC, CW