Journalism

Legendary NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw blasted President Trump’s criticism of the news media on Thursday, firing back after Trump questioned at a rally earlier this week whether members of the press liked the country.

The new CEO and publisher of the Los Angeles Times will have a starting salary of $1 million, and he’s positioned to make much more depending on the financial success of the Times and the company that owns it, Tronc. Ross Levinsohn, 54, the former interim CEO of Yahoo, took over as the head of the Times on Monday in a leadership shakeup at the newspaper.

Members of the media blasted back at President Trump on Wednesday after he railed against the press at a rally and called journalists “dishonest people” who “don’t like our country.” Acrimony between the Trump White House and the media has been escalating for months, but the latest round of attacks and counterattacks was notable for its bare-knuckle ferocity.

25.6 million viewers watched Monday afternoon TV coverage of the eclipse. 27.8 million viewers watched President Trump’s Afghanistan address that night.

Ross Levinsohn is used to tough jobs. But this week, the 54-year-old digital media executive took on what could be his most difficult assignment yet: figuring out how to generate more revenue from the journalism produced by the 135-year-old Los Angeles Times at a time when the news industry is grappling with sweeping shifts in consumer behavior and a proliferation of online outlets.

The news director of Gray’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, N.C., died unexpectedly at her home Tuesday morning. She was 46 and married to WITN’s Dave Jordan.

IP newsgathering specialist Dejero and global satellite service provider Intelsat have partnered to offer the TV industry a new service that blends Ku-band satellite and cellular network bandwidth into a one-button-push service for IP news contribution from the field. Dejero founder Bogdan Frusina explains why the service is necessary, how existing Ka-band users can get on board, what Intelsat brings to the party and how the new service will add another option to relieve network congestion at big events like political conventions.

David Smith, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s executive chairman and largest shareholder, is close to Steve Bannon and an admirer, according to people who know them both. He is keen to increase Sinclair’s heft in conservative commentary, a market currently dominated by Fox News Channel, and is eyeing a collaboration with Bannon, according to the Financial Times.

At his rally in Phoenix Tuesday evening, President Trump defended his stance on the racially charged violence in Charlottesville, Va., and accused the “dishonest media” of distorting his words. (AP photo)

Tegna has wrapped its fifth innovation summit. A spokesperson says the two-day innovation summit brought more than 30 reporters, producers and digital journalists from 20 stations across the country to its headquarters in McLean, Va. This year’s theme was “Escape the Ordinary.”

Williams, who along with WCAU President-GM Ric Harris forms the almost unheard-of big-city pairing of African Americans in those influential positions, made news this past spring when NBC10’s 11 p.m. broadcast was the most-watched late newscast among adults in the coveted 25 to 54 age demographic this past May.

Nexstar’s CBS affiliate in Providence, R.I., has almost 780,000 actions on social, 25% of the total engagement generated by the DMA (No. 52), with more than 3.1 million social actions. Lee Dooley, WPRI’s digital director, thinks part of the station’s success on Facebook is that it serves its audience with quality content wherever they are.

Fox-owned WFLD Chicago (DMA 3) has added Rafer Weigel to its news staff. Effective Sept. 1, he will anchor the station’s Saturday and Sunday 9 p.m. newscasts and report on […]

The broadcast and cable networks alike rolled out coverage of the Aug. 21 solar eclipse with special branding and reports Monday afternoon. Here’s a roundup.