Journalism

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.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Gizmodo Media Group, a division of Univision Communications, has sought to quickly defeat a defamation lawsuit brought over an article published on the sports website Deadspin, saying the complaint is intended to intimidate journalists. WSJ subscribers can read the full story here.

KFOR, the Tribune NBC affiliate in Oklahoma City, has relaunched with a new tornado resistant studio and will now call itself Oklahoma News 4.

CNN debuted a daily program Monday on Snapchat Shows, a growing roster of short-form video series on the social-media platform. Airing every weekday at 6 p.m. ET, The Update will feature breaking news from the cable network’s reporters exclusive to Snapchat in its signature Shows format. CNN will also offer rolling updates on developing news as part of the program.

Several top editors at the Los Angeles Times were terminated Monday as the paper’s corporate parent moved to install new leadership. Davan Maharaj, the newspaper’s former editor in chief, has been replaced by Jim Kirk, the former top editor of the Chicago Sun-Times. Kirk left the Sun-Times last week to join Tronc, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and several other regional newspapers. Kirk’s title will be interim executive editor, and he will lead the search for a new editor in chief.

NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations KNBC Los Angeles (DMA 2) has added Alysha Del Valle as the station’s morning traffic anchor and reporter on Today in LA.  Del Valle will join […]

Diana Alvear has been named co-anchor of the weekday evening news at Fox-owned WJZY Charlotte, N.C. (DMA 22). She will co-anchor the Fox 46 News at 6 p.m. and Fox […]