Journal Broadcast Names TV, Radio EVPs

Journal Broadcast Group on Wednesday announced organizational changes to its leadership team reflecting the group’s focus on its two primary businesses: television and radio.

Debbie Turner, EVP and general manager of Journal’s CBS affiliate WTVF Nashville, was named EVP of television, reporting to Andre Fernandez, president-CFO of Journal Communications.

Steve Wexler, EVP and general manager of Journal’s Milwaukee radio and television operations, was named EVP of radio for Journal Broadcast Group, also reporting to Fernandez.

“Both Debbie and Steve have deep expertise in their respective fields — Debbie as long-time leader of one of the top CBS-affiliated television stations in the country, and Steve as a respected radio industry veteran who was recently elected to the National Association of Broadcasters board of directors,” Fernandez said. “Their broad experiences make each of them a natural choice for their respective roles leading our television and radio operations.”

Jim Prather, EVP-GM of KTNV Las Vegas, will continue to oversee operations for KTNV, but will step away from his regionally aligned role as head of Journal Broadcast Group’s Western region to assume group-wide strategic responsibilities for a number of strategic television efforts including retransmission consent agreement negotiations, network relations, original programming initiatives and TV Everywhere strategy and execution. He will report to Turner in this role.

According to Fernandez, moving away from regional alignment to a segment alignment of television and radio will allow each business to capitalize on a more singular, focused approach.

“As we have invested in our broadcast businesses and expanded our geographic footprint over the last decade, we believe that repositioning our broadcast segment around television and radio recognizes the unique expertise we’ve always had in Journal Broadcast Group around each medium,” Fernandez explained. “These changes also ensure the appropriate strategic focus and resourcing for each business, and should help us further improve our operational performance.”