Justin Antoniotti Named WPTZ-WNNE GM

Justin Antoniotti, news director since 2012 at Hearst Television’s WTAE, the ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, has been named president and general manager of WPTZ-WNNE, Hearst’s NBC affiliates in Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y. (DMA 98).

Antoniotti, who assumes his new role on July 1, succeeds Kyle Grimes, who has been appointed president and general manager of WGAL, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Lancaster-Harrisburg-Lebanon-York, Pa.  Antoniotti’s successor as WTAE’s news director will be announced at a later date.

“Justin has done outstanding, award winning journalism in every Hearst television newsroom we have asked him to lead,” said Jordan Wertlieb, Hearst Television’s president. “His management skills and broad experience in a diverse portfolio of markets of various size and geography make him a fitting leader to help build on WPTZ-WNNE’s many accomplishments.”

Antoniotti’s appointment marks the continuation of a family legacy. The Detroit native’s father, Steve, also had an extensive career as both a news director and later general manager in Los Angeles, Detroit, St. Louis and Oklahoma City.

At WTAE, Antoniotti oversaw the news operation of Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, WTAE.com, and WTAE mobile applications.  Earlier this year, WTAE earned a highly coveted Peabody Award, from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, for its investigation of systemic problems within Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire departments leading to wide gaps in fire response times — a series that helped spur remedial action in the Pennsylvania Legislature.  WTAE also has been awarded a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence, from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), for three consecutive years.

Antoniotti joined WTAE from Hearst’s WYFF Greenville, S.C. Prior to WYFF, Antoniotti was assistant news director at Hearst’s WISN Milwaukee from 2005 to 2007 when WISN became the market’s top-rated station for local news.  Before joining Hearst, Antoniotti worked as a news manager in Houston and Memphis. He began his career as a news producer in Columbia, Mo., and later Biloxi, Miss.

Antoniotti graduated with honors in 1996 from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.