Scripps Promotes Joel Davis to KGTV VP-GM

Joel Davis is the new vice president and general manager of Scripps-owned ABC affiliate KGTV San Diego (DMA 28), effective immediately. He succeeds Jeff Block.

Davis arrived in 2009 as news director and was promoted to station manager in 2014. As news director, he restructured the news team, leading to increased viewership, a more engaged digital audience and an impressive collection of Emmy awards.

As station manager he concentrated on achieving local news dominance and revenue growth. In the February ratings book, KGTV was the only station in the market to finish #1 or #2 in every newscast among the prized adult 25-54 audience.

For the past few months, in addition to his station manager role at KGTV, he served as interim GM at KERO, the Scripps station in Bakersfield, Calif.

Before KGTV, Davis was a managing editor at WFTV Orlando, Fla. Other newsroom experiences included news director at KFSN Fresno, Calif., from 2001-2006, and news director at KBAK Bakersfield, Calif.

Davis has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University.