Former President and CEO of Graham Media Group, Emily Barr, inducted into Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame

Former GMG President and CEO Emily Barr is inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame.

Emily Barr, Graham Media Group’s former president and CEO who retired earlier this year, has been inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame.

Barr led Graham Media Group for more than 10 years.

She was among 12 members – including six women – celebrated Thursday night in New York City.

“This year’s class, announced in 2020 with the celebration delayed due to concerns over COVID-19, is a special one indeed,” wrote Bill McGorry, the chairman of the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame, who oversees the nomination process and manages the annual awards event. “Its 12 members include six women, ranging from on-air journalists Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, co-anchors of NBC’s 'Today,' to Emily Barr, the recently retired president and CEO of Graham Media Group. They are joined by Pearlena Igbowke, chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group; and Susanne Daniels, former global head of original content at YouTube and a media consultant and lecturer. Also included is Nomi Bergman, president of Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership and a director of Comcast Corp.”

The Graham Media Group team, including former president and CEO Emily Barr (fifth from left).

Here is the full list of honorees:

The 2022 ‘B+C’ Hall of Fame Class

• Emily Barr
• Nomi Bergman
• Steve Miron
• Brandon Burgess
• Susanne Daniels
• Savannah Guthrie
• Hoda Kotb
• Pearlena Igbokwe
• Leo MacCourtney
• Dan Mason
• Steven R. Swartz
• Curtis Symonds

Previous honorees from years past include Oprah.

"The career hallmark of (Barr), who just stepped back to serve as a consultant before she retires, is that she has kept her stations connected to their communities while encouraging journalism to thrive," this write-up calls out.

“She is truly motivated by the mission of broadcasting,” National Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in the piece. “That’s always been larger than her role at her specific company. She knows the importance of having a medium that unites and serves as a real local nexus to which people can turn to find the resources they need.”

He also noted Barr’s warmth and authenticity.

“The first thing that strikes you if you spend time with Emily is that she’s a very good listener,” LeGeyt said. “Her role at NAB [as chair of the Television Board] was to find common ground on advocacy solutions. She’s someone who can do that because she’s willing to put herself in others’ shoes.”

Emily Barr on stage at the New York City event.

Catherine Badalamente, Graham's former VP and chief innovation officer, just succeeded Barr as GMG's new president and CEO. Barr and Badalamente worked closely throughout the transition.

“She’s everything that you see and more,” Badalamente said of Barr. “I always tell the story about how I worked closely with Alan Frank [Graham’s CEO before Barr] and he told me that I was going to love working with her. I read every article I could find on her and I went to the comments, because that’s where you get the real story, and every story about her was how she was real and genuine and hard-working. All of that turned out to be true.”

Read more: Welcome to the 30th Anniversary of the ‘B+C’ Hall of Fame | B+C Hall of Fame 2022: Emily Barr

Graham Media Group stations reimagine local news beyond broadcast with new morning newscast livestreams

Starting Monday, April 4, 2022, Graham Media Group stations KPRC-TV (Houston) and WDIV-TV (Detroit) will launch an additional hour of their morning local newscast streaming, exclusively on digital platforms and OTT apps.

KPRC-TV’s morning newscast will stream from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on KPRC2+, and will feature the morning news team of Owen Conflenti, Lisa Hernandez, meteorologist Anthony Yanez and Anavid Reyes following rush hour traffic. Amy Davis and Anavid Reyes will expand their consumer and transit stories to include angles not covered on broadcast, and the hour will feature live guests to give depth and perspective on the big stories of the day.

WDIV-TV’s morning newscast will stream from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Local4+, and will feature the morning news team of Rhonda Walker, Evrod Cassimy, meteorologist Brandon Roux, traffic reporter Kim DeGiulio and reporter Nick Monacelli, and will feature live guests, the day’s top stories, weather and traffic reports from across Metro Detroit. WDIV added a 10 p.m. weeknight newscast streaming exclusively on Local4+ earlier this year.

“We’ve reimagined our streaming news products to meet the needs of our viewers. They’ve clearly told us they want more local news from the brands they trust most, and we’re providing that with our original news programs on Local4+,” said Bob Ellis, WDIV Vice President and General Manger. “Unlocking the combined power of our local television news, our market-leading news website, and our trusted anchors and reporters means more quality content more often. The streaming numbers on our app continue to grow rapidly, and we’re committed to serving these new audiences now and in the weeks and months ahead, with much more quality content coming."

KPRC2+ and Local4+ television apps are available for free download in the Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV app stores. The livestreams also can be viewed on the stations’ mobile apps and online at Click2Houston.com and ClickOnDetroit.com, respectively.

Additionally, Graham Media Group stations continue to innovate in streaming local news beyond broadcast. Earlier this year, KSAT-TV (San Antonio) launched a daily 11 a.m. digital stream exclusive newscast, “KSAT News Now”, and “KSAT Explains”, a weekly deep-dive news feature program available on KSAT Plus; and WSLS-TV (Roanoke) launched “The Sprint”, a daily digital-only news brief.

WKMG-TV (Orlando) has pioneered a “Choose Your View” director’s chair digital stream for coverage of space launches from Kennedy Space Center and with 25 live cameras covering the Orlando Fourth of July Fireworks in 2021. WJXT-TV (Jacksonville) debuted the “Choose Your View” stream in covering the implosion of a downtown skyscraper in March.

Other Graham Media Group digital-first productions currently streaming on each stations’ OTT apps include “Solutionaries," a monthly solutions journalism-focused program highlighting local people working to find solutions to challenging issues from affordable housing and inflation, to climate concerns and police reform; and “Something Good," an ongoing series of positive news and the good works of people living in the community.

Stephanie Slagle named Graham Media Group Chief Innovation Officer; Michael Newman named Director of Transformation

Stephanie Slagle, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer

Graham Media Group has announced that it has named Stephanie Slagle as Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.

Slagle joined Graham Media Group in 2019 as Director, Brand Agency and Sales Strategy, and held a pivotal role during the successful launch of OMNE, Graham Media Group’s multiplatform ad agency for data-driven results.

As Chief Innovation Officer, Slagle will be based in Detroit and will oversee the Graham Digital team.

“Stephanie excels at navigating the digital universe and helping sales, news and technology teams build and deliver imaginative solutions,” said Catherine Badalamente, GMG President and CEO. “Her passion for learning and teaching has helped her build enthusiastic, client and viewer-focused teams and we’re thrilled to have her take a leadership role in innovation.”

Previously, Slagle spent nine years at Dispatch Media Group, acquired by TEGNA in 2019, building and managing the digital departments for WBNS-TV, WBNS Radio and the Columbus Dispatch. In 2017, Slagle led the launch of Pixelent Digital, WBNS’s full-service digital agency.

Slagle and her husband will relocate to Metro Detroit in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Graham Media Group announced the promotion of Michael Newman to Director of Transformation.

Michael Newman, Director of Transformation

Since 2007, Newman has been the lead developer for Graham Media Group, and has been the chief visionary architect of successful projects and product launches ranging from video, streaming, mobile, ad-tech, UI/UX, apps and more.

“Michael’s keen eye for automation and process efficiencies puts Graham Media in the unique position to lead the industry in audience and sales transformation,” Badalamente said.

Newman is a graduate of Ohio University with a degree in journalism and resides in Grosse Pointe Park with his wife and two children.

WJXT/WCWJ VP and GM Terri Cope Walton talks mentors, value and career advice

As we make our way through Women’s History Month, Graham Media Group is highlighting many worthy stories that are women-related, but most importantly: We're talking to our own female leaders.

We picked the brain of Terri Cope Walton, VP and General Manager of WJXT/WCWJ in Jacksonville, Florida, to learn more about her journey to leadership, what makes someone an effective co-worker and what advice she has.

Q: Who was your mentor, and how did you grow that relationship?

A: My first mentor was my father. In the fourth grade, I had to make a sign. I grabbed a marker and wrote the message on a piece of whiteboard. My father said, “Let’s try this again.” He got another piece of whiteboard, measured it and cut it so it was even. Then, he used a ruler to draw equidistant lines, in pencil, across the board. We wrote the message in pencil until it was perfect, traced it with marker, then erased all the pencil lines. The finished product was a polished and professional looking piece of signage. I honor that relationship by putting in the extra effort, regardless of the assignment, which is a practice that has served me well professionally and personally.

Q: What are the three most important factors that make you an effective, valued co-worker?

A: The most important factors I believe make me an effective co-worker are (that) I’m consistent, transparent and fair. The most respectful thing I can do is to be the same person — most of the time. We all have challenging moments, but that should not affect how I present to others. Nor should I burden them with trying to predict what to expect from me. It is equally as respectful to let people know how you feel. The truth always surfaces, and even if you don’t like it, most of us appreciate not being surprised. Finally, I believe in being fair. The hard part is understanding equity does not mean everyone is treated the same, and that often initiates deeper conversations of transparency with consistency.

Q: What advice would you give yourself when you were just starting your career?

A: If present me could speak with my younger self, I would tell her, “It will be as it should be.” I remember spending a lot of time worrying about life’s destinations: In what field will I build a career? Will I be successful? Who will I choose to marry? Will I be a mother? Then, looking back, I realize all that worry was unnecessary and did not advance or alter the course of my life. And if anything, it took away from the joys of the journey! Sometimes you make intentional decisions. Other times decisions are made despite your best intentions. But it really is a sum total game, and when all is said and done, it will be as it should be.

The Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation announces 2022 Board of Directors & Officers, including incoming Graham Media Group CEO

Graham Media Group’s next CEO, Catherine Badalamente

The Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation (AWM/F) recently announced the 2022 National Board of Directors and Officers, which includes Catherine Badalamente, our current vice president and chief innovation officer, who is also Graham Media Group's incoming CEO.

Also new to the AWM board are: Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing, First Look Media; Thea Mitchem, Executive Vice President of Programming, iHeart Media; and Marie Tedesco, Chief Financial Officer, Beasley Media Group.

New to the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) Board are: Tim Clarke, Senior Vice President, Digital Audio Content, Audacy and Vicki Lins, President and CEO, CTAM.

Officers of the board have been announced as Heather Cohen, Executive Vice President, The Weiss Agency, serving as chair; Annie Howell, Chief Communications Officer, Crown Media Family Networks (Hallmark), serving as incoming chair; Keisha Sutton-James, CEO & Founder, Sutton Button Productions LLC, serving as immediate past chair; Brenda Hetrick, Chief Revenue Officer, Matrix Solutions, serving as treasurer, and Katina Arnold, Vice President, Corporate Communications, ESPN, serving as incoming treasurer.

“The role of the AWM and Foundation boards is to lead our organizations and industry as we recognize, connect and educate women in all facets of media.” stated Becky Brooks, president, AWM/F. “The past two years have proven that leadership of an organization is critical to navigate through uncertain times. It is as important as it’s ever been to have insightful, diverse leadership. This year’s directors are dedicated to donating time and resources to guide us to the next level. We are thrilled to have these talented, accomplished women and men guiding our strategic initiatives.”

The following leaders will continue to serve as Directors at Large of AWM: Marsha Cooke, Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Films and 30 for 30; Abby Greensfelder, Founder & CEO, Everywoman Studios; and, Katherine Wolfgang, Head of Public Relations, CBC. Svetlana Gans, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association (NCTA); Mike McVay, President, McVay Media; Deborah Parenti, Publisher, RadioInk, RBR and TVBR; Josie Thomas, former (retired) Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion

Officer, CBS and Christine Travaglini, President, Katz Radio Group; will continue to serve as a Director at Large of AWMF.

AWMF is also pleased to announce Heather Cohen, Annie Howell and Mike McVay will continue to serve as chairs for the Gracie Awards.

Emily L. Barr, president and CEO of Graham Media Group to retire; Catherine Badalamente named as successor

Emily L. Barr, president and chief executive officer of Graham Media Group, the local media division of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), has announced that she will retire from that position later this year. Catherine Badalamente has been named her successor.

“Emily’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success. Graham Media Group has continued its tenure as a best-in-class operator, and Emily has led the organization to receive numerous awards and achieve record earnings," said Timothy J. O’Shaughnessy, chief executive officer of Graham Holdings Company. "(Emily's) deep commitment to the communities we serve has been unparalleled. But perhaps the greatest element of her legacy is the excellence of the team she has built, as evidenced by her successor, Catherine Badalamente. On behalf of everyone at Graham Holdings, I want to thank Emily for her decade of service to the company.”

Current Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr

Badalamente joined Graham Media Group (formerly Post-Newsweek Stations) in 2000. She has served in a number of executive leadership roles, spearheading the organization’s digital efforts since 2009; most recently as vice president and chief innovation officer.

Graham Media Group and Graham Digital have received numerous awards under Badalamente’s management, recognizing the organization for excellence in digital, podcast and local news production. Under her direction, the company has been at the forefront of developing NextGen TV monetization strategies and models for both digital and broadcast.

An industry thought-leader and award-winning presenter, Badalamente is active in several industry forums, including serving as chair of the board of directors of the Local Media Association, treasurer of the board of directors of the Local Media Foundation, and immediate past chair of the National Association of Broadcasters Digital Officers Committee. She earned a BA in communications from John Carroll University.

The next GMG President and CEO, Catherine Badalamente

“I could not be more pleased to appoint Catherine the new CEO of Graham Media Group," O’Shaughnessy said. "Catherine has helped keep GMG ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry, including her leadership in growing each of our digital news sites to be Comscore-ranked No. 1 in their local markets. As the next generation of Graham Media Group unfolds, we have a next generation leader to help steer the ship.”

Barr joined Graham Media Group, then Post–Newsweek Stations, in 2012. Under her leadership, she has transformed the organization from a broadcast-based model to seven local media hubs — each in a top-71 market, representing just under 7% coverage in the U.S.

The television stations, web and mobile platforms are recognized as news leaders across the media spectrum. During Barr's tenure, Graham Media Group acquired Social News Desk, a leading provider of social media software utilized by thousands of newsrooms around the world. Barr is also responsible for the creation of Graham Digital, a digital media and technology development group based in Detroit.

Graham Media Group was awarded the 2021 Broadcaster of the Year honor by TV NewsCheck, the 2016 Station Group of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine, and has received numerous accolades during Barr’s tenure.

In 2020, Barr received the Broadcaster of the Year award from Broadcasting & Cable Magazine; and, later this spring, she will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Honored for her civic involvement, Barr is also the 2018 recipient of the Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America, and was inducted into the 2016 Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She was also awarded the 2014 Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Most recently, Barr was elected to the 2021 class of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts.

Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr honored among ‘Giants Of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts’ recipients

Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr has been recognized and honored as one of 10 industry leaders celebrated for her lifetime achievements, at last week’s virtual Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) Giants Of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts awards ceremony.

The Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts is LABF'S annual celebration of the distinguished individuals who have — for the past century — been the creators, innovators, journalists, leaders, performers, and producers who have brought the electronic arts to the prominence they occupy in the United States and the world today, and who have set the stage for the future.

In addition to Barr, the 2021 honorees include:

• Frank Boyle, President/CEO, Frank Boyle & Co
• Bob Costas, Hall of Fame sports broadcaster
• Russell Perry, Founder/President, Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Co
• Robin Roberts, co-anchor “Good Morning America” and President Rock’n Robin Productions
• Marion Ross, Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated film and TV actress and “Happy Days” cast member “Marion Cunningham”
• Neal Shapiro, President/CEO, The WNET Group
• Sen. Gordon H. Smith, President/CEO, National Association of Broadcasters
• Jordan Wertlieb, Senior VP, Hearst Communications and President, Hearst Television.

The event, which was held Nov. 9, included acceptance speeches from each of the winners. Hear Barr's full remarks here.

“I want to express a very humble and heartfelt thank you to the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation and IRTS for this amazing recognition,” Barr said. "At 5 foot 2, I have never described myself as a giant of any kind, but I know that today, I stand on the shoulders of so many courageous journalists, broadcasters, informers and local media peers who have helped educate, celebrate and uplift their communities.”

ABC News' "Nightline" co-anchor Juju Chang hosted.

Watch the entire virtual event by clicking or tapping here.

Graham Media Group launches new solutions-based digital newscast, 'Solutionaries' to premiere June 18

Graham Media Group is excited to announce an innovative new digital newscast that will focus on solutions-based journalism and highlight people who are making a difference.

The pilot episode of "Solutionaries," which was created with the news team at WKMG, will launch Friday, June 18, and feature the stories of those who are evolving law enforcement practices in Central Florida to reduce the risk of violent encounters -- particularly when it comes to members of the community who suffer from mental illness and men and women of color.

Check out "Solutionaries" on YouTube.

You’ll hear from a local sheriff who is trying to “turn the system on its head” and a police officer who created a unique partnership aimed at providing resources to those in need. You’ll also hear from a young man whose life was forever changed when he says he was wrongfully arrested.

“Watching the Solutionaries team build this show from scratch has been fantastic. The stories they’re telling are sure to resonate with our audience and cause them to examine these issues from a new perspective,” News 6 News Director Allison McGinley said. “On top of that, we’re serving up these pieces in a cutting-edge digital format that will allow them to be shared and watched over and over again.”

We’ve also devised a number of ways to get our audience involved in our storytelling. For this first episode, we brought together a panel and invited them to give their feedback about the ideas presented. Their responses were both thought-provoking and candid.

Going forward, we’ll be asking members of our audience to submit their ideas for topics they’d like to see covered.

"What we’ve found thus far is that this approach has freed our journalists from the confines of traditional storytelling. We are speaking directly to the viewer and inviting them to observe, from the inside, how an issue is defined and reported. Producers, photographers and editors now can participate with the reporter in shaping more complete storytelling and advanced presentation," News 6 General Manager Jeff Hoffman said.

Learn more by going to SolutionariesNetwork.com.

The first episode is hosted by News 6 investigative reporter Louis Bolden, who has nearly 20 years of experience at News 6.

“Never in my career have my bosses come to me and said, ‘We want you to be part of a team that reimagines a newscast. You have no rules, do whatever you want, except we don't want it to look like a traditional newscast.’ And we were thrilled to be a part of it,” Bolden said.

Graham Media Group observes Juneteenth 2021 by promoting education and outreach to combat injustice and racism

In observance of Juneteenth 2021, Graham Media Group and its seven media hubs take the opportunity to celebrate by educating and informing their employees and communities on the importance of this historical milestone in our country’s history.

“We wanted to further our Juneteenth efforts this year by creating opportunities for learning and outreach that supports the cause of combatting injustice and racism,” said Emily Barr, Graham Media Group President and CEO. “So, we established Juneteenth as an annual day to promote learning, reflection and action against racial injustice.”

To facilitate these opportunities for learning and outreach, Graham Media Group formed a Juneteenth Committee with members from all seven media hubs and our digital businesses.

“Establishing Juneteenth as a time for all employees to engage in learning and reflection that supports positive dialogues and community outreach has been very meaningful to our DEI mission,” said Caroline Chambers, GMG’s Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This effort brought together a committee of employees from across GMG with diverse backgrounds and experiences working together to take all our colleagues on a collective learning journey focused on this important history that has been missing from most of our educational text.”

Many GMG media hubs will be hosting educational discussions with the community, airing locally produced shows, public service announcements, and supporting local organizations as part of this corporate-wide commitment to educating employees and station viewing audiences.

“We are able to commit to these projects by partnering with local education leaders and making purposeful engagements with Black-owned businesses to support our celebration events,” Chambers said.

Each employee will also get the opportunity to enjoy a live town hall meeting featuring local talent and experts with a special introduction by CEO Emily Barr.

“Graham Media Group will continue to set aside June 19 as a day to participate in programs that support learning, positive dialogues and community outreach,” Barr said.

Graham Media Group stations proud to be selected for LMA’s 'Covering Climate Collaborative'

Graham Media Group stations are proud to be joining the Local Media Association's "Covering Climate Collaborative" to inform and empower their audiences to slow the catastrophic effects of global warming.

“Our stations are committed and excited to join this effort, which may well result in the most important journalism they do this year and beyond,” Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr said. “Climate change impacts our stations on personal, professional and business levels. We all have to live in our rapidly changing world, and we’ve experienced the effects first-hand. Our newsrooms are taking on this issue with renewed focus and intensity. Weather is central to our mission as local broadcasters, both as a public safety service and for community education.”

GMG stations join a national group of publishers, broadcast groups, radio stations and digital-first news sites to expand and deepen climate coverage.

“We’re thrilled to announce this group of newsrooms that are recognized for their commitment to reporting locally on the impacts of climate change,” said Frank Mungeam, LMA chief innovation officer. “This collaboration brings together newsrooms with diverse platform expertise — from print to digital to audio and video — and represents key regions directly affected by our changing climate.”

The partners are grouped into five regional hubs, to cover the local impact of climate change in our "backyards" -- for example, to show how this global problem is affecting our regions specifically. Part of LMA's mission statement is "to localize and humanize the impacts of climate change, and to empower residents in those communities to take meaningful local action."

“For many of us, the issue is personal,” Barr said. “We have children and grandchildren destined to take over this earth as we pass on. We have a moral imperative to act now. We believe joining this collaborative is a critical next step in our efforts to raise awareness and hold the powerful accountable to future generations. … Graham Media Group stands firmly behind this effort and looks forward to doing our part.”

Learn more.

Graham Media Group's President and CEO Emily Barr named Broadcasting and Cable’s 2020 Broadcaster of the Year

Graham Media Group’s President and CEO Emily Barr has been named Broadcasting and Cable’s 2020 Broadcaster of the Year.

Before she receives an award at TVB’s Alt Forward Conference on Oct. 1, she will be profiled in B+C’s awards issue Sept. 21.

Barr, who has led the broadcast division of Graham Holdings since 2012, has previously received the Golden Mike Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America in 2018 -- and in 2016, she was inducted into the 2016 Silver Circle of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Additionally, Graham Media Group was named B+C’s Station Group of the Year in 2016 under Barr’s leadership.

Along with her accolades, Barr is proud to be the TV Board chair of the National Association of Broadcasters and the vice chair for the NBC Affiliate Board.

She also serves on boards of the Television Bureau of Advertising and the Associated Press. Barr has also been an active member of the National Association of Broadcasters and the Illinois Broadcasters Association.

Chicago-based Graham Media Group is comprised of seven local media hubs, Graham Digital and Social News Desk, delivering local news, programming, advertising solutions and digital media tools for television, online, mobile, OTT, podcasts and audio devices.

GMG operates in six states: KPRC–Houston, WDIV–Detroit and WSLS–Roanoke (NBC); KSAT–San Antonio (ABC); WKMG–Orlando (CBS); WJXT–Jacksonville (fully local) and WCWJ–Jacksonville (CW).

Based in Detroit, Graham Digital is a digital media and technology development group widely recognized as a leading industry innovator.

Social News Desk, headquartered in Atlanta, provides its more than 2,500 worldwide newsroom-customers with a single dashboard to publish, measure, curate and monetize local news content on social platforms.