Former DFW news director now TEGNA Chief Content Officer

Adrienne Roark, who has Texas TV roots, has been named chief content officer effective March 31, 2025.

“I’m thrilled to join TEGNA and look forward to working with the talented team to continue innovating and delivering high-quality, audience-driven stories for the tens of millions of community members who come to our platforms daily for their local news,” Roark said in a release.

Roark joins TEGNA from CBS News and Stations, where the Hollywood Reporter writes she was named president of editorial and newsgathering at CBS News just seven months ago. While at CBS, she oversaw daily editorial content, managed CBS-owned stations in New York and Boston, launched weather across the network and led the group’s data journalism team. Earlier, she oversaw the network’s owned and operated stations in the East and Central U.S.

Variety reports that her "departure is just the latest in a parade of executives assigned to lead the home of '60 Minutes' and 'CBS Evening News' in recent years."

I remember back to March 2010 when Roark was named the then-named CBS 11 KTVT Dallas-Fort Worth (now called CBS News Texas) vice president and news director. In 2014, she left KTVT to become the KOIN 6 Portland, Oregon general manager.

Roark’s experience includes news leadership positions at WFOR Miami, WESH Orlando, WDSU New Orleans, WTVJ Miami, WKYC Cleveland, WCMH Columbus and WBNS Columbus.

“Throughout her impressive career, Adrienne has delivered exceptional journalism at scale while staying deeply committed to local communities,” said Mike Steib, TEGNA’s CEO. “She brings sharp editorial and operational expertise, a history of rapid innovation across TV and digital, and the kind of high-intensity, high-velocity leadership that fits perfectly with our team.”

She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

KTVT 11 and KTXA 21 get Adrienne Roark as news director

Lots of leadership changes at KTVT 11 and KTXA 21 in Dallas - Fort Worth, but it looks like the final touches have been put on the management group there (follow the saga in the Related Links section below). Leneli Liggayu of Broadcasting and Cable reports Adrienne Roark has been named Vice President and News Director of the CBS owned stations:

She was news director for WFOR-TV and WBFS-TV in Miami-Fort Lauderdale area before joining the Dallas stations. She has also worked for five other stations: WTVJ-TV in Miami, WESH-TV in Orlando, WKYC-TV in Cleveland, and WCMH-TV and WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. Along with being a graduate of The Ohio State University, she is a two-time Emmy winner and received regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2008 and 2009. READ THE REST

Meanwhile The Dallas Observer starting doing some digging and found that Roark is a "Protector of Ethics and Ideals."

Adrienne Roark WFOR-TV bio

RELATED
- CBS 11 KTVT gets new man in charge
- KTVT news director Scott Diener now at KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles
- DFW's KTVT boss moves to LA's KCBS
- KTVT general manager Steve Mauldin aims to make CBS 11 number 1

Steve Simon returns to CW39 KIAH as news director

After leaving Houston for Dallas, Steve Simon has returned to CW39 KIAH as news director for the new local version of Morning Dose with Sharron Melton (formerly of abc13 KTRK).

"Yes , I’m back," Simon told mikemcguff.com. "News Director at the place I first walked in many years ago. Glad to be back in Houston."

No doubt, Simon has a history with the currently-owned Tribune owned station (soon to be a Nexstar Media Group after being sold).

Back in 2013, you might have read on my blog, that Simon was leaving KIAH where he was at the time serving as NewsFix executive producer, to expand the anchor-less newscast as news director for sister-station KDAF Dallas.

Now Simon has returned to where he started in Houston as an anchor/reporter back in the KHWB 39 days when the station re-booted its newscast in 2000.

Before H-Town, Simon worked at WSVN Miami, WHNT Huntsville, Alabama, WCMH Columbus, Ohio and WFXL Albany, Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and earned a masters in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

I was curious if Simon would bring back his award-winning commentary segment, Simon Says. He tells me at this point that is not in the plans as his focus is making the station's new local morning show the best that it can be.

By the way, TV newsers and KPRC 2 viewers will definitely recognize Simon's wife, former channel 2 anchor/reporter Lisa Baldwin.

Steve Simon expands NewsFix to KDAF from KIAH

Steve Simon leaves Houston's KIAH to expand NewsFix format to KDAF Dallas

Steve Simon

People who were waiting to see if/when CW 39 KIAH's anchor-less show NewsFix would start showing up in other cities now have an answer.

 KIAH executive director Steve Simon is leaving the Tribune station in Houston and moving to sister station KDAF in Dallas as news director to start NewsFix in the DFW Metroplex.

"It's a great opportunity," Simon told mikemcguff.com. "Look forward to it."

Simon has been at KIAH for the last 13 years. When the then KHWB rebooted its news in 2000, Simon was the station's weekend anchor for the launch. He moved to main anchor and then as a commentator. He became the station's executive producer in 2010 prior to NewsFix's launch.

Before Houston, Simon worked at WSVN-TV Miami, WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio and WFXL-TV in Albany, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Texas and earned a masters in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

You might remember Simon's wife, Lisa Baldwin, from her years on KPRC 2.

I asked Simon if his award winning Simon Says commentary would air on KIAH or KDAF once he gets settled in DFW.

"Once the show starts in Dallas, maybe I'll think about doing it again," he told me.

Simon's promotion follows the one by his boss a few months ago. KIAH general manager Roger Bare took over GM duties at KDAF (while retaining his Houston duties too) in September.

No word on when NewsFix debuts on KDAF, but I would imagine it will take some time. For example, NewsFix's KIAH debut was announced in July 2010, but formally came on the air March 2011. I would imagine it will not take KDAF that long to get it on the air since there is a blueprint in place, but I'm sure there will have to be new hires and equipment upgrades.

I know that people across the country in the TV biz want to know how NewsFix does in the Houston TV news ratings race. At the one year anniversary, the then Tribune CEO said the following:

“We are pleased with what “NewsFix” has accomplished in its first year,” said Nils Larsen, CEO of Tribune Broadcasting. “It has proven to be a viable news format, one of many recent innovations in newsrooms across Tribune Broadcasting.”

Click here to see the company's ratings claims in 2012.

In the May 2013 ratings, the Houston Chronicle reported it had a 0.5 in households and a 0.3 in adults 25-54. Someone commented in that post that NewsFix had a 0.5 P25-54 at 5pm which they claimed was competitive with KRIV and KHOU in that time slot.

While the ratings might not be burning up the Nielsen TV charts, I repeatedly hear NewsFix is profitable. I think most TV viewers know the cliche that TV stations will "do anything for high ratings," but that might not be the case as much anymore.

In the last few years I have observed most corporate TV companies are just fine with profitability over high ratings. Clearly high ratings means more money through advertising, but these days, the retransmission fees are becoming just as important.

Dallas media blogger icon Uncle Barky has more on this from the KDAF Dallas perspective.

RELATED
KIAH 39 News: The last days in photo before NewsFix

McKenna King joins CBS News Texas

McKenna King is joining CBS News Texas KTVT Dallas-Fort Worth as its weekday evening meteorologist at 5pm and 10pm.

UPDATE 2025
She is promoted to CBS News Texas First Alert Chief Meteorologist

One would assume she is taking over the spot vacated by chief meteorologist Scott Padgett, who moved to the new KTVT morning show in July.

King comes from NBC4 WCMH Columbus, Ohio, where she has been the weekday morning meteorologist since January 2022.

Before Ohio, King worked for:

- ABC Action News: WFTS, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Florida as Weather Anchor/Anchor/Reporter

- Idaho News 6 KIVI, Boise, Idaho as Weather Anchor/Anchor/Reporter

- KSL, Salt Lake City, Utah as Associate Producer/Traffic Producer

- KBYU, Provo, Utah as Weather Anchor/Reporter

King is a Utah native and a Brigham Young University and Mississippi State University graduate.

Danielle Grossman leaves KPRC 2

Danielle Grossman leaves KPRC 2 Houston as a freelance reporter on December 23, 2022.  She joined the station in August 2022.

On January 1, 2022, Grossman posted she is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's new strategic communications director.

Here is what Grossman posted on Facebook in December 2022:

I am officially done at CNN and Friday will be my last day at KPRC! 

I am so grateful for both opportunities which have made me a better journalist and writer. But it’s time to move on.

I’ll never forget the stories I’ve told in Houston. Working at KPRC has helped me learn so much about this massive city! I have also been surrounded by some of the most talented journalists in the business. It’s truly a top notch station.

As for CNN, I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity during a really tough time in my life. I was able to work from home and also be with my little one during the pandemic.

Leaving both is very bittersweet for me. 

As for what’s next…

(**no, we’re not moving!)

Here is what Grossman posted to Instagram back in August 2022 when she was hired at KPRC 2:

"When I left news last year, it was the height of the pandemic, I was pregnant and my mom was dying of cancer. I had to take a step back...

Now that we are settled in our home, I have the chance to get out in my new community, tell some stories, meet people and revisit something I truly never lost sight of (and on my own terms).

See you on NBC in Houston Thursdays and Fridays at 4,5 & 6pm for the next few months.

Fun fact: this will be my 6th NBC newsroom."

Grossman has been freelancing for CNN Newsource for the past year.  She has also been working in public relations among other things.

She left NBC4 WCMH Columbus, Ohio in 2021 where she was a host/fill-in anchor/reporter.

Before that, Grossman worked for:

- News15 KADN Lafayette, Louisiana - Evening Anchor, Managing Editor 

- FOX 44 WGMB  Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Evening Anchor, Multimedia Journalist, Producer

- KNBN Newscenter1 Rapid City, South Dakota - morning anchor

- Reporter - Philadelphianeighborhoods.com

- Arutz Sheva, Israel National News - Reporter

The Temple University grad interned with NBC10 WCAU Philadelphia.

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* Posted updated with Grossman's departure from KPRC 2 Houston.

Texas TV & radio job moves January 2016

DALLAS

Weekend anchor/reporter Carla Wade leaving TEGNA8 after three-year stay.

NBC 5’s Eric King is returning to his old Kentucky home.

Shannon Murray joined KDFW/Channel 4’s morning show Good Day as a weekday general assignment reporter from a reporter/fill-in anchor gig at Austin’s KVUE.

The former longtime WFAA film critic and latter day co-host of the station’s Good Morning Texas, Gary Cogill, is now freelancing his movie reviews for NBC5.

WFAA adds Bradley Blackburn to reporting staff.

Chris McDonald joined WFAA as the Cross Platform Content Manager. He was the assignments manager at KEYE from August to December.

WFAA hired Jeff Anastasio as director of digital editorial content from KENS San Antonio.

Cumulus DFW Names Dustin Kross Program Director At KLIF-FM

HOUSTON

89.3 KSBJ debuts a new morning show with Rachelle and Carder.

Former Oiler and radio broadcaster Sean Jones joins midday tandem on KBME (790 AM)
- 790 KBME announces new 2016 lineup

Houston Radio: Piolin Lands on 104.5 FM.

Former Telemundo Houston KTMD meteorologist Irene Sans joins WFTV in Orlando.

Longtime KPRC 2 photographer Ed Rayman, who famously wears neck ties while covering the courts system, is retiring after many years with the station.

Former KTRK abc13 engineer Philip Muller joins Telemundo Houston as News Operations Manager.

KTRK abc13 web producer Michael King joins NBC4 WCMH Columbus, Ohio as Manager of Digital Platforms.

KTRK abc13 web producer Blanca Beltran leaves the station.

KPRC 2 web editor John Brannen joins UH Law Center as writer/editor.

- Where is PK on the Hot 95.7 morning show?
- John Fenoglio joins KTLA Los Angeles
- Where is Brien Straw on SportsRadio 610's The Bstraw & PaulyG Show?
- MEGA 101 KLOL extends contract with PD Tony Luna
- Casey Curry back at abc13 KTRK
- FOX 26's Ashley Johnson is leaving

SAN ANTONIO

Jeff Brady joins KENS 5 Eyewitness News as evening anchor.

News 4 is proud to announce that David Chancellor is co-hosting ESPN 1250's "The Hardline with Ari and Chance" every weekday from 11am-2pm.

Camilla Rambaldi hired as reporter for WOAI/KABB.

- José Alberto Suárez named President and GM of Telemundo 60 San Antonio KVDA

AUSTIN

Natalie Ferrari joins KXAN for weekend morning weather from KBTX.

AROUND TEXAS

Shelley Childers is joining WXYZ in Detroit from KRGV in Weslaco.

- Ann Harder's 20th Anniversary at KXXV Waco, Temple, Killeen
- Joeseph Martinez joins Telemundo 40 Rio Grande Valley

REMEMBERING

The Houston music community is mourning the loss of Anthony Mills, known to friends and fans as Zin on KPFT (90.1 FM).

Betsy Britton, a longtime staple of the San Antonio airwaves, died at the age of 61.

Jim Guidry, of GuidryNews.com, has passed away.

Longtime KUT and KUTX radio host Paul Ray dies.

- 97 Rock and #KLOL legend Bill Moffett passes away
- Bob Presley of KILT fame passes away


As good as people think I am at tracking Texas media job moves, my image is better than reality. Don't expect that I see every Twitter or Facebook post about your new job. Don't get mad at me, contact me below to make sure I don't miss your big career move!
- Contact here for job changes
- Looking for TX TV jobs?

RELATED
- Texas TV & radio job moves December 2015
- All the new and disappearing faces on Houston TV screens in 2015

KPRC 2's Stephen Dean is WSYX 6 bound

Remember back in February when I asked Is KPRC 2's Stephen Dean leaving Houston?

The quote he gave me back then answered that question without actually saying it in my opinion:

"My bosses mentioned hearing that rumor [Thursday] as well, and it surprised us all quite a bit," Dean told mikemcguff.com in February. "I signed a new contract just a few months ago, and I'm quite happy with it. My management has asked that I leave my response about my future with the station at that."

I always thought the part that says, "My management has asked that I leave my response about my future with the station at that" kind of said indirectly I'm out of here but my bosses don't want me yacking about it.

Well today Dean informed me he is headed to WSYX ABC6 On Your Side in Columbus, Ohio.

"I am thrilled to be going home to be doing the exact kind of investigative reporting that I love doing so much in Houston," Dean told mikemcguff.com. "It is the perfect chance to go home."

Columbus is also home for Dean's wife where they both have family.

Dean told me that he had some great times in Houston. Some of his favorite investigations were his local law enforcement drone story and a series of reports that forever changed how the U. S. military investigates crimes - a story that earned him the Peabody Award.

According to his LinkedIn account, Dean also worked as an investigative reporter at KTRH 740 NewsRadio, reporter at WCMH-TV and assistant news director/reporter at 610 WTVN Radio. So now Dean will be back where he started at WTVN - Columbus, Ohio.

"We always knew we wanted to go back home, just didn't know when we would have the chance," Dean told me.

McKenna King promoted to CBS News Texas First Alert Chief Meteorologist

McKenna King has been promoted to the CBS News Texas KTVT Dallas-Fort Worth First Alert Chief Meteorologist position after Scott Padgett left for CBS New York WCBS's First Alert Weather team.

"In tornado coverage, McKenna is calm," said Meagan Harris, KTVT VP of News & Creative Content. "She knows the science and how to deliver it in moments it’s needed most."

King joined CBS News Texas in December 2024 as its weekday evening meteorologist at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., following Padgett's move to the new KTVT morning show in July.

She arrived in North Texas from NBC4 WCMH Columbus, Ohio, where she has been the weekday morning meteorologist since January 2022.

Before NBC4, King worked for:

- ABC Action News: WFTS, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota, Florida as Weather Anchor/Anchor/Reporter

- Idaho News 6 KIVI, Boise, Idaho as Weather Anchor/Anchor/Reporter

- KSL, Salt Lake City, Utah as Associate Producer/Traffic Producer

- KBYU, Provo, Utah as Weather Anchor/Reporter

A Utah native, King is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Mississippi State University.

- From DFW to El Paso, TV love is in the air

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Dale Nelson leaves KRIS 6 Corpus Christi

Dale Nelson retired from his KRIS 6 Corpus Christi Chief Meteorologist role after 42 years with the Coastal Bend station on December 29, 2023 at 6pm.

RELATED
- New KRIS 6 Corpus Christi studio 2023
- Pat Simon leaves KRIS 6
- Clara Benitez joins KRIS 6 Corpus

"I cannot thank Dale enough for his commitment to KRIS and the people of South Texas," said KRIS Communications Vice President and General Manager Ramon Pineda on the station's website. "After four decades of service, he's more than earned this retirement. He will be sorely missed, and I could not be more happy for him."

"The Coastal Bend is such a great place to live and I won't be leaving right away — maybe ever," Nelson added. "I've got some unfinished things I want to accomplish outside of broadcast meteorology."

Nelson joined KRIS in 1981 from the chief met position with KTIV 4 Sioux City, Iowa. 

In the decades since joining channel 6, Nelson has been awarded “Best Weathercast” by the Associated Press and “Best of the Best” award from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times many times since 1995.

In addition to Corpus Christi TV, Nelson has delivered daily weather forecasts via radio on Oldies 93.9 KXMR and KRYS K-99.

The University of St. Thomas in Houston grad started his career in 1979 with NBC4 WCMH Columbus, Ohio in his home state.

"Congratulations, Dale, on 42 years of service to our community," said John Metz, the Meteorologist in Charge for the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi. "You have been a reliable source for weather forecasts and a great partner to the National Weather Service in relaying warnings to help save lives. You will be missed!"

Nelson is retiring with a new knee.  He was off-air from early September of 2023 to November recovering from surgery. 

(Thanks Craig!)

Steve Simon exits CW39 KIAH

CW39 KIAH news director Steve Simon's job position eliminated as Nexstar Media Group makes changes to newly acquired Tribune stations


Steve Simon has been a fixture on the Houston TV scene off and on since 2000, but his news director position he returned to KIAH CW39 for in 2018, has been eliminated as the Nexstar Media Group begins making changes across the country after its recent purchase of the Tribune Stations.

"From 39News to Newsfix (Houston and DFW) and Morning Dose ( Houston) - it’s been a great experience with many people who will always be lifelong friends," Simon posted on social media. "Nearly 20 years with one company is almost unheard of anymore. Tribune Media evolved and I rode along with it. It’s now time for a new ride."

The newly created position to lead the channel 39 newsroom is now posted as Manager, News Operations.

In May, we also saw longtime Station Manager and Director of Sales, Harvey Saxer, leave KIAH as Nexstar brought in the new Vice President and General Manager, Chris Pruitt, from sister-station FOX 44 KWKT-KYLE in Waco, Temple, Killeen and Bryan-College Station.

Simon started with KIAH back in 2000 as an anchor/reporter when the station still had the call letters KHWB.

He eventually provided commentary with the award-winning segment "Simon Says."

Around the time the station was premiering NewsFix, the anchor-less news format, Simon became executive producer.

In 2013, Simon moved to Dallas to launch NewsFix on sister-station CW33 KDAF.

As I mentioned, he moved back to Houston in 2018 to become KIAH's news director to oversee Morning Dose.

Before his 2000 arrival in Houston, Simon worked at WSVN Miami, WHNT Huntsville, Alabama, WCMH Columbus, Ohio and WFXL Albany, Georgia.

He is a University of Texas grad and earned a masters in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

"Don’t feel sorry for me," Simon said in his post. "This means I am doing something I haven’t done since I got my first job as a bag boy at Publix when I was 14—-breathe! I’ll take a minute to figure out what’s next, hug my kids and support my wife at a time when she could really use it."