MARGARET CRONAN NAMED NEWS DIRECTOR FOR HEARST TELEVISION’S WCVB CHANNEL 5
Margaret Cronan has been named News Director for WCVB Channel 5, Boston’s News Leader. Cronan’s appointment was announced today by Kyle I. Grimes, WCVB President and General Manager and is effective August 23rd. Cronan, who will be just the eighth News Director in WCVB’s long and storied history, returns to Hearst Television to replace Paige Harrison who was recently promoted to Vice President, News for Hearst Television.
“For more than thirty years, Margaret has held executive positions at a number of very successful media organizations including six years as a News Director with Hearst Television where she demonstrated outstanding journalistic leadership, a commitment to the communities she served, and innovative story-telling,” said Grimes when making the announcement. “We’re delighted to welcome Margaret back to Hearst and to have her join NewsCenter 5 to lead the exceptional team of journalists at WCVB.”
"I am thrilled to join WCVB Channel 5 to lead a news organization and team of journalists whose extraordinary work not only makes the station the community's unrivaled choice for news but also sets the bar for newsrooms nationwide," said Cronan. "I look forward to working with the outstanding NewsCenter 5 staff to maintain a collaborative, inclusive, and energetic work environment and uphold and enhance WCVB's legacy of local news dominance. Coming home to Hearst to oversee journalism that has been recognized many times as the best local news in the country is truly an honor."
Cronan is a veteran news and communications executive with nearly fifteen years of experience leading news operations at television stations in top markets across the country. Over the course of her news career, Cronan was Vice President and News Director for CBS Television Stations’ KYW-TV in Philadelphia, PA. Before that, she served as News Director of Hearst Television’s WBAL-TV in Baltimore, MD as well as WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL. Prior to Hearst, Cronan was an Executive Producer at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, PA, a Senior Producer at WNBC-TV in New York, NY, and an Associate Producer at KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, CA. Before that, she was a Producer at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, MD as well as WBOC-TV in Salisbury, MD. She began her distinguished news career as a writer and assignment desk editor at WWBT-TV in Richmond, VA.
Before coming to Boston from Philadelphia to join WCVB Channel 5, Cronan was founder and Chief Executive Officer of MCronan Communications where she was a leadership consultant providing strategic, multi-platform communications solutions for clients including news organizations and journalists. She also served as Chief Communications Officer at the National Constitution Center and was the Director and General Manager of Television for NAVTEQ/Traffic.com.
Cronan, who grew up in the Philadelphia area, graduated from University of Pennsylvania earning a BA degree in English.
About WCVB Channel 5
WCVB is Boston’s broadcast/digital media leader, providing news, weather, sports, community service and entertainment on multiple platforms including WCVB Channel 5, wcvb.com, WCVB mobile and MeTV Boston. Founded by community leaders in 1972, WCVB is committed to its mission to serve the region with quality local content. In addition to 47 hours of NewsCenter 5 coverage each week, original offerings include Chronicle, the nation’s longest running local news magazine; CityLine, a weekly urban magazine program; and On The Record, a weekly political roundtable. The station has been honored with numerous prestigious national broadcasting honors including the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards for “Best Newscast” and National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation’s “Service to the Community” award. Additional top honors include the National Headliner Awards, Gracie Awards, Gabriel Awards, the regional Emmy’s, Associated Press Awards, Walter Cronkite Award, and duPont Awards. WCVB, Boston’s ABC affiliate station, is owned by Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst, a leading media company whose global holdings include 33 television stations and two radio stations. Follow us on Facebook (wcvb5) and Twitter (@wcvb).
About Hearst Television
Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 21 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels, including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, This TV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.