Graham Media Group hires Caroline Chambers as Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Graham Media Group announced Friday that Caroline Chambers will join the company as its first Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, effective Nov. 2.

Most recently, Chambers was the Vice President, National Director of Diversity Initiatives for Comerica Bank. In that role, she was responsible for internal and external diversity program management, including market segment business development teams, employee resource network groups, diversity training, image consulting and philanthropic outreach to diverse communities.

Prior to that, Chambers also served as Comerica Bank’s Vice President, National Director of Corporate Contributions and Charitable Foundation President. Before her work at Comerica, Chambers worked in corporate public affairs, financial services sales, and nonprofit management.

“Caroline is a mission-driven leader who can assess needs and create strategies that are inspiring, meaningful and will support our mission and goals,” Graham Media Group President and CEO Emily Barr said. “We are honored to have Caroline on our team. She will partner with senior leaders to strengthen our recruitment, training and retention efforts, and enhance a culture where all employees feel valued and empowered to do their best work.”

Chambers, a Detroit native, will be based out of Graham Media Group’s Detroit office, but will work directly with the Chicago corporate team, the company’s seven broadcast stations, Social News Desk and Graham Digital.

“Establishing this position is an important next step for Graham Media Group in our continued efforts to ensure that diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our internal culture and organization. This hire is directly in line with the mission of our stations, which is to be an authentic voice for the communities in which we serve,” Barr said. “Caroline is an industry and community leader with the expertise to guide Graham Media Group's connection to the communities we serve and help foster our interpersonal and business prosperity."

Chambers received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Michigan. She lives in Metro Detroit and has two grown children.

CEO Emily Barr tells Broadcasting & Cable what sets GMG stations apart

Emily Barr, president and CEO of Graham Media Group -- not to mention, Broadcasting + Cable’s Broadcaster of the Year for 2020 -- was recently featured in an online article from B+C, appropriately titled “Best in Broadcasting, Barr None.”

Barr spoke about what sets her stations apart, the stations’ coverage of COVID-19 and racial equality, how they reach younger viewers and what the future looks like for local broadcast.

“I have great faith in local television,” Barr told B+C. “I believe it’s incredibly important -- maybe more important today than ever.”

Here’s an excerpt from the interview.

B+C: Do you look to acquire stations?

EB: Gee, no one ever asks me that question! [Laughs.] We kick the tires quite often. We’re always very conscious of the cost. We’re in somewhat volatile times in our industry, so it would have to be just the right deal for us to make a purchase. But we certainly have made it known that we’re interested. If the right opportunity comes along, I’m sure we’ll take a very close look at it.

You can read a more complete transcript of Barr’s conversation with B+C here.

Graham Media Group was named B+C’s Station Group of the Year in 2016.

As coronavirus pandemic continues, Graham Media Group aims to strengthen newsrooms in fight against misinformation

When it comes to this new coronavirus, COVID-19, which is now considered a global pandemic, it’s easy for readers and viewers to go online or look at social media and find a lot of information and misinformation.

Graham Media Group wants to serve as readers’ official source when it comes to finding the best, most accurate, up-to-date and well-rounded information.

And although GMG stations aim to both verify and refute things our viewers wonder and see about the coronavirus, there are also some questions that experts still don’t know the answer to. At WDIV-TV, for example, health expert/reporter and emergency room doctor Frank McGeorge says the station is still going to address those topics, because “acknowledging what we don’t know is just as important as verifying information -- so people don’t rely on incorrect answers.”

To see how Detroit-area viewers and readers can submit a question, click or tap here.

This is all a part of the Trust Index, a new initiative to combat misinformation campaigns targeting local media. Graham Media Group and WPLG Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, just announced the campaign's launch.

“Nothing is more important than getting the story right,” said Emily Barr, President and CEO of Graham Media Group. “We are providing timely training and processes to our six newsrooms to help in the fight against misinformation campaigns attacking local news.”

Graham Media Group and WPLG are partnering with Fathm, a global leader in the fight against misinformation. Fergus Bell, Fathm’s founder and CEO, is working with newsroom leadership to evolve a verification system and to train journalists to identify and stop the spread of misinformation.

"It is fantastic to be working with organizations like Graham Media Group and WPLG who are putting a high priority focus on such an important initiative,” Bell said. “I am looking forward to preparing all of their news teams to fight misinformation in a way that is certain to benefit audiences and contribute to a healthier media ecosystem in 2020."

Graham Media Group and WPLG’s Trust Index is designed to:

• Identify manipulated or out-of-context user-generated content
• Detect fake stories generated for revenue or political motives
• Expose political ads served algorithmically with little oversight
• Support transparency in the newsroom
• Reinforce journalistic ethics
• Counteract misinformation with incisive reporting and social posts
• Encourage viewers and users to share questionable content for review by station journalists

It will look like this, shown on the news article above.

As the Trust Index, especially in this time of the coronavirus pandemic -- with new information coming in daily -- our news organizations are here to dispell any misinformation.

Bell led the first round of training at WDIV in Detroit in January and will soon complete newsroom training sessions for WPLG and all Graham Media Group stations.

Misinformation and disinformation campaigns are not limited to national politics. Increasingly, the industry is seeing coordinated campaigns designed to trick local newsrooms into reporting false or misleading stories. While GMG stations work to build defenses for reporting on the 2020 elections, a strong verification-type system will enhance the company’s newsrooms overall.

“Fact-checking is in the DNA of this company but advancements in technology are disrupting truth. We are committed to providing our communities information that they can trust,” Barr said.

Graham Media Group and WPLG strengthen newsrooms in fight against misinformation

Graham Media Group and WPLG Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, announce the launch of Trust Index, a new initiative to combat misinformation campaigns targeting local media.

“Nothing is more important than getting the story right,” said Emily Barr, President and CEO of Graham Media Group. “We are providing timely training and processes to our six newsrooms to help in the fight against misinformation campaigns attacking local news.” 

Graham Media Group and WPLG are partnering with Fathm, a global leader in the fight against misinformation.

Fergus Bell, Fathm’s founder and CEO, is working with newsroom leadership to evolve a verification system and to train journalists to identify and stop the spread of misinformation.

"It is fantastic to be working with organizations like Graham Media Group and WPLG, who are putting a high-priority focus on such an important initiative,” Bell said. “I am looking forward to preparing all of their news teams to fight misinformation in a way that is certain to benefit audiences and contribute to a healthier media ecosystem in 2020."

Graham Media Group and WPLG’s Trust Index is designed to:

• Identify manipulated or out-of-context user-generated content
• Detect fake stories generated for revenue or political motives
• Expose political ads served algorithmically with little oversight
• Support transparency in the newsroom
• Reinforce journalistic ethics
• Counteract misinformation with incisive reporting and social posts
• Encourage viewers and users to share questionable content for review by station journalists

Bell led the first round of training at WDIV in Detroit in January and will soon complete newsroom training sessions for WPLG and all Graham Media Group stations.

Misinformation and disinformation campaigns are not limited to national politics. Increasingly, the industry is seeing coordinated campaigns designed to trick local newsrooms into reporting false or misleading stories. While GMG stations work to build defenses for reporting on the 2020 elections, a strong verification system will enhance the company’s newsrooms overall.

“Fact-checking is in the DNA of this company but advancements in technology are disrupting truth. We are committed to providing our communities information that they can trust,” Barr said.

Graham Media announces first 'Grahammies' winners

It's been a monumental year in news - and the journalists at Graham Media have been at the heart of it all, as the storytellers who keep communities connected, informed and engaged.

From investigative stories that hold law enforcement, elected officials, and high-profile newsmakers accountable for their actions, to severe weather sweeping through our viewing areas, journalists have followed every step of the way.

Graham Media has deepened efforts to strengthen our storytelling. And now it's time to celebrate the achievements.

The inaugural "Grahammies" award project was a way to celebrate some of the great work our newsrooms have produced over the past year.

We asked stations for their best work and a series of judging determined the winners. A video, linked below, announces the news, as well.

And the winners are ...

Best general assignment story -- WDIV: "Fire Rescue 42519"

Shawn Ley and Alex Atwell

Best special assignment story -- KSAT: "Conviction"

Isis Romero, Eddie Latigo, Dillon Collier, Henry Keller and Joshua Saunders

Best stand-up or live shot -- KPRC: "$95,000 Taxpayer-Funded Internship"

Mario Diaz, Jon Hill, John Barone and Bill Carruthers

Best original digital story -- WKMG: "Moon Memories"

Emilee Speck

Stephanie Slagle named Graham Media Group Senior Director, Brand Agency and Sales Strategy

Graham Media Group has named Stephanie Slagle to the newly created position of Senior Director, Brand Agency and Sales Strategy.

In Slagle’s career, which includes more than 20 years in media, she has served in many roles, including Research Director, Account Executive, Local Sales Manager, Digital Sales Manager & Digital Director. Her passion for learning and teaching has helped her build enthusiastic, client-focused teams for more than 15 years.

Slagle spent the last nine years at Dispatch Broadcast Group, acquired by TEGNA in August 2019, building and managing the digital departments for WBNS TV, WBNS Radio and the Columbus Dispatch, prior to its sale to Gatehouse Media. She excels at navigating the digital media marketplace and helping sales teams build and deliver digital solutions.

In 2017, Slagle led the launch of Pixelent Digital, WBNS’s full-service Digital Agency serving data-driven results to clients. Pixelent Digital offered brand strategy, digital strategy and a full suite of digital services including connected TV, programmatic targeted display, native advertising, search, social and all the elements needed to deliver the best return on investment to customers.

“We’re excited to have Stephanie join the team," said Catherine Badalamente, VP & Chief Innovation Officer at Graham Media Group. “She’s a leader in the industry who will bring her vast knowledge and experience to our local media hubs, helping them build and execute innovative brand strategies for our valued clients.”

Slagle has a passion for mentoring talented future leaders. She helped launch and she served as the president for Columbus Women in Digital, where she helped many women begin their digital careers.

For the last three years, Slagle has served on the board of the Local Media Association, which is dedicated to creating sustainable business models for local media companies.

Graham Media Group makes headlines at 2019 Promax Station Summit

Graham Media Group’s Emily Barr never imagined she’s be the president and CEO of a major media group.

Growing up, she wanted to be a filmmaker.

But here we are: it’s 2019 and Barr has made her way from news editor to creative services director to general manager to CEO. At this year’s Promax Station Summit, held this week in Las Vegas, Barr shared her path to success with moderators Natalia Egan, creative services director at KPRC-TV Houston, and Jamie Kay Walters, creative services and programming director at WDIV-TV Detroit, which are both Graham Media stations.

Speaking to an audience in the session about leadership, Barr offered the following advice, or lessons to lead by: Failure's just a bump in the road -- even if you fail in front of Oprah, and "When the door opens, don't ask why. Run through it!"

You can read a fantastic write-up about all Barr’s comments on Promax’s website.

The Promax Station Summit describes itself as the only business event created exclusively for and by television station marketing and creative services professionals.

Promax Station Summit brings together the top broadcast networks, program distributors and station ownership groups under one roof for a powerful week in the broadcast industry.

The event also featured speakers Sherry Carpenter, who does creative services and local programming for Graham Media stations WJXT and WCWJ, and Apryl Pilolli, the head of innovation for Social News Desk, a Graham Media company.

Graham Media Group honored with 6 prestigious Murrow awards

Three Graham Media Group television stations are proud recipients of a combined six Regional 2019 Edward R. Murrow Awards by the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Houston’s KPRC 2 received three awards, including the highly coveted Overall Excellence in Large Market Television, which recognizes the station’s commitment to quality journalism. KPRC’s entry in this category featured examples of breaking news, investigations and special event coverage, as well as community service initiatives and digital content.

Another of KPRC 2’s Regional Murrow Awards was presented for Best News Series in Large Market Television for “Inside MS-13,” Anchor/Reporter Jacob Rascon’s in-depth reports on the notoriously violent transnational gang, and the evolving fight against it from El Salvador to Houston.

KPRC 2 News at 6 p.m. was awarded Best Newscast in Large Market Television for “Tragedy in Santa Fe,” which featured team coverage of the May 2018 school shootings in Santa Fe, Texas. The KPRC team worked to provide complete and compassionate coverage to its community in the immediate wake of such a horrific event.

WDIV-Local 4/ClickOnDetroit received two awards, including Excellence in Sound in Large Market Television for “Criss-Cross Crash,” a beautifully crafted story that exemplifies the art of audio. WDIV-Local 4/ClickOnDetroit’s second Regional Murrow Award was presented for Social Media in Large Market Television, recognizing several examples including “Death of Aretha Franklin,” and “Meteor in Michigan,” to name a few. Their digital efforts offer unparalleled social media coverage to provide useful, concise information on topics important to the audience.

Roanoke’s WSLS 10 was recognized for Excellence in Innovation in Small Market Television for “In the Navy,” a series featuring what it’s like to be a sailor for a day with News Anchor John Carlin attempting the Navy’s water survival training course.

“We’re honored by our team’s recognition by our peers in the Radio Television Digital News Association,” Graham Media Group President and Chief Executive Officer Emily Barr said. “Our main mission is to inform and celebrate the communities we serve. We share these awards with our viewers and the communities we so proudly cover.”

Graham Media Group’s six regional winning entries will now go on to the national RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards judging round. Winners will be announced in June, and presented at the annual RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala on Oct. 14 in New York City.

The Radio Television Digital News Association has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism.