ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh Durham Joins Local Initiative To Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in North Carolina Media
ABC 11 will work with the North Carolina Media Equity Project, a Pilot at Elon University
ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham joins the NC Local News Workshop at Elon University in the North Carolina Media Equity Project, a pilot program launched to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in North Carolina media.
The project grew out of national and local conversations stemming from the Black Lives Matter movement. It brings media organizations together “as a learning cohort and support network” to be more inclusive when serving North Carolina residents who are Black, Native American, Latino, LGBTQ, and other diverse groups who lack representation in media.
“Our team is excited to be part of this groundbreaking project and we know we will learn and grow from the experience,” said Rob Elmore, President and General Manager, ABC11/WTVD-TV. “We are committed to ensuring that the content and culture at our station reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve here in North Carolina.”
ABC11’s participants who meet with the cohort regularly include news director Bervette Carree, director of Community Engagement Monica Barnes, manager of Operations and Business planning Kaila Mitchell and president and general manager Rob Elmore.
The station’s mission is to inform, serve and reflect the diverse communities it serves. At the start of February, ABC11 announced its month-long exclusive Black History Month content, which included a weeklong series paying homage to North Carolina’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), a “vaccine equity” town hall addressing disparities in communities of color, and numerous specials that focus on the Black culture and experience.
ABC11 is joined by six other media organizations who will gather in four quarterly sessions and have agreed to work together in a long-term commitment to change internal practices and culture across their respective organizations.
About ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham The only local news station with three downtown newsrooms (Raleigh/Fayetteville/Durham), ABC11 Eyewitness News is the No. 1 morning newscast, with the station providing 47.5 hours of local news every week, serving more than 1 million households in a 23-county area in North Carolina and Virginia. Eyewitness News also provides news, weather and sports information 24 hours a day on ABC11.com, the ABC11 mobile news app and the new connected TV app available on Roku, Fire, Apple, and Android TVs. ABC11 WTVD is one of eight ABC Owned Stations as part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution division. For more information, go to http://www.abc11.com.
WABC News Executive Chad Matthews Named President and General Manager of ABC7/WABC-TV New York
Disney Enterprises, Inc.*
WABC News executive Chad Matthews has been named the president and general manager of WABC-TV, announced Wendy McMahon, president, ABC Owned Television Stations. In his new role, Matthews has overall management responsibility for ABC7/WABC-TV and its ancillary businesses.
Matthews replaces Debra OConnell, who was elevated to president of Networks for Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution last fall, and is now responsible for operational leadership for all of the Company’s linear television networks, including the ABC broadcast network, and its cable channels, as well as oversight of the ABC Owned Stations, Nat Geo Media and commercial marketing across the networks and home entertainment.
“As news director of WABC, Chad has repeatedly proven his incredible dedication to the station and the community ABC7 serves,” said McMahon. “During his tenure, he led the direction and modernization of the market’s leading local television news and information brand, increasing audience reach and engagement while expertly navigating change and driving innovation. Chad is an insightful, forward-thinking and collaborative executive who will continue successfully leading ABC7/WABC-TV forward.”
“It is an honor and privilege to lead New York City’s and the nation’s No. 1 station,” said Matthews. “Since the first day I walked in the door in May 2000, I have been in awe of both the leadership and the many talented individuals that collectively make Channel 7 the most-watched station in the country. Together, we will continue to serve the tri-state region. We have never been more committed to creating impactful programming and lifesaving information for our viewers during these unprecedented times.I am extremely proud to lead this amazing team who not only care about the quality of work produced but also, just as importantly, the diverse communities we serve.”
As the news director of WABC for the past three years, Matthews oversaw the overall function of exclusive content creation and operations for WABC’s television and digital channels as well as the launch of connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. In 2020, he successfully transitioned the station to a remote workforce to produce Eyewitness News without interruption during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, finishing the year with the largest audience of any television station in the nation and carrying a wider margin of success than it had in 2019. During his tenure, the station’s digital platforms experienced record growth adding more than 4 million unique viewers in 2020 alone, a more-than 20% increase from the prior year. Matthews is an award-winning news executive with a total of six Emmy® Awards, four of them as recent as 2020 when WABC won for best newscast in every daypart. He and his Eyewitness News colleagues were presented with the prestigious Governors Award commemorating WABC’s 50th anniversary.
Matthews has an extensive background in local TV journalism and significantly in the tri-state region. He started his career at WABC in 2000 and was promoted to senior executive producer in 2002. He spent 12 years in senior roles for Eyewitness News and won both a Peabody Award in 2001 as the live control room producer for the station’s 9/11 coverage and an Emmy Award in 2007 for Best Evening Newscast. In 2012, Matthews temporarily left WABC for a five-year stint as assistant news director at NBC-owned WTVJ in South Florida. At WTVJ, he won another Emmy Award in 2017 for breaking news coverage during the Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting incident before returning to WABC as the assistant news director later that year.
Matthews has a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from Westfield State University. In 2020, he proudly served as a board member for the nonprofit organization Dance to Unite, which provides free dance instruction and promotes diversity for inner-city children. He’s a member of NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists and serves as a senior adviser and executive champion on PRIDE at ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations Business Employee Resource Group.
About WABC WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most-watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
About ABC Owned Television Stations Walt Disney Television’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 14 million viewers across America through its digital-first national lifestyle brand and broadcast channel, Localish. Most recently, the stations received four Broadcast & Cable awards in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.
Houston’s Longtime Broadcast Anchor Tom Koch Leaves Lasting Legacy at ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston
Tom Koch, who joined ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston in 1982 as a reporter before becoming the co-anchor of Houston’s No. 1 morning newscast, will celebrate his last day on air Friday, May 28, 2021, announced Wendy Granato, president and general manager, KTRK. As co-anchor of the morning newscast, Houstonians have started their day with Koch for 33 years. He also co-anchored ABC13’s top-rated 4:00 p.m. news for eight years.
“Tom embodies everything you’d want in a journalist and local news anchor,” said Granato. “He’s compassionate and curious with an amazing ability to elevate everyone around him. I’ve had the privilege of working side by side with Tom on many projects throughout the years and he is truly one of the ABC13 greats!”
From the beginning, Koch immersed himself in serving Greater Houston, covering some of the most compelling stories that shaped the city. He co-anchored many of the station’s live special events and parades including the July 4th Freedom Over Texas, Chevron Houston Marathon, Houston Symphony Concerts, Mayor’s Holiday Lighting, the Dedication of the Bush Library, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Parade and many more.
“For nearly 40 years, I’ve been honored and humbled that so many people welcomed me into their homes every day,” said Koch. “It’s been a dream come true for a small-town Wisconsin kid to be part of this incredible station and truly great city of Houston. But I’ve decided it’s time to step aside, turn off that early morning alarm and wake up to a new adventure.”
A respected and award-winning journalist, Koch has extensive experience telling thousands of stories – from trailing hurricanes across the Gulf Coast to covering Houston City Hall to NASA to the State Legislature and political conventions. His international reports include the election of new popes at the Vatican, the ‘90s oil boom in the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, earthquakes in Central America, and American astronauts launching into space from Kazakhstan.
“Tom’s incredible broadcasting career spanning nearly 40 years is beyond measure,” said Rehan Aslam, vice president of News, KTRK. “He has led our coverage through some of Houston’s best times and hardest times. He did it all with leadership, professionalism and an authentic devotion to this city. He has traveled across the country and around the world to bring us memorable stories from a Houstonian’s perspective. A great colleague, friend and committed member of our communities, Tom is ABC13 and he will be missed.”
The week of May 24, ABC13 plans to host an on-air celebration featuring Koch and his many achievements, with a final send-off on Friday, May 28, 2021.
Koch adds:“A giant thank you to our viewers for supporting me, staying with me, being part of this incredible journey and making this dream come true. I hope in some small way I’ve touched your life by keeping you informed, prepared for the day ahead and sending you off with a smile. To my colleagues and management at ABC13, thank you for believing in me, always having my back and making me shine. To my wife and two daughters, words can’t describe your love, support and inspiration or your forgiveness for sometimes long hours away from home and grouchiness because of 2:30 a.m. wake-up calls. I love the phrase ’make your own adventure.’ I have done just that with all of Houston behind me. Wish me well on my new journey.”
Editor’s Note: Photos courtesy of ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston* *Top Row 3rd Photo: Tom Koch and Samica Knight co-anchor desk/Photo credit: Al Torres Photography
About ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston For over 50 years, ABC13 has been Houston’s news leader from sign-on to sign-off. Broadcasting 49 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, ABC13 is the top-rated and most-watched news station among the Houston-area viewers. ABC13 also leads the market in its digital media efforts, with top rankings for its website, abc13.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ABC13 delivers live and streaming content on Roku, Fire TV, Amazon and AppleTV in the ABC13 Houston App. ABC13 is deeply invested in the Houston community, spotlighting Houston’s diversity with community affairs programs covering issues that affect different segments of the population – from local town halls to ABC13+. The station also hosts several community projects throughout the year including Share Your Holidays, an annual food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank; and our E-cycle Drive, a collection/recycling effort for outdated electronic equipment in conjunction with Earth Day. ABC13 is also known for broadcasting the city’s major events including the annual July 4th Freedom Over Texas celebration, The Chevron Marathon, Houston Pride and The Houston Rodeo Parade.
The Premiere of ‘Our America: The HBCU Experience’ Kicks Off ABC11’S Exclusive ‘Black History Month’ Content Airing Across Its Broadcast and Available on ABC11 North Carolina Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku—Including The Rebroadcast of ‘Our America: Living While Black’ on Hulu
Photo Courtesy of ABC11/WTVD-TV “Our America: The HBCU Experience” L-R North Carolina A&T University Blue & Gold Marching Machine, Shaw University, A&T University Four Monument, St. Augustine’s University aerial view
ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh Durham premieres “Our America: The HBCU Experience,”Feb. 1-5 (5:30 p.m. EST),a weeklong series featuring North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as part of the station’s exclusive Black History month content. ABC11’s “Black History Month: Past, Present, Future” month-long content celebrates Black culture with multiple features airing every week on ABC11 and available to stream on ABC11’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Additionally, the groundbreaking five-part docuseries, “Our America: Living While Black,” is available to stream on the station’s connected TV apps and Hulu.
The “HBCU Experience” special will spotlight one HBCU each day, beginning Monday, Feb. 1, through Friday, Feb. 5 (5:30 p.m.EDT), in its newscast with an extended version available exclusively on the ABC11 News App and ABC11’s connected TV apps.
Below is a snapshot of ABC11’s “Black History Month: Past, Present, Future,” month-long content.
Week 1:
“Our America: The HBCU Experience” shines a light on the history, legacies, resilience and impact the historically Black colleges and universities of North Carolina A&T University, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s University, North Carolina Central University and Fayetteville State University have had on Black students, alumni and the community.
Week 2:
History of ABC11“Within These Walls” takes a look at the Black history of ABC11, including Ervin Hester, the first African American news anchor in the Southeast.
Pauli Murray is a civil rights activist who led change in North Carolina. Murray was the first black woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Murray gave her first communion as a priest at the church in Chapel Hill, where her grandmother (a slave) was baptized.
Black Negro Leagues across the United States are now being honored by Major League Baseball. We speak with the stepdaughter of one of the greatest Negro League players in history, Buck Leonard.
Week 3:
Today’s Change Makers takes a look at social movements, like Black Lives Matter, and the impacts social activists, like Kerwin Pittman, are making in our communities today. We will also speak to 12-year-old Elijah Lee, who marches for awareness of children who suffer in silence after they are victims of child abuse.
Rabbi Sandra Lawson is thefirst openly gay female Black rabbi, now the head of religious studies at Elon University in North Carolina.
Freeman Round House Museum features artifacts that depict the culture and contributions of African Americans to the history and development in Wilson, North Carolina. Freeman was a noted local African American stonemason who built homes to help alleviate the housing shortage for GIs returning from the war.
Week 4:
Infrastructure Racism, Part 1, investigates how urban freeways divided neighborhoods in the South. The Durham Freeway was intentionally built through Durham’s Hayti district, destroying the once vibrant community. From 1949-1973 the U.S. Government bulldozed 2,500 neighborhoods in 993 cities, displacing one million people.
Infrastructure Racism, Part 2, investigates redlining that existed in Durham and the lasting impact on low-income and minority neighborhoods in one of the South’s largest cities. The areas that were once in red districts are now some of the poorest areas in Durham.
Infrastructure Racism, Part 3, investigates how Raleigh’s growth leads to gentrification in the city’s low-income southeast. While Raleigh’s suburban neighborhoods have diversified in the number of non-Black residents moving in, South Park in southeast Raleigh has had more white residents moving in since 2000. On average, people in South Park make $75,000 more than their neighbors.
All stories highlighted will air within the newscast of ABC11 and available via streaming and VOD on the station’s connected TV apps.
About ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham The only local news station with three downtown newsrooms (Raleigh/Fayetteville/Durham), ABC11 Eyewitness News provides 47.5 hours of local news every week, serving more than 1 million households in a 23-county area in North Carolina and Virginia. Eyewitness News also provides news, weather and sports information 24 hours a day on ABC11.com, the ABC11 mobile news app and the new connected TV app available on Roku, Fire, Apple, and Android TVs. ABC11 WTVD is one of eight ABC Owned Stations as part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution division. For more information, go to http://www.abc11.com.
ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston Addresses Vaccine Concerns in Black and Latino Communities in a Two-Day Virtual Town Hall Series
‘COVID-19 Vaccine and Our Communities of Color’ Streams LIVE on Jan. 27 and 28 (7:00-8:00 p.m. CST) atABC13.com, ABC13 news app and ABC13’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku
ABC13, Houston’s news leader, continues its vaccine town hall series with “COVID-19 Vaccine and Our Communities of Color,” a two-day virtual town hall that will stream live on WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, JAN. 27 and 28 (7:00-8:00 p.m. CDT). ABC13 Eyewitness News anchor Mayra Moreno will host Wednesday’s town hall, addressing the Latino community’s vaccine concerns. Chauncy Glover will host Thursday’s town hall, in partnership with the Xi Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. of Missouri City, and address vaccine concerns in the Black community.
With COVID-19 infections on the rise across southeast Texas, ABC13 continues to find answers and expert advice to address viewers’ numerous questions around the vaccine.
This month, ABC13 held a town hall with Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston leaders and experts to address growing concerns over the vaccine distribution. In the upcoming “COVID-19 Vaccine and Our Communities of Color” town hall, Moreno and Glover will join local Latino and Black leaders in their respective town halls. The panel will provide vaccine safety and efficacy information, have a candid conversation about how the virus has disproportionately impacted communities of color, the community’s fears, misconceptions, and why they plan to get vaccinated.
In the Jan. 27 town hall hosted by Mayra Moreno, panelists include the following:
Armando Walle, state representative of Texas
Laura Murillo, Ph.D., president, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Joseph Varon, chief medical officer, United Memorial Medical Center
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Harris County
In the Jan. 28 town hall hosted by Chauncy Glover, panelists include the following:
Ron Reynolds, state representative of Texas
Addie Heyliger, Fort Bend ISD Board president
Grady Prestage, Fort Bend County commissioner
Dr. Jacqueline Johnson-Minter, Fort Bend County Director of Health & Human Services
Pastor Timothy Sloan, The Luke Church
Casondra Burkley, licensed social worker
Viewers can submit their questions for the panel on ABC13.com and the ABC13 news app for possible inclusion in the town halls.
About ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston For over 50 years, ABC13 has been Houston’s news leader from sign-on to sign-off. Broadcasting 49 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, ABC13 is the top-rated and most-watched news station among the Houston-area viewers. ABC13 also leads the market in its digital media efforts, with top rankings for its website, abc13.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ABC13 delivers live and streaming content on Roku, Fire TV, Amazon and AppleTV in the ABC13 Houston App. ABC13 is deeply invested in the Houston community, spotlighting Houston’s diversity with community affairs programs covering issues that affect different segments of the population – from local town halls to ABC13+. The station also hosts several community projects throughout the year including Share Your Holidays, an annual food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank; and our E-cycle Drive, a collection/recycling effort for outdated electronic equipment in conjunction with Earth Day. ABC13 is also known for broadcasting the city’s major events including the annual July 4th Freedom Over Texas celebration, The Chevron Marathon, Houston Pride and The Houston Rodeo Parade.
ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a ‘2021 Kingdom Day Celebration’ in Collaboration With the Congress of Racial Equality of California and Presenting Sponsor Blue Shield of California
The Hour-Long Special Includes an Extraordinary Interview with Dr. King’s Son, Martin Luther King III
ABC7 Los Angeles announces it will air “2021 Kingdom Day Celebration” special on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 (11:00 a.m. PST) to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event, which historically is a live parade that travels down the streets of South Los Angeles, will be an hour-long televised event hosted by ABC7 anchors Leslie Sykes and Rachel Brown. The special is presented by Blue Shield of California with organizing sponsor, Congress Of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA).
The theme of this year’s Kingdom Day celebration is “Healing America.” According to the parade organizers, the meaning behind the theme is to “say or do only those actions which Dr. King himself would be saying or doing if he were here. Dr. King was about ‘healing and justice.’”
The celebration includes a special interview with Dr. King’s son, Martin Luther King III. The special will walk viewers down memory lane, highlighting the past Kingdom Day parades, guest appearances, and commentary from previous grand marshals, Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, U.S. representatives Maxine Waters & Karen Bass, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, performer and producer Debbie Allen, and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, (2017 KDP Grand Marshal). There will also be celebrity guest appearances and interviews with local newsmakers who will share the impact Dr. King’s dream has had on them.
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 3 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California.
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno’s Third Installment of Its Popular ‘Children First’ Program Will Highlight Youth Overcoming Obstacles
The Half-Hour Special Airs Sunday, Dec 20 (6:30 p.m. PST), andViewers Can Stream Live Now on ABC30’s Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku
ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno, the No.1 source for local news in Central California, will air “Children First: Overcoming Obstacles” on SUNDAY, DEC. 20 (6:30 p.m. PDT). Viewers can also stream the half-hour special on ABC30’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. Hosted by ABC30 anchor Jason Oliveira and meteorologist Madeline Evans, the special will focus on the resilience of youth facing adversity.
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Creek wildfire, ABC30 spotlight extraordinary individuals overcoming obstacles. Hosts Oliveira and Evans share local resources available to viewers and organizations providing aid to Central Valley families.
Featured stories include the following:
A former foster child who lived in 15 different homes found help and hope at the Dream Center in Visalia operated by the Tulare County Office of Education.
A student who struggled speaking English as a child uses her creativity in the kitchen to develop and grow a charcuterie board business.
A local mother who has a child with autism shares the challenges of distance learning and how the family received help from Clovis Unified School District.
Students at Sierra High School share their resilience of navigating the challenges of distance learning while being evacuated from their home due to the “Creek” fire.
ABC30 spotlights Educational Employees Credit Union’s “Wise Up” financial literacy program, which teaches high school seniors to understand the realities of financial freedom through real-life scenarios.
The special will also examine the challenges recipients of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program faced during the pandemic when essential items became scarce and WIC-approved groceries were difficult to find.
ABC30 has long been dedicated to covering the important challenges and opportunities among the youth in Central California. Children First is a year-round effort by KFSN. The program shows how the average person can make a difference in a child’s life and highlights local organizations working with children. The Children First campaign includes half-hour programs like “Overcoming Obstacles,” public service announcements and special stories that air on Action News. ABC30 thanks its partners Educational Employees Credit Union, Tulare County Office of Education, Valley Children’s Healthcare for putting Children First in the Central Valley.
About KFSN KFSN-TV ABC30 is the No. 1 source for local news in Central California, both online and on the air. The station has dominated the local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley for decades as a leader in multiplatform audience engagement. KFSN-TV is an ABC owned television station based in Fresno, serving Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare and Kings counties.
ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh Durham Names Bervette Carree As Station’s News Director
She Joins the Station on Jan. 11, 2021, from WXIA-TV, NBC’s Affiliate in Atlanta
Bervette Carree has been named ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh Durham’s news director, effective Jan. 11, 2021, announced today by Rob Elmore, president and general manager, WTVD-TV, to whom she will report. Carree is an accomplished and award-winning journalist with a career that spans nearly 20 years working in various top 10 television markets and cable news networks, including CNN.
“I am thrilled to welcome Bervette back home to North Carolina and especially to joining our family at ABC11,” said Rob Elmore, president and general manager, WTVD-TV. “During our search, it was clear that Bervette’s leadership style, combined with her knowledge across all platforms in top markets, was exemplary. Additionally, her passion and track record of producing fair and balanced content that focuses on all community voices makes her the ideal choice to lead our news team’s mission to reflect our communities within the content we produce.”
Carree is joining ABC11 from WXIA-TV, NBC’s affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia, where she has been an executive producer since 2019. She also managed the “Voices For Equality” franchise, which includes content focused on underrepresented voices within the community.
Carree is also a North Carolina native. Before working at WXIA-TV, she was an executive producer at WGHP-TV in High Point, North Carolina, where she played an integral role in revamping a four-and-a-half-hour morning show.
“It is a privilege and an honor to return home to join an esteemed group of journalists who are committed to serving the community on-air and behind the scenes – especially during these unprecedented and transformative times,” said Carree. “I look forward to working with the team and building on the established journalistic excellence at ABC11 Eyewitness News.”
Her previous North Carolina professional stints include producing the news at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, and WITN-TV in Greenville. Carree also produced at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On the national front, Carree was a lead producer at CNN and HLN in Atlanta, covering news events such as the Ebola outbreak, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Carree is a proud HBCU graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a mentor to many journalism students and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association.
About ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham The only local news station with three downtown newsrooms (Raleigh/Fayetteville/Durham), ABC11 Eyewitness News provides 45.5 hours of local news every week, serving more than 1 million households in a 23-county area in North Carolina and Virginia. Eyewitness News also provides news, weather and sports information 24 hours a day on ABC11.com, the ABC11 mobile news app and the new connected TV app available on Roku, Fire, Apple, and Android TVs. ABC11 WTVD is one of eight ABC Owned Stations as part of the Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution division.
ABC’s Localish Announces ‘OUTstanding’ Limited Series Executive Produced and Hosted By ‘Modern Family’ Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson
‘OUTstanding’ Will Stream on Localish.com, ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 Connected TV AppsAcross Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku, and Its Social Media Platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Localish introduces a limited digital series “OUTstanding” executive produced and hosted by award-winning “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Localish.com TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 8. The limited series consists of five episodes focusing on LGBTQ individuals throughout the country making major contributions to their communities. Grounded in its mission to bring out the good in cities across America, each episode will highlight resilient and inspiring LGBTQ individuals ranging from a gay couple adopting a teenager during the COVID-19 pandemic and a bisexual country singer/songwriter to a business owner/winemaker and local activists who are unapologetically “OUTstanding.”
“These people have been inspirations in their own communities for years and I can’t wait for more people to get to know them. Their remarkable lives and uplifting stories are just the thing we need right now!”
“Jesse has been such a tireless advocate for LGBTQ issues over the years and brought so much personal energy to this project,” said Michael Koenigs, executive producer of the Localish Network. “By featuring extraordinary LGBTQ families in all different corners of this country, we’re excited to inspire audiences with real examples of leaders trailblazing more inclusive paths in their communities.”
With producers based in major cities across the U.S., Localish worked with Ferguson to identify and remotely film LGBTQ individuals who faced major challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.
“The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach to production, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for telling amazing stories that make us proud of our neighbors,” added Koenigs.
In addition to streaming on Localish’s digital-owned platform Localish.com, the series will post one episode a week on Localish’s social platforms with cross promotion on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s social media platforms @jessetyler on both Instagram and Twitter, and on ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV apps across Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.
Episodes include the following:
Episode 1 –Record-BreakingZoom Adoption: The Beanblossoms fostered their now-son Michael for a year before adopting him, during the pandemic, in what became the biggest Zoom adoption ever. During this time, the Beanblossoms lost their home in a fire and now look to the future to build a new house that meets the needs of their growing family.
Episode 2– Queer Country Star: Sarah Shook grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family rural in North Carolina where she was only allowed to listen to classical and worship music. Shook identifies as bisexual and is politically active in supporting LGBT and civil rights causes. Sarah Shook formed a country band, the Disarmers, with an outspoken message for all.
Episode 3– Formerly Homeless Activist: Young, Black, gay and homeless, TyRon Jackson used to think he didn’t matter. Now his work speaks for itself. His nonprofit Operation Warm Wishes (OWW) has been giving back to those in need for 13 years. Unbeknownst to him, his community has come together to surprise him with a life-changing gift.
Episode 4– Trailblazing Winemaker: Winemaker Krista Scruggs has a history of defying expectations. She’s a young, queer Black woman who has chosen to make wine in Vermont that is uniquely made from biodynamically farmed grapes, sometimes co-fermented with foraged apples to create a singular hybrid style. After founding her own label, Zafa Wines, one of her first bottlings, a provocatively named sparkler called Jungle Fever, sold out quickly in its 2017 debut. She was quickly recognized in the industry as a wine wunderkind.
Episode 5 – Meet the Chicken Lady: Ken Thomason was born in rural Indiana where there was a church on every street corner. Feeling displaced in a small city, Ken moved to California where he met his first best friend who later sadly passed away of AIDS. Before his death, Ken’s best friend gifted him a chicken plush toy. In his honor Ken rode in a week-long fundraiser bike ride, the AIDS LifeCycle, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Thus Ken’s alter ego The Chicken Lady was hatched.
Joining the team behind “OUTstanding” includes Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita, Amy Rice, Craig Gartner, and Michael Koenigs as executive producers, Chris Casey as production manager, Georgia Krause as producer, and Elie Sokoloff as editorial producer.
About Localish Localish is a multiplatform lifestyle brand from the ABC Owned Television Stations aimed at bringing out the good in cities across America through positive, feel-good storytelling. A digital native brand launched in September 2018, Localish expanded on Feb. 17, 2020, and debuted its broadcast home in eight top markets across the country. Localish has produced over 3,000 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 400 million video views, with 60% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact. As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are.
About ABC Owned Television Stations Walt Disney Television’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. Collectively No. 1 across all U.S. television, reaching 23% of households and more than 34 million Total Viewers and 62 million digital visitors a month, the eight stations are comprised of WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The stations also deliver locally sourced storytelling to more than 14 million viewers across America through its digital-first national lifestyle brand and broadcast channel, Localish. Most recently, the stations received four Broadcast & Cable awards in the major market category for 2020: Best News Coverage, Best Digital Multiplatform or Website, Best Investigative Reporting Station Group and Best Public Affairs Programming, illustrating the group’s strength and ever-increasing growth and reach in the multiplatform space.
ABC7 New York Sits Down With Its 1980 Broadcast Team in an Exclusive Eyewitness Account to the Murder of John Lennon, Set to Premiere This Friday, Dec. 4
‘Eyewitness to the Death of John Lennon’ Features Interviews With Geraldo Rivera,Former ABC7 Anchor Ernie Anastos, Former Reporters John Johnson and Doug Johnson,and Former Producer Alan Weiss, the First Person to Break the News of John Lennon’s Death
L- R Ernie Anastos, John Johnson, ABC newsroom Dec. 8, 1980
ABC 7/WABC-TV New York shares with viewers a firsthand account of John Lennon’s murder in an exclusive stream-only premiere of “Eyewitness to the Death of John Lennon,” hosted by ABC7 anchor Bill Ritter this Friday, Dec. 4.Featuring rare footage, viewers will be able to witness the firsthand account when ABC7 was the first to confirm the murder of Lennon and broke the news to the nation during ABC’s Monday Night Football with former ABC7 sports anchor Howard Cosell on Dec. 8, 1980. Viewers can stream the premiere of the special across ABC7 NY’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. The special will also air on Channel 7 on Sunday, Dec. 13 (5:00 p.m.).
As the 40th anniversary of Lennon’s murder approaches, Ritter interviews the 1980 ABC7 broadcast team who were on the ground and covered the story, both in front of the camera – Geraldo Rivera, Ernie Anastos, John Johnson, Doug Johnson – and behind the scenes. The special includes the fascinating firsthand account of former ABC7 producer Alan Weiss who broke the story to the station. Weiss was receiving medical care at the Roosevelt hospital when the police and emergency responders rushed Lennon into the emergency room. He recounts the moment he witnessed firsthand the doctors working to save the former Beatle’s life, the screams of Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, and how he broke the story to the then ABC7 assignment editor, Neil Goldstein.
The Lennon special is riveting and will tell the story that shook the world from a perspective many have never seen — as it happened, moment by moment, with rare and newly discovered historical footage, all through the eyes of Eyewitness News.
“Eyewitness to the Death of John Lennon” will debut on Friday, Dec. 4, on ABC7’s streaming apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. To stream the special, viewers can search “ABC7 New York” in the app store. The special will also air on Channel 7 on Sunday, Dec. 13 (5:00 p.m.).
About WABC WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News”is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.
