WGN America's Readies a Fresh Approach to Cable News

Nexstar Media Group acquired WGN America as part of its 72 billion purchase of Chicagobased Tribune Media last September which created the country39s largest TV station group Nexstar now owns 196 stations in 114 markets News Nation is Nexstar39s first big programming move for WGN America which reaches 75 million households on all major cable satellite and streaming systemsNews Nation39s blueprint is to combine national news with local reports from its affiliates creating a local and national hybrid and the common thread will be factbased reported news It will allow Nexstar to leverage its local news assets on a national level By combining WGN America39s journalists with the newsgathering capabilities of Nexstar39s 5400 local journalists in 110 newsrooms the program will have both national and local flairThe newscast will be coanchored by local news veterans Marni Hughes most recently evening anchor for KCPQTV Seattle and longtime WGN star Joe Donlon and feature breaking news anchor Rob Nelson and chief meteorologist Albert Ramon The weekend edition will be hosted by Rudabeh Shahbazi and Nichole Berlie breaking news anchor Aaron Nolan and meteorologist Gerard JebailyThe multianchor format as well as contributions from local stations will be a stark contrast to other prime time cable news shows which typically feature a star host and offer heavy doses of opinion and commentaryquotThis is a team not a singleanchor opinion show telling you what to think and that will set us apartquot explained Donlon quotOur value is nationwide coverage of what happened today and right nowquotAt a time when the country is gripped by the COVID19 pandemic racial unrest and calls for social and police reform demand for news is running high And yet many Americans are wary of the trustworthiness of the news media News Nation39s anchors said their experience in local markets as well as contributions from local journalists will help them forge relationships with a national audiencequotWe want to promote thoughtful informed news but also make this a program where families can gather together and watch and talk about what happened today We want everyone to feel like their communities are representedquot Hughes saidStill WGN America39s plan is an ambitious one News Nation is entering a crowded cutthroat marketplace In recent months Fox News CNN and MSNBC have attracted record viewership and online news offers consumers 247 access to video and the latest headlinesNews Nation39s anchors say their geographic location and Nexstar39s stations will be a differentiatoramp160 The show is headquartered in Chicago and will include contributions from Nexstar teams from Salt Lake City to Fort Wayne IN giving the show a quotheartland perspectivequot that is missing from New York and Washington DCbased operations explained Donlon quotBoth in tone and geography we39ll be coming from a different perspectivequot he saidAdded Hughes quotWe39re embarking on a format that takes the local news format and nationalizes it People love the local format They tune in and they trust itquotIndeed in a recent Pew Research Center report Americans identified local TV stations as their goto source for news and information Nexstar has cultivated relationships with viewers in 114 markets who are comfortable with its anchors and reporters and News Nation plans to rely on those bondsquotHaving worked and lived in local markets as well you understand issues that matter to neighbors We can lean heavily on them they are our eyes and ears so we can hear stories And it is going to be a huge benefit to have Nexstar nation supporting usquot Hughes saidTo launch the show Nexstar is rolling out a national marketing campaign as well as running heavy promotion on its local affiliates which reach 68 percent of US homes Promotional spots are also running on WGN America online and on social mediaThe show39s vast threehour time slot will provide the anchors time to address the day39s biggest stories as well as human interest pieces including health education arts and weather storiesquotWe will have the luxury to tell you stories you might not see somewhere elsequot Hughes notedThat said even with their debut more than two months away anchors expect the ongoing COVID19 pandemic will continue to be a lead story As states are reopening the number of cases is rising in more than a dozen states The coronavirus will be the show39s quoteditorial North Starquot according to Nelson quotThis affects everyone39s lives livelihood and safetyquot he addedLooking ahead to the fall the 2020 presidential election is also expected to play a prominent role The anchor team has deep experience covering presidential national and local elections and survey local markets for their input quotOur extensive national footprint will make a big differencequot Donlon predictedIndividually the team each has as topics they39d like to cover For Hughes health is a top priority while Nelson a former education reporter would like to dig into stories about education and public schools They all agree they39re more than ready to get startedquotThis show will come on in a breathtaking riveting news cycle with no end in sight with what country is going through economically psychologically and politically there are riveting stories falling from the skyquot said NelsonHe added quotTo launch a national news show in an unprecedented news cycle energizes everyonequotClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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WGN America's Readies a Fresh Approach to Cable News

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