STUTZ TO HEAD NEWS AT NPG STATIONS

News-Press & Gazette Broadcasting has promoted its director of digital news, Michael Stutz, to director of news for the group broadcaster.

Stutz, who joined the company in the fall of 2006, will continue to oversee the digital news content of all of the stations as well as all news operations across the broadcast division.

John Kueneke, the company’s president, said: “Mike's terrific background as news director at both KGTV-TV San Diego and WJXT-TV in Jacksonville (where during his leadership his station won the RTNDA's National Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence) made Mike uniquely qualified to oversee our Web news content. At the same time, I've asked Mike to lend a hand to a number of our news operations to help them attract and train qualified personnel and produce winning news content. His involvement has been especially beneficial to both KJCT-TV [Grand Junction, Colo.] and KTVZ-TV [Bend, Ore.].

“So Mike's promotion actually recognizes him for what he already does for us. He'll continue to represent our company with our network news partners, with AP and CNN. In addition, Mike will supervise our valuable research and consulting relationship with the Magid company. Also, Mike will work closely with Tony Courtwright, our new director of interactive sales, both in bringing more news, information and entertainment content to our current Web sites and in launching exciting new stand-alone sites.

"In addition," Kueneke said, "Mike will consult with our growing television news operation in St.Joseph, Mo., a co-venture of the St. Joseph News-Press and Cablevision."