Photo: Catherine Badalamente, successor to Barr (photos compliments of Graham Media Group)
Graham Media Group, home of Detroit’s WDIV Local 4 news, has recently announced the retirement of president and CEO Emily L. Barr in a press release. The change is to take effect later this year.
Current President and CEO, Emily Barr, was appointed to her position in 2012. Barr oversees seven local media hubs, including the Detroit affiliate station WDIV. I’m 2016, Barr led the media company to be named Station Group of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable Magazine. With over 40 years in the news industry, Barr has received several awards including the 2020 Broadcaster of the Year award.
With the announcement comes the appointment of a new successor. Catherine Badalamente, who is the current Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.
“Emily’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success. Graham Media Group has continued its tenure as a best-in-class operator, and Emily has led the organization to receive numerous awards and achieve record earnings,” says Timothy J. O’Shaughnessy, chief executive officer of Graham Holdings Company in the press release. “(Emily’s) deep commitment to the communities we serve has been unparalleled. But perhaps the greatest element of her legacy is the excellence of the team she has built, as evidenced by her successor, Catherine Badalamente. On behalf of everyone at Graham Holdings, I want to thank Emily for her decade of service to the company.”
Becoming the company’s newest President and CEO, Badalamente has an extensive career in media. A member of the Graham Media Family since 2000, Badalamente began her tenure with the company at WDIV and worked her way into several roles including serving as the Director of New Business Development from 2006 to 2010. In 2012, she became the VP of Digital Media for the company.
Graham Media Group and Graham Digital has been awarded several recognitions with Badalamente spearheading management, recognizing the organization for excellence in digital, podcast and local news production. The media giant has also been at the forefront of developing NextGen TV monetization strategies and models for both digital and broadcast.
“I could not be more pleased to appoint Catherine the new CEO of Graham Media Group,” says O’Shaughnessy. “Catherine has helped keep GMG ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry, including her leadership in growing each of our digital news sites to be Comscore-ranked No. 1 in their local markets. As the next generation of Graham Media Group unfolds, we have a next generation leader to help steer the ship.”
Graham Media Group’s television stations, web and mobile platforms are all recognized as news leaders across the media spectrum. During Barr’s tenure, Graham Media Group acquired Social News Desk, a leading provider of social media software used by thousands of newsrooms around the world. Barr also helped drive the creation of Graham Digital, a digital media and technology development group based in Detroit.
This spring, Barr will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. She was also elected to the 2021 class of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts.
Badalamente is recognized as being a force in the media industry. She is active in many industry forums, including serving as chair of the board of directors of the Local Media Association, treasurer of the board of directors of the Local Media Foundation, and immediate past chair of the National Association of Broadcasters Digital Officers Committee
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