Mark Effron

Effron is the former vice president of news and daytime programming at MSNBC. He has also worked for the Post-Newsweek stations, holding leadership roles at WFSB in Hartford and WDIV in Detroit. Most recently, he was the general manager and executive producer of “The Takeaway,” a show produced by WNYC Radio and Public Radio International.

“Mark’s expertise, leadership skills and successful record of news expansion and ratings growth make him the perfect fit to lead and revitalize our newsroom in New York,” president of Tribune Broadcasting Larry Wert said in a statement.

Effron begins at WPIX on April 17. He replaces Bill Carey, who stepped down in October.

“I’ve been watching Channel 11 ever since I was a kid growing up on Loring Place in the Bronx; I started with cartoons and then became enamored with the news and I can’t wait to help create the next generation of great PIX11 newscasts: news by and for people who love this place, even as we affirm our right to complain about the noise, the crowds and the prices,” Effron said in a statement.

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Larsen joined the company’s senior leadership team in 2008 and was named chief investment officer in 2009. He was named president and CEO of Tribune Broadcasting Company in 2011.

Tribune exited bankruptcy in December. Earlier this year, Tribune appointed Peter Ligouri as CEO and Larry Wert as president of local broadcasting of the company. [h/t Broadcasting & Cable]

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Larry Wert

Filling the news director job and making a few other adjustments in the largest of the 23 markets Wert oversees is a top priority, he told me Monday, his first official day on the job.

[...] Coming off a 15-year run as president and general manager of NBC 5 — and a decade before that as a top radio station executive in Chicago — Wert, 56, knows he has taken on the biggest challenge of his career. “There’s so much to absorb and so many issues to catch up with, the task is almost overwhelming, but at the same time very exciting,” he said. “In meeting with many of the employees who’ve worked so hard and lived through years of uncertainty, you can feel their enthusiasm for what’s ahead.”

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David Doebler

It is a move within NBC for Doebler, who has been president and general manager of NBC-owned WVIT in Hartford-New Haven since 2005.

“David has done a great job strengthening the competitive position of NBC Connecticut,” NBC Owned Stations president Valari Staab said in a statement. “With his leadership abilities, local broadcast experience and record of success, I am confident he has the right skills to steer WMAQ as the station continues its forward progress.”

Before joining WVIT, Doebler was the president and general manager for WVTM in Birmingham, which was an NBC O&O during his time there. He has also worked as the vice president of creative services and sales for WNCN, the former NBC O&O in Raleigh-Durham.

“I could not be more honored to join WMAQ and to work with the very talented team at the station to continue the tremendous momentum in the market,” Doebler said.

Doebler replaces Larry Wert, who left WMAQ for Tribune last month.

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WMAQ

Wert will report to Peter Liguori, who stepped into the CEO role after the company emerged from bankruptcy last month.

“Our TV assets are an incredibly important part of the Tribune Co. We wanted to bring someone on board who had the breadth of experience, the depth of relationships and the energy to take innovations and get them across the goal line,” Ligouri said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “I just felt that we could take these local broadcast stations and really supercharge them behind Larry’s expertise and stewardship.”

Wert, a Chicago native, has been president and general manager of WMAQ since 1998. In 2008, he was named president of NBC Local Media’s central and western region, overseeing KNTV in San Francisco, KNBC in Los Angeles, KNSD in San Diego and KXAS in Dallas in addition to WMAQ. In 2011, NBC named Wert executive vice president of station initiatives for the NBC-owned stations.

“I grew up here, I spent most of my career here so I respect the great legacy of the Tribune co. I’m familiar with their great assets,” Wert told Broadcasting & Cable. “Their station footprint is significant in 36% of the country. I think there’s an opportunity right now to be part of its future in a very positive way.”

Rumors of Wert’s departure from WMAQ began last week. In his new job, he will remain based in Chicago.

>Update: NBC Owned Television Stations President Valari Staab has released a statement:

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for Larry to run a broadcast group and stay in his hometown of Chicago. I greatly appreciate his dedication and have truly enjoyed working with him over the last 18 months. I wish him the very best in his new role.

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WMAQ

Sources Tuesday said Wert, president and general manager of NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, could be on the verge of taking a top-level broadcasting job with Chicago-based Tribune Co., which late last year emerged from a lengthy bankruptcy.

The exact role Wert would assume within Tribune Co. could not be immediately determined.

Reached Tuesday afternoon, Wert declined to respond to a question about his interest in a role at Tribune Co. “I have a contract with NBC, and I’m happy here,” said Wert.

Wert has been the general manager at WMAQ since 1998.

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WMAQ

The NBC Tower houses the station’s evening newscasts and was redesigned last year.

“With the spectacular look of our new set along with its added capabilities, we’ve decided to move all of our newscasts to the NBC Tower,” WMAW president and general manager Larry Wert wrote in a memo obtained by Feder. “We believe it’s important to have a consistent look for all shows. Plus the new set has state-of-the-art equipment that will be a great addition to our morning and midday broadcasts.”

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“We think Brandon will have a dynamic impact on the field and will bring interesting insight to our viewers,”  said president and general manager, Larry Wert.  “He and his wife Michi are looking to connect with the Chicago community as well.”

Marshall’s representative and attorney, Andrew Stroth added, “The relationship with NBC is a unique opportunity to explore his interest in broadcast journalism, expand the impact of Project Borderline and get involved with NBC’s community outreach initiatives.” continued…

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Larry Wert

“My priority role will remain here at NBC5 in Chicago, and with our new company commitment to local and winning, I am more enthused than ever to work with you to meet our new goals,” Wert told staffers in a memo obtained by TimeOut Chicago. “I am looking forward to maximizing this current opportunity to achieve new highs with all of you.”

Wert has been president of the Central and Western region for NBC-owned stations since April 2008, a position which has given him oversight of KNBC in Los Angeles, KNTV in San Francisco, KNSD in San Diego and KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth. With his new responsibilities, he will give up this role.

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Scott, who is currently a meteorologist at WBIR in Knoxville, will be WMAQ’s weekend meteorologist. She will replace Ginger Zee, who is leaving the station in October, reportedly to join ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Roman will join the station as the meteorologist for the newly-launched noon newscast. She comes to WMAQ from WISH in Indianapolis.

With the addition of Scott and Roman, WMAQ’s weather team will expand to five people, including current meteorologists Brant Miller, Andy Avalos and Pete Sack. “We are committed to providing our viewers across all platforms the most comprehensive weather coverage in Chicago,” station president and general manager Larry Wert said in a statement.

Read the full release from WMAQ after the jump. continued…

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“We are committed to expanding our local news presence in the market,” said Larry Wert, president of the Central and Western Region for the NBC Owned Stations, in announcing the new newscast. “In the last year, we added two local news hours on Sunday morning and launched our digital channel, Chicago Nonstop. We continue to look for more opportunities to serve the Chicago community with the local news and information they want.”

The newscast, which will debut on Monday, September 12th, will be broadcast from the station’s streetside studio on Michigan Ave. continued…

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Art Norman

Norman will broadcast his segments, “Art Norman’s Chicago,” on the 5 p.m. newscasts twice a month. The spots — which tell stories about local residents’ relationships with their communities — were popular during Norman’s tenure as an anchor and reporter at WMAQ.

“Art makes a difference every day and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him back,” said Larry Wert, president of NBC-owned television stations for the Central and Western regions.

Norman retired in 2009 to work on community projects and spend more time with his wife. Wert said the station had missed him in his absence. “I’m delighted we’ll soon be hearing ‘Art Norman here’ booming across the newsroom again,” he said.

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The stunning news of the death of NBC5 sportscaster Daryl Hawks was news on WMAQ’s competitors Thursday and into this morning.

WBBM-CBS2 reported the news during the sports reports at 5 and 6. At 10pm, Hawks’ death was part of the the newscast lead as a moment of silence was recognized for Hawks before the tip-off of last night’s Chicago Bulls – Atlanta Hawks playoff game. Hawks was in Atlanta to cover the game for NBC5.

WLS-ABC7 reported the news multiple times, during newscasts at 4, 4:30, 5 and twice at 6pm, during news and sports; and again at 10pm.

WGN-CW9 reported the news early during the 5pm newscast, using the quote from WMAQ general manager Larry Wert. WGN continued reporting into this morning’s 11am show about an autopsy being performed today to help determine the cause of the 38-year-old’s death.

WFLD-FOX Chicago reported the news during last night’s 9pm sports report. Bob Sirott, who worked with Hawks at WMAQ, called Hawks, “instantly likeable to all.”

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