Doug Wieder has been promoted to executive news director at WVEC, the ABC affiliate in Norfolk, Va.

Wieder has been interim news director since Rich Lebenson left WVEC in October. Prior to that, Wieder spent five years as executive producer.

“Doug had the ultimate ‘on-the-job’ interview, and passed with flying colors,” WVEC president and general manager Brad Ramsey said in a statement. “We have seen tremendous momentum under Doug’s leadership, thanks to his deep commitment to growing our people and improving our content every single day.  Together we are incredibly excited about the future of 13News.”

Wieder, formally an investigative reporter, has also worked at WRIC in Richmond, WDEF in Chattanooga and WGXA in Macon, Ga. His promotion is effective immediately.

WDEF is celebrating a major milestone: the 90th birthday of Luther Masingill, who has been working at the Chattanooga CBS-affiliate for over half a century.

A native of Chattanooga, Masingill began his broadcasting career with WDEF radio in the 40s, before joining WDEF-TV in 1954. He currently does a weekday morning radio show and makes regular appearances on WDEF-TV’s daytime newscasts.

“I love everybody in this town,” Masingill said in an interview with WDEF, following a birthday celebration on Friday. “That’s the reason I stayed around all this time. 90 years in this town and I love it.” Read more

Local stations in Chattanooga were in various states of continuing coverage today as severe weather tore through the region, which was under a tornado warning for most of the day.

“We will remain on the air throughout the afternoon until the threat passes for everyone,” WTVC wrote on Facebook. The ABC-affiliate had continuing coverage beginning at 11 a.m. with meteorologists David Glenn, Bill Race and Jason Disharoon, as well as reporters Sarah Jennings and Kevin Sims.

CBS-affiliate WDEF had extended coverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., anchored by meteorologists Patrick Core and Chip Chapman. Anchor Nordia Epps contributed headlines.  Read more

While Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Chattanooga’s WDEF is making a strong case for celebrating dads. Especially this dad.

In a video posted to WDEF’s YouTube channel, a man watching a minor league baseball game makes a spectacular one-handed catch in the stands while holding his daughter in his other arm (video above).