CBS News and Stations Announces New Editorial Leadership Team

CBS News and Stations is introducing a new editorial leadership structure as Adrienne Roark and Jennifer Mitchell take on expanded roles within the local and global news organization. Several other veteran CBS News and Stations leaders are also taking on key roles and additional responsibilities, joining the current senior editorial leadership team.

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we write the future of CBS News and Stations. Our journalists and team members across the division are working more effectively and collaboratively to make an impact across all of our programming and broadcasts,” he said. Wendy McMahonpresident and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures. “I have great confidence in the team we are assembling, starting with Adrienne and Jennifer, who are incredible partners and inspiring, ambitious and empathetic leaders. This structure is designed to support and build our next-generation news organization. Working with our talented teams in every newsroom, each of these leaders will enhance our relationships and better prepare us for the future.”

Adrienne Roark will become president of editorial and newsgathering for CBS News and Stations, leading teams across the unified organization in the field and in newsrooms to drive daily news coverage. In this role, she will oversee correspondents, assignment offices, bureaus, booking teams, standards and practices, the central newsgathering and storytelling platform Super Desk and CBS News Radio. She will also continue to lead the CBS Local News Innovation Lab in Dallas-Fort Worth, the centers of excellence she has built around data journalism, weather and specialized beats/units, as well as WCBS and WLNY in New York City and WBZ and WSBK in Boston.

Roark will take over the responsibilities that were placed upon him Ingrid Ciprián-Matthewswho last week moved from his position as president of CBS News to a new position as senior editorial adviser for political coverage ahead of the November election.

Jennifer Mitchell, who will become president of Stations and Digital for CBS News and Stations, will assume primary responsibility for CBS Stations, as well as the division’s local and national digital properties. She will oversee 23 of CBS’s 27 stations, expanding her portfolio to include seven stations in the East that Roark led.

In addition to leading major CBS stations on the East Coast for the past three years, Roark has led newsrooms in major markets across the country throughout her career. She spearheaded several recent cross-departmental initiatives at CBS News and Stations, including Eye on America and a nationwide community journalism movement. She also provided leadership and support for coverage of major events, including the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Mitchell led innovation across CBS News and Stations’ newsrooms and digital platforms, playing a key role in conceptualizing and implementing CBS News 24/7flagship show for CBS News National Channel of the same name. She played a key role in the growth of CBS Stations’ local streams, which collectively rocketed from fourth to first place, against competitors in the same market.

Roark and Mitchell will continue to report to McMahon and share responsibility for overseeing content for the division’s local and national streaming channels. McMahon will oversee all CBS News Network broadcasts, working directly with the executive producers of those shows to continue to maximize the organization’s brands and editorial capabilities across all screens and platforms.

“Together, we will continue to build and focus on our content, communities and culture,” Mitchell said in an email to employees. “There have been many changes at an unprecedented pace; however, our industry is evolving rapidly and we must keep pace. Our unwavering commitment to overall excellence remains.” Mitchell, who has more than 20 years of experience as a multiplatform editorial leader, joined the network as president, CBS Stations in 2021.

Roark said, “My commitment to you is to uphold the legacy of CBS News and Stations and continue to work together as one while building a next-generation organization for the future.” Roark began her career at CBS and, after leading newsrooms in major markets, returned in 2021 as president of CBS Stations and was named president of content development and integration for CBS News, Stations and Media Ventures in 2023.

As part of today’s announcement, McMahon also announced Alvin Patrick will take on a new role. In addition to continuing to serve as executive producer of the CBS News Race and Culture Unit, Patrick’s responsibilities for overseeing original, long-form programming for CBS News’ digital and streaming properties, including CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+, will expand to include specials and documentaries for CBS News, Stations and Media Ventures platforms. He is the founder and executive producer of the Race and Culture Unit, which was formed in 2020. He will report to McMahon.

Roark announced that day-to-day editorial newsgathering for CBS News and Stations will be led by longtime CBS News executive Terri Stewart, who is taking on expanded responsibilities as senior vice president of newsgathering, and Wendy Fisher, who has been named senior vice president of editorial. Stewart will continue to lead the network’s newsgathering efforts, in addition to operating news centers to support new community journalism. She will also focus on growing CBS News and Stations’ newsroom. Fisher will focus on leading strategic, comprehensive coverage across the group, working closely with the Washington, foreign and national bureaus. She will continue to oversee weather coverage for CBS News and Stations, both reporting to Roark.

In addition, David Reiter will assume an expanded role as senior vice president, special events and projects, CBS News 24/7. He will continue to oversee all CBS News special events and projects, including breaking news and coverage of special events such as Election Night, and will lead the division’s streaming initiatives, including the development of expanded content offerings. Reiter will oversee the special events and streaming team in New York, reporting to Roark.

“Our journalism resonates and makes an impact in a rapidly changing news cycle that shows no signs of slowing down,” McMahon said in an email to staff. “As I’ve said before, the combination of our people and resources is a force multiplier. This structure and this group of people, working with every journalist, contributor and editorial team, will strengthen our work as we create new chapters for CBS News and Stations.”