Home · Entertainment · Sep 10 archive
Janelle Rodriguez to Exit as Network Reorganizes Leadership
Developing
In Short: Janelle Rodriguez, a key figure in building Now and overseeing NBC Nightly News, is leaving the network as part of a reorganization of executive ranks.
Janelle Rodriguez, who has played a pivotal role in the development of Now and has overseen NBC Nightly News and breaking news coverage, is set to exit, according to reports from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
Rebecca Blumenstein, the president of editorial, announced the news to staff, praising Rodriguez's contributions and the significant coverage she led, including the Super Bowl, presidential interviews, and the Olympics.
As part of the reorganization, Rodriguez will be replaced by Catherine Kim, who will become the executive VP of editorial and content, taking on oversight of Now and specials. Kim will also continue to lead digital publishing and ' Decision Desk.
Matt Frucci, the executive producer of NBC Nightly News, will now report to Blumenstein, and three other senior executives will add new responsibilities following Rodriguez's departure, according to Blumenstein's memo.
Rodriguez, who joined NBCUniversal news in 2015 after a stint, was known for her dedication to the news product and her ability to respond quickly to breaking news, often arriving at the headquarters in the early hours of the morning or late at night.
Her departure comes as reorganizes its executive ranks to better integrate streaming, digital, and newsgathering operations, with the goal of moving faster and leveraging journalism across all platforms.
What's confirmed
- In addition, Matt Frucci, the executive producer of NBC Nightly News, will report to Blumenstein.
- “Bringing streaming, digital and newsgathering even closer together under Catherine will help us move faster and make the most of our journalism across every platform,” Blumenstein wrote.
- Catherine Kim will become executive VP of editorial and content, adding oversight of NBC News Now and specials.
What's still developing
- “It’s been an incredible year – the Super Bowl, a presidential interview, the Olympics, the World Cup, a new show launch, an interview with the Pope,” Rodriguez told staff in a memo.
- Janelle Rodriguez, who helped build and launch NBC News ‘ live-streaming outlet NBC News Now while overseeing a rare changing of the guard at “NBC Nightly News,” is leaving.
- Popular on Variety The executive blazed a trail at NBC News after joining the NBCUniversal news operation in 2015, after logging time as a senior executive at CNN.
- Rodriguez did not respond immediately to a query seeking comment.
- In addition to launching the live-streaming service and overseeing a transfer of the anchor chair from Lester Holt to Tom Llamas last year, Rodriguez helped launch “NBC News Daily,” daytime blocks of news that played on both the streaming service and the afternoon schedules of local NBC stations looking to replace expensive syndicated programs and soap operas.
- Among staffers, Rodriguez was known as a defender of the news product and would guard it against cost cutting and bean counting.
- That won her support from journalists at NBC News, but not necessarily the corporation, which, like many other media conglomerates is focused more intently on keeping costs down while squeezing whatever revenue is to be gleaned from broadcast operations.
Sources
- Varietylink