Gannett Co., Inc. today named Ellen Crooke vice president of news for Gannett Broadcasting. Crooke transitions to the division’s corporate team after serving as news director at WXIA-TV in Atlanta, GA and as regional news executive. Crooke will join Michael Valentine in leading news functions for Gannett Broadcasting’s 46 stations.
“Ellen is a passionate and innovative leader who is committed to reinventing local journalism in this digital age. We're excited to have her on the corporate team,” said Dave Lougee, president, Gannett Broadcasting.
Crooke has been with Gannett since 2002 when she joined WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, NY as vice president of news. During her time in Buffalo, WGRZ’s news ratings went from last to first in newscast time periods. Crooke then joined WXIA in 2008, where the station has received 21 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and more than 150 Emmy nominations during her six years leading the newsroom.
“No group of broadcasters is more poised or more committed to shaping the future of local news than Gannett,” said Crooke, “I am honored to work alongside Michael and help lead our stations forward.”
Prior to her time with Gannett, Crooke was news director at WNDU-TV in South Bend, IN. She’s also worked as assistant news director at WHAS-TV in Louisville, KY, which is now owned by Gannett, and as a producer at WOKR-TV in Rochester, NY and WTEN-TV in Albany, NY.
Crooke is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Ellen is married to Stephen Hayes and they have two teenage daughters.
