NECN and NBC Boston have announced some newsroom management changes in preparation of the new stations launch.
The changes will "set the news department up for our future growth" and "takes advantage of our existing strengths as well as adding new depth" the station said in a statement.
Bill McFarland has been hired as managing editor for the news operation, which includes NBC Boston, NECN, and Telemundo Boston.
Bill comes to NBC Boston with "years of major market experience," and the hire reunites him with Kenny Plotnik, the stations vice president of news. Bill was the assistant news director at WABC 7 in New York City for more than 9 years, and worked closely with Kenny who was the news director.
More recently, Bill was the news director at WFTS ABC 28 in Tampa, FL from 2012 to 2014. He also served as assistant news director at WFSB CBS 3 in Hartford, CT; and WJLA ABC 7 in Washington, D.C.
Bill started his career at WPVI ABC 6 in Philadelphia, PA where he spent eight years on the assignment desk.
As managing editor, Bill will be responsible for the day-to-day news gathering for the three news operations. He'll work with executive producers who will be responsible for for the news presentations on the various channels.
"His depth of experience will be a valuable asset as our newsroom grows" the statement said.
Bill is a graduate of Temple University where he earned a degree in political science.
Mary Plansky has been named to the newly created position of planning manager across all news platforms. She will work closely with the managing editor in this new position.
Mary will be focused on news planning, which includes day-to-day news coverage as well as major events and political coverage.
"NBC Boston will benefit from tapping into Mary's vast institutional knowledge of the Boston marketplace and her keen understanding of our viewers" the statement said. "The most successful news operations are able to effectively forecast big stories and make the best plans to 'own' those stories."
Mary had been the managing editor at NECN for the past 19 years. She joined NECN in 1993 as assignment editor and worked her way up to assignment manager until she was promoted to managing editor in 1997.
Prior to joining NECN, Mary was an assignment editor at WFSB CBS 3 in Hartford, CT. She was also news director at her college radio station WFUV-FM.
Mary is a graduate of Fordham University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in mass communications and media studies.
