Paige Harrison has been named News Director for WCVB Channel 5, Boston’s News Leader.
Paige Harrison has been named News Director for WCVB Channel 5, Boston’s News Leader.
Harrison’s appointment was announced today by Bill Fine, WCVB President and General Manager, and is effective January 9th, 2017. Harrison, who will be just the seventh News Director in WCVB’s 45 year history, replaces Andrew Vrees who has been promoted to Vice President, News for Hearst Television.
“For nearly fourteen years, Paige has directed news operations for Hearst Television stations across the country, and she is a highly-regarded journalist with great experience, integrity, and leadership skills,” said Fine when making the announcement. “Paige’s dedication to excellence and her work ethic make her the perfect person to head NewsCenter 5’s outstanding team and Boston’s News Leader.”
“I am honored to be leading such a talented team at WCVB, a news organization that has truly done extraordinary work for decades,” said Harrison. “I’m certain there are even greater moments ahead for this legacy television station, and I look forward to being part of NewsCenter 5’s continued success and local news dominance.”
“I’ve worked with Paige for a decade. Every operation she’s touched is better because of her breath of experience and her authentic way with people,” said Barbara Maushard, Senior Vice President, News for Hearst Television. “She’s an inspiring leader, a thoughtful journalist and a fierce competitor. Our biggest news operation is in the best hands with Paige Harrison.”
For the past four years, Harrison has been the News Director at WPBF-TV, the Hearst-owned ABC affiliate in West Palm Beach, FL. She recently led the news team through 57 hours of continuous storm coverage during Hurricane Matthew. WPBF-TV was the producing station for the 2016 Florida Senate Debate which aired statewide. Under Harrison’s leadership, WPBF initiated and coordinated an Emmy awarded special produced in Cuba and was one of the first local stations to broadcast live after the United States began normalizing relations with that country.
Harrison joined Hearst in 2003 and worked in news management positions at WESH-TV in Orlando, FL, as well as at the following ABC affiliates: KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, before becoming News Director at WPBF-TV.
Born in Michigan, she was raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia and began her television career there as a producer and director. She has also worked in Toronto, Ottawa and Barrie, Ontario.
Harrison is married and is excited at being much closer to family in eastern Canada.
