Leona Wood Email & Phone Number

Salt Lake City, Ut, Us

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• Captured and sustained #1 rank in late news for 25 straight quarters, even during 8 month DIRECTV outage; seized #1 position in all evening newscasts, increasing ratings 15-45% in all evening time slots• Earned coveted Overall Excellence recognition seven years: Rocky Mountain Emmys (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 & 2024) and Edward R Murrow (2018 & 2020)• Launched OTT app with seven programming streams; created twice daily digital original news programs, and developed rich VOD content including OTT-only specials• Retooled 13 person enterprise unit responsible for award-winning special content: investigative journalism, community-focused initiatives, consumer-centric reporting and 6-10 documentaries annually• Recruited market leading talent in all work groups, elevating quality of presentation and credibility; established multi-level strategic succession plan • Built out and developed community-focused, solution-oriented brand promise, clearly identifying key content areas, brand purpose and coverage commitments• Developed teen-suicide prevention effort which put more than 10,000 gun locks in Utah homes and increased SafeUT youth crisis app downloads by 50%; led $1,000,000 fundraising effort for Hurricane Harvey victims; strategized In Search of Safe Schools initiative, focusing on-going special programming on solutions for school safety

Phoenix, Az

• Editorial principal for 180 journalists who enterprise content across two separately branded websites, multiple social media channels, and 15 hours of daily broadcast programming• Designed and executed integration process, bringing former competitors KPHO & KTVK into collaborative, digital-first environment• Utilized research & data to devise newsroom structure, leadership, cross-platform roles and corresponding workflows to maximize effectiveness of merged operation, while protecting/magnifying unique station brands• Developed and implemented separate value proposition & content filters for each entity's digital, social media and broadcast channel; developed tone of voice guidelines, areas of focus, storytelling tone and messaging• Formulated metrics for success measurement surrounding audience acquisition and engagement• Established internal training programs to assess and evolve skill sets for current team members to meet/exceed expanded expectations•Initiated and developed direct and cooperative working relationship with outside departments and stakeholders; partnered directly with marketing teams to ensure content exceeded needs and timeliness; opened new pathways of communication with each member of sales team resulting in innovative sales-content partnerships which increased revenue and client satisfaction• Recruited high caliber journalists, negotiated 50+ long-term contracts during period of significant change • Instituted goal-setting and coaching protocol for all team members to ensure ongoing talent development and accountability• Full responsibility, including forecasting of budgets in excess of $15 million annually

Phoenix, Az

• Instituted complex brand overhaul from a late-breaking platform to enterprise and accountability journalism• Led team through significant digital revamp: redesigned workflows, developed training curriculum, established increased expectations and maintained team morale• Grew evening news ratings across 16 consecutive sweeps periods (N/F/M); doubled digital page views; grew social media engagement by 250%• Promoted newsroom culture that rewards excellence & retains/grows stars• Led Peabody and Murrow award winning investigative team, supervising stories from ideation to final edit• Drove execution of promotional calendar, 52 weeks a year• Designed and facilitated annual Meredith-Cronkite Minority Fellowship program, elevating under-represented aspiring journalists• Envisaged and established weekly Pay It Forward franchise, aimed at helping underprivileged; led station to embrace social service based community outreach platform

Phoenix, Arizona Area

• Coordinated and supervised day-to-day operations for country’s most successful independent• Created and launched two innovative new formats to deliver 3-TV’s unique brand• Identified workflow systems issues and initiated comprehensive solutions• Dramatically improved response to big event coverage, establishing increased audience & engagement

Spokane, Washington Area

• Successfully developed & implemented well-researched, strategic news brand image, defining and establishing value proposition internally & externally• Produced 40% more content with 30% less staff • Coordinated content and talent synergy with NewsRadio 920 & The Inlander• Recruited strong, above-market candidates and negotiated long-term contracts• Initiated direct and cooperative working relationship with Sales staff• Developed and repaired relationships with outside agencies/sources, holding productive “off the record” sessions• Consulted and advised other newsroom managers within Morgan Murphy Corporation

Greater Seattle Area

• Successfully rose in producer ranks, starting as overnight prompter operator• Oversaw crew and coverage efforts for 11pm newscast, market’s fastest-growing• Supervised morning newscasts • Developed strong team relationship across all staff groups

B.A, Broadcast Journalism And Political Science, Graduated With Honors

Activities and Societies: • News Intern, KGW • KPLU, University Broadcast Station• Developed and implemented live, weekly campus broadcast.

Salutatorian

Activities and Societies: • Honor Society • Drama Club • Math Club • Year Book Club • Cheerleader