News Releases

RTDNA Members Elect 5 to Board of Directors

Contact: Stacey Staniak, 202.467.5214, staceys@rtdna.org

For Immediate Release: February 11, 2010 

WASHINGTON -- The members of the Radio Television Digital News Association have elected five regional directors to serve two year terms on the board of directors.

Kathy Walker, news director, KOA-AM, Denver will represent Region 1 and Region 3.

Peggy Phillip, news director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO, will represent Region 4 and Region 5.

Kevin Benz, news director, News 8 Austin, Austin, will represent Region 6.

Randy Bell, news director, WMSI-FM/WQJQ-FM/WJDX-AM, Jackson, MS, will represent Region 8 and Region 9.

Andrew Vrees, news director, WCVB-TV, Boston, will represent Region 10.

Regional directors begin serving their two year terms at the close of the RTDNA annual convention. 

RTDNA members will elect a new Chairperson-Elect and two Directors-at-Large during the convention to be held April 11-14 in Las Vegas. The announced candidates are:

Kevin Benz of News 8 Austin is the candidate for RTDNA Chairperson-elect.

Candidates for two Director-at-Large positions are:

Marshall Adams, news director, KDKA Radio, Pittsburgh, PA
David Louie, reporter, KGO-TV, San Francisco
Chip Mahaney, director of digital content, E.W. Scripps Company, Cincinnati, OH
Mary Rogus, Associate Professor, Ohio University, Athens, OH

RTDNA voting members may nominate additional candidates at the business meeting on April 12 in Las Vegas. Qualifications for at-large director seats must be news managers or news staff and RTDNA members in good standing for at least one year.

"This competitive field of at-large candidates confirms the wisdom shown by the Board and RTDNA members in opening up board representation to include all news staff, and the inclusion of full voting rights for educator news managers," said RTDNA Chairperson Stacey Woelfel. "This diverse group of professionals features strong leaders and committed professionals across radio, television, digital and student media platforms. We are excited at the prospect of a vigorous debate on the future of RTDNA and RTDNF."

Current RTDNA Chairperson-Elect Mark Kraham, news director, WHAG-TV, Hagerstown, MD, will become RTDNA Chairperson and Woelfel, news director at KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO, will become Chairperson of the Radio Television Digital News Foundation(RTDNF).

Representatives elected to the RTDNA Board also serve as RTDNF Trustees. A complete list of board members is available at RTDNA.org.

The Radio Television Digital News Association is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTDNA represents local and network news professionals in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.