McGinley Becomes RTDNA Chair; Board Election Results Announced

RTDNA News,

Allison McGinley, News Director at WKMG-TV in Orlando, was installed as Chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association on Friday at RTDNA21 in Denver. McGinley will serve in that role for one year. 

“It has been a privilege to take part In these lessons, and it will be an honor to lead the RTDNA board Into 2022,” McGinley said. “Ours is a renowned organization with a deeply rooted mission: to promote and protect responsible journalism, to defend the freedom of the press and the safety of those in the field, and to train and encourage the ethical standards in newsrooms everywhere.”

She succeeds outgoing Chair Andrea Stahlman, News Director at WLKY-TV, who will move into the role of Chair of the Radio Television Digital News Foundation for the final year of her three-year leadership cycle.   

“Andrea, you have led through unprecedented times, and you have done so with empathy, strength, and vision,” McGinley said of Stahlman. “You encouraged open discussion while deftly finding and coalescing common ground. You supported change and evolution without neglecting the importance of foundation or history. We thank you for guiding our board and our association. We thank you for your time and talent.”

Tim Scheld, News Director, WCBS-AM in New York, has been elected Chair-Elect and begins a three-year leadership cycle. 

The results of the other RTDNA Board of Directors races are as follows: 

Directors-At-Large: Ellen Crooke, VP, News, TEGNA, and Kimberly Wyatt, News Director, WEAR-TV

Region 1: Tie. RTDNA will conduct a runoff election the week of Sept. 27. Region 1 members will receive ballots via email by mid-week. 

Region 2: Jennifer Seelig, Director of News & Programming, KCBS, San Francisco

Region 7: Jam Sardar, News Director, WLNS-TV

Region 8: Robert Thomas, VP/News Director, WKYT, Lexington, Ky.

Region 11: Alex Silverman, Brand Manager/Program Director, KYW Newsradio, Philadelphia

Region 12: JJ Green, National Security Correspondent, WTOP, Washington, D.C.