CBS Names New Leadership For WCBS TV2

CBS named a new leader for its flagship WCBS-TV station in New York, another sign that the broadcast giant is committed to improving working conditions within the company’s television stations group.

The L-A Times reports the company announced that it was promoting award-winning journalist Johnny Green Jr. to president and general manager of CBS’ local operations in New York — television stations WCBS-TV Channel 2, WLNY-TV Channel 10/55 and its digital operation, CBSN New York.

Green, who is based in New York, had been running the joint WCBS-WLNY newsroom on an interim basis since late January, when CBS suspended two top executives in the wake of a Los Angeles Times investigation. Green was brought in to oversee WCBS’ news operations following allegations that the WCBS newsroom was a “hostile environment” where Black, Latino, Asian and gay employees were treated poorly, and stories that occurred in Black and Latino neighborhoods were at times overlooked.

Johnny Green Jr.

The complaints came to light after The Times series delved into allegations of racism and misogyny at KYW-TV Channel 3 in Philadelphia and the unusual deal that resulted in the $55-million purchase of WLNY.

Green becomes the third Black general manager in the CBS-owned stations group. Brandin Stewart runs CBS stations in Philadelphia. In February, the company named Darryll Green vice president and general manager of CBS’ two stations in Miami.

Following The Times’ investigation into the problems within the CBS stations group, CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks met with leaders of the National Assn. of Black Journalists, who pressed for greater accountability and diversity at the New York station. Cheeks made a commitment to improve the workplace culture at CBS, which has been part of ViacomCBS since late 2019.

Under Cheeks’ direction, CBS hired Keisha-Ann Gray of the Proskauer Rose law firm to conduct a thorough review of workplace complaints in the station group, which includes 28 stations across the country, including KCBS-TV Channel 2 and KCAL-TV Channel 9 in Los Angeles.

Gray’s review is ongoing.

In April, CBS ousted the former TV stations chief, Peter Dunn, who had run the division since 2009, and David Friend, who was responsible for news operations at more than a dozen CBS-owned television stations. Dunn and Friend also were directly responsible for the operations in New York. Both have denied allegations of misconduct.