After 23 years at Hubbard News 103.5 WTOP Washington, DC, Mike McMearty has been promoted from News Director to Director of News & Programming.
McMearty steps up to take the position held by Laurie Cantillo prior to her departure in March to take a job in NASA’s Office of Communications. He joined WTOP in 1992 and worked as editor, producer, reporter, anchor, sports reporter and Assistant News Director before becoming News Director in 2000.
The promotion of McMearty comes with additional appointments at WTOP. Mitchell Miller becomes Senior News Director in charge of the weekday morning newsroom. Darci Marchese becomes News Director in charge of weekday afternoons. Jamie Forzato will be Weekend Managing Editor. Julia Ziegler is transferred from Operations Manager of FederalNewsRadio.com to News Director of WTOP.com with Meera Pal reporting to her as Social and Digital Engagement Editor.
Washington, D.C.’s WTOP 103.5 FM has named long-time station News Director Mike McMearty as the new Director of News and Programming. During his 23 years at WTOP McMearty has been an editor, producer, reporter, anchor, sports reporter, assistant news director and for the past 15 years-news director.
Senior VP and General Manager Joel Oxley says, “Mike has been an integral part of our success for more than two decades. He has led the newsroom to hundreds of industry awards for excellence in journalism, including 18 National Murrow Awards and more than two dozen honors already in 2015. I look forward to him taking the department to new heights.”
“I’m humbled and honored to be given this opportunity,” said McMearty. “I’m proud of what the WTOP brand has become globally and believe our best days are ahead of us.”
McMearty’s news management team will consist of Jim Battagliese who continues in his role as Director of Traffic, Transit and Weather. Mitchell Miller is promoted to Senior News Director managing the newsroom weekday mornings, Darci Marchese moves up to a full-time News Director weekday afternoons, and Jamie Forzato now will manage news operations on the weekends as Weekend Managing Editor. Meera Pal moves to Social and Digital Engagement Director reporting to Julia Ziegler, who moves from Web and Operations Manager of FederalNewsRadio.com to become the News Director of WTOP.com. All of the changes will take place over the next several weeks.
