Randy Douthit on the Evolution of TV News

In the past few years, TV news has undergone a significant shift. The fall of 2016 saw massive layoffs at multiple networks. In 2018, it was not just the ongoing changes in how TV journalism operates that we should be talking about but how those changes will shape our country for decades to come. NewsAnyWay is honored to interview Randy Douthit, who shares his insights on how TV news has evolved and what that means for viewers down the road.

Randy Douthit currently serves as VP of Content and Chief Content Officer at Gannett Co., Inc. He oversees content, ad sales, and video operations for USA Today Network, which includes 81 daily newspapers across the U.S. with more than 1,600 employees nationwide. He rejoined Gannett in December 2016 after serving as President of One America News Network (OAN), a cable news channel aimed at American conservatives, which launched in 2013.

Douthit was the head of Gannett’s NBC affiliate in Ohio, WCMH-TV, where he grew its revenue by 70 percent and ratings by 30 percent in just two years. Today, the station is the leading NBC affiliate in Ohio and number one in news ratings. Douthit also served as VP of Content for USA Today Network, which includes USAToday.com and its various mobile applications, from 2003 to 2008. Before the launch of OAN, he was the Director of New Media at Clear Channel Communications.

Douthit’s work to reshape the media landscape and lead a profitable newsroom is commendable, but his industry experience includes ten years as an outspoken advocate for public access to news. Before joining Gannett as VP of Content, he was Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Cincinnati Public Television, where he launched and built subscriber growth for WCPT-TV. He also served two years at the local PBS station as Programming and Development Vice President.