There are three paths into leadership in TV: news, sales, or finance. Ann Ouellette’s background in finance gives her a distinct advantage, she believes. “In finance you see every piece of the business,” not just the space you occupy. Ouellette has her work cut out for her, like every executive in media. “The constant is change—in ownership, audience, technology.” Streaming has wreaked havoc with audience measurement, she says. Another challenge: managing burnout in a 24/7 newsroom. She says cable news’ excesses have made local journos targets of threats, while the CBS-owned station’s status as the only broadcaster downtown has created its own security complications. Her agenda for ’24: integrating a new VP/news into the station and growing news and streaming.

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