In the face of a pandemic and ensuring the company’s broadcast TV stations covered COVID-19 with all the resources they needed, Emily Barr has delivered for Chicago-based Graham Media Group’s local television stations, found in Houston, Detroit, San Antonio, Orlando, Jacksonville, and in Roanoke, Va.
She’s also become a familiar figure on Capitol Hill, thanks to her role as the NAB’s Television Board Chair. Now, Barr is ready to perhaps relax, as the fourth-ranked executive on Broadcast Television’s Best Leaders rankings for 2021 has announced her retirement.
Barr, who holds the President/CEO title for the local media division of public traded Graham Holdings Company — with ties to the Graham family, former owners of The Washington Post and born out of the former Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. — will retire from her position later this year.
Catherine Badalamente has been named her successor.
That’s the VP/Chief Innovation Officer at GMG, and a 22-year company veteran who has been spearheading the company’s digital efforts since 2009.
Timothy J. O’Shaughnessy, Graham Holdings Company’s CEO, commented, “I could not be more pleased to appoint Catherine the new CEO of Graham Media Group. Catherine has helped keep GMG ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry, including her leadership in growing each of our digital news sites. As the next generation of Graham Media Group unfolds, we have a next generation leader to help steer the ship.”
Speaking of Barr, O’Shaughnessy continued, “Emily’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success. Graham Media Group has continued its tenure as a best-in-class operator, and Emily has led the organization to receive numerous awards and achieve record earnings. Her deep commitment to the communities we serve has been unparalleled. But perhaps the greatest element of her legacy is the excellence of the team she has built, as evidenced by her successor.”
Barr joined Graham Media Group, then Post–Newsweek Stations, in 2012. In her tenure, the seven broadcast stations have been paired with a “social news desk” that has helped solidify GMG flagship NBC affiliate WDIV-TV “LOCAL 4” in Detroit as a market leader. For Graham, Barr’s leadership has solidified a company goal of “embracing the individuality of each market.”
From advocacy for broadcast TV that ranges from the ongoing rollout of ATSC 3.0-powered NEXTGEN TV to reinforcing the importance of local journalism, Barr has been a fierce defender of — and fighter for — over-the-air television.
Speaking to RBR+TVBR in 2021, Barr said, “I have always tried to ‘clear a path’ for
our stations and employees so that they can do their best work. This has been especially true this past year when faced with the myriad challenges of working while dealing with COVID-19 and last year’s civil unrest. Communicating to everyone in a regular and
transparent manner has also reduced the stress and uncertainty that comes with working through a pandemic.”
Asked about her biggest challenge as a leader since March 2020, Barr replied, “Moving what have always been highly centralized operations to a remote workforce and covering critically important local news while not skipping a beat.” In a sense, Graham had to “change the tires on the car while zooming around the track at a high speed.”
Lastly, asked what the top three characteristics needed to lead people in broadcast television through 2030 are? She offered three words: Curiosity, empathy, and intelligence.
