ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group has tapped “PBS NewsHour” producer and govt James F. Blue III to change into its senior vice chairman and head of Smithsonian Channel.
Blue has been tasked with main, increasing and diversifying the Smithsonian Channel’s content material to additional the Smithsonian’s mission to have interaction, encourage and educate, in accordance with the corporate. He’ll oversee all factual unscripted tasks for the MTV Leisure manufacturers, which incorporates MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Community, Smithsonian Channel, Pop TV, CMT, VH1, TV Land and Brand.
“MTV Leisure has an awfully proficient workforce, and I’m thrilled to be becoming a member of them,” stated Blue. “I sit up for leveraging my experience and expertise to assist form and implement MTV Leisure’s strategic imaginative and prescient for Smithsonian and different information, factual and non-fiction content material throughout, and even past, the Group’s platforms.”
He’ll report back to MTV Leisure Group president Chris McCarthy and president of content material and chief inventive officer Nina L. Diaz.
“Smithsonian is a world-class model wealthy with treasures from our shared American expertise,” stated McCarthy. “James is an exceptionally proficient govt and unimaginable storyteller who will convey these iconic treasures and experiences to life throughout all of our platforms.”
Blue most just lately labored because the particular tasks and senior producer of “PBS NewsHour,” the place he oversaw “NewsHour” specials and served as the chief producer’s main deputy for the day by day broadcast. He additionally managed a number of “NewsHour” reporting initiatives, starting from “Looking for Justice” to “Race Issues” to “Chasing the Dream.”
In 2012, Blue govt produced BET Community’s political broadcasts that included interviews with President Barack Obama and First Girl Michelle Obama, in addition to Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Blue additionally exec produced BET’s protection of Michelle Obama’s journey to South Africa and Botswana. Previous to that, he produced for the Koppel Group on the Discovery Channel between 2006 to 2009, and spent 14 years earlier than that as a producer for ABC Information — a interval that included 9 years at “Nightline” — and NBC Information, throughout New York, Washington, D.C. and London.
Among the many many accolades Blue has obtained are eight nationwide Emmy awards, two Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Awards, 5 George Foster Peabody Awards, two Abroad Press Membership Awards, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Tv Political Journalism, and the NABJ Award for General Excellence.
“James’ illustrious storytelling expertise make him the proper match to guide this subsequent chapter of the Smithsonian Channel,” stated Diaz. “With limitless materials to unleash, I can’t wait to see his distinctive imaginative and prescient for this storied model come to life.”
