Janelle Rodriguez, Who Helped Build NBC News’ Streaming Outlet, to Exit
tags:Janelle Rodriguez, who helped build and launch NBC News‘ live-streaming outlet NBC News Now while overseeing a rare changing of the guard at “NBC Nightly News,” is leaving.
“I’ve spent a long time thinking about what comes next, and I’ve decided to leave now to pursue it. It’s the right moment,” Rodriguez said in a memo to staff Thursday. It’s no secret at NBC News that Rodriguez had been “layered” in October of last year and assigned to report to Rebecca Blumenstein, president of editorial, an executive to whom Rodriguez was previously considered an equal. Nearly a year later, according to two people familiar with the matter, she faced the possibility of ceding more of her portfolio — and decided to leave.
Rodriguez did not respond immediately to a query seeking comment.
The executive blazed a trail at NBC News after joining the NBCUniversal news operation in 2015, after logging time as a senior executive at CNN. In addition to launching the live-streaming service and overseeing a transfer of the anchor chair from Lester Holt to Tom Llamas last year, Rodriguez helped launch “NBC News Daily,” daytime blocks of news that played on both the streaming service and the afternoon schedules of local NBC stations looking to replace expensive syndicated programs and soap operas. The show was gaining more linear hours among stations.
Among staffers, Rodriguez was known as one of the defenders among news executives of the journalism product, working to guard it against a corporate culture that has recently focused on costs. She was known to roll in to NBC News’ New York headquarters in the wee hours of the morning or the dead of night if breaking news struck. That won her support from journalists at NBC News, but not necessarily the corporation, which, like many other media conglomerates is focused more intently on squeezing whatever revenue is to be gleaned from broadcast operations.
“Janelle has made important contributions across our organization, playing a central role in building NBC News Now into the leading streaming news service it is today and helping lead NBC Nightly News, Specials and some of our most significant coverage,” Blumenstein said in a memo to staff. “We are grateful for all she has contributed to NBC News, and I know you join me in wishing her the best in what comes next.”
Catherine Kim, an executive vice president who is a 15-year veteran of NBC News, will become executive vice president of editorial and content, and will expand her oversight to to include NBC News Now and specials. Kim will continue to lead digital publishing and NBC News’ Decision Desk, and continue working with executive David Verdi leading bureaus and newsgathering. “Bringing streaming, digital and newsgathering even closer together under Catherine will help us move faster and make the most of our journalism across every platform,” Blumenstein said.
Matt Carluccio, who oversees the weekend telecasts of “Today” and specific special editorial initiatives, will expand his oversight to include coverage of business, health, investigations and climate. He will report to both Blumenstein and Libby Leist, who oversees “Today” and NBC News’ lifestyle programming.
Matt Frucci, executive producer of “NBC Nightly News,” will now report to Blumenstein.