Gray Media Appoints Two Execs to Lead Local News, Digital Businesses

Why It Matters

The leadership changes position Gray to unify its news infrastructure and meet advertisers’ demand for cross‑platform audience data, strengthening its competitive edge in the fragmented local media market.

Key Takeaways

• Finch promoted to SVP of News Services after decade as VP
• Vasiliadis joins Gray to drive AI‑enabled digital transformation
• Gray expands local news reach via streaming and platform diversification
• New newsroom training program aims to upskill thousands of journalists

Pulse Analysis

Gray Media, a mid‑size broadcaster with more than 90 local TV stations, announced two senior appointments aimed at strengthening its news operation and accelerating its digital agenda. James Finch, a veteran journalist who spent a decade as the company's Vice President of News Services, will now serve as Senior Vice President of News Services. His deep ties to station news directors and experience launching a newsroom training program position him to standardize best practices across the network. The move signals Gray’s intent to centralize news support while preserving local autonomy.

Joining Finch, Joanie Vasiliadis arrives from TEGNA as Senior Vice President for Transformation. At TEGNA she oversaw content strategy for 64 brands, built a national breaking‑news desk, and spearheaded AI‑driven training for thousands of reporters. At Gray, she will lead the rollout of digital tools, automated workflows, and streaming distribution, extending local stories to over‑the‑top platforms and social feeds. Her background in audience development and product integration aligns with the industry’s shift toward data‑centric, multi‑platform news delivery.

The appointments come as advertisers increasingly demand measurable reach across linear TV and digital channels. By consolidating news services under Finch and entrusting Vasiliadis with transformation, Gray can offer advertisers a unified inventory that blends traditional broadcast ratings with streaming metrics. Competitors such as Sinclair and Nexstar are pursuing similar strategies, making talent acquisition a differentiator. If Gray successfully scales its AI‑enabled workflows, it could lower production costs, boost audience engagement, and reinforce its position in the evolving local media landscape.