By Adam R Jacobson and Cameron Coats
LAS VEGAS — Her stations are in the middle of a broad newsroom tech overhaul. Can embracing AI-fueled tools help forge the clearest path to competitive differentiation in local news?
Yes, says Graham Media Group President and CEO Catherine Badalamente, who appeared on a poignant panel discussion held early Monday during the 2026 NAB Show’s Alliance for Women in Media AWM Breakfast.
The AWM Breakfast drew industry leaders for a conversation on navigating uncertainty, with Badalamente joined by Amazon Head of Business Affairs for Creator Services Jordan Chatfield, and NewsBalancer President Lee Harris. Serving as moderator was Skyview’s Sarah Foss, formerly of Audacy Inc.
For Foss, “tumultuous times” may be “a little too gentle of a metaphor,” as she asked what one thing since January the panelists did not anticipate and how they reacted.
Harris, long-known for his time on-air as a WINS-AM in New York news anchor, pointed to the coming end of CBS News Radio. He acknowledged the why behind the decision, yet lamented its May 2026 demise, as previously reported.
For Badalamente, the answer was easy: the War in Iran. But more than that, it was “the day-to-day things,” like gentlemen illegally climbing up a station tower becoming “our new normal.” That’s why Badalamente believes “keeping our humanity is very, very important.” So is leading with confidence, and with some humor, too, she added.
As a “dealmaker,” Chatfield looks to how entities ranging from Tubi to Netflix are more involved in that — particularly with live sports coverage — and how there’s more competition than ever.
Chatfield concluded, “I don’t have all of the answers but if we can collectively put our minds to it, we can accomplish it.
With Badalamente adding that leading with grace and compassion are key needs in today’s environment, she and the other panelists converged on transparency over false optimism. “There has to be a plan,” Badalamente said, describing a data-driven approach to keeping her organization focused on solvable problems rather than ambient anxiety. Harris said he has increasingly drawn on ideas from earlier in the org chart. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started taking more direction from levels 2 and 3 down,” he said, “because I’m finding that’s where a lot of the good ideas are.”
The session closed with a speed round asking each panelist what they wished industry leaders would do more of. Harris was direct: “I’ve been dealing with a few companies, not going to name names, where the decision makers seem to have their eyes on the door most of the time. And if that’s you, maybe you could replace yourself with somebody who’s going to be there for a while.”
