She’s been an integral leader at Graham Media Group, the privately held owner of television stations in Houston, San Antonio, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Orlando, Jacksonville and its home market of Detroit since November 2019. In October, she was appointed Chief Revenue Officer. Now, this local TV leader is adding responsibilities held until December 10 by Bob Ellis.
This means Stephanie Slagle will also serve as the day-to-day General Manager of NBC affiliated WDIV “LOCAL 4” in Detroit.
GMG praised Slagle, calling her “a rare kind of broadcast leader — one who carries the instincts of a legacy media veteran and the urgency of a digital entrepreneur.
“Stephanie has built a digital agency from the ground up inside a traditional broadcast company — and made it work,” said Graham Media Group President/CEO Catherine Badalamente. “She understands legacy media’s greatest strengths — trusted journalism, deep community roots, and loyal audiences — and she knows how to layer digital capability and innovation on top of that foundation in ways that create real business results. WDIV is in extraordinary hands.”
Slagle rose to VP/CRO from VP/Chief Innovation Officer, a role she earned at GMG in March 2022. Before that, she spent nearly 2 1/2 years as Senior Director of Brand Agency & Sales Strategy for Graham. Slagle accepted that position after having previously served as Director of Digital Strategy at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio, under former owner Dispatch Broadcast Group. Previous TV industry experience includes a role at WWHO-TV in Columbus, Ohio, under LIN Media ownership, as New Media Sales Director.
“I believe deeply in local media — in its purpose, its power, and its future,” said Slagle, who began her career as a Local Sales Manager for Sinclair Inc. in Columbus. “LOCAL 4 is one of the great local news brands in this country, and I am honored to help lead it forward. The opportunity in front of us is to take everything that makes this station trusted and essential — and build the digital infrastructure, the revenue innovation, and the team culture that ensures it remains that way for the next generation. I can’t wait to get to work.”
