A 33-year television industry veteran who began her career in the Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich., market and served as Journal Broadcast Group‘s Tucson Market Manager from October 2007-November 2012 has returned to Michigan thanks to Nexstar Media Group.
As of Tuesday, Julie Brinks is the new VP/GM of the company’s WOOD-TV, WOTV-TV and WXSP-TV in Grand Rapids.
She reports to Diane Kniowski, a Nexstar SVP/Regional Manager who she is succeeding. Kniowski’s promotion came upon the closing of the former Media General stations by Nexstar; the Grand Rapids stations had been part of Media General.
Before taking on a position involving oversight of Nexstar’s stations in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, Kniowski served as GM of WOOD, WOTV and WXSP for 17 years. She also served as a regional manager, overseeing station operations in Michigan and Indiana.
“The news product that we bring to the marketplace and the community service that we do in the marketplace, this is coming from people who know this region, who know this community and know what its needs are and we’re able to bring it widely through the power of television,” Brinks said in a WOOD-TV interview aired on the NBC affiliate.
Brinks most recently served as GM of TDS Broadcasting and Zolo Media’s KOHD-TV and KBNZ-LD in Bend, Oregon. Before that, she worked as a principal consultant for Vici Media.
Brinks’ resume also includes stints as VP/GM of WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV in Traverse City, for Raycom.
She began her career in the market as OM/Marketing & Promotion Manager for WWTV-TV and WWUP-TV in 1984.
“I’m going to ask a lot of people to step up and meet with me and share with me what they see are the needs and goals for the local area, both in terms of services that are needed and information that needs to be shared and opportunities to grow economically and how can we share in that process,” Brinks said.
“Julie is a well-respected leader with an impressive broadcast television and sales management career that spans over three decades, including significant experience managing local media operations with multiple affiliations across a diverse range of markets and in Michigan,” Kniowski said in a statement. ” Her return home will be welcomed by the local community.”
