Two weeks ago, The E.W. Scripps Co. parted ways with an individual widely known for his role as the associate dean for the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Broadcast Leadership Training program.
It marked a change in leadership at WKBW-7 in Buffalo, the ABC affiliate that had been led by Marc Jaromin since October 2019. Now, with Lyn Platinga a regional VP/GM overseeing the station, a Station Manager for WKBW has been selected from within.
Earning the promotion is Creative Services Director LeAnne Markins, who has been in her role since 2020.
As WKBW’s Station Manager, she will help with day-to-day operations and lead creative services.
While Scripps noted her achievements over the last four years, including a rebranding of the station’s news and lifestyle content and shifting “AM Buffalo” into the digital-first “7Life” with its end on Channel 7, WKBW has been a laggard in the competitive Western New York TV landscape for several years. Ashley Rowe, hired to help boost WKBW’s news ratings, departed to spend more time with her family. A few months later, she resurfaced at WRAL-TV in Raleigh-Durham. Meanwhile, WKBW could not capitalize on changes at the news desk at Nexstar Media Group’s WIVB-4 as the continued strength of TEGNA’s WGRZ-2 compounded matters.
Now, Markins and Platinga will be charged with continuing the work to make WKBW a stronger station in a resurging Buffalo and its surrounding communities.
Before joining WKBW, Markins previously 15 years with Buckeye Broadband in Toledo, Ohio, where she led the company’s regional sports network, BCSN, and community arts network, BCAN.
“LeAnne’s demonstrated success at WKBW and understanding of the station, market and strategic priorities make her a great fit to lead the station in this new role,” said Dean Littleton, Scripps’ SVP of Local Media.
Markins said, “When arriving to Buffalo and 7WKBW a few years ago, I saw immediately why this is called ‘The city of good neighbors.’ Western New York is now home. I am thrilled to continue my career at Scripps and to keep serving our community alongside this incredible team at 7News.”
