California native Kristin Kay named News Director at KCRA 3/My58
Kristin Kay has been named news director for KCRA-TV, Channel 3, and KQCA-TV, Channel 58, Hearst Television’s NBC and CW affiliates serving the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto TV market and the California Capital Region’s leading TV news provider.
Kay, a California native, moves to KCRA 3/My58 from WGAL-TV, Hearst’s market-leading NBC affiliate serving the Pennsylvania Capital Region of Lancaster-Harrisburg. She succeeds Derek Schnell, who recently was promoted to vice president, news, for Hearst Television.
“KCRA’s strength is its people — a deeply mission-driven team committed to serving this community with journalism that matters,” said KCRA 3/My58 President and General Manager Ariel Roblin. “Kristin is the right leader for KCRA and KQCA at a pivotal time for our newsroom, our community and for California. We’re always evolving and advancing our storytelling to meet the needs of our community; Kristin shares that sense of purpose and understands the commitment this work demands. Her California roots, leadership experience and strong news judgment make her exceptionally prepared to lead this outstanding team.”
KCRA recently dominated the 55th Annual Northern California Area Emmy® Awards, with wins and honors in 22 categories, including Overall Excellence and Daytime and Evening News. It also received its third National Gracie Award, for a documentary, and regional Emmys for Overall Excellence and Digital Excellence.
Kay joined WGAL as news director in March 2023, and has led that station’s highly honored news department, with oversight of editorial content across the station’s platforms. Under her leadership, the station recently launched a multiplatform half-hour 7 p.m. newscast and has received several accolades, including a national Telly Award for a documentary; just this year, it earned regional Emmy awards for best morning and daytime newscasts, and received the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters “Excellence in Broadcasting Award” for Outstanding Investigative Story/Report/Series.
Before joining WGAL, Kay served as the assistant news director for WLWT, the Hearst station in Cincinnati, where she helped lead the news team during unprecedented coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic and led coverage of several severe weather events in the region, including tornadoes and devastating floods, as well as the Bengals’ road to the 2022 Super Bowl in Los Angeles. She spearheaded multiple community efforts, including a Day of Giving for Cincinnati schools and a coat drive for St. Vincent de Paul. She also worked closely with WLWT’s Investigative Team, which earned regional Murrow and Emmy awards, and with the WLWT News 5 team to organize and execute extensive voters’ guides and debates during the 2022 election.
Prior to WLWT, Kay was a morning news executive producer at KARE-TV, Minneapolis. Before that, she was a news producer at KING-TV in Seattle and, previously, at KGTV, San Diego and KERO-TV, Bakersfield. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from California State University, Northridge.
About KCRA 3
KCRA 3, a Hearst Television station, went on the air September 3, 1955. It was the first television station in the Sacramento Valley capable of color transmission, use of videotape and the first to broadcast in HD. The station’s involvement and dedication to responsible reporting is embodied in their slogan, “Where the News Comes First®.” KCRA 3 is the recipient of multiple Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. KCRA 3’s website address is www.kcra.com.
ABOUT HEARST TELEVISION
Hearst Television owns and/or operates 35 television and two radio stations serving 27 media markets across 39 states reaching 24 million U.S. television households. Through its partnership with nearly all major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over more than 120 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. The radio stations are leaders in Baltimore news/talk and rock music listenership. Its Hearst Media Production Group unit produces original programming across linear and streaming platforms for domestic and international distribution. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather, and an array of local and regional programming. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry’s premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst.