This is the email that was sent to the staff at WPIX, informing them that Ben Dobson is the station’s new News Director.

The email came from WPIX GM Chris McDonnell.

Good morning everyone…I hope each of you had a great July 4th weekend and were able to enjoy the weather with friends and family.

I am very excited to announce that we have hired a News Director…”Nexstar’s Very Own” Ben Dobson.

Ben is a very successful journalist and is an inspirational leader in content development and news management. He comes to us from our sister operation in Washington DC, where he has been the News Director for the past three and a half years at WDVM and WDCW. Earlier this year, Ben added the position of Station Manager to his title and is overseeing not just news but also marketing and operational functions for the stations.

In his time in Washington, Ben has been the architect and launched a brand-new news department serving both television stations. Under the brand of “DC News Now,” this hyper local news operation was designed to be a disruptive competitor to the established news outlets in the DC area. Over 70 hours of news are produced weekly under Ben’s leadership today.

Prior to his current role within Nexstar, Ben was with NBC Universal in several roles, including VP News in Boston - overseeing content, editorial, social and digital for NBC, Telemundo and New England Cable News for four years. Within NBCU Ben also served as VP News NBC Connecticut, Assistant News Director, Editorial Manager and Managing Editor over the course of seven years. And prior to NBCU he worked for WHDH Boston, the Fox TV Station Group and Charter Communications - as a Reporter.

A graduate of Ithaca College with a BA in Journalism, Ben was born and raised in Worcester, MA. He was also a viewer of PIX11as he and his family were able to watch at home on Charter Communications.

Ben’s taken up running in the last few years, completing three marathons since October. Now that he’s here, he can’t wait to get a chance at running the New York City Marathon next year.

Ben will be here at PIX today and will be meeting people throughout the day. Please say hello if you get a chance.

He then returns to DC to wrap up things with his team...and his official start date with us is July 24.

Please join me in welcoming Ben to PIX11 as he’s now one of New York’s Very Own.

Thanks everyone….Onward and Upward

Chris