PAUL CARON: NEWS DIRECTOR & THE ROLE OF MMJ

What Do You Do Exactly?

Jamie Maglietta talks with former CNN colleague Paul Caron about his career journey to News Director. Paul, located at CBS affiliate WBTW in Myrtle Beach, talks about the role of MMJ, offers tips on being a News Director, advice on identifying pitches, and provides insight to the routine journalists need to succeed.

For video clips visit: https://www.youtube.com/@whatdoyoudoexactly/videos

Pitches email: [e-mail]

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Here's more on Paul: "Paul Caron joined Myrtle Beach/Florence TV station WBTW News 13 as News Director in June 2020. Since joining the News 13 team, he has helped oversee coverage of two hurricanes off the Grand Strand shores and the Chinese Spy Balloon, shot down off nearby Surfside Beach. Prior to moving near the beach, Caron was News Director for 3 years at WHNT-TV. He joined WHNT in 2017 as Assistant News Director. WHNT earned the Alabama Broadcaster Association’s Station of the Year in 2020, along with other awards from that group. In 2019, the station earned 16 awards in various categories from the Associated Press.

He was previously the Managing Editor at then named CBS 46 News, WGCL- TV in Atlanta, GA, now WANF-TV. Prior to WGCL, Caron spent nearly 30-years at CNN, in 4 cities and 2 counties. Among his roles, he was CNN’s National Content Center Manager, overseeing news coverage from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, including the Boston Marathon bombing, presidential elections and debates, many hurricanes, plane crashes and other major breaking news stories. Caron was the Political Desk Manager for the 2008 Presidential campaign and was a part of the CNN team winning two Emmys and a Peabody Award for exceptional political coverage.

He has the unique background with experience in front of the camera and behind it. He was a reporter for CNN in Miami where he covered dozens of Space Shuttle launches and landings, and of course, many hurricanes in the Southeast. In London, he reported on resignation of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, IRA bombings in London and the impact of Gulf War I on Europe. He started with CNN in Detroit, where he as on the scene of one of the worst plane crashes in U.S. aviation history, the Northwest Airlines crash which killed 156 people—and had only one survivor—the miraculous story of then 4-year-old Cecilia Cichan.

Caron has also been honored with several other prestigious awards including an Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia University Award. Caron was also commended by FBI for his assistance in finding a kidnapped child. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Broadcast and Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University. He was born and raised in Detroit.
Paul and his wife Colleen live in Myrtle Beach, and commute to Atlanta often to see their 2 grown children and their families, including 3 grandchildren. When he isn’t chasing news, Paul enjoys sports and traveling with Colleen. Paul was a radio play-by-play announcer for high school football and basketball in Michigan. He is usually following teams from his Detroit roots, but watching just about any live sports event, especially college football. He and Colleen also enjoy trying many of the 1,900 restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area.

'I take great pride in being a journalist, in making sure our team is accurate and fair. I want to make sure we are covering the stories that matter most to our community,' he said.
Follow me on Twitter at @PCBS19."

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