VANCOUVER – Canwest Broadcasting has named Kenton Boston to the position of vice-president of Global National News and Neill Fitzpatrick as Global National’s executive producer.
Boston’s new responsibilities as vice-president of Global National include providing strategic editorial direction to the Global National management team, developing the Global News network identity across Canada, and overseeing the launch of Global National’s four new foreign bureaus. Boston reports to the senior vice-president of news and current affairs, Troy Reeb, and was most recently Global National’s senior executive producer.
As Global National’s new executive producer, Fitzpatrick oversees the day-to-day operation of the national newscast, working closely with the management and editorial team to further develop the newscast’s competitive edge and its distinctive editorial and production style. His responsibilities include overseeing Global National’s online presence and liaising with Global News affiliates, foreign bureaus and news partners in the sharing of resources.
“We are pleased to have two of the industry’s best talents to lead our award-winning Global National team into the next era of electronic journalism,” says Troy Reeb, senior vice-president of News and Current Affairs at Canwest Media Inc.
Boston joined Global National in February 2005 as executive producer, bringing with him more than 21 years experience in both radio and television journalism.
During his tenure as executive producer and later senior executive producer, Boston took Global National from third position, behind news juggernauts CTV and CBC, to become the most-watched national newscast in Canada.
Prior to joining Global, Boston worked at CTV for ten years, holding a variety of senior positions including that of senior producer for the network’s flagship morning show, “Canada AM.” A graduate of Seneca College, Boston started his broadcast journalism career in radio at CKO Radio in Toronto.
Fitzpatrick joins Global National from Global Edmonton where he was most recently the news director for the last two years. In his senior management role at Global Edmonton, Fitzpatrick grew the station’s ratings to become the number one television news station in central and northern Alberta.
Throughout his career, Fitzpatrick has worked as a reporter, anchor, producer and managing editor since 1980. He has been with ITV and Global Edmonton for more than 25 years. He recently completed his masters of Professional Communications degree at Royal Roads University in Victoria.
