News director hired for KOZL, KOLR

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. has named a Gannett Co. Inc. broadcasting veteran as news director for its Springfield TV and digital operations.

Charles Maulden, who last week wrapped up a stint as news director for Gannett's Little Rock, Ark., CBS affiliate KTHV-TV, will take the position of news director of KOZL-TV and OzarksFirst.com, which are owned by Nexstar. Maulden also will supervise KOLR 10, which Dallas-based Nexstar manages through a joint agreement with Mission Broadcasting, according to a news release.

Maulden, who starts Dec. 3, succeeds Polly Van Doren-Orr, who started as news director of Buffalo, New York-based WKBW-TV in mid-September after holding the position with KOLR and KOZL for 14 years, according to Leo Henning, vice president and general manager of the Springfield stations.

“Chuck has great experience, a strong commitment to serving viewers and is an exceptional mentor,” Henning said in the release. “We are excited about the new direction he will provide to our news products.”

Maulden has three decades of broadcast journalism experience, the last 15 of which were with Gannett's broadcasting division. He also served as director of news operations for Gannett's NBC affiliate in St. Louis, KSDK-TV.

“Most of my professional experience has been in Missouri and Arkansas, so I feel that leading a newsroom in the Ozarks is a perfect fit for my skill set," Maulden said in the release.