AUSTIN, Texas — KVUE will hold a ceremony to dedicate the newsroom in honor of former News Director and Vice President of News, Carole Kneeland, on Wednesday, March 20.
For nine years, Kneeland provided strong leadership to the KVUE newsroom, first as its News Director, then as its VP of News Operations. A journalist visionary, Kneeland helped establish standards and practices that were ahead of their time. She established criteria for how crime is reported, mentored young journalists and led with a servant heart.
It’s with that spirit that KVUE has dedicated its newsroom to Kneeland.
“Carole Kneeland created a legacy that we’re honored to celebrate. She challenged the status quo and raised the standards of ethical journalism, not only at KVUE but across the country. She has a lasting impact on our past, current and future journalists, and it’s an absolute honor to formally dedicate our newsroom to her,” KVUE President and GM Byron Wilkinson said.
Kneeland's news career was cut short as she battled breast cancer, passing away in 1998. However, her news legacy lives on through the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism, which focuses on improving local news, one journalist at a time.
KVUE News Director Travis Sattiewhite, a Kneeland Fellow, understands the impact Kneeland had and continues to have on journalists all over the country.
“Carole Kneeland was a visionary leader. She advocated for the continued training of news teams to make them better journalists," Sattiewhite said. "Dedicating our newsroom to her is a constant reminder to every journalist that walks through the doors at KVUE of what we stand for."
Joan Barrett is a friend and former colleague of Kneeland who serves as primary trainer for the nonprofit Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism. She said, “Building a strong newsroom culture is one of the main tenets of Carole’s leadership style. It is fitting that the newsroom she helped to build is now dedicated in her name.”
Those who wish to donate to the Carole Kneeland Project can find more information at KneelandProject.org.