News director leaves Channel 6 for PR job

B.J. Finnell, the news director at WLNE-TV (Channel 6) since 2008, has left to take a job as an executive with the Boston-based PR company Regan Communications.

Finnell’s last day on the job was yesterday. He couldn’t be reached for comment.

WLNE GM Stephen Doerr praised Finnell for offering “outstanding leadership during a difficult time.” The latter remark refers to how WLNE is being offered for sale after filing in July for a version of bankruptcy.

Doerr calls the parting amicable and says a temporary replacement has assumed Finnell’s responsibilities.

The ProJo offered this background on Finnell when he came aboard at WLNE:

Finnell is currently the assistant news director at WOIO-TV in Cleveland, Ohio.

Previously, Finnel was news director at WJAR-TV, Channel 10 from 1997 to 2001. After that, he was news director at WVIT-TV in Hartford before going to Cleveland in 2003. He has also been executive producer and assistant news director at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia and worked at WTNH in New Haven and at WCBS News Radio in New York.