Kate O’Brian joined the Scripps Networks in April of 2021 as the Head of the News Group, where she oversees the networks Newsy and Court TV. Last year Kate led the Newsy team through a major expansion, growing the programming and doubling the staff to become the first 24/7 live news channel distributed to an over-the-air audience. Newsy is offered free over-the-air, streamed on multiple OTT platforms, and is available in 95% of American TV households. Court TV's trial coverage and legal analysis is also available over the air, on cable, and on other digital platforms.

In 2017 Kate founded and was the CEO for O’ Media Strategies, a consulting company focused on assisting media companies with content development, strategy, and executive leadership. The O’MS client roster includes the Washington Post, Voice of America, The United Nations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcast. Kate has led projects ranging from reimagining and relaunching an international 24-hour linear and digital network, developing and launching a weekly current affairs program, securing partnerships for social media startups, programming for local news television station groups, to coaching individuals seeking executive management guidance and talent advice.

Kate started her career at an entry-level position at ABC News in New York. After working as a producer on many of the network’s high-visibility programs, and at bureaus in Washington, DC, Rome, London, and Atlanta, Kate was promoted to executive management. Her final position at ABC News was SVP for News, where she oversaw all news content and operational coverage for the network.

Kate joined Al Jazeera America as President upon its launch in 2013. Al Jazeera America won virtually every major journalism award during its nearly 1,000-day existence, a testament to an inventive approach for bringing important events and ideas to American minds.

Kate’s numerous personal and team awards include a Peabody Award, an Emmy, two Alfred I. duPont Awards, and the 2015 Robert G. McGruder Award for commitment to gender and ethnic diversity.

Kate was invited to University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the fall of 2016 to be the Hearst Visiting Professor at the School of Media and Journalism. She also serves on the advisory board of Press Forward, an independent initiative to improve culture in newsrooms, and on the boards of the Aspen Institute’s Artisan Alliance, and the Partnership for After School Education, a child-focused organization in New York City.

Photo credit: Nicole Friedler Photography

read more