WPTV Promoted Jon Shainman to Executive Reporter

The veteran West Palm Beach journalist will move into a newly created position focused on training newsroom staff.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in People

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WPTV has promoted veteran journalist Jon Shainman to the newly created position of Executive Reporter to lead newsroom training initiatives. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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WPTV has elevated Jon Shainman to the newly established position of Executive Reporter. Shainman previously served the station as a Weekend Anchor and Multimedia Journalist.

Why it matters

This leadership shift reflects a strategic effort by Scripps to prioritize internal mentorship by tasking experienced reporters with training new hires. The role is designed to bolster newsroom standards by helping inexperienced journalists develop their craft.

Scripps established a new Executive Reporter position within the WPTV organization to facilitate staff development. This single high-level appointment follows Shainman's tenure as an anchor and multimedia journalist.

The players

Jon Shainman

He is a veteran journalist who previously served as a Weekend Anchor and MMJ at WPTV before his promotion to Executive Reporter.

WPTV

This is a television station based in West Palm Beach that is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company.

Scripps

The E.W. Scripps Company is a diversified media firm that operates local television stations and national news networks across the United States.

The details

Jon Shainman shifts from his former responsibilities as a Weekend Anchor and MMJ to focus on internal newsroom education. He is tasked with coaching inexperienced staff members in professional reporting techniques at the West Palm Beach station.

Timeline

  1. September 20, 2026: Jon Shainman was officially promoted to the role of Executive Reporter.

Market Landscape

This appointment reflects a broader industry trend where media companies are creating specialized training roles to address gaps in newsroom experience. By elevating veteran talent, the station positions itself to maintain consistent reporting quality despite rapid turnover.

For local viewers, this move aims to increase the quality and depth of reporting provided by the station as newer journalists receive formal training. There are no immediate changes to local broadcast schedules or consumer costs resulting from this staffing adjustment.

The takeaway

The creation of this role signals that local stations are increasingly formalizing the transfer of expertise from veteran anchors to the next generation of reporters. Readers should look for potential shifts in the depth of local coverage as these mentorship programs integrate into the daily news cycle.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest personnel changes within the industry in our People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by FTVLive.

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