Latest news with #Rafferty
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘NBC Nightly News' EP Meghan Rafferty Exits to Join Versant
NBC Nightly News executive producer Meghan Rafferty will exit the evening newscast to join Versant, the forthcoming Comcast spinoff that will include most of the company's cable TV brands. Rafferty will become vp of news standards for Versant, a job tasked with setting and maintaining the company's journalistic standards at both MSNBC and CNBC, and guiding both newsrooms. Rafferty's hire was announced internally by Brian Carovillano, who leads standards and editorial partnerships for the company. More from The Hollywood Reporter MSNBC Brings Back Live Fan Event In Bid to Build New Revenue Lines Comcast's Versant Names Prospective Board Members CNBC Hires An Editor-In-Chief As It Unifies TV and Digital News Teams 'She will help lead our News Standards Team and guide newsrooms at MSNBC and CNBC to ensure the work is fair, accurate and transparent,' he wrote in a memo. 'She'll collaborate with colleagues across our news platforms, as well as legal and other departments, and she will report to me.' Rafferty has led Nightly News since 2021, working with both Lester Holt and Tom Llamas. The broadcast is expected to name a new ep in the coming weeks, with Rafferty moving to Versant in September. Before joining NBC News Rafferty spent a decade at CNN, producing interviews and stories for journalists like Wolf Blitzer and Christiane Amanpour. Versant has been staffing up ahead of the looming split, which will see MSNBC and CNBC severed from NBC News. In connection with the change, MSNBC has had to build an entire news organization from scratch (with a heavy emphasis on political news), and hiring executives that will be tasked with developing the company's digital strategy. You can read Carovillano's memo, below. Team, I'm thrilled to share some exciting news as we continue to build out our leadership team supporting the growing newsrooms across both MSNBC and CNBC. Meghan Rafferty is joining VERSANT as Vice President of News Standards, beginning in early September. In this role, Meghan will be a key voice within both networks' news leadership, helping to set and maintain the highest standards for our journalism. She will help lead our News Standards Team and guide newsrooms at MSNBC and CNBC to ensure the work is fair, accurate and transparent. She'll collaborate with colleagues across our news platforms, as well as legal and other departments, and she will report to me. No stranger to many of us here, Meghan joins us from NBC News, where she has been the executive producer of NBC Nightly News, anchored by Tom Llamas and Lester Holt, a position she has held since September 2021. Under her leadership, NBC Nightly News was recognized with a News and Documentary Emmy for Holt's exclusive interview with President Biden, just days before he ended his reelection bid. Driving Nightly's in-depth investigative and foreign reports, Meghan was among those honored with a 2025 George Polk award for the investigative series 'Dealing the Dead' and a Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022. She joined NBC Nightly News as a senior producer in 2017. Prior to joining NBC News, Meghan was with CNN for 10 years where she produced Wolf Blitzer's newsmaking interviews with presidents and world leaders. In 2009, she launched Christiane Amanpour's program, working as the lead editorial producer, and she was later nominated for an Emmy for producing Amanpour's interview with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Meghan received a News and Documentary Emmy award for her role in CNN's 2012 election coverage and a Peabody for her work in the field during the 2011 Gulf Oil Spill. Please join me in welcoming Meghan to VERSANT and the news standards team. Brian Carovillano SVP of Standards & Editorial Partnerships for News Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Versant Taps ‘NBC Nightly News' EP Meghan Rafferty As Its Vice President Of News Standards
Meghan Rafferty, who has been executive producer of NBC Nightly News for the past four years, is joining Versant as VP of news standards. Rafferty will help set and maintain journalism standards for MSNBC and CNBC, as the cable networks prepare to be spun off from Comcast as part of the new company Versant. She will start in the role in September and will report to Brian Carovillano, SVP of standards & editorial partnerships for news. More from Deadline Tom Rogers Joins Versant As Senior Adviser Comcast's Versant Sets Board With Mark Lazarus, Former Disney Executive Rebecca Campbell Broadcast TV Lobby Praises FCC Chairman For Deregulatory Push, Even As He Also Investigates Some Of Their Members 'In this role, Meghan will be a key voice within both networks' news leadership, helping to set and maintain the highest standards for our journalism,' Carovillano wrote in a memo to staffers. 'In this role, Meghan will be a key voice within both networks' news leadership, helping to set and maintain the highest standards for our journalism.' Rafferty has been executive producer of Nightly News since 2021, and her departure comes following the broadcast's transition from Lester Holt to Tom Llamas as anchor. During her tenure, the newscast won a News and Documentary Emmy for Holt's interview with President Joe Biden, days before he ended his reelection bid, and also a George Polk award for the investigative series 'Dealing the Dead' and a Murrow award for best newscast in 2022. She joined Nightly News as senior producer in 2017. Before Nightly News, Rafferty was with CNN for 10 years, producing Wolf Blitzer's interviews with world leaders. She also launched Christiane Amanpour's CNN program, working as the lead editorial producer. She also has helped produce presidential debates for CNN and NBC News in the 2012, 2016 and 2024 cycles. With the loss of NBC News as a sister network, MSNBC has been building a news operation, hiring Scott Matthews as SVP of news gathering. MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in a memo to employees this week that the network has added more than a dozen journalists with more to be announced. The network is recruiting for nearly 50 positions in newsgathering, digital, audio and specials. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meghan Rafferty, ‘NBC Nightly News' EP, to Join Versant
The top producer of 'NBC Nightly News' is the latest NBC News staffer to join the company that is splitting off from NBC News — and taking employees and some critical revenue, as well as expenses, with it. Meghan Rafferty spent nearly four years as the voice in Lester Holt's ear as he anchored 'NBC Nightly News.' Now, with Holt moving on to a new role at the NBCUniversal news division, she will take on a new executive position at Versant, the company that is being spun off from NBCU later this year. More from Variety Versant Names Tom Rogers Senior Adviser Comcast Sets Board of Directors for Versant Spin-Off Company CNBC Shake-Up Has David Cho Replace Dan Colarusso as Editorial Chief Rafferty will join Versant as vice president of news standards, beginning in early September, helping to oversee the quality of reporting and content at flagship Versant properties like MSNBC and CNBC. It is not uncommon for the executive producer of a flagship broadcast news program to change along with a switch in anchors. Ben Mayer, a senior broadcast producer at 'Nightly' who has also worked on MSNBC morning programs with anchors including Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Kasie Hunt, will take on the show's executive producer role on an interim basis. Rafferty is the latest NBC News employee to move to Versant — a sign of the opportunities that the new company night offer some journalists and producers in a roiled media sector, but also of some of the worries NBC News staffers have about their fate once the corporate transaction is completed. There is growing speculation that the absence of MSNBC and CNBC from the NBCUniversal news operations could force a recalibration of resources, according to two people familiar with newsroom conversations. Among those who have left prominent role at NBC News in recent weeks are Brian Carovillano named senior vice president, standards and editorial Partnerships for news at Versant, and to whom Rafferty will report; Tom Clendenin, who had been CMO for NBCUniversal News Group, and who will take up similar duties for CNBC and MSNBC; and Jessica Kurdali, a senior talent-relations executive at NBCU's news properties, who was named senior vice president of talent strategy at Versant. Journalists who have jumped to Versant from NBC News include Ken Dilanian, Brandy Zadrozny, David Noriega, and Vaughan Hillyard. NBC News has long expected some staffers to find new opportunities at Versant, says a person familiar with the news division, and is 'supportive of their efforts and wishes them the best.' Prior to joining NBC News, Rafferty worked for CNN for a decade, working with anchors including Wolf Blitzer and Christiane Amanpour. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kilfenora's Jonathan Keane ends Lahinch's 57-year wait for South of Ireland winner
They say it takes a village, and it was never more fitting in the case of Jonathan Keane, as he overcame a serious back injury with the help of two Lahinch members and a former champion to become the first home winner of the Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland title in 57 years. The 25-year-old Kilfenora schoolteacher completed a magical week over the famous west Clare dunes, rolling in a five-footer for a closing birdie to beat Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty one up and follow in the footsteps of his watching boyhood coach JD Smyth, who was the last Lahinch man to win the title in 1968. Keane dropped his putter and put his hands over his eyes in disbelief as his father, Johnny, and mother, Mary, ran onto the 18th green to envelop him in an emotional embrace. "I felt good over it because I have had that putt loads of times before, that back left pin," Keane said. "Just knew what to do. I wasn't feeling any nerves; I was feeling 100% confident. It was just a shock for about five seconds." The 18th was ringed with hundreds of spectators as Keane was chaired in victory by his supporters in a scene that summed up the magic of amateur golf at a venue that will host the Walker Cup next year. "I don't know what to say," Keane reflected after a day when he beat Edmondstown's Liam Abom 2&1 in the semi-finals as Rafferty confirmed his favouritism for the title by blitzing Grange's Jake Whelan 5&3 after playing the first five holes in five-under-par. "Absolutely delighted. This has been my dream since ever I joined this golf club, and for it to come true, it's absolutely unbelievable. Just thrilled. Thrilled." While overseas member Patrick Adler from Chicago won last year, several hundred locals turned out to watch one of their own lift the coveted trophy after a brilliant display of powerful hitting and sensational chipping and putting. He'd made two eagles and 24 birdies in five matchplay rounds to get to the final and did not let up when it mattered. All the hard work he did to recover from a herniated disc that kept him out of the game for nearly three years turned out to be worth its weight in gold. After the first two holes were halved in bogey-birdie figures, Keane birdied the third, then eagled the fourth from 35 feet to go two up. He had a chance from eight feet to go three up at the Dell, but while he missed that and lost the seventh to par after taking a penalty drop from deep rough, he won the eighth in par and turned two-up. Rafferty was spent after a gruelling week and both men made mistakes coming home. Rafferty won 11th in par, lost the 12th to Keane's birdie, failed to convert a slippery 10-footer for a win at the 13th and watched his rival get up and down from sand at the 14th to remain two up. It looked as though the tide would turn when Rafferty made a remarkable four at the 15th, flopping to a foot from heavy greenside rough, then hit to 12 feet at the 16th, where he was conceded the hole after Keane chunked into sand from heavy rough above the back left bunker. They were all square. Keane had been brilliant on and around the green all week and after Rafferty chipped close on the 17th, he cooly slotted home an eight footer for a half in fours to take the match to the last. Rafferty came up short in two, and with 240 yards to go and adrenaline pumping, Keane rifled a five iron to 50 feet and two putted for victory, dribbling in a five-footer for glory after his rival had chipped to the back fringe and missed his 15 footer. There were emotional scenes as the putt dropped, which was no surprise given Keane's battle with a back injury he picked up during COVID, when he had worked too hard in the gym and battered hundreds of balls on the beach without proper rest. "I was trying to drive the ball an absolute mile —the Bryson DeChambeau effect," he confessed. "I used to hit about 250 balls a day. And after about six months of doing that nonstop and doing too much gym, the body just gave up. "I had herniated discs in my lower back and it was very bad, and I couldn't play golf for two and a half years." Lahinch Golf Club stepped in to help, and thanks to two members — Dr Gerry O'Sullivan and Dr Conor O'Brien — Keane received the medical treatment he needed before embarking on a seven-month programme of strength and conditioning with former South of Ireland winner Robbie Cannon. He returned for the South in 2023 and put many sleepless painful nights behind him to achieve his dream yesterday, "I have to give credit to those three men there for helping me come back from that injury," he said. No wonder there were tears at the end of an epic, triumphant week for the amateur game. Pierse Motor Group South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, Lahinch Semi-finals: Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Jake Whelan (Grange) 5/3; Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) bt Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 2/1. Final: Keane beat Rafferty 1 up.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Couple who neglected dogs jailed and banned from keeping animals
Kevin Horace and Kayla Rafferty have received lifetime disqualifications from keeping animals Two emaciated dogs found by the ISPCA, one of which died due to severe neglect. Photo: ISPCA A couple from Navan, Co. Meath have been jailed and received lifetime disqualifications from keeping animals after being convicted of cruelty to dogs. Kevin Horace and Kayla Rafferty with an address at 20 Oaklawns, Clogherboy, Navan, Co. Meath were charged with six offences each under sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The charges related to two emaciated dogs, one of which died, due to its neglect. The court heard evidence that ISPCA Inspector James McCormack called to the defendants' address on February, 26, 2024, in response to a report received. He saw two dogs in the back garden, both of which were in poor condition and one of which was already deceased and lying by the back door. There was no food, water or shelter available, and there was a black discharge from the dead dog's rear. Two emaciated dogs found by the ISPCA, one of which died due to severe neglect. Photo: ISPCA News in 90 Seconds - July 26th Horace and Rafferty admitted joint ownership of the dead dog, a long-haired Terrier that had been named Bruno. Rafferty claimed ownership of the other dog, a Collie x pup called Sheba. They conceded that the dogs had not been checked since the previous day, although it was lunchtime when the Inspector called, and they were not aware that Bruno had died. There was dog food and a bowl of water inside the house, but the dogs did not have access to them. The two dogs were removed for veterinary assessment, and both were found to be extremely underweight with body condition scores of just one out of nine. Their bones were prominent, and the stomach of the deceased dog was found to be empty other than for sharp pieces of plastic and dark black digestive juices. The court was furnished with photographs taken by inspector McCormack and heard that there was clear evidence that the two canines had been neglected, in total disregard as to their health and welfare, and exposed to unnecessary suffering over a prolonged period of time. Ms. Justice Eirinn McKiernan decided that the only appropriate sentence for the offences was a custodial sentence and sentenced both defendants to imprisonment for a term of two months on one offence with all other charges taken into consideration. She refused requests from Rafferty's defence solicitor to suspend her sentence, even temporarily. Reflecting on the case, inspector McCormack commented: 'It was shocking to find Bruno dead in the yard, lying against the back door. His only hope was the occupants of the house, and they never came. 'Sheba the pup was lucky that the call was made. Although very underweight, she got out in time, recovered fully, and now lives in a loving home. Sheba got a chance that her companion did not.' The ISPCA has urged the public to continue reporting any suspicions of animal cruelty or neglect to its National Animal Cruelty Helpline by calling 0818 515 515, through email or its website.
