KERRY O’CONNOR
Executive Producer
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Results-oriented Executive Producer with over 15 years of experience in all aspects of television production. Proven record of increased ratings and revenue through branded and sponsored shows and segments. Currently an Executive Producer for Scripps News/CourtTV's primetime and special programming. Former Executive Producer with HLN and CNN networks, building exclusive partnerships and leveraging PR and content strategy to drive viewer engagement and revenue. Responsible for annual budgets from studio to field production, across sponsorships, marketing, communications, and promotions. I deliver smarter/faster solutions to create lasting brand connections with the audience and consumers.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
SCRIPPS NEWS/Court TV
02.2021 - Current
- Lead primetime and special coverage teams daily for 5-plus hours of live broadcast.
- Restructured primetime hours resulting in a ratings increase of over 40% in 8 month time period.
- Supervised editorial, planning, and production process to verify on-brand, impactful, timely, and relevant content.
- Implemented quality control measures to verify compliance with artistic, legal, and technical standards.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WARNER MEDIA- HLN On The Story w/ Lynn Smith
10.2018 - 02.2021
- Tasked with designing vision and launching revamped 2-hour dayside time block; build programming to showcase day’s headlines, delving into social issues, politics, health, sports, celebrity, justice; focus on facts over opinion.
- Spearheaded pitch meetings, facilitating ideation and target audience for every package and live segment Create branded programs offered for sponsorship opportunities including Beyond the Gavel, The Simple Truth, Let’s Boil It Down, See to Believe, Morning Rush, and What America’s Talking About.
- Lead internal and external show/brand communications, creating strategy, working directly with HLN PR to ensure external rebrand messaging.
- Maintain audience attention through social media (FB, Instagram, Twitter).
- Build timely long-form productions for HLN primarily focused on social issues; premiered Targeted project with Women in America.
- Control Room Executive Producer for Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett Out Front, and CNN’s New Day, during Covid shutdown.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WARNER MEDIA- Morning Express with Robin Meade
09.2015 - 10.2018
- Spearheaded 5 hours of daily television and weekend programming for HLN’s flagship shows; led team of 50 editorial and technical staff while managing diverse multi-cast talent (Robin Meade, Lynn Smith, Bob Van Dillen, Jennifer Westhoven, Coy Wire, Melissa Knowles)
- Financial responsibility across annual budget for daily, future, and sponsorship production (contractors, graphics, onsite production, field segments, remote studios, and post-production)
- Managed strategic vision of production, breaking show out of HLN's newswheel mode.
- Pitched, conceptualized, and successfully implemented 15 special and sponsored segments contributing to revenue; designed comprehensive and long-term sponsor content with L’Oreal, Maybelline, Geico, Purina, Golden Corral ++ Created content packages with HLN Sales and Promotions department to build partnership opportunities at Emmys, Grammys, CMAs, Academy Awards; packages included Hollywood’s Biggest Night, Backstage Access, Beauty Bar
- Successfully took MXP to fashion week for a first-ever live broadcast from the foot of the runway; executed multi-faceted segments/packages with celebrities/designers while maintaining the integrity of the day’s news.
SENIOR PRODUCER/OVERNIGHT SUPERVISOR
CNN
02.2013 - 09.2015
- Senior member of the launch team for New Day, CNN’s new signature morning show across 5 hours of live programming; created custom open format and trained staff, leading team of 55; field and line produced domestic/international segments, maintaining logistics, run of show, scripts, and all legal & standards issues.
- Managed breaking news, nightly, responsible for breaking Ferguson, MO riots and producing live broadcast coverage; oversaw editorial planning, package production, and all execution of Early Start and New Day.
SENIOR FIELD/LINE PRODUCER
FOX NEWS CHANNEL
02.2006 - 02.2013
- LINE/FIELD PRODUCER, On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren - NYC, Hired to enhance programming model to include booking, producing, and editing celebrity, political, trending, and breaking news stories.
- Managed coverage for midterm and Presidential elections, produced RNC and DNC live broadcasts, traveled with John McCain (campaign trail), Laura Bush (tours in Saudi Arabia and Egypt), Hilary Clinton (Islamabad and Mumbai for Secretary of State visits), among others.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/LINE PRODUCER
HLN Nancy Grace
01.2004 - 02.2006
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR/CREW MANAGER
CNN & CNNfn
01.2003 - 02.2004
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications, Psychology
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
Hamden, CT2001
Skills
- Strategy & Execution
- Talent Acquisition
- Media Relationships
- People Leadership & Development
- Budget Management
- Short/Long Form Production
- Live Events
- Breaking News Productions
- Broadcast Media
- Managing Editorial Direction
- Content Development
- Storytelling
Certification
Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner
Emerge Executive Talent Participant
Timeline
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
SCRIPPS NEWS/Court TV
02.2021 - Current
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WARNER MEDIA- HLN On The Story w/ Lynn Smith
10.2018 - 02.2021
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WARNER MEDIA- Morning Express with Robin Meade
09.2015 - 10.2018
SENIOR PRODUCER/OVERNIGHT SUPERVISOR
CNN
02.2013 - 09.2015
SENIOR FIELD/LINE PRODUCER
FOX NEWS CHANNEL
02.2006 - 02.2013
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/LINE PRODUCER
HLN Nancy Grace
01.2004 - 02.2006
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR/CREW MANAGER
CNN & CNNfn
01.2003 - 02.2004
Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communications, Psychology
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
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