Scott Diener Named GM at KMOV, the Missouri School of Journalism’s NBC Affiliate

By Paul Greeley

Scott Diener has been named general manager of KOMU-TV, only the fourth general manager of the Missouri School of Journalism’s NBC affiliate in Columbia, in the last 50 years.

His first day on the job will be Monday, Sept. 21.

Diener most recently served for nine years as executive news director at KMOV, the CBS-affiliate news station in St. Louis (the station has since added an ABC affiliation). He previously held news director positions at major market stations in Dallas, Phoenix, Louisville, Cincinnati, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles — the second-largest TV market in the country.

“Scott’s career has spanned some of the biggest markets in the nation, where he has driven the kind of hands-on, community-first reporting that KOMU and the School of Journalism are dedicated to,” said David Kurpius, dean of the School. “I’m thrilled to welcome this proven leader back to Mizzou in a high impact position.”

In taking the helm at KOMU, Diener returns to the station where he earned his stripes as a student and gained important early experience as a reporter, producer and teaching assistant.

Almost 40 years later, he comes bearing a bundle of accolades, including a Peabody Award, a DuPont Columbia Award, a National Edward R. Murrow Award, a national Emmy and more.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Diener said. “I’m honored and humbled to be at one of the nation’s most innovative journalism labs, and I’m excited to lead the staff, the faculty and the next generation of broadcast journalists at KOMU.”

This won’t be his first engagement with the School of Journalism since graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1987. Diener has been a consistent presence on campus as a recruiter, and at industry conferences — where students have the opportunity to develop important connections — he has developed a reputation for being generous with his time.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me. I’m honored and humbled to be at one of the nation’s most innovative journalism labs, and I’m excited to lead the staff, the faculty and the next generation of broadcast journalists at KOMU.”

But his accessible demeanor is not just for students. He brings an open, visible style of leadership to the role that has proven effective all over the country; including in the ultra-competitive Los Angeles market, where CBS stations KCAL and KCBS achieved first-ever #1 rankings in the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. time slots under his leadership.

At KOMU, he’ll bring that approach to faculty, staff and students committed to producing community reporting as a public service.

“My intention is to be present,” he said. “As a leader, I’ll be talking to everyone. There is nothing like KOMU anywhere in the country, and the ability to lead a team that is educating the next generation in a real-world learning lab is exciting to me. At the same time, we have to be the provider of the best, most accurate content on all platforms. We have to be involved in the community.”

Diener’s track record has made a strong impression on his peers.

Stacey Woelfel, BJ ’81, who served as KOMU’s news director for 24 years, came to know Diener well over the course of the aforementioned recruitment visits. Woelfel said the combination of news experience and familiarity with the School of Journalism makes Diener a pick who will resonate both on campus and in the broader industry.

“I knew him by reputation long before I met him,” Woelfel said. “At a time when figuring out how to best serve audiences is every station’s number one job, Scott is known for doing just that in top markets for stations that are doing good, solid journalism.”

Rick Gevers, BJ ’75, a broadcast journalism veteran and publisher of an influential industry newsletter, agreed.

“I think it’s great to have someone with both a news background and a J-School background in that role,” Gevers said. “It’s important to have someone with his experience in that job during this critical time for journalism.”

Diener also emphasized that his passion for the role goes beyond that ideal alignment of professional skills and experience. A season ticket holder, he will welcome the shorter commute to Mizzou Football’s Faurot Field. In fact, he interviewed the field’s namesake — legendary football coach and athletic director Don Faurot — for one of his final projects as a student: a 30-minute documentary special on Faurot that he hopes still exists somewhere in the KOMU archives.

“I feel like I’m engaged there, even beyond journalism,” Diener said. “From a journalistic standpoint, we want to be there for the people in the community, but I’m getting involved in a lot of ways in Columbia. All my friends know I’m a die-hard Mizzou Tiger.”

Paul Greeley is the manager and a writer for News Blues.

He can be reached at Paul@NewsBlues.com or 817-578-6324.