WATN Marketing Director Checks In On Recruitment, Motivation

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by Jacob Solomon Sep 19, 2022 News
WATN Marketing Director Checks In On Recruitment, Motivation

Chris Franklin checks in with his thoughts on what qualities he looks for in a good marketer and his system to encourage growth and teamwork.

by Paul Greeley September 19, 2022 7:00 EDT
Chris Franklin

In this episode, we survey local TV marketing and creative services directors to find out who they are, their challenges, their successes and their visions for the future.

Chris Franklin is the marketing director for the ABC station in Memphis.

He came back to local television because he wanted to make sure what they did was a service for Memphis.

A local blood bank in Memphis used to be low in donations, but thanks to The Tegna Foundation, we are able to partner with them.

Franklin says that the television station is more than just what's on air. It is being integrated into people's daily lives.

ABC 24 Memphis was launched since he was at the station. Franklin says that they have had exponential growth since then. It's up 6000% with digital.

The station's first creative services award was given.

Franklin said it was a big deal for them.

Franklin started a system to help his staff grow and learn by having someone in the department who has experience in that skill set pair them with someone else.

He says that they work with their team members to improve their skills. As teams start to develop authentic relationships, natural learning and growth ensues.

Sydney Neely

Franklin says that an example of that is a person learning how to work with a social media platform.

Franklin says that since she started in her department, she has tripled her followers on the social media platform.

Phen Hildreth
Chelsey Nicholson
Alistair Clark
Bianca Ford
Anthony Black

Franklin believes that when hiring local news marketers, he looks for people who would make a great fit, an inspiring person, a motivator, or someone who is gifted in ways that can help and they may not be the traditional marketers.

Kevin Barbee

Kevin Barbee was Franklin's promotion manager. He was a sports reporter and photographer who cared about his job.

He becomes an exceptional promotions manager because of that. Great people are what we are looking for.

Franklin says he has to be hyper focused when it is a station initiative to get things done.

Sometimes that means he has to say no.

Franklin says that he has conversations with sales or news, the content team or even engineering as to why we can't. You have to explain to them why sustained excellence is important.

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