SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Former NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) news director Jim Tortora appears to be prospering in the 13 months he's been with ABC 40 (WGGB) and FOX 6 (WGGB-DT2) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Hired as News Director last September, recent job postings now list Tortora's title as Station Manager and Vice President of News.
An observant CNYTVNews.com reader wrote in to draw our attention to the new title today, after noticing "News Director" among the titles presently open at ABC 40 (WGGB) and Fox 6 (digital subchannel 40.2). Tortora's new title appears on at least two of the job postings, while, as of Monday afternoon, another job posting still refers to Tortora as News Director. Aside from the job postings, there doesn't appear to be any other indication of exactly when WGGB owner Gormally Broadcasting issued the promotion.
Tortora joined the station near the end of September 2011, more four months after he suddenly resigned from Syracuse's NewsChannel 9. National TV news industry trade website TVSpy reported that Tortora exited amid accusations that he was involved with a reporter, who also resigned a few weeks later.
During more than a decade at NewsChannel 9, Tortora and his crews racked up dozens of journalism awards at the local, state and national levels. He also oversaw the effort to make WSYR-TV the first station in Syracuse to offer local newscasts in high-definition. Tortora is also credited with launching the station’s “Your Stories” franchise, an idea which has been replicated by other stations across the country.