WFTV Vice President and General Manager Shawn Bartelt announced Monday that Matt Parcell will be taking over for his mentor, Bob Jordan, as news director for Eyewitness News. 

Matt has served as managing editor for Eyewitness News for the past four years overseeing the day-to-day operation and as the chief editorial and content manager, as well as managing the station’s digital products.  Prior to that, he managed the station’s award winning Special Projects department, which includes Todd Ulrich and his Action 9 reports and the 9 Investigates team.  

"Matt has proven himself to be a dynamic leader and has always been an integral part of the incredible team that produces eight hours of news each day under the Eyewitness News brand,” commented Shawn Bartelt.   “Matt has prepared for this opportunity and we are confident that he is ready for the challenges of the high profile position."

Jordan was named news director of KIRO Eyewitness News in Seattle, also a Cox Media Group property, last month.  Matt will take over the duties immediately and a search for his successor has already started. 

Matt has worn many hats in his nearly 30-year news career, including executive producer, managing editor and news director.  He has been with WFTV since 1997. He has been honored with numerous awards over his career including Emmys, Telly Awards and the South Carolina SPJ/SDX Reporter of the Year award, as well as many AP reporting and producing awards.

“It’s not often you get handed the keys to a high performance machine such as the Eyewitness News newsroom,” commented Matt. “We have a fantastic team of dedicated journalists and I couldn’t be more proud or more humbled to be entrusted to lead this operation.”

Matt graduated from the University of Texas and is a proud Longhorn.  He and his wife, Jennifer have three children and rarely leave Florida, even when on vacation.