Media release: Margaret Larson returns to KING 5 as host of a new daytime talk show

Former NBC News and Dateline correspondent sees opportunity for showcasing community, local pop culture

One hour show “New Day Northwest” expands KING 5 non-news programming to 11 hours a week

CONTACT: Rick Swanson, Dir. of Programming, (206) 448-3514
Noreen King, Dir. of Market Development, (206)  448-3718

SEATTLE, WASH. – Award-winning journalist Margaret Larson is returning to KING 5 Television as host of a new daytime talk show called “New Day Northwest.” A studio audience will join Larson for the one-hour taping weekday mornings at the KING 5 studios. The program format creates a conversation between the audience, guests, and the former TODAY Show Host on community, current events and topics relevant to the life in the Northwest. The launch of “New Day Northwest” on Monday March 29th will substantially expand the amount of local non-news programming already produced by KING 5.

“It’s wonderful to have Margaret returning to the KING 5 Home Team. Her world experience, intelligence, and sense of humor are perfect for this show,” said Pat Costello, station manager of KING 5, KING5.com, KONG 6/16, NorthWest Cable News and NWCN.com. “She shares our vision of how television can strengthen and give voice to our community.

“This is a great opportunity to reflect on our community, and talk about interesting things that might not make the news, and shine a light on the people who do small but good works that create value in our lives,” said Margaret Larson. “I’m looking forward to seeing a new audience every day.”

“New Day Northwest” will benefit from KING 5’s decades of successful non-news programming like “Evening Magazine”, “Northwest Backroads”, and “ “Moore To Life”. KING 5 is the only television station in the Seattle-Tacoma market offering local non-news programming. The “New Day Northwest” program includes unique sponsorship opportunities unmatched in the Seattle-Tacoma television market. These limited sponsorships will highlight consumer information in engaging and entertaining segments.

Larson worked as a broadcast journalist for more than 25 years, most notably with NBC News as a foreign correspondent based in London, news anchor for the Today show and Dateline NBC reporter. During the Kurdish refugee crisis in southern Turkey at the end of the first Persian Gulf War, she began reporting on global humanitarian crises. That life-changing experience resulted in a move to Seattle for her and her family where after several years working as a reporter and anchor for KING 5, she left for full time work helping international causes in partnership with relief agency Mercy Corps.

Larson has won broadcast journalism awards including four Emmys, two national Clarion awards, three Telly awards and a national Society of Professional Journalists award. Additional honors include the national Headliner Award from the Association of Women in Communication and a selection for the Women of Vision award by the “Women Work!” organization in Washington D.C.

About Belo

KING 5 is part of Belo Corp (BLC). Belo is one of the nation’s largest pure-play, publicly-traded television companies, with 2008 annual revenue of $733 million. The Company owns and operates 20 television stations (nine in the top 25 markets) and their associated Web sites. Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MyNetwork TV, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households in 15 highly-attractive markets. Belo stations rank first or second in nearly all of their local markets. Additional information is available at www.belo.com.