WDIV is proud to announce Local 4’s station chief, Marla Drutz, has been named General Manager of the Year by Broadcasting & Cable.
Every year Broadcasting & Cable selects a GM of the Year (by market size) who they say “demonstrates exemplary innovation, fearless leadership and flawless execution in a challenging time in the television industry.” Drutz took the top honor for markets 1-25 this year.
“Marla is an incredibly passionate and determined leader with a high moral compass and ethical standards. She is a local broadcaster who loves, eats and breathes everything about living in a local market. Marla is a huge motivator to the people she works with and she’s a motivator to me,” said Emily Barr, President and CEO of Graham Media Group, WDIV-Local 4’s parent company.
Drutz has held the position of Vice President and General Manager since July 2008. Under her leadership, WDIV-Local 4 has been dominant both on-air and online. The station has the top-rated/most watched newscasts in the market. On the digital side, ClickOnDetroit is consistently Metro Detroit’s No. 1 news website. Drutz has also bolstered a strong commitment to outstanding community service.
In addition, the Local 4 News team has been presented with eight prestigious Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association for news coverage since her tenure, and WDIV has been named Station of the Year three times by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. ClickOnDetroit, received the Local Media Association’s Digital Innovation Award for Best Overall Local News Strategy and Best Social Media Strategy.
Drutz is most proud of WDIV’s second Service to America Award (2017 and 2011). The prestigious national honor presented by the National Association of Broadcasters recognizes the station’s commitment to outstanding community service.
Prior to joining WDIV, Drutz worked at the E.W. Scripps Company and WXYZ-TV (Detroit) as the Director of Programming. Earlier in her career, she was the Marketing Director at WJBK-TV (Detroit). Drutz began her career as a research analyst at WJW in Cleveland.
Throughout her career in broadcasting, Drutz has received numerous professional awards including the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Emmy Awards, first-place awards from the MAB and a “Top Woman in Management” Award from the Detroit Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. She has been honored as a member of the NATAS Silver Circle and has been selected by Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s Top Businesswomen.
Drutz is a frequent speaker at industry events and conferences. A native of Louisville, KY, Drutz holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in journalism and communication.