RIAS alumni Wagner running for RTDNA Chair-Elect

RIAS Berlin Commission alumni David Wagner is one of two candidates to become the Chair-Elect of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA board), which calls itself the world’s largest professional organization for broadcast and digital journalism. It is also RIAS’s partner (www.rtdna.org) in the United States and has been an important avenue for American fellows to take part in RIAS programs to Europe over the years. Wagner, the News Director at KLST/KSAN in San Angelo, Texas, was a RIAS fellow in 2019 and is now running to lead RTDNA, first as Chair Elect,a sort of Deputy Chair, and the following year as Chair. He is running against Allison McGinley, the News Director at WKMG-TV in Orlando, Florida. The RTDNA elections start on August 11 with 30-days of on-line voting that runs to September 12.

Wagner recently took part in the RIAS program in 2019 and won the 2020 RIAS Media Prize together with

Monica Quintero

of Fox 24 News in Midland, Texas for a series of stories from the fellowship. Another former RTDNA Chair, Scott Libin of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism, was a RIAS fellow in 2018. The RIAS Berlin Commission caught up with Wagner to ask him about his candidacy and the impact that RIAS has had on him:

Question:

Why do you want to become the RTDNA Chair Elect?

Wagner:

Fo

r the past 4 years I have been blessed and humbled to serve as the Region 6 Director for RTDNA. Last year I was elected to the Executive Committee, and I have seen more “behind the curtain” of our association, and I feel I’m ready to be elected as the associations Chair Elect and the following two year commitment to the board and foundation. I have been passionate about journalism since I took my first job as a “one man band” reporter in 1997. Over the years I’ve always strived to have the trust of viewers by maintaining many of the same guiding principles that are in the RTDNA Code of Ethics, especially truth and accuracy above all.Question:

Do you think your 2019 fellowship with RIAS Berlin Commission may have helped you get ready for that?

Wagner: I think any experience like the 2019 Fellowship where you can grow and learn from a professional and personal experience is valuable. Meeting the other journalists that were a part of the fellowship created some lifelong personal and professional friendships.Question:

What does the RTDNA Chair do?

Wagner: The Chair of the board is the chief executive officer of the Association and presides over all meetings of the Association, including those of the Board of Directors and the executive committee, and performs such other duties as are necessarily incident to the office of Chair or as may be prescribed by the bylaws and the Board of Directors. At the annual business meeting of the Association, and at such other times as the Chair deems proper, the Chair shall speak to the members about matters and make suggestions, in the opinion of the Chair, tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the Association. The Chair also is responsible for the administration of committee activities, as prescribed in these bylaws and by the Board of Directors. And finally, the Chair is empowered to act in the name of the Association in matters not specifically outlined in the bylaws with the approval of the Board of Directors.Question:

What are the challenges facing RTDNA?

Wagner: Our industry is under attack by numerous agencies, and the people we serve daily. I believe we must withstand this barrage by speaking truth to power. For us to regain the public’s trust, our association needs to be a source of credible information that helps educate, inform and protect the values that represent the communities we live and work in.Question:

What do you bring to the table?

Wagner: I have been an award winning journalist for 23 years, but the awards are not what makes me who I am. It’s the relationships I’ve made and the stories I’ve been honored to tell viewers that I value the most! I think that what I bring to the table is a thought process most true journalist have but maybe have lost in the age of social media. I want to get the association and it’s members back to the truth and accuracy above all thought process….first and right is always the goal, but second and truthful will keep the trust of your viewers, listeners, and readers.Question:

What do you think you could do better or to improve it?

Wagner: I do not want our board to be one that will attend a meeting and vote on ideas that never come to fruition. We need to be an active board and push our association and its members to be active. I know we are all busy but if we prioritize a few minutes each day to the association and its goals…moving forward will not be such a daunting task. So I think I can come alongside my fellow board members and make this happen.Question:

You have been the Region 6 director on the RTDNA Board for 4 years. Where exactly is Region 6?

Wagner: Texas and OklahomaQuestion

: What have you learned from that experience?

Wagner: I’ve learned that there are passionate journalists all over my region that want to tell stories and deliver accurate truthful information to their communities.Question:

How important is the RIAS fellowship for RTDNA?

Wagner

:

As I said before it is very valuable anytime you can grow and learn from a something in a professional and personal way. So with that being said I feel it’s very important to continue the partnership so future journalists get the eye opening opportunities I did this last year.Question:

Do you think there are ways RTDNA and RIAS can deepen and strengthen their ties?

Wagner: It’s sad that to me that right now that the German and American political relationship is so poor, given the long history of good relations between the two countries. If the continued partnership between RTDNA and RIAS could help that in any way…I’m all for it!Question:

Going forward, for instance, all RIAS fellows will be required to join RTDNA for at least one year. What else could we do?

Wagner: I think most recently thanks to COVID the Zoom talks that have begun have given RIAS Alum and others an opportunity to hear and see not only each other but to keep up with some of the things that are relevant to all of us as journalists and human beings.Question

: Why do you think relatively few RTDNA members know about RIAS? Is there any way to fix that?

Wagner: That’s a really good question, I do remember hearing about RIAS early on in my career, but to get time off to do the fellowship was out of the question for my news director. As far as fixing that…I think the old saying about “tooting your own horn” is applicable. The more you can get out and promote the program the better. Even if some alum could help create a promotional video, audio, or digital piece.

Question: You and Monica Quintero did a prize-winning TV series “Beyond Borders” during your RIAS fellowship. How did you guys find the time to do those stories while at the same time taking part in 3 or 4 program presentations each day

Wagner: I think Monica and I were prepared for the trip we had several discussions about ideas and stories we wanted to accomplish. We also didn’t sleep a lot…lol…we had a lot of late nights including the all night shoot we did the very last night we were in Berlin.

Question:

What do you think about your RIAS experience in Germany and Brussels?

Wagner: My RIAS experience was fantastic! Being that it was my first time to travel abroad I was a little apprehensive, but pleasantly surprised about every experience of the fellowship.Question:

Did it broaden your horizons or confirm your cliches?

Wagner: Definitely opened my eyes a lot…Hate to admit this , but I said several times while we were there to people we met I felt bad about how arrogant Americans seem to be about global issues and turn a blind eye to things that we really should be paying attention to on a global front.Question:

Some people say it changed their lives. What would you say?

Wagner: Oh definitely, in fact if you know of any openings in Germany as far as jobs I’m always open to new opportunities and it would force me to really learn German, not just rely on the limited two years I took in high school.Question:

Anything you want to add?

Wagner: No, I’ll just say thanks for the opportunity and if you are an RTDNA member, I would love to have your vote. Thanks RIAS for your time!