Romenesko Misc.
As general manager, Mitch Semel will oversee all editorial elements of The Onion, including the newspaper, TheOnion.com, the Onion News Network, the two new TV shows — “Onion News Network” on IFC and “Onion SportsDome” — and any new creative ventures. Since 2003, he’s run his own production and media consulting company. His most recent assignment has been executive producing the Oprah Winfrey Network’s morning show, says a press release.
Press release
THE ONION ANNOUNCES MITCH SEMEL TO JOIN
AS GENERAL MANAGER
NEW YORK, NY (January 17, 2010) – The Onion, the award-winning satirical news organization, announced today the hire of Mitch Semel as General Manager of The Onion.
Semel will oversee all editorial elements of The Onion, including the newspaper, TheOnion.com, the Onion News Network, the two new television shows, “Onion News Network” on IFC and “Onion SportsDome,” and any new creative ventures.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Mitch to the team,” said Steve Hannah, President and CEO of The Onion. “He strikes the rare balance between respecting the creative process and realizing that creativity has to translate into good business.”
Semel has a strong background in broadcast media, having worked as a senior network executive, producer and strategist in television (broadcast, cable and public), radio, broadband and mobile technologies. He has developed and supervised network programming and produced prime-time and late-night shows for Comedy Central, CNN, CBS, NBC, Nick@Nite and PBS. Since 2003, he has run his own production and media consulting company. His most recent assignment has been executive producing the live morning show on the new Oprah Winfrey Network.