Donald V. West, 94, former top editor of Broadcasting+Cable (formerly Broadcasting magazine), died February 4 at The Jefferson retirement community in Arlington, Virgina.

West took over as top editor of then-Broadcasting magazine in 1982 upon the death of magazine co-founder Sol Taishoff and led the magazine through design and name changes, as well as various enterprises including newsletters, international editions, and convention dailies. He was also editor of the Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook and principal editorial writer.

Born in Texas and raised in New Mexico, West’s first brush with electronic communications was running a recording studio as a teenager. He became, successively, a radio transmitter engineer, managing editor of a small-town daily newspaper — the Roswell (New Mexico) Record — and as wire editor of the El Paso (Texas) Times, before serving as an artillery sergeant in the Korean War.

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A graduate of New Mexico A&M College, West came to Washington with an eye on law school but a heart still in journalism.

He joined Broadcasting’s then-Washington headquarters in 1953, transferring to the  New York bureau in 1958 as manager.

When Broadcasting bought the monthly Television magazine in 1960, West was named managing editor and VP.

In 1966, he joined CBS as assistant to network president Frank Stanton, rejoining Broadcasting in 1971 as managing editor, again based in Washington.

The banner on the editorial page once read ”Committed to the First Amendment and the Fifth Estate,“ and the same could be said of West. 

In his editorials, as well as speeches, writing and appearances at industry events, he carried on the fight for a broadcast medium as free as print, which meant free from micromanaging by political interests. 

While broadcasters, particularly in tough economic times, have been tempted to forego that fight and accept a compromised First Amendment as a quid pro quo for the protection of their business and avoidance of further regulation, West never counseled such expedience and the expense of the speech protection they, and the public, deserved.

West was also instrumental in the creation of the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame. 

He exited the magazine in 2001. He joined the board of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation in 2003 and became president, creating the Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts awards. In 2015, West was honored as one of those giants.

His bio for the award notes that as a young Roswell newspaperman, West “was distinguished by missing the biggest story of the century when, as the first reporter at the site of the fabled Roswell alien invasion, he found nothing to report.”’ 

That could not be said for a 40-plus year career covering electronic communications that earned him plaudits from some other giants of the business.

“Don was a force in the industry in his own right and a tireless advocate for full First Amendment Rights for broadcasters,” Preston Padden, a former top News Corp. and The Walt Disney Co. executive and one-time head of the Association of Independent Television Stations (INTV) in Washington, said.

“It’s hard for folks today to comprehend how influential Broadcasting was under Don back in the day,” C-SPAN CEO Susan Swain said.

“I first met Don West during my FCC days and, thereafter, we had many wonderful lunches and discussions about broadcasting-related issues,“ former Federal Communications Commission chair Dick Wiley said. “Don was a terrific journalist who knew the broadcast industry — and everyone in it — from top to bottom. He was also a great advocate for applying First Amendment rights to the electronic media, a cause he supported during his entire career. He was one of the very best. RIP.”

In 1992, top executives in the communications business weighed in on West's impact on the industry.

“Few men or women in the broadcast and editorial world have had such a profound and lasting impact on the world of communications,” Jack Valenti, then-president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said. “He has oftentimes shaped the agenda for public leaders, and more than often clarified opaque, complicated issues for those who want to understand what the future may hold.”

“Don is the consummate professional and one of the best editors in the business,” said Robert Daly, then-chairman of Warner Bros.

“As editor of Broadcasting Magazine, [West] has shown insight and vision in his objective coverage of the emergence and development of the cable television industry,” wrote CNN and Turner Broadcasting System founder Ted Turner. “He has proved himself to be a true leader among journalists.”

“In my 50 years of working with editors of industry publications, none has come close to Don West for sheer knowledge of the business, for integrity, for leadership, and for style,” Stanton, the former CBS president, wrote in 1992. “Except for a brief interval during which he was my assistant at CBS, West’s life belonged to Broadcasting, the magazine, and broadcasting, the communications phenomenon of the century.”

A Celebration of Life is planned at a date to be determined. 

NewBay Media’s Television Sector brands, featuring Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, Next TV, and Ratings Intelligence, are enhancing the way in which content flows across their print and digital products, research tools, social media, and live events.

The new system allows for deeper coverage across all mediums through the venerable Multichannel News and B&C, while also enabling the newer brands, Next TV and Ratings Intelligence, to expand their capabilities and services.

Mark Robichaux has been named editorial director for all of the TV Sector brands: Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable, NextTV and Ratings Intelligence. Robichaux, who previously held editor-in-chief roles at both B&C and, most recently, Multichannel News, will oversee all editorial content in print, online and events for the four brands. A veteran journalist and editor, he will look for opportunities to increase and sharpen coverage, while reaching a greater audience on all platforms.  

“We have a tremendous team in place,” said Robichaux, “one that not only honors the legacy and vision of the well-established B&C and Multichannel News titles, but one that also has the talent to lead the market into the future with newer brands such as Next TV and Ratings Intelligence.  Our commitment to the television industry expands further through our digital, social, event, and research capabilities.”

Leading these brands in new roles will be Kent Gibbons, who has been named editor of Multichannel News, Dade Hayes, who has been named editor of B&C, and Jeff Baumgartner, who has been named editor of Next TV, all reporting to Robichaux.

To focus the teams and implement new content protocols, B&C editor-in-chief Melissa Grego will transition to a newly created role of consulting editor. Grego will continue to contribute exclusively to B&C and the NewBay TV Sector as she launches her own new company with a special focus on projects that serve women in business. She will continue to author her interview column “Mel’s Diner” for B&C, blog and spearhead select editorial projects. She will also produce NewBay’s Next TV Summit & Expo conference, as well as B&C’s bicoastal Keynotes & Cocktails: Women of… event series, which she created in 2010 at B&C. In addition, throughout the year Grego will continue to represent B&C as a frequent moderator of panels and keynotes at conferences and events.

“Leading B&C as the editor-in-chief has been the privilege of my career. The entire B&C team inspires me every single day,” Grego said. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with my NewBay and B&C colleagues as I chart a new adventure with a special focus on projects that promote gender diversity.”

“We are thrilled that Melissa will continue to contribute her considerable skills to B&C and our events as she begins her own business,” noted Louis Hillelson, vice president/group publisher, NewBay Media’s Television Sector. “I am looking forward to working with both Mark and Melissa in their new roles, and offering even more opportunities for our readers, attendees, and marketing partners.”

“This new approach to content perfectly positions NewBay Media’s Television Sector to grow our extensive digital, social, live event, and print coverage,” NewBay Media CEO Steve Palm, CEO. “With unified editorial leadership across B&C, Multichannel News, Next TV, and Ratings Intelligence, we will be better able to increase the unique analysis, opinion, and perspective that we are known for, and provide even deeper coverage of the dynamic changes and opportunities affecting the TV market.

NewBay Media has tapped Charlie Weiss as publisher of its TV Sector brands, with the veteran executive assuming a leadership role with Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable and Next TV.

Weiss, who reports to vice president, group publisher Louis Hillelson, joins NewBay’s TV Sector from the company’s Pro Audio Group, where he managed Mix, Sound & Video Contractor, Pro Sound News, and other leading brands in the portfolio. During his tenure, he helped develop the Pro Audio Group's marketing services, lead-generation programs, social media, and digital product offerings, and launched the Sound for Film event under the Mix brand.

As publisher of the TV Sector, Weiss is charged with shepherding and growing the group's marketing services, advertising, and event sponsorship efforts, and ensuring that the group continues to deliver NewBay’s market-leading TV-focused resources. He will work closely with other NewBay-owned brands, including TV Technology, Television Broadcast Europe, and Broadcast Engineering, to provide a comprehensive resource for marketers to reach the breadth of TV, video, and broadcast professionals.

“I am excited to work with Charlie to take our leading brands and outstanding events to the next level,” said Hillelson. “Charlie’s proven focus on our clients’ needs and innovative approach to custom programs will be a tremendous benefit to our customers looking to increase ROI.”

Noted Weiss: “The television market is a fast-paced, exciting industry, and I am thrilled to be joining both it and these legendary brands. I’m particularly excited to leverage my background and experience in the entertainment space, where I’ve helped customers build business, brand, content and audience across film, television, stage and performing arts.” 

Weiss joined NewBay Media from Group FMG, where he was vice president of publishing. There, he managed business development, client media solutions, and digital transition. Prior to FMG, Weiss held executive positions at Backstage, Intellisphere, Nielsen Business Media, and Reed Business Information.

Working out of NBM’s New York City headquarters, Weiss will continue to serve as group publisher of the Pro Audio Group on an interim basis. 

Louis Hillelson, the longtime publishing executive at Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable, has rejoined NewBay Media, effectively immediately.

Hillelson, who left the company in October for pursuits outside the television industry, is back as vice president and group publisher of NewBay’s TV Sector brands, notably Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable, Next TV and Ratings Intelligence.

“I am excited that Louis has returned to lead our Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News brands,” said NewBay Media CEO Steve Palm. “His knowledge of the television business and the TV Sector brands are unsurpassed — we are happy to have him back where he belongs.”

Noted Hillelson, who has been with MCN and B&C since 2005: “The television industry is a vibrant, exciting business to be a part of, and I missed it terribly. I am honored to be rejoining the Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News team, and am looking forward to working with the team to build new properties and relationships with which we can continue to better serve the television market.”

Hillelson will be on site at NYC Television Week at the Affinia Manhattan on Nov. 12 and 13, greeting industry leaders at four top conferences — The Content Show, Next TV NYC, Advanced Advertising, and The Business of Multiplatform TV.

Registration remains open at www.nyctelevisionweek.com.

Hillelson can be reached directly at lhillelson@nbmedia.com and 917-281-4730.