The Georgia Association of Broadcasters is pleased to introduce WJCL’s Ben Hart as 2025 Chairman of the Board. Hart is the President and General Manager of Hearst’s ABC affiliate, WJCL Savannah.
Hart attended Mississippi State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies. His journey in broadcasting began during his sophomore year.
“I went to college and decided I wanted to be on Sports Center, that was my plan,” says Hart. “While I was working at the campus radio station, I got an opportunity to intern, then work for the local Cumulus cluster.”
Hart’s roommate, who was also working towards a spot on Sports Center, started a job working for the local CBS television station. The roommates found themselves, as sophomores, with industry jobs before even finishing their degrees.
“It was an exciting time in my life, as a radio broadcaster, to get that kind of responsibility and to be able to program a hip-hop station in a college town while I was a college student,” Hart says.
By the time he had reached his junior and senior year, Hart had established his role as the main voice of the area’s first hip-hop station. He also acted as the jock of the cluster’s other stations, including an adult contemporary station, a classic rock station and a sports talk station.
Hart was first struck with the significance of his role during a community event that he was DJing with the cluster. A child had walked up and asked him to play a song that was not necessarily age appropriate. The realization dawned on Hart that the child had learned the song from a radio mix that he had been airing.
“I never thought about what was happening as we broadcast those things in this community that isn’t just for the college. It’s an entire community, the 5-year olds, the older people. That other station that had said ‘We’re not going to play that hip-hop mess,’ were thinking of the community in a way that I never did,” Hart says.
This moment was the first inkling for Hart of how impactful local broadcasts can be in a community.
Hart’s next stop was at the local CBS affiliate that his roommate had gone to work at, as an audio operator. One day, when the technical director wasn’t able to make it in, Hart jumped in to fill her shoes. While the show wasn’t perfect, they got it off the ground and he eventually assumed the directing position.
Always looking to learn more and improve, Hart then took on the role of producer, while still directing shows.
Hart took these experiences to Jackson, Mississippi as the 5pm producer for Hearst’s WAPT-TV. Two years later, while producing the 6 and 10pm shows, Hart made the decision to interview for an opportunity at WDSU-TV in New Orleans.
One week after interviewing for the role with WDSU, Hurricane Katrina hit and devastated the city of New Orleans.
“I’ll never forget the general manager at the station in New Orleans, his name is Mason Granger, said to me, ‘Ben you know I’m not sure if you’re still interested, but I think I may still have an opening for you here in New Orleans.’”
This was the next moment that impacted Hart in a meaningful way.
“I took this job when the lights were still out and the water was still in every street in New Orleans,” says Hart. “It was a chance for me, as a journalist, to be a part of the story, so I moved to the story.”
Hart experienced firsthand how important broadcasters are in the time of disaster. He played a part in giving the community information they needed, to know what was happening and how to take action. The WDSU-TV team would be awarded with Emmys for the work accomplished over the course of 2005 to 2007.
From WDSU-TV, Hart moved to KCRA 3 in Sacramento, covering wild fires and major elections.
“Then I went back to WAPT in Jackson in 2010 with all that experience and knowledge, which is what smaller markets need,” says Hart. “People with big experience, big bold ideas, to come in and share that with the people who are just as important in those smaller markets, but just don’t have as many people living around them.”
Hart came back to WAPT as Assistant News Director and graduated to News Director in 2012. As News Director, Hart moved WAPT from a #3 station to a #1 station. Then, another opportunity with Hearst became available in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at WISN, which in recent years had taken a downward turn.
Hart’s move to WISN came in a dramatic political shift for the state and community. The unique perspective that Hart brought to the station, and the market, was coming from a predominantly red area to an area that was historically blue, but shifting red.
“I got to see the importance of telling everyone’s story equally and fairly and what that meant to success in ratings, and also success in the community through understanding of one another,” says Hart.
Once again, Hart led a station from a #3 position to a #1 spot. He attributes this success of WISN to the identification of all voices in the political conversation and making sure that each unique voice was heard. This approach was used in other significant events that took place in 2020, such as the Kyle Rittenhouse story.
“We as broadcasters had the opportunity to be the trusted source that people could listen to and come down the middle with an understanding. An understanding of what else is going on, on the side that you aren’t on,” Hart says.
While in Wisconsin, Hart worked with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) to formulate a position on and lobby to protect access to police cameras. According to Hart, the group created by the WBA became experts on the legislation and are who the association would call on to speak for the people.
“We got a chance to talk to these lawmakers about what we needed as broadcasters and frankly as citizens. To have sunshine on what people are doing in government, what the police are doing and they welcomed it because it came from a source of local broadcasters who they could trust,” Hart says.
The plan was eventually accepted by lawmakers and protected access to cameras for broadcasters and the public.
“I did a lot of important stories as a news director, but I think for the essence of journalism and truth and free speech, this was the most important thing I did,” says Hart.
In the fall of 2020, Hart made his move to Savannah, Georgia to be the President and General Manager of WJCL. Ironically, during a time when a red state was turning blue. He was able to bring the ideas from each market that he had previously worked in and “infuse Savannah with things they’ve never seen or heard before.”
Hart’s approach in leading WJCL prioritizes serving the community. The station works closely with organizations like the Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, United Wake and the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club.
“Community service is really the bread and butter of everything that we do as a television station,” says Hart. “We help the community and the reason that we help the community is that we want the community to succeed. It’s priority number one for me.”
On the business side of things, the service and connection WJCL provides shows business partners that their investment is directly touching the community.
Hart also works closely with the Metro Savannah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. On November 16, 2024, the commerce hosted a gala in honor of its 10th anniversary. Hart was invited to speak at the gala to talk about how the organization’s relationship with local media has helped them along in their success.
“The first thing that happened when I got to WJCL was I got a call from Mr. Bob Houghton, a call to welcome me to Savannah and Georgia,” Hart says. “My predecessor, Tim Morisee, had been a part of the GAB and Bob wanted to welcome me and offer me the opportunity to be a part of this incredible group of people.”
A couple of years later, Hart joined the board, then the executive committee as Secretary and Treasurer; in 2024 Hart acted as Vice Chairman and in 2025 Hart will act as the Chairman of the Board.
Hart succeeds Bill Maine, Vice President and General Manager of WDUN in Gainesville.
“Serving as Chair of the GAB has been an honor,” says Maine. “To be trusted to help guide this incredible association is humbling. It’s been an exciting year.”
Maine’s Chairmanship took place during the association’s 90th anniversary. In addition to 
guiding the association during its annual events, such as the Hall of Fame and GABCON, the GAB hosted a 90th Anniversary Road Show. Maine particularly notes his experience with the Hall of Fame. Meeting not just the talent of the incoming class, but meeting and awarding the scholarship recipients.
“I look forward to the GAB increasing our foundation’s ability to enable the next generation to work toward their own careers in media,” Maine says.
Another unique aspect of Maine’s time as Chairman was for the first time in 13 years hiring a new president.
“Bob Houghton’s guidance has been invaluable. One thing I really respect about Bob is his openness and grace as we planned the transition into Randy taking the helm,” Maine says.
As Hart steps into the role, Maine reflects on what the new year and new leadership will hold for the GAB.
“I really had a chance to get to know Ben Hart on our trips to D.C. Ben’s background in both
radio and T.V. will serve this board well. He has a great sense of business and journalism. The total package!” says Maine. “With him and Randy leading the way, year 91 is going to be fantastic! Thank you for allowing me to serve.”
Hart, in his capacity as general manager of WJCL, works closely with radio partner Dick Broadcasting. He plans to apply this in his role as Chairman and further build connections between radio and television stations to achieve mutual goals.
Hart also plans to prioritize identifying the future and take advantage of the emerging technologies.
“I look forward to, as Chairman, bridging the now with the future and working with Randy, who is an incredible leader, an incredible broadcaster and understands this in a major way,” Hart says.
Randy Gravely, who was appointed to the role of President of the GAB in 2024 says of Hart:
“I’m looking forward to Ben Hart’s leadership as Chairman of the GAB Board. Ben is an incredible broadcaster and inspectional leader. His experience in both radio and television will be invaluable as he leads Georgia Broadcasters in 2025.”
