Jon Petrovich

Jon Petrovich (February 28, 1947 - February 10, 2011) was an American journalist and television executive. He is credited with founding numerous enterprises for CNN, including CNN Airport Network, CNN en Español, CNN Radio Noticias, CNN NewsSource, and CNN.com.

Biography

Petrovich was born in Gary, Indiana and earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University. He received a masters degree from the University of Alabama.

Early Career

Petrovich began as a reporter for WHAS-TV in Louisville, Kentucky before moving on to become assistant News Director for WDIV-TV in Detroit, Michigan. He was news director at WBAL-TV in Baltimore, Maryland and later vice president and general manager of KTVI-TV in St. Louis, Missouri.

CNN

Petrovich was executive vice president for CNN's Headline News (HLN) in Atlanta, Georgia. In this capacity he oversaw CNN Radio as well. He was directly involved in business development and marketing for all CNN networks. He is widely credited with launching CNN Airport Network, CNN en Español, CNN Radio Noticias, CNN NewsSource, and CNN.com. After his role at CNN, Petrovich became president of Turner Broadcasting System Latin America.

Post CNN Career

Petrovich became an executive vice president at Sony Pictures Entertainment after his time at CNN. Thereafter he was Professor and Broadcast Chair at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He later became vice president for Broadcast U.S. Operations for the Associated Press, where he oversaw the day-to-day domestic operations, working directly with AP's broadcast wire, online, radio and television operations.