WTOP Names Trio Of News Directors

• Hubbard’s WTOP News/Washington announced that Monique Hayes has been promoted to AM Broadcast News Director; Bill McFarland is joining the WTOP team on Aug. 16 as its next PM Broadcast News Director; and Giang Nguyen is joining WTOP on Aug. 10 as its next Digital News Director.

Monique Hayes (left) has been making her mark on WTOP for the past two years, most recently serving as WTOP’s Assignments Manager. Prior to WTOP, Hayes was an Assignment Editor and Content Producer at NBC Washington, and she worked at PBS NewsHour as an Assignment Editor. “This is a great opportunity to help lead one of the best newsrooms in the area,” said Hayes. “I look forward to coaching and training future newsroom leaders and collaborating with our veteran journalists. I am excited to work with this new management team to deliver great local coverage of Washington, DC, and the surrounding communities.”

Bill McFarland (center) has made his career in local television news in New York, a previous run in DC, Philadelphia, Tampa and most recently, in Boston, where he served as an Asst. News Director overseeing NBC Boston, Telemundo Boston and New England Cable News (NECN). “I’m absolutely thrilled to come back to Washington to join the WTOP team,” McFarland said. “I’m excited to continue WTOP’s tradition of delivering news that informs, engages and empowers the people of the DMV.”

Giang Nguyen (right) has worked in newsrooms at the local, national and international levels at both radio and TV stations, and also has experience in podcasting and the private sector. Nguyen previously served as a local multimedia reporter at WIBW-TV/Topeka, KS and WQAD-TV/Quad Cities, IL and has also worked at CNN, Radio Free Asia, NHK World and CCTV America. “I’m thrilled to be joining WTOP and to be part of a leading team of journalists that the region has relied on for the most up-to-date news, traffic and weather,” Nguyen said. “I can’t wait to get started and help provide our on-air and online audiences with the tools and information they need to better navigate their daily lives.”

“I’m so excited to have the force of Monique, Giang and Bill behind our daily newsroom operations,” said Julie Ziegler, WTOP Director of News and Programming. “Having their combined talents on both the broadcast and digital sides is exactly what we need to meet our daily mission of delivering the most compelling content to our listeners and readers across all platforms.”

WTOP Names Trio Of News Directors