Griffin Media’s statewide digital news operation is led by Carrie Winchel, whose decisions shape how Oklahomans find and consume local reporting online. With nearly 20 years in television and digital journalism, she directs coverage priorities that affect community information and engagement across the state.
Winchel started her newsroom career in Springfield, Missouri, moved on to work in Nashville, Tennessee, and joined the News 9 digital team in 2023. Today she oversees strategy and daily editorial choices for both News 9 and News On 6, coordinating reporters, producers, and digital specialists to amplify stories relevant to Oklahoma audiences.
Her focus is practical: translate traditional reporting into formats that reach people where they are online, improve discoverability of important local stories, and maintain newsroom standards across platforms. That approach matters now as more readers rely on mobile and social feeds for breaking updates and civic information.
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| Role | Statewide Director of Digital Content, Griffin Media |
|---|---|
| Experience | Nearly 20 years in broadcast and digital journalism |
| Markets | Springfield, MO; Nashville, TN; Oklahoma (Griffin Media) |
| Newsrooms | News 9 and News On 6 digital teams |
| Personal interests | Live music, thrift shopping, and time with her husband and three dogs |
Colleagues describe her work as rooted in editorial rigor and audience-first thinking: turning reporting into accessible formats, testing distribution strategies, and mentoring digital producers. Those responsibilities are increasingly central as local newsrooms compete for attention on multiple platforms.
Outside the newsroom, Winchel balances her schedule with live concerts and weekend thrift hunts — small habits that, she says, help keep a connection to the communities she covers.
