GeneralLast Updated on 1 month by General
Tom Planchet is the Digital Director of WWL-TV, overseeing the station’s digital presence across desktops, mobile phones, social media, and news apps. His journey with WWL-TV began in 1982 as an intern, and his dedication to the station has spanned several key roles.
In 1983, Tom entered the sports department as a producer, collaborating with WWL-TV legends like Jim Henderson, Chris Myers, and Mike Hoss over the years. Notably, he and Myers initiated the successful Fourth Down on 4 franchise, a legacy that continues to this day. Additionally, he worked alongside Mike Hoss in establishing the Fourth Down Friday high school football show. Tom was instrumental as an assistant producer for the station’s live coverage of Saints preseason games and served as the producer for the pre and post-game shows.
In 2000, he joined the nascent web team and became its manager a year later. During his tenure at WWL-TV’s online operations, he oversaw the coverage of significant events, including the notorious Hurricane Katrina. In the midst of this crisis, he initiated a blog that garnered national attention, amassing over 1 million views in a single day. This exceptional effort earned him a second-place award for ‘Best News Blog’ in the country, and WWLTV.com was honored as the national ‘News Web Site of the Year’ by Editor and Publisher magazine. The site also received a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and a First Place New Orleans Press Club Award for its coverage. Tom was invited as a featured speaker at the Online News Association National Convention in 2006 to discuss the website’s coverage of this historic storm.
Under Tom Planchet’s guidance, WWLTV.com has garnered seven Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards as the Best Website. Currently, WWLTV.com has consistently received the top digital award from the Louisiana Associated Press for five consecutive years and the top digital award from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters for three consecutive years.
Aside from his professional accomplishments, Tom is a graduate of Brother Martin High School and the University of New Orleans. He’s been happily married for 30 years, and he and his wife Kevin Ann are proud parents to three daughters.