Q&A with Blaise Labbe, new KCTV 5 news director

“Live, late breaking, investigative” could be getting a face-lift. It just depends what the research says.

KCTV Channel 5 has a new news director. His name is Blaise Labbe (It’ll be a little while before we get a better look at Labbe. I asked KCTV 5 for a photo of him and received the small one below), and at the time of his hire, he was the director of online content for Griffin Communications in Oklahoma City. He was previously the news director at that city’s KWTV.

Labbe established an early link to the area: His son plays football at Mid-America Nazarene in Olathe. Labbe tells The Pitch that he was impressed with the city in his short visit.

Labbe hasn’t met with the station’s staff yet but is planning a trip to KC next week. (He doesn’t start until February 8.)

Here’s an edited version of my conversation with Labbe.

The Pitch: What are you looking to do once you get in the newsroom?

Labbe: I haven’t figured that all out yet (laughs).