Longtime WDRB News Director transitions to new role with Louisville Metro Police

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After nearly 26 years at WDRB, News Director Jennifer Keeney is ready for a new challenge.

She is stepping down to become the communications director for the Louisville Metro Police Department. It's not a job she pursued, and we can tell you it was an agonizing decision to leave what she calls her "dream job."

"Ultimately, I decided that I want to help make positive change in a city I love," she wrote to WDRB staff and alumni.

The New Jersey native landed in Louisville for good after television jobs in Philadelphia and San Francisco. She fell in love with the city and the family-owned station with a commitment to journalism. She has spent more than half her life working at the station.

Keeney began her career at WDRB in 1998 as the weekend assignment editor. She became the producer of Louisville’s first 4 p.m. newscast, when it launched in 2001, just days after the September 11 attacks. She was promoted to a long tenure as assistant news director before taking the helm of the newsroom three years ago.

Only four people have led the WDRB newsroom. Hal Stopfel was the first news director that was hired to put together a staff and start a nightly newscast. He was in charge from 1989 to 2000, when one of the original producers, Kathy Lehmann Francis, took over. She was followed by Barry Fulmer, who was at the helm for 17 years — longer than any other television news director in Louisville history. When Fulmer left the station in 2022, Keeney landed the job.

Good news and bad news

Many of the newsroom veterans have been by Jennifer's side, as she helped lead newsroom coverage of some of Louisville's biggest news events including the Old National Bank shooting, the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, the western Kentucky tornadoes and the turmoil surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor.

Keeney remembered being at home on May 28, 2020 -- the night the recording of Kenneth Walker calling 911 was released. She was watching WDRB News at 10 p.m., when a line of police cars pulled up and began interacting with protesters who were blocking the streets.

"I knew something big was about to happen, so I jumped in my car and raced to the station. We stayed live on the air until 3 a.m. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in my city: tear gas, gunshots, looting. It wasn’t just demonstrators fighting for justice. Looters smashed windows and walked out of restaurants with armfuls of bourbon. It was devastating."

"The following weeks were truly marches for justice, but they were still dangerous. We had to outfit our crews with bulletproof vests and gas masks. We hired armed military guards to escort them on the streets. We boarded up the windows of the station and turned down the lights when we worked at night. We were local journalists who became war correspondents. It was dangerous and exhausting, but THIS is exactly why we do what we do. I was so proud of our reporters and photojournalists who marched miles every night to show what was happening," Keeney said.

While the violence and marches in 2020 are among her darkest days at WDRB, there have been powerful, bittersweet moments she witnessed including the passing of the "The Greatest."

"Muhammad Ali’s funeral in 2016 was awe inspiring. People from every corner of this community showed up to toss roses on his hearse, as the world watched. It was such a proud moment for Louisville," she remembered.

What many viewers may not realize is that Keeney has overseen four groundbreaking Thunder Over Louisville broadcasts. Those are among her favorite assignments at the station along with spending early mornings at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week.

"Thunder on WDRB is a more complex production than any national sporting event, and we’re doing it as a local television station," she said. "WDRB always does something to raise the quality, so viewers get an experience like never before. We were the first to broadcast in high definition during my first Thunder in 2007. When we used the drone to fly through fireworks in 2024, my jaw hit the floor. It was spectacular!"

Strong bonds

Newsrooms are filled with strong personalities and even stronger bonds. Long hours, stressful decisions, constant deadlines and far too many meals from vending machines bring people together in a way that isn't easy to explain. Jennifer has aways been one of the first to rush to the station for breaking news and for coworkers in need.

Since March 2022, Andy Russell has been the Assistant News Director. Jen has believed in him the way former news directors believed in her. Andy said he doesn't know what she saw in him or how he was lucky enough to land the job as her number two, but that confidence has paid off for the newsroom and in a strong friendship between them.

"I wouldn’t be the manager or man I am today without having her in my life. She showed me what it takes to lead with compassion, with empathy, with confidence, with focus and what it takes to lead a news team to a lot of success. Jen and I had great times with Thunder Over Louisville and the Kentucky Derby. Those two events are so much fun to be part of in this city," Andy said.

"We also had a lot of tough times together, most notably, the mass shooting at Old National Bank. We had to be there for our community on one of the darkest days," he said. 

"Not only did we need to relay the facts of what happened, but we also needed to lead with empathy. We are journalists, but we are also residents of this community. Jen made sure I realized that and made sure our newsroom knew that. Three years together doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but we had to battle every day in a rapidly changing industry. Jen will forever and ever be someone I hold extremely close to my heart."

Road trips and adventures

Former Chief Photographer Ken Bradley shares a strong friendship with Jennifer. The two shared an office and many field assignments including coverage of the Orange Bowl in Miami. He said they had a place in the parking lot near the stadium where they built the set and worked long hours with little sleep.

"One of the days, I noticed Sam Upshaw, a photog from the Courier Journal, uploading photos, when a south Florida rain shower moved through, and it was pouring. I told him to run over to my rental car where it was dry and finish sending his pictures. He jerked the door open, jumped in the front seat. We didn’t know Keeney was in the back seat grabbing a quick power nap. Well, she thought she was getting carjacked and scared poor Sam to death. We still laugh about that every time we run into each other."

Bradley remembered another incident from the same trip.

"We were doing one of our live hits, and there was this drunk that had a whistle standing behind (anchor) Don Schroeder. Every time Don would start talking, this guy would start blowing that damn whistle -- to the point you couldn’t hear Don. All of a sudden, I see Keeney crawling on her hands and knees through the set and in one quick motion reached up and grabbed that guy, and he disappeared from the background never to be seen again. We still don’t know where he went, but we never heard that whistle again."

High praise and appreciation

There is no shortage of people stepping up to honor Jennifer's contributions to the newsroom.

"It has been a privilege to work with Jennifer Keeney. I have enjoyed her energy, enthusiasm, positivity, and passion for journalistic integrity.  I can honestly say I am better for having worked with her," said Bill Lamb, WDRB President and General Manager.

WDRB Mornings anchor Candyce Clifft said, "Jen’s rise from assignment desk to producer to executive producer to news director is a testament to her passion for news and her work ethic.  Jen cares even more about her coworkers.  She is fiercely loyal and quick to encourage, express sympathy, or express her gratitude for a job well done."

Sports columnist Rick Bozich is a fan. "From leader to constant source of good vibes to copy editor to ideas person to friend, Jennifer is a five-tool media star who’ll be a super-sized success in any assignment she tackles."

"Jen has given her heart to this company. This was never just a job to Jennifer because we are her family. We worked through challenges and celebrated success together. For me personally, I am going to miss seeing my friend every day," said Chief Meteorologist Marc Weinberg.

Tom Lane is the last of the original WDRB staffers hired in 1990, so the longtime sports anchor has watched Jennifer's evolution from newbie to news director.

"Jennifer Keeney has been the heartbeat of this newsroom. Her passion and positivity has always been contagious. It won’t be the same place without her. She has led us to great heights and will be greatly missed, but it helps to know that she will still be making a difference in our community, just in another sector," Lane said.

Chris Turner, a one-time reporter who is now assignment editor, said Jennifer "gets points for tolerating dad jokes and war stories from the OG people in the newsroom." But he truly appreciated how she would support the professional and personal lives of those in the newsroom.

"Several years ago, we sat together at an awards ceremony. My category was next on the program. As the host read the nominees and the winner, she reached over to hold my hand in support. I didn't win. But I'll never forget the handhold and the hug afterward. Small gesture, big meaning. She wants us all to win. It means a lot. It reflects a stellar journalist and an even better human," Turner said.

Executive Producer Brandi Utley remembered that it was Jennifer that brought her into the newsroom.

"I started at WDRB as an intern back in 2014 and quickly learned that Jen was a force of nature. She took me under her wing and helped me become the journalist I am today. I still remember stepping out of a college class, when she called me to offer me the job at WDRB. After all of these years, I’m proud to call her a mentor and a friend," Utley said.

Kerry McGee retired in August 2024 after decades as the assignment manager. It's a job that gave him a unique view of Jennifer as a person and a manager.

"What I see most about her is her absolute devotion to the success of the department and the success and safety of the staff. How many times has she said 'If you get to the scene and you don't feel safe, come back.  We'll figure it out.'  Or..'You've worked a lot lately...take tomorrow off.' And she never asked anyone to do something she wouldn't do, or already done. She leaves some large shoes to fill," McGee said.

Leslie Porta Bailey is a former producer at the station that became best friends with Jennifer.

"Jen and I met at WDRB in 2003. I was freshly out of college, and she was the lead 4 p.m. news producer. She trained me to produce a newscast, and when I say I learned from the best, it's not an understatement. In the years that followed, we became best friends and have remained that way for over 20 years. Her work ethic and commitment to being an advocate for truth will always be an asset for Louisville in whatever field of work she is in."

So long and farewell

Through the years, Keeney has picked up some of the industry's biggest honors including multiple regional Emmys and three Edward R. Murrow awards. But it's not the recognition she will miss. "Absolutely no question: The people. Team WDRB is my family and always will be," she said.

What Jennifer would never admit is that she helped create that sense of family. She's been known to welcome new hires just out of college with personal tours of the city, to invite coworkers into her home for holidays, to drop off care packages to the sick or grieving, to make sure birthdays and anniversaries are remembered and to just show up to support coworkers and their families at events.

The WDRB family has watched as Jennifer raised her daughters Julia and Caroline, and we hope her new role gives her more time to devote to them and to herself. We hope your new office has friendly faces and space for vases of the flowers you love so much. All of us wish you more sleep, fewer late night phone calls, more meals at home and a lot more time to yourself. Good luck, Jen.

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