VH1 Taps Hirschorn To Head News Unit

New York— VH1 on Tuesday named prominent magazine and online journalist Michael Hirschorn its senior vice president of news and production.

Hirschorn, who has no prior television experience, will oversee the development and creation of VH1 News specials and documentaries, as well as the channel's daily news-gathering operation, VH1 officials said.

He'll also supervise some of the network's nonfiction programming, including documentaries.

Hirschorn said the network would offer more daily news programming, although he stopped short of committing to a regularly-scheduled news show. He also declined to discuss any potential news projects the network may develop under his watch.

In addition, Hirschorn will work closely with VH1.com to create a convergent news-and-programming strategy for the company.

Hirschorn, most recently Inside.com's editor in chief, was co-chairman and a co-founder of the media-news site. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of the music periodical Spin,the experience which VH1 tap most directly.

"It's a logical move for me, considering my last two jobs," Hirschorn said.

In a statement, VH1 executive vice president of programming and production Fred Graver said the network is "confident" Hirschorn's "wide-ranging experience in journalism and news management, along with his acute understanding of online journalism, will be a great asset to VH1."

Prior to Spin, Hirschorn had major editing jobs at New York and Esquire.

Hirschorn is the second major executive hire for VH1 in six weeks. In late June, the network named programming veteran Steve Tao its senior vice president of programming, replacing VH1 veteran Lauren Zalaznick, who tendered her resignation.

Both Tao — whose responsibilities include the development and production of VH1's original programming — and Hirschorn report to Graver.