Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 23, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke names Dana Middleton as communications director

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today named Dana Middleton, television news anchor for Northwest Cable News, as his communications director.

"Dana brings a wealth of experience in broadcast journalism, and she has devoted much of her life to community service projects," Locke said. "She is highly regarded in her field, and I look forward to having her join our staff."

Middleton said she is eagerly anticipating the new challenge of working in state government.

"I am delighted and honored to be given this opportunity," she said. "Although this is new and exciting territory for me, I have a career in broadcast and journalism to take with me, and I look forward to this new road before me."

Middleton, 45, has 26 years of broadcast experience, in positions ranging from news director and executive producer to radio and television news anchor. She has won numerous awards and honors in radio and television broadcast journalism, and was named outstanding citizen by the Seattle Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, of which she currently is a member. She has done extensive motivational and educational speaking at the University of Washington and Western Washington University. She also is an honorary member of the Seattle chapter of Gilda's Club.

Prior to her position at Northwest Cable News, Middleton served as a host of KOMO-TV's "Northwest Afternoon," a live daily one-hour broadcast. She also worked for the News Travel Network, a nationally syndicated series on travel around the world. She also held positions at television stations in California and served on the Shasta County Planning Commission, where she helped create the county's first master plan and zoning ordinances.

Middleton earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She will begin her new duties March 6, and the position carries a salary of $89,500.

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