KSBY has hired Doug Barden to join the KSBY team as its new news director effective July 11. KSBY News Director Dave Schermer announced his plans to step down back in April.

Barden is currently the news director in Bakersfield at KBAK/KBFX TV, a position he has held since December 2008. He helped the news station achieve a No. 1 ranking in all key demographics in evening newscast, a feat for the station that had never been reached before.

Prior to that gig, he worked at KSTU in Salt Lake City, Utah, KRNV in Reno, Nev. and KGWN in Cheyenne, Wyo. Barden got his start in the business as journalist before making the transition into news management.