Former AP, CNN exec Jon Petrovich dies

[February 12, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Former CNN and Associated Press executive Jon Petrovich has died following a battle with cancer and diabetes.

Petrovich died Thursday in New York City, said his nephew, Ron Petrovich. He would have turned 64 on Feb. 28.

A widely respected broadcast executive, Petrovich joined the AP in 2007 as vice president for domestic broadcast operations.

Before that, he served as executive vice president of CNN for 15 years, where he developed CNN Interactive, which produces CNN.com, and many of CNN's niche channels.

He was chairman of the broadcast department at Northwestern University's Medill (muh-DILL') School of Journalism, and oversaw international networks for Sony Television.

A native of Gary, Ind., Petrovich began his career as a TV reporter in Louisville, Ky.

[Associated Press]

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