Hearst owned WDSU (New Orleans) has found their next News Director for the station.

Melissa Dart comes to the Big Easy from the Deuce job at Scripps’ owned WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL.

“We are very excited to have Melissa join our team,” WDSU President and General Manager Joel Vilmenay said. “Her success throughout her career and her commitment to serving the people of her community with relevant, accurate and important information ensures that she will be an asset to our newsroom as well as our residents in Southeast Louisiana.”

“I’m thrilled to join such an outstanding organization in one of the liveliest cities in the country,” Dart said. “I’m honored to lead the WDSU news team on all platforms especially now, when the community depends on impactful and relevant journalism more than ever.”

Dart succeeds Akili Franklin who joined WDSU-TV’s sister station WYFF in Greenville, South Carolina, as news director.

She starts her new gig on New Year’s Day.