Jennifer Davidson (executive)
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Davidson was an American
businesswoman and Vice President
of Cartoon Network
until her death in 2007.
, in 1969. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 1991 with a bachelor's degree
in broadcast communications
.
by Cartoon Network
in 1993 after the network was launched in 1992. She later served as director of on-air promotion operations and production during Cartoon Network's early years.
Her previous positions included the network's Vice President
of marketing
, consumer products, ad trade and strategic operations. She was involved in the creation of several Cartoon Network brand
s. Davidson helped create and launch Cartoon Network's Adult Swim
block programming
in September 2001. She was also executive producer
of Boomerang
, Cartoon Network's classic spin-off
channel.
Davidson was promoted to Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of programming and scheduling in September 2007, after over 14 years with the network. She held that position until her death on December 1, 2007.
Davidson had received a number of industry and marketing awards during her time at Cartoon Network. Among her honors was a BDA Gold Award for total package design for her promotion of Boomerang in 2000. Most recently, Davidson was also chosen as a 2007-08 Betsy Magness Leadership Fellow.
. She was 38 years old and had served as Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of programming and scheduling for three months at the time of her death. She was survived by her husband, John, three children, and both parents.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businesswoman and Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
until her death in 2007.
Early life
Jennifer Kate Stitt Davidson was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, in 1969. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 1991 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in broadcast communications
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
.
Career
Davidson was hired as an operations and production assistantProduction assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
by Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
in 1993 after the network was launched in 1992. She later served as director of on-air promotion operations and production during Cartoon Network's early years.
Her previous positions included the network's Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, consumer products, ad trade and strategic operations. She was involved in the creation of several Cartoon Network brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s. Davidson helped create and launch Cartoon Network's Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
block programming
Block programming
Block programming or television block is a strategy of broadcast programming and radio programmers. Block programming occurs when the television network schedules similar television programs back-to-back. The concept is to provide similar programming to keep the viewers. Radio stations use it...
in September 2001. She was also executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of Boomerang
Boomerang (TV channel)
Boomerang is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a division of Time Warner. Boomerang specializes in reruns of animated programming from Time Warner's extensive archives, including pre-1986 MGM, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises...
, Cartoon Network's classic spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
channel.
Davidson was promoted to Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of programming and scheduling in September 2007, after over 14 years with the network. She held that position until her death on December 1, 2007.
Davidson had received a number of industry and marketing awards during her time at Cartoon Network. Among her honors was a BDA Gold Award for total package design for her promotion of Boomerang in 2000. Most recently, Davidson was also chosen as a 2007-08 Betsy Magness Leadership Fellow.
Death
Jennifer Davidson died of a sudden illness on December 1, 2007, in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. She was 38 years old and had served as Cartoon Network's Senior Vice President of programming and scheduling for three months at the time of her death. She was survived by her husband, John, three children, and both parents.