Salem Media has found a replacement for Greg Clugston on the White House beat. It didn’t look far for his replacement.
What We Know: Willie Nelson has been named the new White House Correspondent for the company. He replaces Greg Clugston, who left earlier this year to take a faculty position at Indiana Wesleyan University. Nelson originally joined Salem Media in 2024 as a video producer. He has since risen through the ranks as a social media content producer.
What They Said: In this new role, I’ll be covering the White House, Congress, national politics, breaking news, and cultural stories … I’ll also be working across SRN News, Salem News Channel, and Townhall, helping create content and deliver coverage across multiple platforms. It’s been a rewarding journey. Not long ago, I was creating content and conducting man-on-the-street interviews in Venice Beach. … Since joining Salem less than two years ago, this marks my third role within the company. Now, I’ve made the move to Washington, D.C., where I’ve been credentialed with a White House hard pass and will be reporting on the stories shaping our country from the nation’s capital.” -Willie Nelson
What Remains Unclear: How Willie Nelson will prioritize his time and content for Salem Media. Between Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel, and Townhall, he’ll stay busy creating content for the company.
What It Means: Some in the industry had questioned if Salem Media would fill the opening created by Clugtson’s exit. We now have our answer. Nelson is relatively young and could be established in the position for the long term.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
