Forty Under 40: David Needham

David Needham was born and raised in Van Buren. In 1987, he earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television broadcasting from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Six months later, Needham landed his first real job as a salesman for KPOM/KFAA, Channels 24/51, in Fort Smith. He has remained with the television station ever since, rising through the ranks to become vice president and general manager.

Currently, Needham splits his time between Fort Smith and Fayetteville, where 24/51 recently opened a newsroom in the partially renovated Campbell Bell building. The station resumed its local newscast on Aug. 3 after eight years off the air.

Needham said he’s lucky to do what he loves for a living.

“I always wanted to be in television,” he said. “For me to be able to run a television station for a living in my home state, it’s a charmed life.”

Needham closely monitors the operation of the station. Occasionally, he’ll wear blue jeans to work and ride with the reporters to get ideas about how to make their jobs easier.

Needham is a member of the Rotary Club. He’s on the advisory board for the Salvation Army in Fort Smith and is involved with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.