Dean William Paynter has 35 years experience in news and public affairs television producing.
(1980-1990) After several years producing newscasts at NBC affiliates in Salt Lake City and Houston, Dean served as a news executive, running the day-to-day newsroom operations of KUTV, Salt Lake. He was also executive producer of documentaries and special projects. During his career in commercial television, Dean produced scores of documentary and news specials. He also developed groundbreaking location coverage of live sports events such as the St. George Marathon and Utah Summer Games.
He was awarded six regional Emmys for excellence in television news producing, writing, program creation, sports specials, and set design. He received a prestigious national Iris award (and an additional nomination) from the National Association of Television Program Executives for public issues programming.
(1990-1996) Dean developed, produced, and was the principal writer/reporter for four issues-oriented TV news magazine series for the Public Affairs Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These include the award-winning Times and Seasons (26 episodes), Center Street (for teens, 65 episodes), Family Times (52 episodes), and Standing Up, which ended production in 2006. The programs tackle the critical moral issues of the day and highlight the stories of people and programs throughout North America making a difference for good in the world. These non-denominational programs aired nationally on the Odyssey Channel, Faith And Values Network, BYU-TV, and on local affiliates in a majority of markets in the United States.
(1996-2005) Dean taught eight years in the broadcast journalism program at Brigham Young University. As managing director of the broadcast news lab, he helped create the nation’s first collegiate media integrated newsroom, BYU NewsNet. The broadcast program was ultimately named the top collegiate television news operation in the country by The Society of Professional Journalist, the most prestigious recognition for TV journalism at the university level.
(2006 – 2015) Dean directed the production department at KJZZ Television, A Larry H. Miller Company based in Salt Lake City. He was director of program development, responsible for the development and execution of all local non-sports programming for the station. In 2008, as news director, he organized an entire news and information division at KJZZ from scratch and managed 3 ½ hours of daily news and information. This included the development of the news philosophy and program format, hiring staff and supervising the construction of news set and newsroom facilities. While at KJZZ, Dean initiated and produced the original Joseph Smith Papers documentary, and supervised production of the Papers television series.
(2015-2020) After the station was sold in 2015, Dean managed and directed commercial and special projects for Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment. He wrote and produced more than 100 commercials and corporate videos for clients ranging from Hewlett Packard to Menchies Frozen Yogurt and produced dozens of long form profile programs highlighting the work and influence of Larry H. Miller and his associated interests, including the Utah Jazz, Vivint Arena, Megaplex Theaters and other community programs. In addition to writing and producing those projects, Dean often executed the shooting and editing. He and others would consider himself a “one-man-band” when it comes to video production.
(2020) Retired in 2020 due in part to unexpected health issues, but continues to produce special projects and programming for worthy organizations and events, such as Primary Children’s “Pennys by the Inch” program, “Strength of You” youth video podcast, Constitution Day features, and various supplements for John Adams College in Provo, Utah.
Active in community, Dean was appointed chair of the Taylorsville’s Community Advisory Board in March of 2024. The 5 member board reviews “use of force” incidents experienced by the Taylorsville Police Force. He also served several years on the Taylorsville Leisure Activity, Parks and Recreation Committee. Dean revived and led the Community Council for Taylorsville District #3A until this past year. He has spearheaded several neighborhood and community initiatives. He has coached several youth sports teams in the area.
In 2010, Dean was awarded the Book of Golden Deeds award presented by the Taylorsville Exchange Club as the year’s “Valued Taylorsville Resident.”
Dean is happily married to one wife J(Merriloy), and is the proud father of five children and 17 grandchildren. They are the joy of his life. He is active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he has served in many leadership positions. He and Merriloy just completed a fulltime church mission, serving for 18 months as member and leader support missionaries within the Bennion, Utah Stake.
Owing to his upbringing, Dean is skilled in concrete masonry and carpentry. He enjoys music, the outdoors, gardening, and treasures quiet reading time. He has run five marathons.
Dean was a high school All-American football player from Kearns High School (Utah -1972). He was a starting guard on BYU’s first post-season bowl team (Fiesta Bowl-1974), after which he served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the California, Anaheim Mission (1975-77).
He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Communications in 1979