Rick Gevers & Associates

April 24, 2016

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 UPDATE:

A one-time Houston news director goes back to his roots for his next gig.

Bruce

PHIL BRUCE, who served as news director for KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston for almost five years before leaving that Tegna station in December, is headed home to Tulsa. (Phil grew up in Arkansas in the Tulsa market.)  He’ll be the next ND for Sinclair’s KTUL-TV.

Phil announced the move in a post tonight on Facebook:

He replaces ALEXANDER QUINCE who left that ABC affiliate in February after 2 1/2 years as ND.

Davis

One other note…congratulations to former ND (San Diego and Fresno) JOEL DAVIS who’s been named General Manager for Scripps’ KGTV in San Diego. He’s been the Station Manager there for the past 18 months.

More on both these stories in our full newsletter later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, April 25, 2016 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Davis

Congratulations to a former news director who today was named Executive Vice President, Affiliate Relations for CBS.

KURT DAVIS, who’s been Vice President, News Services for CBS News since 2013, will oversee all day-to-day operations for the Network affiliate relations department. He replaces ELIZABETH TUMULTY who served in that role since 2013.

Kurt’s a former ND in San Antonio, New Orleans, and Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA, and has also worked in Atlanta, Dallas, Little Rock, and Baton Rouge, LA.

Congrats to Kurt. The full story is in this CBS news release.

More on this and all the news later in the week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

THREE up, THREE down.

Not a baseball inning but the number of newly named and newly opened news director jobs in this week’s report. That leaves our count of open positions at 29.

We have Paid Help Wanted ads for TWO of those openings. And we also have additional information about what created two of those openings…details we didn’t have when we first added them to the list.

Awards season is upon us, and we have details about Peabodys and Regional Edward R. Murrow awards. We have details on several news management moves, on the first scholarship honoring a murdered ND, and stories about THREE GMs on the move.

There’s also an obituary for a former ND turned anchor who got his first anchor job when he went to a station to apply….for a cameraman’s position.

Finally…congratulations to our longtime sponsor Devlin Design Group, honored by Newscast Studio for the fifth consecutive year with its Set of the Year award.

New News Director Openings:

Zuber

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA…KELLY ZUBER‘s last day at this now-owned-by-Gray Television CBS affiliate will be May 6th. Her departure brings a 34 year career to an end, a career which saw her serve as reporter, producer, assignment editor, and Director of Digital Media. I’m told she may help her husband who owns a business in Roanoke. Kelly also gained national attention that she never wanted when two of her employees were killed on live TV last August.

KFVS-TV, Cape Girardeau, MO…longtime News Director MARK LITTLE is being promoted within Raycom Media to be ND for the company’s WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. More on that below.

KRNV-TV, Reno, NV…this Sinclair owned NBC affiliate is looking for a new news director to replace JASON GOODWIN. He’s left the station after less than a year as ND. He’s also been an ND in Abilene, TX, and has worked in Tulsa and Pittsburgh.

Longoria

We have updates on two recent openings. We didn’t know the details about the opening at KIII-TV because no one at Tegna responded to our repeated inquiries. This story in the local newspaper tells us that veteran ND RICHARD LONGORIA is retiring. He has an interesting background…it’s worth a moment of your time.

And we can now confirm that KEVIN DUNAWAY has been promoted to VP/GM for Traverse City’s WWTV/WWUP-TV there. He’s been the ND since 2002.

Newly Named News Director:

Doerr

WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL…as we reported earlier this week in an UPDATE, TOM DOERR will be the next ND for this Fort Myers Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. We told you when Tom left WFLD-TV in Chicago last month he wanted to return to Florida. He’s also been an ND at eight other stations, a station manager, and a consultant. At WINK, he replaces RUSS KILGORE who left the station last month after more than seven years as ND.

Little

WIS-TV, Columbia, SC…MARK LITTLE has been named News Director for this Raycom Media owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND for sister Raycom station KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO, for more than 14 years. Mark first joined KFVS in 1999 as the Assignment Editor. A Missouri native, he also worked for KPLR-TV in St. Louis. At WIS, Mark replaces BRYAN QUEEN who left last month after 2 1/2 years as ND here.

Miller

WOAY-TV Oak Hill, WV…DAVID MILLER assumes additional duties as news director for this ABC affiliate. He also anchors the evening newscasts for the station which is owned by Thomas Broadcasting. David replaces KEITH CONNER who left the station recently after more than three years as news director.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI:

Here’s a great chance to grow your news management career in one of America’s iconic cities.

WGBA NBC26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is searching for a News Director to lead our team to greater success in the years ahead. NBC 26 is the official station of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. The home city of about 100,000 people (total DMA population 300,000) swells to more than double its size on days when the Packers play at legendary Lambeau Field.

Green Bay is gateway to all the beauty of northeast Wisconsin. We live, work and play close to Lake Michigan and thousands of inlands lakes, national forests, skiing, golf, cycling, hunting and fishing. Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison are short drives away.

Wisconsin politics are exciting and fascinating, as evidenced by the recent primary elections. The state will be a center of much political activity and attention throughout the year, with a close race for president and an exciting fight for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

NBC 26 is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, a 137-year-old local media company that puts journalism first. Our company owns local TV stations in 24 markets, giving our colleagues many chances to grow careers in multiple markets.

To review the full job posting and to express your interest, click here. To learn more about careers at WGBA and Scripps, click here.

News Director, WVNY/WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT:

WFFF (FOX) and WVNY (ABC) in beautiful Burlington, Vermont is looking for our next great news director. If you are passionate about news, want to work for a GM who comes from News and shares your love for this crazy business, apply now online at Nexstar.TV

Yes, we are the home market of Bernie Sanders (with all that means)…and home to great skiing, boating, hiking, biking, beautiful scenery, and weather that is never boring! Burlington has a fun, vibrant artistic community, great restaurants and a strong sense of community.

You will produce 6.5 hours of news daily, a strong community portal website, and commit to all things digital including social media. Come help us grow our audience and enjoy the North Country lifestyle!

We have a talented reporting/producing staff and seasoned anchors. You will watch your product paying close attention to detail. You will praise in public and critique in private to guide the staff to improve. With excellent time management skills, you will multi-task, work within a defined budget and know how to manage up, down and with colleagues in marketing to grow ratings and with sales to grow revenue.

If this sounds exciting and describes you, we would love to talk with you! We work hard, have a positive, upbeat culture, work as a team, pay attention to the details and have a ton of fun!

A degree in journalism, mass communications, or a related field is preferred. Experience as a News Director preferred, producing experience required.

Click here to apply!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 3/6/16)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 3/6/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/27/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/27/16)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 4/16/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 4/2/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 4/2/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 2/7/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted this week)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 3/6/16)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 2/14/16)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 3/13/16)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, relisted 3/27/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/20/16)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 4/16/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 3/13/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (two positions, AM EP, Dayside EP, listed 2/28/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 4/2/16)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, listed 4/10/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/2/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/28/16)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, relisted this week)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted this week)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 3/20/16)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 3/4/11)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/20/16)
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA (relisted this week)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/4/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted this week)

Obituary:

JOHN MAHAFFEY, who wanted a job as a cameraman but…due to a mixup…was hired as an anchor, died Friday at the age of 77 of complications from surgery. He served as News Director for KIII-TV in Corpus Christi before taking an anchor job in Baton Rouge, where he anchored successfully for two different stations. The details on his accidental career are in this obituary.

Names in the News:

It’s awards season. The Peabody Awards announced its winners this week. Here’s a link to the news category, and congrats to WMAQ-TV in Chicago, WXIA-TV in Atlanta, and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh on their honors. A few clicks around the Peabody website will lead you to winners in other categories.

RTDNA announced the winners of the Regional Edward R. Murrow awards this week. Here’s the news release, which contains a list to the complete list, broken down by region and state.

WDIV-TV in Detroit named two people to management positions on the digital side of things. Details here.

STACEY PATTBERG joins WTNH-TV in New Haven/Hartford, CT, as the nightside executive producer. She’s a Connecticut native who’s been working as the senior producer for News 12. I’m guessing you did not know that, in 1998, Stacey won the world tap dancing championship…and was featured in a story on WTNH.

Scolatti

And the first KALEE SCOLATTI scholarship was awarded this week to a University of Montana student. The award is named after the late KTMF-KWYB-TV News Director who was a victim of a double murder/suicide last year.

General Manager News:

JIM CARTER, who’s been the GM for WESH/WKCF-TV in Orlando since 2008, is retiring after 30 years with Hearst Broadcasting. Details from the Orlando Sentinel.

Here’s a move you don’t see often. SALLY BROWN, who had been GM of South Bend’s WSBT-TV, has been named General Manager of the South Bend Tribune. The move becomes a little less surprising when you learn that the Tribune is owned by Schurz, which owned WSBT until its recent sale to Gray Television.

LAYLA CABALLERO joins Azteca America as GM of the company’s Tampa and Miami stations. More from Media Moves.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, April 24, 2016.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236 (Tampa market)
WXYZ-TV 20777 West 10 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48037
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84110
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville TN 37210
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford CT 06107
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
KTUL-TV 3333 S 29th W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74107
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313 (see ad above!)
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Road Roanoke, VA 24017
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604
WAFF-TV 1414 N Memorial Parkway Huntsville, Al 35801
KFVS-TV 310 Broadway Cape Girardeau MO 63701
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
WVNY/WFFF 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446 (see ad above!)
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
KBOI-TV 140 N 16th St, Boise, ID 83702
WWTV/WWUP 22320 130th Ave, Tustin, MI 49688
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KIII-TV 5002 S Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

* Spanish language station

April 16, 2016

Monday, April 18, 2016 UPDATE:

He wanted to relocate to Florida, and now he has a job there.

Doerr

TOM DOERR has been named News Director for WINK-TV, the Fort Myers Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate in…come on, guess.

(Okay, it’s in Fort Myers for those of you who are a little slow today.)

We told you in March that Tom was leaving his job as VP/News for WFLD-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Chicago, to return to Florida for family reasons.

Tom’s been a news director in eight markets (most of them large), a station manager, and a consultant for AR&D. His complete bio is on his Linkedin page.

At WINK, he replaces RUSS KILGORE who left the station in March after almost eight years as ND there.

I’m in Las Vegas for NAB, and hope to see many of you here.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

FOUR more new news director openings as our recent trend continues, but this week FOUR positions were filled, leaving our count of open ND jobs at 29! (Two of the eight people among those moves are named GREEN(E).

I do not know why I tell you this. 🙂

FOUR of those openings are among SIX paid Help Wanted ads this week. One of those ads is for a GM opening.

(con’t.)

We have an obituary for a former Virginia News Director who turned to politics after leaving TV. There’s details about a former Michigan ND taking the Tegna buyout after 39 years…most as the primary anchor…at his station. And an Indiana EP becomes an Alabama Assistant ND.

If you’re going to NAB this week, I hope to see you there. Before you go to the annual RTDNA gathering Tuesday night (details in the ad just below), be sure to visit some of our sponsors who are exhibiting at the convention. Their ads this week tell you their booth numbers!

New News Director Openings:

Manney

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI…word came late yesterday that DAVE MANNEY is exiting his job as news director for this ABC affiliate to return to WNBC-TV in New York as Executive Producer of Investigations. Dave was an EP for WNBC until 2013 when he took the WXYZ job in early 2014. He had worked for this Scripps owned station for eight years earlier in his career, before leaving, first for Detroit Public Television, and then to go to WPXI-TV in New York.

Healey

WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…BOB HEALEY is leaving June 1 to become an anchor for KXLF-TV in Butte/Bozeman, MT. Bob told me it’s a lifestyle move, saying “The chance to ski Big Sky, hike at Glacier and Yellowstone and get back to anchoring the news was a perfect fit.” He first joined this NBC affiliate (now owned by Scripps) in 2001 as weekend anchor, was promoted to main anchor in 2003, and ND in 2009. Did you know Bob was a number one draft pick of the California Angels and pitched in their system for four years? (I didn’t think so!) He’s also worked in Springfield, MO, Des Moines, Quincy, IL, and Fresno. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

Greene

WVNY/WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT…JOLELE GREENE will leave this Nexstar operated duopoly after the May rating period. She’ll devote her full time to a nutrition store that she and her husband have opened. Jolene’s been ND there since September, 2013, and had earlier worked in Washington, DC, Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA, Portland, ME, and Wilmington, NC. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

KBOI-TV, Boise, ID…KENDRA MARTINEZ is leaving this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate to take a news director job in California. More on that below. She’s been the ND here for just over a year.

Newly Named News Director:

Green

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA…congratulations to JOHNNY GREEN who’s been promoted from Assistant News Director to News Director for this CBS o-and-o. He joined the station last year from WCAU-TV in Philadelphia where he was an EP for three years. Johnny’s also worked in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), Myrtle Beach, and New Bern, NC. The news release on his promotion does NOT mention that Johnny replaces GARY LaPLANTE who left the station last month after just 20 months as ND.

Luque

WJYZ/WMYT-TV, Charlotte, NC…we reported on Tuesday that TINA LUQUE becomes the third ND in just over three years for this FOX o-and-o. She most recently served as the ND for WTKR-TV in Norfolk for seven years. Tina’s a former ND in Columbia, SC, and has worked in Philadelphia, Boston and several other markets. Here’s the news release from the station. In Charlotte, she replaces KAREN KOUTSKY who left the station in January after one year as ND.

Hogensen

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL…another promotion from Assistant ND to News Director lands NICOLE HOGENSEN in the big chair. She’s worked for this Scripps’ owned NBC affiliate for five years, first as Managing Editor and then, for the last year, as the Assistant ND. She’s also worked in newsrooms in Cleveland and Columbus, OH, Richmond, and Erie, PA. Nicole replaces DAN WILSON who left earlier this year after less than two years to return to Phoenix as ND for KPHO-TV.

Martinez

KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA…KENDRA MARTINEZ moves south to become ND for this Cordillera owned NBC affiliate. She’s spent the last 13 months as ND for KBOI-TV in Boise, ID. She earlier worked in Idaho Falls and in a number of other TV stations, as you’ll learn in this memo to the staff from GM KATHLEEN CHOAL. Kendra replaces DOUG BARDEN who left the station late last year after four years as ND. He’s now the ND for KADN-TV in Lafayette, LA.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI:

Here’s a great chance to grow your news management career in one of America’s iconic cities.

WGBA NBC26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is searching for a News Director to lead our team to greater success in the years ahead. NBC 26 is the official station of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. The home city of about 100,000 people (total DMA population 300,000) swells to more than double its size on days when the Packers play at legendary Lambeau Field.

Green Bay is gateway to all the beauty of northeast Wisconsin. We live, work and play close to Lake Michigan and thousands of inlands lakes, national forests, skiing, golf, cycling, hunting and fishing. Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison are short drives away.

Wisconsin politics are exciting and fascinating, as evidenced by the recent primary elections. The state will be a center of much political activity and attention throughout the year, with a close race for president and an exciting fight for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

NBC 26 is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, a 137-year-old local media company that puts journalism first. Our company owns local TV stations in 24 markets, giving our colleagues many chances to grow careers in multiple markets.

To review the full job posting and to express your interest, click here. To learn more about careers at WGBA and Scripps, click here.

News Director, WVNY/WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT:

WFFF (FOX) and WVNY (ABC) in beautiful Burlington, Vermont is looking for our next great news director. If you are passionate about news, want to work for a GM who comes from News and shares your love for this crazy business, apply now online at Nexstar.TV

Yes, we are the home market of Bernie Sanders (with all that means)…and home to great skiing, boating, hiking, biking, beautiful scenery, and weather that is never boring! Burlington has a fun, vibrant artistic community, great restaurants and a strong sense of community.

You will produce 6.5 hours of news daily, a strong community portal website, and commit to all things digital including social media. Come help us grow our audience and enjoy the North Country lifestyle!

We have a talented reporting/producing staff and seasoned anchors. You will watch your product paying close attention to detail. You will praise in public and critique in private to guide the staff to improve. With excellent time management skills, you will multi-task, work within a defined budget and know how to manage up, down and with colleagues in marketing to grow ratings and with sales to grow revenue.

If this sounds exciting and describes you, we would love to talk with you! We work hard, have a positive, upbeat culture, work as a team, pay attention to the details and have a ton of fun!

A degree in journalism, mass communications, or a related field is preferred. Experience as a News Director preferred, producing experience required.

Click here to apply!

General Manager, KTEN-TV, Denison, TX:

KTEN-TV, Denison, TX is looking for an enthusiastic and talented GM for our NBC, ABC and CW affiliates.

Our GM needs to be a progressive thinker who can drive sales growth opportunities of the three stations and must possess a strong content background. Candidates must have a passion for news with the expertise to tend to the needs of the community and help news journalists flourish.

Please send resume to: tiffany@lockwoodbroadcast.com

KTEN is an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace.

Pre-employment drug test is required.

News Director, WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL:

Top rated CBS affiliate in the Champaign-Springfield Illinois market has a rare opening for a News Director.

Our current ND s being promoted to a regional position within the company. Station produces 8 hours of local news and programming daily M-F and 3 .5 hours on the weekends in addition to a multitude of special events and remote broadcasts annually across the CBS and MyNet affiliates and a digital community portal.

The station’s headquarters in Champaign is home to the University of Illinois, which provides tremendous opportunities for recruiting, partnerships and shapes our emphasis on issue-oriented news content. Our Capitol Bureau provides content and services, including a weekly half hour political show, to Illinois-based sister stations.

Successful candidate will be an experienced journalist, possess excellent leadership skills, have a demonstrated ability to hire well and train, motivate and inspire news staff. Must have 3 years’ experience as ND, Assistant ND or executive producer, experience overseeing successful remote productions, excellent writing skills and the ability to work cohesively with other departments throughout the station.

Please send your resume to: Angela Harper/HR Coordinator, aharper@wcia.com, or apply online here.

WCIA/WCIX is owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

News Director, WWTV/WWUP/WFQX-TV, Cadillac/Traverse City, MI:

Northern Michigan’s News Leader is currently looking for a dynamic person to oversee our newsroom.

9 & 10 News and Fox 32 produce nearly 8 hours of television news a day and are committed to success on all broadcasting platforms.

We are looking for a News Director who has thrived in a leadership role, knows the importance of good story telling and has at least 6 years of television news experience.

If you are a creative mind and interested in living and working in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, email your resume to Kevin Dunaway: kevindunaway@9and10news.com

Morning Executive Producer, KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK:

Cox Media Group and KOKI-FOX23 seeks an Executive Producer who will oversee the station’s morning newscasts. The successful candidate will excel at maximizing a wealth of resources to own breaking news, overnight stories, traffic and weather coverage. The Executive Producer will ensure newscasts are fast paced with high value content and consistently executed off of key research points. The successful candidate must also understand news coverage on all platforms and use the station’s website, mobile apps and social media platforms to bring viewers to on-air newscasts. A minimum of 3 years professional experience in local TV news is required for this job.

This is an opportunity to join a team that is growing ratings every day. It is also a chance to join a company with top-rated stations in markets like Atlanta, Boston, Orlando and Charlotte.

Primary Responsibilities and Functions:

Oversees Producers and Writers
Ensures that research points are implemented daily
Works closely with reporters
Reviews structure and copy in newscasts
Insures integrity of newscast in all phases of writing and production
Makes sure content is executed on all platforms, including website and social media sites

Minimum:

5 years producing experience
The ability to multitask
Strong organizational skills
Solid news judgement
Teamwork and the ability to get along with others is an essential function of the job

Preferred:

Degree in journalism or related field

Application process:

To learn more about this opportunity and apply, please click here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 3/6/16)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 3/6/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/27/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/27/16)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 4/2/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 4/2/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 2/7/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 2/21/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 3/6/16)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 2/14/16)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 3/13/16)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, relisted 3/27/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/20/16)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, new listing this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (PM EP, listed 2/21/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 3/13/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (two positions, AM EP, Dayside EP, listed 2/28/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 4/2/16)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, listed 4/10/16, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/2/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/28/16)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, listed 2/7/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 2/21/16)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 3/20/16)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 3/4/11)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/20/16)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/21/16)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/4/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 2/21/16)

Obituary:

We’re a little tardy in reporting the death of one-time WVEC-TV (Norfolk) News Director and Anchor JOHN MILLER. He died earlier this month at the age of 68 of an apparent heart attack. After leaving WVEC, John went into politics and was serving as a State Senator when he died. More here.

Names in the News:

Van Ameyde

One time WEYI-TV (Flint/Clio, MI) News Director LEE VAN AMEYDE took the buyout offer from Tegna and WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids and is leaving the station after 39 years, most of them as the primary anchor for that ABC affiliate. The station called it a ‘retirement’ but Lee posted to Facebook: I have no intention of retiring. Three years ago the station moved him off the anchor desk and into a role as Managing Editor of the Investigative Unit. More here.  Small world department: My late mother-in-law was one of Lee’s teachers in high school in Detroit.

PERRY PACE is the new Assistant ND for WVTM-TV in Birmingham. He’s been the Dayside EP for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis for the past four years. He’s also worked for three stations in Houston.

General Manager News:

There’s a new GM for WDBD-TV in Jackson, MS. RAMONA ALEXANDER, a Jackson native, will run this FOX affiliate for American Spirit Media. She’s been working in a corporate sales training position in Charlotte.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Saturday, April 16, 2016.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236 (Tampa market)
WXYZ-TV 20777 West 10 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48037
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84110
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville TN 37210
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford CT 06107
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
KTUL-TV 3333 S 29th W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74107
WINK-TV 2824 Palm Beach Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33916
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313 (see ad above!)
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29201
WAFF-TV 1414 N Memorial Parkway Huntsville, Al 35801
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 (see ad above!)
WVNY/WFFF 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446 (see ad above!)
KBOI-TV 140 N 16th St, Boise, ID 83702
WWTV/WWUP 22320 130th Ave, Tustin, MI 49688 (see ad above!)
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KIII-TV 5002 S Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Highway Oak Hill, WV 25901
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St Ottumwa IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

* Spanish language station

April 10, 2016

Thursday, April 14, 2016 UPDATE:

Two Assistant News Directors were promoted to the top job today. It’s the first ND job for both of them.

Green

In Boston, JOHNNY GREEN steps up and becomes news director for Boston’s WBZ-TV, the CBS o-and-o there. He just joined the station last year as Assistant ND. He spent the three previous years as an EP for WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, and has also worked in Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), Myrtle Beach, and New Bern, NC. The station issued this news release. The news release does NOT mention that Johnny replaces GARY LaPLANTE who left the station last month after just 20 months as ND.

Hogensen

And NICOLE HOGENSEN gets her first ND job at Scripps’ WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL. She was promoted to Assistant ND there last year, and first joined this NBC affiliate in 2010 as Managing Editor. Nicole has also worked in Richmond, Columbus, OH, Erie, PA and in Cleveland. She replaces DAN WILSON who left in January after less than two years to return to Phoenix as ND for KPHO-TV.

Have a great Friday…we’ll see you later this week with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 UPDATE:

Licht

A surprise today from CBS, where CBS This Morning Executive Producer CHRIS LICHT has been named Executive Producer of the Late Show with Steven Colbert. He’s been with CBS since 2011, previously worked as EP of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and earlier in his career worked for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Here’s the news release from CBS.

RYAN KADRO, who’s been the co-exectuive producer of the morning newscast, will become the sole EP. More on his promotion here.

We’ll have more in our full newsletter later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 UPDATE:

Two items for you today.

Charlotte’s FOX o-and-o, WJZY/WMYT-TV has named its next director.

Luque

It’s TINA LUQUE who most recently served as ND for WTKR-TV in Norfolk. Tina left that position in October after seven years. She’s a former ND for WIS-TV in Columbia, SC and has also worked in Philadelphia, Boston and several other markets. Her full career history is on her Linkedin page.  And here’s the news release from the station.

In Charlotte, she replaces KAREN KOUTSKY who left the station in January after one year as ND. Tina becomes the third ND in the station’s three year history of doing news.

**** ***** ****

Collins

We also promised to update you on funeral arrangements for former Chicago and Jackson, MS, news manager CORRICE COLLINS who died Sunday.

Visitation will be this Friday (April 15) from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at Lakeover Funeral Home on Beasley Road in Corrice’s hometown of Jackson. The funeral will be at College Hill Baptist Church on Saturday (April 16) at 11:00 AM.

Corrice also worked in Columbia, MO. Wichita, and Kansas City. He began his career at WLBT-TV in Jackson, which remembered him on its newscasts earlier this week.

More in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Greetings:

Don’t ask me why, but in the last two week’s we’ve added NINE new news director openings to our list, with just ONE newly filled job this week (though THREE were filled last week).

The moves our count to 28 stations with news director openings.

(con’t.)

FOUR of those ND openings are featured in our Paid Help Wanted Ads section below.

And this week we have an infrequent ad for a General Manager’s job. Naturally, they are looking for someone with a news background.

We have just ONE item in Names in the News, TWO obituaries, and news of TWO GMs on the move…one a former ND and the other started his career in news.

New News Director Openings:

WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT…we told you earlier this week that MATT PIACENTE was leaving this NBC o-and-o to return to Chicago as ND for WFLD-TV. Matt was ND here for about two years. More on his move below.

Volpicella

KVUE-TV, Austin, TX…in another UPDATE earlier this week, we shared the news of FRANK VOLPICELLA‘s departure from this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. Frank accepted a buyout from the company after more than 15 years here. We have the heartfelt memo he shared with his staff, and here’s a link to a detailed story from the local newspaper. Frank’s been a news director in Lexington and Huntsville and has also worked in Tampa and Jacksonville, FL.

Dunaway

WWTV/WWUP/WFQX-TV, Cadillac/Traverse City, MI…this CBS affiliate is looking for its next news director. KEVIN DUNAWAY, who’s held that job for 16 years is taking on new responsibilities for the station which is owned by Heritage Broadcasting. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

Longoria

KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX…apparently this Tegna station is advertising for a news director. I emailed three different Tegna news executives (two of them twice) seeking confirmation and additional information but never got a reply. My records show that RICHARD LONGORIA had been ND here since May 2003. Richard’s bio is still on the station’s website as I write (though it may not be by the time you read this.)

Conner

WOAY-TV, Oak Hill, WV…KEITH CONNER has left this Thomas Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. His linkedin page has lists his responsibilities this way: Additional duties include serving as executive producer, assignment editor and managing editor. He worked there for more than three years, had previously worked for several stations in Charlotte as well as in Knoxville, TN.

Blevins

KQTV, Saint Joseph, MO…BRIDGET BLEVINS is headed down I-29 to Kansas City where she’ll become the next Assistant News Director for KSHB-TV, the Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate there. Bridget has spent the last 8+ years at this Nexstar owned ABC years, serving as both ND and anchor of the early evening newscast. (According to her Linkedin page, she also co-hosts a morning radio program!)

And also please note the new paid help wanted ad for the opportunity at WCIA-TV in Champaign, IL. We told you last week that ANDY MILLER was being promoted to a corporate news position for station owner Nexstar.

Newly Named News Director:

Piacente

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL…MATT PIACENTE will be the next ND for this FOX o-and-o. It’s a return to his hometown for Matt, who’s spent the last two years as ND for NBC’s WVIT-TV in Hartford. But he’s spent most of his career in Chicago, including 15 years at NBC’s WMAQ-TV in a variety of roles. He’s also worked at three other Chicago stations and in Columbia, MO. At WFLD, he replaces TOM DOERR who’s leaving to return to Florida for family reasons after four years as ND. ROBERT FEDER has more.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

General Manager, KTEN-TV, Denison, TX:

KTEN-TV, Denison, TX is looking for an enthusiastic and talented GM for our NBC, ABC and CW affiliates.

Our GM needs to be a progressive thinker who can drive sales growth opportunities of the three stations and must possess a strong content background. Candidates must have a passion for news with the expertise to tend to the needs of the community and help news journalists flourish.

Please send resume to: tiffany@lockwoodbroadcast.com

KTEN is an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace.

Pre-employment drug test is required.

News Director, WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL:

Top rated CBS affiliate in the Champaign-Springfield Illinois market has a rare opening for a News Director.

Our current ND s being promoted to a regional position within the company. Station produces 8 hours of local news and programming daily M-F and 3 .5 hours on the weekends in addition to a multitude of special events and remote broadcasts annually across the CBS and MyNet affiliates and a digital community portal.

The station’s headquarters in Champaign is home to the University of Illinois, which provides tremendous opportunities for recruiting, partnerships and shapes our emphasis on issue-oriented news content. Our Capitol Bureau provides content and services, including a weekly half hour political show, to Illinois-based sister stations.

Successful candidate will be an experienced journalist, possess excellent leadership skills, have a demonstrated ability to hire well and train, motivate and inspire news staff. Must have 3 years’ experience as ND, Assistant ND or executive producer, experience overseeing successful remote productions, excellent writing skills and the ability to work cohesively with other departments throughout the station.

Please send your resume to: Angela Harper/HR Coordinator, aharper@wcia.com, or apply online here.

WCIA/WCIX is owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

News Director, WWTV/WWUP/WFQX-TV, Cadillac/Traverse City, MI:

Northern Michigan’s News Leader is currently looking for a dynamic person to oversee our newsroom.

9 & 10 News and Fox 32 produce nearly 8 hours of television news a day and are committed to success on all broadcasting platforms.

We are looking for a News Director who has thrived in a leadership role, knows the importance of good story telling and has at least 6 years of television news experience.

If you are a creative mind and interested in living and working in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, email your resume to Kevin Dunaway: kevindunaway@9and10news.com

Morning Executive Producer, KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK:

Cox Media Group and KOKI-FOX23 seeks an Executive Producer who will oversee the station’s morning newscasts. The successful candidate will excel at maximizing a wealth of resources to own breaking news, overnight stories, traffic and weather coverage. The Executive Producer will ensure newscasts are fast paced with high value content and consistently executed off of key research points. The successful candidate must also understand news coverage on all platforms and use the station’s website, mobile apps and social media platforms to bring viewers to on-air newscasts. A minimum of 3 years professional experience in local TV news is required for this job.

This is an opportunity to join a team that is growing ratings every day. It is also a chance to join a company with top-rated stations in markets like Atlanta, Boston, Orlando and Charlotte.

Primary Responsibilities and Functions:

Oversees Producers and Writers
Ensures that research points are implemented daily
Works closely with reporters
Reviews structure and copy in newscasts
Insures integrity of newscast in all phases of writing and production
Makes sure content is executed on all platforms, including website and social media sites

Minimum:

5 years producing experience
The ability to multitask
Strong organizational skills
Solid news judgement
Teamwork and the ability to get along with others is an essential function of the job

Preferred:

Degree in journalism or related field

Application process:

To learn more about this opportunity and apply, please click here.

News Director, KPVI-TV, Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID:

The Idaho Broadcast Partners LLC news team is searching for a leader. KPVI, the NBC affiliate serving Southeast Idaho, is looking for a news director who can be the editorial driver of its news operation.

A dedicated staff in a modern, spacious facility produces three hours of news each day. We’re looking for someone who can lead, mentor, teach, set goals and guide the team to achieve. We’ve got new technology, a new look, a new brand, a new set and a new website. Now, we need a person with a passion for news, with the desire to serve our communities, and the communication skills to help individual broadcast journalists develop and grow.

The right candidate will have producer and news manager experience; an understanding and appreciation of the need to break news on the station’s website and social media sites; an understanding of the operation of newsgathering equipment; and a newsiness that sets the tone for our newscasts.

We offer a competitive salary, benefits, and the chance to live in some of the most beautiful country in the U.S. Stations are located just an hour to the nearest chairlift, a couple hours to Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, and a short ride to Park City and Sundance with opportunities for unparalleled outdoor activities year-round.

Interested? Send a cover letter telling us why you should be our next news leader, along with a resume and any relevant links to Becky Swan, SVP of Television, at bswan@frcap.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

News Director, KYOU-TV, Ottumwa, IA:

KYOU-TV is seeking a News Director for our news operation in Ottumwa, Iowa.

This is an opportunity to lead a unique operation working in a non-traditional environment through our partnership with a private university. We’re looking for an assistant news director or senior journalist that recognizes the importance of presenting coverage with a viewer benefit and objectivity.

This person will have editorial oversight, critiquing writing skills, providing training and solve problems. Great people skills are essential and the ability to shoot and edit is a plus. A four-year degree in journalism or communications is preferred.

Please send cover letter and resume to the following email address hiringmanager@kyoutv.com or mail to

KYOU-TV
820 West Second Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501.

Applications are available at KYOUTV.COM.

No phone calls please. KYOU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Assistant News Director, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL:

Job Description:

WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida is looking for an aggressive team leader with a proven track record for achieving outstanding results. Must be able to lead a strong newsroom in a fast-paced competitive environment. Excellent news judgment, storytelling and showcasing skills required. The ideal candidate will be able to direct, motivate and develop a successful team. You will help supervise anchors, reporters and producers. You will also work closely with Creative Services to make sure there is promotable content in the newscasts. We are looking for someone who can execute strategic plans while leading the presentation of content on air, online and in the world of evolving media. Note: All essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this posting.

Qualifications:

This is an ideal position for an Executive Producer who is looking to make that next move. We are looking for someone with a producing background who also has at least five years of experience in a supervisory role. Must be able to perform well under pressure, meet deadlines and communicate thoroughly with all levels of management and staff. We want someone with a passion for breaking news, weather, innovative storytelling and digital coverage. Must be able to work a flexible schedule which could include days, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Degree in communications or related field desired.

Location:

WJXT-TV
4 Broadcast Place
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Email resumes and links to: kbonfield@wjxt.com

No phone calls. 

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 3/6/16)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 3/6/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/27/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/27/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 4/2/16, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 4/2/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 2/7/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 2/21/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 3/6/16)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 2/14/16)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 3/13/16)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, relisted 3/27/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/20/16)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (PM EP, listed 2/21/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 3/13/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (two positions, AM EP, Dayside EP, listed 2/28/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 4/2/16, see ad above!)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/2/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/28/16)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, listed 2/7/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 2/21/16)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 3/20/16)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 3/4/11)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/20/16)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/21/16)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/4/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 2/21/16)

Obituaries:

Collins

CORRICE COLLINS, a one-time Operations Manager for WBBM-TV in Chicago, died early this morning of complications from cancer.  He was 72 years old.  Corrice also worked as an anchor in Jackson, MS, Columbia, MO, Wichita, and Kansas City.  He later returned to WLBT-TV in Jackson as Assignment Editor and Assistant News Director.  That station remembered him tonight.

This one hits home for me, as Corrice and I worked very closely together at KOMU-TV in Columbia, when we were both attending the University of Missouri in 1975, and we remained good friends if in infrequent contact. He was the first black anchorman in Central Missouri and amazingly survived a particularly chaotic newscast one night when he blurted out an epithet that went like this “Blank (rhymes with duck) a duck.”  Many fledgling journalists learned a lot from him during his time at KOMU.

In 2012, when Corrice was honored by the Mississippi AP for being a groundbreaking black anchor in Jackson (where he grew up and where his career began) a few of us surprised him at the ceremony and gave him a little something to remember that newscast by.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete but are expected to be this weekend in Jackson.  I’ll update this website when I know more.

One time WVNY-TV (Burlington, VT) news and sports director MAL BORIGHT died March 18th. He was 81. Mal spent most of his career in radio but also worked for several newspapers. His former station remembers him here.

And TV graphics guru JAY ANTZAKAS died March 30th of gastric cancer. He turned 60 last New Year’s Day. Jay worked for Turner Broadcasting in 1983 when he left to co-found the design firm Television by Design (TVbD). (Full disclosure: I hired them to redo our graphics in Toledo, and it was a terrific package.) More details on his life and career in this remembrance.

Name in the News:

LISA MITCHELL returns to WCYB-TV in the Tri-Cities of TN & VA as the Executive Producer for this Bonten Media owned NBC affiliate. She spent 13 years at WCYB before leaving in 2000. Most recently she’s been working for the Bristol Broadcasting Radio Group as News Director.

General Manager News:

WDBJ-TV in Roanoke has named MATT PUMO its next GM. He replaces JEFF MARKS who moved into a corporate role with new owner Gray Television. Like Jeff, Matt’s career started in news, though Matt moved into sales and then management. The full details are here.

Cates

One time news director turned GM DAN CATES joins Raycom Media as GM of the company’s WCSC-TV, the CBS affiliate in Charleston, SC. Dan most recently served as GM for Media General’s WJHL-TV in Johnson City, TN, and was the ND for MG stations in Spartanburg, SC, and Mobile. He’s also worked as a reporter in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. He replaces RITA SCOTT who’s retiring after 17 years. More here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, April 10, 2016.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com.

WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston MA 02134
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236 (Tampa market)
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WJZY/WMYT-TV 3501 Performance Road Charlotte, NC 28214
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84110
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville TN 37210
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford CT 06107
WPTV 1100 Banyan Blvd. W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
KTUL-TV 3333 S 29th W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74107
WINK-TV 2824 Palm Beach Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33916
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29201
WAFF-TV 1414 N Memorial Parkway Huntsville, Al 35801
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 (see ad above!)
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KSBY-TV 1772 Calle Joaquin San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
KIII-TV 5002 S Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Highway Oak Hill, WV 25901
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201 (see ad above!)
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St Ottumwa IA 52501 (see ad above!)
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

* Spanish language station

April 2, 2016

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 UPDATE:

A veteran news director takes a buyout and ends a 15 1/2 year run at the same station.

Volpicella

The news director is FRANK VOLPICELLA, the station is KVUE-TV in Austin, TX, and the buyout was offered by Tegna. Frank told me that he plans to keep working, saying “I already know what roses smell like. I still have the fire burning. So I’ll be working again.”

He’s also been a news director in Huntsville and Lexington, and has worked in Atlanta, Tampa, and Jacksonville, FL.

Frank’s last day at KVUE will be April 22nd.  The announcement of his resignation comes just two weeks after the only GM he’s had at KVUE, PATTI SMITH, announced her departure after a 17 year run at this ABC affiliate.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, April 4, 2016 UPDATE:

A Chicago FOX o-and-o has hired a new news director.

Piacente

MATT PIACENTE returns to Chicago as News Director for WFLD-TV.  He’s spent the last two years as the ND for WVIT-TV, the NBC o-and-o in Hartford, but has spent most of his career in Chicago.  Before moving to Connecticut, Matt spent about 15 years at NBC’s WMAQ-TV in Chicago.  He’s also worked for three other Chicago stations and in Columbia, MO.

Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER has more on the move.

At WFLD, Matt replaces TOM DOERR.  We told you in February that Tom was leaving after four years as ND to return to Florida for family reasons.

Our full report later this week may be delayed by travel, but we’ll do our best to get it to you on time.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

We have a lot to tell you about this week.

THREE new news directors, and THREE new ND openings. Those changes inflate our list of open ND jobs to a higher-than-it’s-been 25 stations.

THREE of those open ND jobs are among the SIX paid help wanted ads in this week’s edition. (Check out the great looking ad for KOAT-TV‘s EP opening, by the way).

And we have ads from FOUR vendors who will be exhibiting at NAB. Please stop by their booths and told them we sent you.

Our TWO obituaries report the passing of two people who share a common background: they both worked at KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. One never left, and one went on to the network.

In Names in the News, a handful of news management moves, including TWO at a Las Vegas station. And we’ll tell you about another CBS affiliation swap in North Carolina.

New News Director Openings:

WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL…after more than eleven years as news director here, ANDY MILLER is being promoted as the Midwest Director of Local Content Development for parent company Nexstar. Andy has worked for this CBS affiliate for more than twenty years in a variety of roles. More details about Andy and his new role in this story.

KPVI-TV, Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID…ERIC JOCHIM is leaving this NBC affiliate to move to Montana. Senior VP of Television for Idaho Broadcast Partners BECKY SWAN tells me Eric has a new baby daughter and wants to be closer to family there. He’s been the ND here since August, 2014 and previously worked in both Bozeman and Missoula. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad below.

KYOU-TV, Ottumwa, IA…this Fox affiliate owned by American Spirit Media is advertising for a news director. The ad talks about a unique operation via a partnership with a private university. You can see the complete advertisement below.

Newly Named News Directors:

KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS…ANTHONY MAISEL is moving from General Manager for Lockwood Broadcasting’s KTEN-TV in Denison, TX, to news director for this Lockwood ABC affiliate in Wichita. He’s a former GM at another Wichita station and has held a variety of ND and GM positions across the country: his full background is here. Anthony replaces MICHAEL SIPES who’d been the ND here for just over three years. Michael is going to pursue new opportunities. We have two memos for you: the one Anthony sent to the KTEN team, and Michael’s note to the KAKE newsroom.

KITV, Honolulu, HI…MIKE DARRAH begins Monday as the news news director for this SJL Broadcast Management owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND here for more than three years and served as an EP for WESH-TV in Orlando for eight years before that. Mike replaces CHUCK PARKER who is leaving after four years as ND to pursue other opportunities.

KBAK/KFBX-TV, Bakersfield, CA…JEFF LENK is being promoted to news director at this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS/FOX duopoly. He began here eleven years ago as an intern, was hired as a prompter operator, and eventually rose to Dayside Executive Producer. Here’s the note he posted to Facebook. Jeff replaces CRISTI JESSEE who left in December (after four years as ND) to become ND for KVVU-TV in Las Vegas.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KPVI-TV, Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID:

The Idaho Broadcast Partners LLC news team is searching for a leader. KPVI, the NBC affiliate serving Southeast Idaho, is looking for a news director who can be the editorial driver of its news operation.

A dedicated staff in a modern, spacious facility produces three hours of news each day. We’re looking for someone who can lead, mentor, teach, set goals and guide the team to achieve. We’ve got new technology, a new look, a new brand, a new set and a new website. Now, we need a person with a passion for news, with the desire to serve our communities, and the communication skills to help individual broadcast journalists develop and grow.

The right candidate will have producer and news manager experience; an understanding and appreciation of the need to break news on the station’s website and social media sites; an understanding of the operation of newsgathering equipment; and a newsiness that sets the tone for our newscasts.

We offer a competitive salary, benefits, and the chance to live in some of the most beautiful country in the U.S. Stations are located just an hour to the nearest chairlift, a couple hours to Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, and a short ride to Park City and Sundance with opportunities for unparalleled outdoor activities year-round.

Interested? Send a cover letter telling us why you should be our next news leader, along with a resume and any relevant links to Becky Swan, SVP of Television, at bswan@frcap.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

News Director, KYOU-TV, Ottumwa, IA:

KYOU-TV is seeking a News Director for our news operation in Ottumwa, Iowa.

This is an opportunity to lead a unique operation working in a non-traditional environment through our partnership with a private university. We’re looking for an assistant news director or senior journalist that recognizes the importance of presenting coverage with a viewer benefit and objectivity.

This person will have editorial oversight, critiquing writing skills, providing training and solve problems. Great people skills are essential and the ability to shoot and edit is a plus. A four-year degree in journalism or communications is preferred.

Please send cover letter and resume to the following email address hiringmanager@kyoutv.com or mail to

KYOU-TV
820 West Second Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501.

Applications are available at KYOUTV.COM.

No phone calls please. KYOU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Assistant News Director, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL:

Job Description:

WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida is looking for an aggressive team leader with a proven track record for achieving outstanding results. Must be able to lead a strong newsroom in a fast-paced competitive environment. Excellent news judgment, storytelling and showcasing skills required. The ideal candidate will be able to direct, motivate and develop a successful team. You will help supervise anchors, reporters and producers. You will also work closely with Creative Services to make sure there is promotable content in the newscasts. We are looking for someone who can execute strategic plans while leading the presentation of content on air, online and in the world of evolving media. Note: All essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this posting.

Qualifications:

This is an ideal position for an Executive Producer who is looking to make that next move. We are looking for someone with a producing background who also has at least five years of experience in a supervisory role. Must be able to perform well under pressure, meet deadlines and communicate thoroughly with all levels of management and staff. We want someone with a passion for breaking news, weather, innovative storytelling and digital coverage. Must be able to work a flexible schedule which could include days, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Degree in communications or related field desired.

Location:

WJXT-TV
4 Broadcast Place
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Email resumes and links to: kbonfield@wjxt.com

No phone calls. 

News Director, WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY:

WHEC-TV (News10NBC), Rochester, NY a Hubbard Broadcasting station, is seeking a dynamic News Director who is a strong leader with a clear vision and the ability to communicate that vision to the staff. You must be passionate, realizing we make a HUGE difference every day in our community, and you must have a strong desire to teach, lead and learn with our award winning News Team.

Our TEAM has won many awards including several regional Murrow awards and a national Murrow Award over the past several years. We have built a team that is driven by excellence in journalism across all platforms.

We produce 5 hours of news each weekday and quarterly hour-long specials tackling issues which are vital to the welfare of our community. We are an advocate for the community and we look to hold those that abuse their powers accountable. We have a top notch digital team that has consistently ranked #1 in viewer engagement due to the strong story-telling we produce every day.

Our culture is one of service; service to our community and to one-another. You should know how to listen, learn, assess challenges and opportunities, collaborate to find solutions, and implement change. You should be open to finding new solutions and taking risks. You must be good with multitasking and prioritization in order to meet deadlines. On our side, we will work very hard as a station and company to help you grow as a person and news professional.

To view the detailed posting and apply, click here:

No phone calls please. EOE

Assistant News Director, WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH:

WXIX Fox 19 Now in Cincinnati is looking for our next great leader! We are searching for an aggressive and creative Assistant News Director who will be a main editorial driver, overseeing the content and logistics of the newsgathering process. The Assistant News Director will work with the News Director to guide our staff to make strategic editorial decisions, prioritize digital efforts, and execute high quality compelling newscasts.

– Qualified candidates will be experts in website and social media strategy.
– Minimum 5 years experience as a newsroom manager.
– Executive Producer and producing background preferable.
– Ability to mentor and guide reporting staff.
– Possess a clear understanding of journalistic ethics and guidelines.
– Understand basic technology of newsgathering equipment, including cameras, edit gear, and live shot gear.
– Participate in hiring, training, and performance evaluations.
– Qualified candidates will show strong potential to grow into a News Director role.

If qualified, applications, cover letters, and resumes can be submitted by clicking here:

No phone calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 3/6/16)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 3/6/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/27/16)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/20/16)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/27/16, see ad above!)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted this week)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 2/7/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 2/21/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 3/6/16)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 2/14/16)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 2/28/16)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 3/13/16)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, relisted 3/27/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/20/16)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (PM EP, listed 2/21/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 3/13/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (two positions, AM EP, Dayside EP, listed 2/28/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (new listing this week)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/28/16)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, listed 2/7/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 2/21/16)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 3/20/16)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 3/4/11)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/20/16)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, relisted 3/27/16)
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/21/16)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/4/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 2/21/16)

Obituaries:

Engberg

ERIC ENGBERG died in his sleep last week at the age of 74. He retired in 2002 from CBS where he spent 27 years as a correspondent. This CBS obituary highlights his career, and also tell us he once served as ND for WMAL-TV (now WJLA-TV) in Washington, which I did not know.

Gray

And I’m sorry to tell you that our old friend, longtime KOMU-TV (Columbia, MO) General Manager TOM GRAY, died March 31st of lung cancer at the age of 76. Tom had no television experience when he was transferred from the business office at the University of Missouri (which owns KOMU) in 1974 to solve problems at the station. He stayed 25 years and is credited with turning the station around, helping the careers of hundreds of journalism students who worked there while attending the University.

Names in the News:

There’s another CBS affiliate change in North Carolina, as the networks switches its affiliation to WWAY-TV in Wilmington, leaving a Capitol Broadcasting affiliate, WILM-TV, a low power station. More here.

CHRISTINA SILLERS has joined KOIN-TV in Portland, OR, as the special projects producer.

Two new news managers at Scripps’ KTNV-TV in Las Vegas. TRACI WILSON returns to this ABC affiliate as its next Assistant News Director. She once produced the 11:00 news there. And JOSH PANAS is moving from KDVR/KWGN-TV in Denver to become the morning EP. Details on both hires and their backgrounds in these two memos from ND MIKE DELLA STRITTO.

General Manager News:

Lots of GM changes this week.

BRYCE CALDWELL becomes the GM of Raycom Media’s WTNZ-TV in Knoxville. He has been the sales manager for Media General’s WATE-TV there.

TVSpy reports that after more than eleven years, HAROLD COOPER has resigned as GM for Sinclair’s WCHS/WVAH-TV in Charleston, WV. And the website also says DAVID TILLERY has left KETK-TV in Tyler, TX,

And Raycom Media has two new GMs this week. JOE SCIORTINO moves up to run KSLA-TV in Shreveport from his job as GM of WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, MS. He’ll be replaced as GM there by JAMA DAVIS KILLINGSWORTH who’s been the GM and GSM of WDBD-TV in Jackson, MS.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Saturday, April 2, 2016.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com.

WFLD-TV 205 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston MA 02134
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236 (Tampa market)
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WJZY/WMYT-TV 3501 Performance Road Charlotte, NC 28214
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84110
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Rd. Nashville TN 37210
WPTV 1100 Banyan Blvd. W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
KTUL-TV 3333 S 29th W Ave, Tulsa, OK 74107
WINK-TV 2824 Palm Beach Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33916
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 (see ad above!)
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29201
WAFF-TV 1414 N Memorial Parkway Huntsville, Al 35801
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KSBY-TV 1772 Calle Joaquin San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
KBAK-TV1901 Westward Drive Bakersfield, CA 93301
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201 (see ad above!)
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St Ottumwa IA 52501 (see ad above!)

* Spanish language station