Rick Gevers & Associates

February 25, 2018

Friday, March 2, 2018 UDPATE:

Meredith has filled its VP of News and Marketing job with a former news director turned VP/News turned agent, who’s returning to the operations side of the business.

Brown

GARY BROWN will join the company as its latest VP/News. The official news release is here.

He’s spent the last five years as an agent with Napoli Management Group. Before that he was VP/News, Marketing. and Web Content for Newport.

It’s a return to Meredith for Gary, who spent just over a year as ND for the company’s WFSB-TV in Hartford. He’s also been an ND in San Diego, Providence, Toledo (his hometown), and Steubenville. He’s also worked in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

McCreery

Gary succeeds PATRICK McCREERY in this role, following Patrick’s promotion to Executive Vice President of Operations for Meredith earlier this year.

In our full newsletter this weekend, we’ll also have details about a veteran news director on the move, and we’ll tell about TWO former NDs turned GMs who are leaving their stations.

That’s called a tease. 🙂

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Wednesday, February 28th 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

There’s a new news director in a top 20 market to tell you about today.

Rubin

IAN RUBIN is headed to Cleveland as news director for Raycom Media’s WOIO-WUAB-TV. That’s the CBS-My Network duopoly.

Here’s the news release, courtesy of General Manager ERIK SCHRADER.

Ian’s spent the past 14+ years as news director for Meredith’s WNEM-TV (CBS) in Saginaw/Flint, MI. He’s also been an ND in Dayton (WKEF-TV), for WRNN-TV in New York, and worked as an EP for the News 12 Networks in New York and for WHDH-TV in Boston.

At WOIO, he replaces FRED D’AMBROSI who left the station in January after almost three years as news director.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

While there is just ONE new news director opening this week, it is in the number one market. And there are TWO new (well, one’s new, the other one’s already been on the job a while) news directors.

Those changes leave our list of open ND jobs at 26.

ONE of those openings is one of THREE paid help wanted ads this week. If you’re tired of winter, check out one of the other ads for TWO management openings in a great (and warm) place to live.

In Names in the News, TWO veteran local news directors are being honored, and the ‘Babe Bracket’ loses its name…but will continue.

And there are TWO general mangers moves, ONE involving the number one market.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Jones

KETV, Omaha, NE…VONN JONES has ascended to the news director’s job for this Hearst owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND there for the past 18 years, working for ROSE ANN SHANNON who just retired after spending 25 years (of her 31 at the station) as ND. The official news release has more. Vonn first joined KETV as an intern then worked in Milwaukee before returning to Omaha.

Gaylord

KRTV, Great Falls, MT…we strive to be timely in our coverage. We dropped the ball on this one. ERIC GAYLORD has been the ND for this Cordillera Communications owned CBS affiliate since last June. (!) Apologies for missing that one. Eric’s worked in a number of much larger markets, primarily as a photographer. More from his Linkedin page. At KRTV, he replaced JOEL LUNDSTAD who left in April 2017.

New News Director Opening: 

WNBC-TV, New York, NY…we first told you on Friday that SUSAN SULLIVAN is leaving this NBC owned station for a job in standards and practices for NBC News. Susan’s been the ND here for seven years. She’s also been an ND in San Jose/San Francisco, Washington, Phoenix, and for another New York City station. She’s also worked for both WABC-TV and WCBS-TV in New York as well as in Los Angeles. It’s not her first time working for the network side of NBC: She was news director for MSNBC and later served as VP of daytime programming for the cable channel.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Ass’t. ND & Executive Producer, KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA:

Work in America’s Finest City, San Diego.

KUSI News, one of the top cutting-edge stations in the country, seeks an experienced Assistant News Director for the Station and, also, an Executive News Producer for our powerhouse news broadcast Good Morning San Diego program.

KUSI-TV, the news leader in San Diego, produces 8 1/2 hours of news Monday-Friday and 7 1/2 hours of news on the weekends for the eighth largest city in the country.

Join a winning team and go to Kusi.com, click on contact us and go to the job opportunities to complete the application, or email resume and salary retirements to sluck@kusi.com

Digital Content/Weekend Manager, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

WIVB-TV, the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, NY is looking for a strong news leader to oversee digital content gathering, special projects and weekend newscasts.

The Digital Content/Weekend Manager will work collaboratively with the entire news team to organize and help distribute content across all platforms on a supervisory level.
In this role, the successful candidate will:

Help our news team develop unique content for digital platforms, newscasts and special programming.
Organize shoot schedule for all sweeps pieces, special news programming and other unique content.
Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content on all digital platforms.
Write and post daily on all digital platforms including social media.
Assigning photographers and reporters as part of the daily news gathering process.
Coach/train journalists how to write for digital including attaching images and streaming video.
Use contacts to develop sources and enterprise news stories.
Use creative graphics and new forms of media (viewer pictures, webcam interviews, etc.) to enhance stories on all platforms.
Perform other functions as required by supervisor or executive producer.

Education/Experience:

College degree required
2-years of experience

People who work at WIVB and WNLO are able to take advantage of the rich cultural and social scene Buffalo offers. From two professional sports teams to world-class museums and restaurants appealing to nearly every taste and budget, Buffalo offers a vibrant lifestyle for people of all ages.

If interested, please apply online: http://www.nexstar.tv/careers/

EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability

News Director, KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA:

KCAU, the Nexstar owned ABC affiliate in beautiful Sioux City Iowa has an exciting opportunity. We are searching for a News Director who has the vision talent and drive to lead our news team.

You will work in a brand new state of the art broadcast facility which launched in February 2017.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, skilled communicator who leads our team in the execution of market-leading breaking news, weather coverage and community service on all platforms. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the best stations and the best broadcast group in the country.

Sioux City is located on the banks of the Missouri River and borders the states of South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Applicants should apply online by clicking here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/14/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (relisted 1/28/18)
KVRR-TV, Fargo, ND (relisted 12/31/17)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (listed 1/14/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 1/14/18)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 2/4/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listing revised 2/18/18)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/18)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted this week)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/21/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, listed 2/18/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 1/21/18)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 1/14/18)
WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 12/23/17)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (AM EP, relisted 1/21/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 1/21/18)

Names in the News (and other items):

Honors for two longtime local news directors this week:

Hodak

Congratulations to longtime WJRT-TV (Flint, MI) News Director JAYNE HODAK who joined the NATAS Silver Circle this week. She’s been the ND at this Gray TV owned ABC affiliate for six years and has worked there for 15. Jayne’s also worked in Traverse City, Lansing, Raleigh and Detroit. If that rings a bell, it’s because her father JERRY HODAK spent many years as the chief meteorologist for WXYZ-TV.

Kessie

And WLOX-TV (Biloxi, MS) News Director BRAD KESSIE is being inducted into the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Brad’s worked for this Raycom Media owned CBS/ABC station since 1988 and has been news director there for the past nine years.

A Little Rock radio station will continue to run its ‘Babe Bracket contest but has changed the name to ‘A Contest with No Name’, a play on the show’s title. The move comes after KARK-TV News Director AUSTIN KELLERMAN called on the station to end the contest.

General Manager News and Notes:

Davis

WABC-TV (New York, NY) General Manager DAVE DAVIS announced his retirement this week, apparently effective immediately. Here’s the memo he sent to the staff. Dave’s career began as a photographer in Houston where he advanced to reporter, then producer. He moved to Dallas, back to Houston, and then on to ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham as ND, followed by the ND job at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia where he was promoted to GM. Then he moved to WABC-TV as  GM, went to ABC News as Executive VP before returning to WABC in 2010 as GM.

Castano

A new leader at WLNE-TV (ABC) in Providence, where TINA MARIE CASTANO has returned to that Citadel Communications station as GM. Tina most recently had been Director of National Sales/Regional Sales Manager for Sinclair, based in New York. She had worked at WLNE from 1988-2004 in a variety of sales positions before moving to other Providence stations.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 25, 2018:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

WNBC-TV, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFLA-TV 200 S. Parker St. Tampa FL 33606
WTSP-TV 11450 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KVVU-TV 25 TV 5 Dr, Henderson, NV 89014
WJAX/WFOX 11700 Central Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32224
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque, NM 87104
WFTX-TV 621 S.W. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL 33991
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
WPSD-TV 100 Television Lane. Paducah, KY 42003
WFFF/WVNY-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main Street Johnson City, TN 37601
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106 (see ad above!)
KECI-TV 340 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802
KFBB-TV P.O. Box 1139. Great Falls MT 59403

**: Spanish language station

February 18, 2018

Friday, February 23, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another day, another big change in the number one market.

SUSAN SULLIVAN, who’s run the newsroom at WNBC-TV in New York for the past seven-plus years, is moving within NBC (even the same building) to a standards and practices role for NBC News.

She spent two years as ND for NBC’s KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco before returning to New York, where she once served as ND for WNYW-TV. She’s also been an ND for WTTG-TV in Washington and KNXV-TV Phoenix, and she’s worked for both WABC-TV and WCBS-TV as well as in Los Angeles.

And she’s worked for the network previously. She was news director for MSNBC and later served as VP of daytime programming for the cable channel.

The station is also without an Assistant News Director: we told you last November that KARI PATEY left to become ND for WCCO-TV in New York.

More on this move, and DAVE DAVIS‘s retirement as GM for WABC-TV in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Thursday, February 22, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A broadcaster whose career began as a photographer in Houston…and led him to the general manager’s job at the number one station in the number one market…is retiring.

Davis

DAVE DAVIS is stepping down from the top job at ABC’ owned WABC-TV in New York. He sent this memo to the staff just over an hour ago.

Dave’s career began as a photographer at KTRK-TV in Houston. He advanced to reporter, then producer there, moved to Dallas as a producer, back to KTRK as an EP, and then became ND for ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham in 1986.

Then it was off to WPVI-TV (another ABC o-and-o) in 1990 as ND and eventually GM there. He first moved to WABC as GM in 2003, to ABC News as Executive Vice President in 2007, and then returned to WABC as GM three years later.

Meanwhile, the future of the station’s news director is undetermined.

CAMILLE EDWARDS sent a note to the staff on December 1st saying she would be taking extended time off due to the passing of her sister, and that she would return in January. She has not been back to the station since.

More on this story in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

Greetings:

It’s a slow week for news director moves, with just ONE ND job filled and NO new openings. That one position filled was in a large market and features a veteran news director.

So our list of open ND jobs drops to 27.

ONE of those openings is our only paid help wanted ad this week.

We have more on the passing of a well known small market Texas news director, and details about the death of a Texas group station owner.

But we have some interesting items in Names in the News, including a new job for a former Chicago ND (who’ll now report to someone who reported to her years ago). A new EP in Seattle, a new recruiter for CNN, retirement for a former ND turned ink-stained wretch, and a VERY candid and interesting profile of a former ND who says his work at the Christian Broadcasting network helped pave the way for FOX News and Donald Trump.

And a big broadcasting group is on a binge. You’ll have to read on to find out what kind.

Newly Named News Director: 

Dallman

KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA…BILL DALLMAN is joining this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate in Seattle as its next news director. If that sounds familiar it’s because we reported it early this week in an UPDATE. Bill most recently was the VP/News for KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. He was the first news director for Fox Sports 1, the first news director for KDVR-TV in Denver (when it was owned by Fox) and spent seven years in between those gigs as VP/News for Fox’s KMSP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Bill’s also been an ND in Grand Rapids, MI, and has also worked in Sacramento, for another Minneapolis station, and began his career in Austin, MN, as an anchor/reporter. He’s replacing PAT COSTELLO who is retiring.

New News Director Openings: 

To my knowledge there are no new openings this week. But please note just below the Paid Help Wanted Ad for the ND opening at Nexstar’s KCAU-TV in Sioux City, IA. We reported last week that JIM PARKER had left that ABC affiliate after 18 months as ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA:

KCAU, the Nexstar owned ABC affiliate in beautiful Sioux City Iowa has an exciting opportunity. We are searching for a News Director who has the vision talent and drive to lead our news team.

You will work in a brand new state of the art broadcast facility which launched in February 2017.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, skilled communicator who leads our team in the execution of market-leading breaking news, weather coverage and community service on all platforms. This is a rare opportunity to join one of the best stations and the best broadcast group in the country.

Sioux City is located on the banks of the Missouri River and borders the states of South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Applicants should apply online by clicking here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/14/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (relisted 1/28/18)
KVRR-TV, Fargo, ND (relisted 12/31/17)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (listed 1/14/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 1/14/18)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 2/4/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listing revised this week)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/18)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/21/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (new listing this week)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 1/21/18)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 1/14/18)
WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 12/23/17)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (AM EP, relisted 1/21/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 1/21/18)

Obituaries:

We told you earlier this week that KENNY BOLES died at the age of 63. He was being treated for pancreatic cancer but died of cardiac arrest. Kenny spent the last 21+ years as ND for KLTV/KTRE-TV, Raycom Media owned stations in Lufkin and Tyler, TX. The station remembered him here…the story includes his obituary. Kenny grew up nearby: his first job at age 17 was as a studio cameraman at KTRE. He worked in a major markets and for ABC News, but may best be remembered for mentoring hundreds of young journalists during his time as ND. Our sympathy to his wife CYNTHIA, their two sons, and other family members in Lufkin.

RAY MORAN, who founded Lubbock’s KJTV and grew his company, Ramar Communications, to own 16 TV and radio stations, died February 11th at the age of 82. Here’s the station’s report on his passing.

Names in the News (and other items):

Brouhard

Sinclair’s KOMO-TV (ABC) has not only a new news director (as reported above) but a new executive producer. ANA MARIA LAMAS BROUHARD joins the station from Sinclair sister-station in Austin, TX, KEYE-TV, where she was also an EP. She’s also worked for Spanish language stations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Sacramento, and Las Vegas.

MARYHELEN CAMPA leaves her home state of California (where she was a CBS News Bureau producer in Los Angeles) for Dallas, where she’ll be the Assistant Bureau Chief for the CBS bureau there. More on Maryhelen and her career in this report from Media Moves.

CNN has added a new member to its recruiting team. DEBORAH GRAU moves from NBC News’ Peacock Productions. Complete details in this memo from CNN VP RAMON ESCOBAR.

Schulze

Onetime WGN-TV (Chicago) News Director JENNIFER SCHULZE joins the Chicago Sun-Times as executive producer of new media. The move reunites her with another longtime Chicago ND, CAROL FOWLER, to whom she’ll report. Chicago media reporter ROBERT FEDER has the story, which includes this tidbit: Jennifer is married to Sun-Times CEO EDWIN EISENDRATH.

Heaton

Readers of a certain vintage will certainly recognize the name TERRY HEATON. He was a news director in Tennessee, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Alabama, spent time as a consultant, and many years as a producer for the Christian Broadcasting Network. In this very candid profile pegged to his new book, Terry says his work at CBN helped pave the way for Fox News and the election of Donald Trump. It’s worth your time, whether you know Terry or not.

Parks

Old friend (he’d probably prefer long-time friend) SCOTT PARKS is retiring at the end of March. He once served as an ND in Tulsa (KOTV) and Columbia, SC, (WIS-TV) before returning to his ink-stained past in print journalism, working for 23 years in two stints at the Dallas Morning News. He’s currently the Managing Editor of the Denton (TX) Record-Chronicle, his first newspaper and one where both his father and stepfather worked. His future plans (and how he can help you) are outlined in this post from his Linkedin page.

General Manager News and Notes:

Raycom Media is on a Regional VP naming binge…one last week (TIM INGRAM) and two more this week:

COLLIN GASTON, GM for WBRC-TV in Birmingham, will oversee four other stations. And SCOTT DEMPSEY will also take on additional duties as well as continue his day job as GM for WBTV in Charlotte.

Nexstar has named MARY ANN JOHNSON general manager of its Des Moines station, WOI-TV and associated properties there. She’s been working as a consultant to a large privately owned automotive group.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 18, 2018:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFLA-TV 200 S. Parker St. Tampa FL 33606
WTSP-TV 11450 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KVVU-TV 25 TV 5 Dr, Henderson, NV 89014
WJAX/WFOX 11700 Central Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32224
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque, NM 87104
WFTX-TV 621 S.W. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL 33991
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
KETV 1001 S. 10th Street Omaha, NE 68108
WPSD-TV 100 Television Lane. Paducah, KY 42003
WFFF/WVNY-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main Street Johnson City, TN 37601
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106 (see ad above!)
KECI-TV 340 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802
KFBB-TV P.O. Box 1139. Great Falls MT 59403
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, MT, 59403

**: Spanish language station

February 11, 2018

Thursday, February 15th, 2018 UPDATE:

I’m sorry to report the passing of a well respected, long-time small market news director who also had very large market experience.

  Boles

KENNY BOLES passed away last night. While he was battling pancreatic cancer, he apparently died of cardiac arrest. He was just 64 years old.

He’d spent the last 21+ years as ND of KLTV/KTRE-TV, Raycom Media owned stations serving Lufkin and Tyler, TX. Kenny grew up nearby: his first job at age 17 was as a studio cameraman at KTRE.

He went on to work in Houston and Dallas, for two stations in Chicago, as a producer for ABC News based in Chicago, and in management positions in Orlando and Los Angeles.

Kenny wrote a much more detailed accounting of his career when he was inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle in 2016. You can read that here.  (Link fixed 10:50 PM 2/15/18)

And his wife CYNTHIA, who worked in TV for many years before moving to public relations, wrote this very moving tribute to him on her Facebook page.

A funeral service will be held this Saturday at 4:00 at the First Christian Church, 4202 S. Broadway in Tyler, TX 75701.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, and co-workers.

regards,

gevers

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

Tuesday, February 13th, 2018 UPDATE:

A new news director announced within the hour in the 12th market.

Dallman

BILL DALLMAN moves north to become the next ND for Sinclair’s KOMO-TV in Seattle. That’s the ABC affiliate there.

This memo to the staff from KOMO General Manager JANENE DRAFS has more.

Bill most recently was the VP/News for KCBS/KCAL-TV, the CBS owned duopoly in Los Angeles. He was the first news director for Fox Sports 1, and also started the news department for KDVR-TV in Denver when it was owned by Fox.

In between those two assignments, Bill spent seven years as the VP/News for Fox’s KMSP-TV in Minneapolis. His first news director job was in Grand Rapids at WZZM-TV. He’s also worked in Sacramento and for another Minneapolis station.

At KOMO, he’s replacing the retiring PAT COSTELLO who’s been the ND there for just over three years.

More in our full report later this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

Greetings:

Another busy week for news directors and news managers on the move, with ONE newly named news director, and FOUR new ND openings. ONE of those openings involves a news director who spent more than three decades at her station.

Our list of stations with news director openings jumps to 28.

We have ONE paid help wanted ad for an EP job at a Denver duopoly.

In Names in the News, a network news president will be honored by RTDNF, the Washington Post examines one group owner which has asked its news directors to contribute to the company’s PAC, and a look at companies which are challenging Nielsens dominance of the ratings industry.

We have TWO obituaries of long-ago news directors, one of whom used to be a network correspondent.

And we have news about THREE general managers on the move, another current GM gets a promotion (but he’ll keep his current job) and a former newswoman turned general manager is profiled.

That…and more…in this week’s edition.

Newly Named News Director: 

Rosen

WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA…MARK ROSEN returns to Georgia as the next news director for this Raycom Media owned station. Here’s the memo from GM HOLLY STEUART (a former ND herself) to the staff. Mark’s spent the last two years as ND for WFFF/WVNY-TV in Burlington, VT. A George native, Mark was an ND in Augusta, GA before moving to Vermont. At WTVM, Mark replaces SHAWN REYNOLDS who moved to Atlanta as an EP for WGCL-TV.

New News Director Openings: 

Helmke

KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN…we told you in a weekend UPDATE that JANE HELMKE is leaving this Tegna owned NBC affiliate after 35 years, the last 6 1/2 as news director. Her partner, TERESA, is batting cancer and Jane wants to spend time with her. Here’s the memo to the staff from GM JOHN REMES. That note includes a note from Jane, and I’ve also included a post from her Facebook page.

Jessee

KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV…also in that weekend UPDATE was a report that CRISTI JESSEE has left this Meredith owned FOX affiliate after slightly more than two years as news director. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on possible reasons behind her departure…that’s in the second item in this column. Cristi’s also been a news director in Bakersfield and Alexandria, MN.

WFFF/WVNY-TV, Burlington, VT…we told you above that MARK ROSEN is leaving this Nexstar owned operation to return to his native Georgia as ND for WTVM-TV in Columbus.

Parker

KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA…JIM PARKER has left this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate after about 18 months as news director.  He’s a former ND in Cedar Rapids, Rockford, IL, and Binghamton, NY, and has worked in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Portland, OR, and Toledo where I hired him for his first TV job.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO:

Are you a show doctor who oversees a newscast filled with urgent, impactful news?

Do you LOVE to win the day, every day, on all platforms?

Are you looking for an opportunity to take your creativity to the next level in a city as exciting and beautiful as Denver, Colorado?

KDVR/KWGN, the Fox and CW affiliate in Denver, Colorado, is looking for a creative and aggressive Executive Content Producer to lead us on the evening shift — delivering news on multiple platforms including our evening newscasts.

The Executive Producer must be a proven newsroom leader who embodies an audience-first approach to delivering news. This individual will excel under tight deadlines and bring bold, creative ideas to our newsroom.

We have a talented team of storytellers in this newsroom, plenty of resources, and most people will tell you — it’s a pretty great place to work.

Plus, you get to live in Denver – with the Rockies in your backyard. Spend your off-time skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking, eating at top-notch restaurants, and enjoying life in a vibrant, and growing downtown!

Five years of producing experience, and 2+ years of management experience required.

Apply by clicking here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/14/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (relisted 1/28/18)
KVRR-TV, Fargo, ND (relisted 12/31/17)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (listed 1/14/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 1/14/18)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 2/4/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (2 openings, AM & PM, listing revised 12/16/17)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/18, see ad above!)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/21/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 1/21/18)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 1/14/18)
WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 12/23/17)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (AM EP, relisted 1/21/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 1/21/18)

Obituaries:

Becker

RON BECKER, whose career spanned network correspondent, local news director/anchor and general manager, died January 28 at the age of 78. He had battled pancreatic cancer for several years. Ron was an NBC correspondent, a news director/anchor in Atlanta among other markets, and a GM in Wilmington NC. He left TV in 2001 to become the managing partner of an oil and gas drilling consultant. Much more details about him in this obituary.

Clephas

VINCENT CLEPHAS died January 26th. He was 82. In the late 60s-early 70s, he was the news director for WMAL-TV (now WJLA-TV) in Washington. He’d also worked in Louisville and Roanoke. He later went into politics and government service, where he had a remarkable career about which you can learn more by clicking here.

Names in the News (and other items):

SALLY DURWALD has been promoted to EP at WIVB-TV in Buffalo. A Buffalo native, she’s worked there about a year and spent 17 years at WGRZ-TV there.

CBS News President DAVID RHODES will receive the RTDNF First Amendment Service Award at a dinner next month in Washington.

The Washington Post looks at Sinclair’s request to its news directors that they contribute to the company’s political action committee.

Arkansas Business has a good look at how Little Rock stations are using new ratings services that are giving Nielsen a run for its money. And the story has the latest Little Rock numbers.

General Manager News and Notes:

Some General Manager changes:

Station veteran TERI MONAHAN has been promoted to General Manager for WMDT-TV in Salisbury, MD. She’s worked at this Marquee Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate since 1988.

SCOTT THOMAS has left Raycom’s KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO. He was GM there for about 18 months.

JEFF FISHER has parted ways with Bayou City Broadcasting’s WEVV-TV in Evansville after three years as GM.

Ingram

TIM INGRAM, general manager of Raycom Media’s WVUE-TV in New Orleans, has been promoted to Regional Group Vice President for the company. He’ll remain GM of WVUE. This news release explains his new responsibilities and details which stations he will oversee. Tim’s also been a general manager for Raycom stations in Jonesboro, AR, and Cape Girardeau, MO.

Durbin-Scott

The Indianapolis Business Journal profiles LANA DURBAN-SCOTT who’s recently joined Scripps’ WRTV in Indianapolis as general manager. She’s only the second female GM in Indianapolis, and the first in 17 years. (Since you were going to ask: LINDA GRAY at WXIN-TV.)  Many of you know Lana, who spent more than 10 years as one of Scripps’ directors of news strategies.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 11, 2018:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave N Seattle, WA 98109
WFLA-TV 200 S. Parker St. Tampa FL 33606
WTSP-TV 11450 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KVVU-TV 25 TV 5 Dr, Henderson, NV 89014
WJAX/WFOX 11700 Central Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32224
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque, NM 87104
WFTX-TV 621 S.W. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL 33991
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
KETV 1001 S. 10th Street Omaha, NE 68108
WPSD-TV 100 Television Lane. Paducah, KY 42003
WFFF/WVNY-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main Street Johnson City, TN 37601
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106
KECI-TV 340 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802
KFBB-TV P.O. Box 1139. Great Falls MT 59403
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, MT, 59403

**: Spanish language station

February 4, 2018

Saturday, February 10, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Two news director changes to report to you tonight (or is it early this morning?), including one involving an ND who spent 35 years at her station.

Helmke

That would be JANE HELMKE, who announced late Friday that she was stepping down as news director of Tegna’s KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Jane’s been ND there for about 6 1/2 years and has held a wide variety of jobs during her 35 years there.

Combined into one document here for your convenience are the note to the staff from longtime KARE General Manager JOHN REMES, which included a message from Jane, and a copy of a post from Jane’s Facebook page.

Jane’s partner, Teresa, is battling cancer. We wish them both well.

Jessee

The other ND change occurred in Las Vegas, where KVVU-TV News Director CRISTI JESSEE has left this Meredith owned FOX affiliate after just over two years as news director. The note from the GM to the staff said both sides had ‘together come to a mutual agreement for a fresh start for each party’.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported earlier this week that she had been suspended on Monday. Details in the second item in this column.

Cristi has been a news director in Bakersfield, CA and Alexandria, MN.

We’ll have lots more news in our full report later this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

Greetings:

Trying to write this newsletter while watching an entertaining football game may lead to a few misspellings. I ask for your indulgence.

ONE newly named news director, TWO new ND openings, and a whole bunch of interesting items in Names in the News, including the retirement of a well known and well liked consultant after 50 years in the business.

That means our list of openings grows to 25 this week. ONE of those openings is among our TWO paid help wanted ads.

In addition to the retirement story teased above in Names in the News, there’s a new Executive VP at CBS News, a handful of news managers on the move, and stories on ratings after an affiliation change in Raleigh, an Arkansas news director battling a radio station over a ‘Babe Bracket’, a look at the departure of a veteran Tennessee anchor and reporter, and we’ll tell you about a longtime newsman and educator who’s battling cancer.

Read on, and have a super week (pun intended).

Newly Named News Directors: 

Levy

WOWK-TV, Charleston-Huntington, WV…GRENDEL LEVY is the new news director for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. She’s spent the last four years as ND for Scripps’ KIVI-TV in Boise (and two years there before that as an EP). She’s also worked in her native New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi. At WOWK, Grendel replaces DENNIS LORTZ who left in December nine months after he was promoted to ND from Assistant ND.

New News Director Openings: 

Maze

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…ERIC MAZE is leaving this Scripps’ owned FOX affiliate to return to Missouri to take a job media as a media specialist for the University of Missouri’s Hospital System. Eric’s been ND here for eight years, ending a 5 NDs in 7 years streak. But before he moved to Florida, he’d worked in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Kirksville, MO.

KIVI-TV, Boise, ID…we told you above that GRENDEL LEVY was leaving this Scripps owned ABC affiliate to become ND for WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV. She spent six years here, more than four of them as ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Executive Producer, KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO:

Are you a show doctor who oversees a newscast filled with urgent, impactful news?

Do you LOVE to win the day, every day, on all platforms?

Are you looking for an opportunity to take your creativity to the next level in a city as exciting and beautiful as Denver, Colorado?

KDVR/KWGN, the Fox and CW affiliate in Denver, Colorado, is looking for a creative and aggressive Executive Content Producer to lead us on the evening shift — delivering news on multiple platforms including our evening newscasts.

The Executive Producer must be a proven newsroom leader who embodies an audience-first approach to delivering news. This individual will excel under tight deadlines and bring bold, creative ideas to our newsroom.

We have a talented team of storytellers in this newsroom, plenty of resources, and most people will tell you — it’s a pretty great place to work.

Plus, you get to live in Denver – with the Rockies in your backyard. Spend your off-time skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking, eating at top-notch restaurants, and enjoying life in a vibrant, and growing downtown!

Five years of producing experience, and 2+ years of management experience required.

Apply by clicking here:

News Director, WAOW-TV, Wausau, WI:

Quincy Media’s WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin is looking for an experienced newsroom manager. We need a strong leader with at least five years of experience. We need a great storyteller and someone who lives to make the team around them even stronger. You have to love news. And I mean love it. You have to be a catalyst and a leader in our digital and social efforts and set the tone every day in the newsroom.

If that’s you, this could be one of the best jobs you will ever have.

You will report to the General Manager and you will have the chance to work closely with other department heads to help us reach our next level of success.

WAOW is part of Quincy Media, Inc., a family owned company. Throughout Quincy, positions are available for candidates with all levels of experience and the advancement you are seeking.

Visit www.CareersAtQuincy.com for links to all our stations and opportunities.

If you think you’re qualified, want to work with a great group of people and live in one of
America’s best cities, send your link, cover letter, resume and references via email to:

cmiles@waow.com

or via mail to:

Curtis Miles
General Manager
WAOW-TV
1908 Grand Avenue
Wausau, WI 54403

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
WAOW-TV9 is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/14/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (relisted 1/28/18)
KVRR-TV, Fargo, ND (relisted 12/31/17)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (listed 1/14/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 1/14/18)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted this week)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (2 openings, AM & PM, listing revised 12/16/17)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/21/18)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Nightside EP, relisted 12/31/17)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 1/21/18)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 1/14/18)
WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 12/23/17)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 1/14/18)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (AM EP, relisted 1/21/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 1/21/18)

Names in the News (and other items):

Willi

Our friend JIM WILLI is retiring after 50 years in our business. He’s spent the last 28 years at the consulting firm AR&D, and has been a General Manager and News Director in several markets. And he’s one of the most affable folks I’ve come across…just wish I’d more interaction with him over the last few years. The complete news release about his career and retirement, along with his new email address if you want to send him a note, is right here.

Ciprian-Matthews

INGRID CIPRIAN-MATTHEWS has been promoted to Executive Vice President at CBS News. She had been the Senior VP of News Administration and is a 25 year veteran of CBS working in a variety of positions. Ingrid has also worked at CNN.

NOEL RAMOS moves from EP to Assistant ND for KTMD-TV, the Telemundo station in Houston. He’s also worked in Chicago, Orlando, and Puerto Rico.

At KDVR/KWGN-TV in Denver, CHRISTINA TAYLOR has been promoted to Managing Editor from EP. (Check out the paid help wanted ad for her old job above.) She’s worked at there for two years. Christina previously worked for KWCH-TV in Wichita, where both KDVR/KWGN’s GM (JOAN BARRETT) and ND (BRIAN GREGORY) used to work. Probably just a coincidence (as former Newsblues Editor MIKE JAMES liked to say.)

QUINN KONOLD heads south to be the new EP at KGTV in San Diego. He’s been a producer in Seattle, Sacramento, and Ft. Myers and began his career as a reporter, anchor and producer in Casper, WY.

Several stories caught my eye this week:

Kalodimos

The Nashville Scene offers a lengthy look at the departure of veteran anchor and reporter DEMETRIA KALODIMOS from WSMV-TV (Meredith/NBC) after 34 years. Here’s a tease: she rented a U-Haul to remove her personal belongs in the middle of the night. And the story also updates the ratings battle in Nashville as well.

Last week, the article we offered on the ratings wars in Boston post-affiliation shuffle attracted a lot of attention. So here’s a story on ratings in Raleigh-Durham after two stations swapped the CBS and NBC affiliations there.

Little Rock News Director (KARK/KLHT-TV) AUSTIN KELLERMAN is at odds with a local radio station. He wants the station to drop its ‘Babe Bracket’ ranking of female journalists. The station says no. The details are here.

Kalb

Veteran newsman turned educator STEVE KALB (you’ve probably met him at an industry convention over the years) is fighting cancer. But…as you’ll learn in this story…he has an upbeat attitude.

General Manager News and Notes:

BILL BALLARD has been named General Manager of Sinclair’s WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC. He’s been a GM in a number of markets, most recently at WIAT-TV in Birmingham.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 4, 2018:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave N Seattle, WA 98109
WFLA-TV 200 S. Parker St. Tampa FL 33606
WTSP-TV 11450 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
WJAX/WFOX 11700 Central Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32224
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque, NM 87104
WFTX-TV 621 S.W. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL 33991
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
KETV 1001 S. 10th Street Omaha, NE 68108
WPSD-TV 100 Television Lane. Paducah, KY 42003
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main Street Johnson City, TN 37601
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
WTVM/WXTX-TV 1909 Wynnton Rd. Columbus, GA 31906
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403 (see ad above!)
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KECI-TV 340 W. Main St., Missoula, MT 59802
KFBB-TV P.O. Box 1139. Great Falls MT 59403
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, MT, 59403

**: Spanish language station