February | 2019 | Rick Gevers & Associates

February 24, 2019

Friday, March 1, 2019 UPDATE #2:

The first evening of March brings the second UPDATE of the month (and the day)…and details of a news director opening in St. Louis.

Lupenski

TIFFANI LUPENSKI has parted ways with Tegna’s KSDK-TV, the NBC affiliate there. She was ND here for less than a year and a half. Her replacement will be the THIRD news director in just FOUR years since MIKE SHIPLEY ended a 15 year run as ND in 2015.

Tiffani’s a former ND in San Diego, Portland, OR, and has held news management jobs in Seattle and Denver (where she worked for Tegna.) She began her career on air as a reporter/anchor in Lake Charles, LA, and Birmingham, worked for CNN and for radio stations in Atlanta and San Antonio.

There’s lots of news this week…we’ll see you Sunday with a full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Friday, March 1, 2019 UPDATE:

The first day of March brings the first UPDATE of the month…and it brings news of a new news director in Indianapolis.

Rosetti

JEFF ROSETTI has been promoted to the top job at Dispatch Broadcast Group’s WTHR-TV, the NBC affiliate. He’s been the assistant ND since 2011, and has been the interim ND since KATHY HOSTETTER left last year to become the ND for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

More in the station’s news release.

Jeff’s worked for CNN, and for local stations in Washington, Tampa, Raleigh, and Jacksonville, FL.

We’ll be back with a pretty full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 UPDATE:

Jacob

A surprise today from Nashville where MITCH JACOB has been named news director for Meredith’s WSMV-TV (NBC).

He started today.

It’s a return to Meredith for Mitch who worked for the company in Phoenix earlier in his career.

Details in this news release.

Mitch most recently was Station Manager and News Director for Sinclair’s WJLA-TV (ABC) in Washington, DC. He left that job in November, saying he wanted to take a break from daily news for a while.

Mitch was at WJLA for about four years. Had previously worked for Sinclair as an ND in Columbus, OH, and has also been an ND in Phoenix, Toledo, Wichita, and Harlingen, TX.

Eck

At WSMV, he replaces DENISE ECK who leaves the station after not quite two years as ND.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

A flurry of news director hirings this week, with THREE positions filled and just ONE new opening. Our always unofficial count of open ND jobs drops to 28.

TWO of those open positions are among our THREE paid help wanted ads this week.

We have a number of managers on the move, just ONE obituary (that for a former longtime Cap Cities/ABC manager) and NO items involving general managers.

We do, however, have TWO self-serving items. You’ll find ’em sprinkled throughout. 🙂

Read on!

Newly Named News Directors:

Rick M.

WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS…a promotion within Hearst sends RICK McLAUGHLIN to this ABC affiliate as its next news director. Details are here. For the last four years, he’s been the Assistant News Director Hearst’s WESH-TV (NBC) in Orlando. He first joined the company in 2010 as the AND for WLWT-TV (also NBC) in Cincinnati. Rick’s also worked in Boston, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and for another Cincinnati station. He replaces YVE JONES who left late last year after almost two years as ND.

Jamie M.

WCTI/WYDP-TV, New Bern, NC…JAMIE McCUTCHEON has been promoted to news director for this Sinclair Broadcasting Group owned operation. She’s been the interim ND there since ERIC OLSEN left to become ND for WTKR-TV in Norfolk. Jamie first joined the station as the 10:00 anchor before leaving the desk to become the Assistant ND. She’s also worked in Omaha, NE, Macon, GA, and Sioux Falls, SD.

Zamora

WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS…a long search ends with the hiring of LIZ ZAMORA as the next news director for this Heartland Media owned NBC/ABC operation. Liz most recently was the Assistant ND for KRNV-TV in Reno. She’s worked both on-air and in a number of markets as you’ll learn in this news release. Liz replaces MICHAEL RAFFAELE who left in September after two years and is now ND for WACH-TV in Columbia, SC. (Self serving item #1: GM JERRY JONES was kind to tell me: “And, of course, she saw the job post on your newsletter.”

New News Director Opening:

McKinney

KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…TRACIE McKINNEY is out after six months as ND for this Scripps/ABC affiliate. She was the interim ND for three months, filling in after MIKE DELLO STRITTO left to return to Sacramento as ND for KOVR/KMAX-TV. Tracie’s been an Assistant ND in Detroit, Tampa, and Norfolk, worked as an EP for two St. Louis stations, and began her career as a reporter for stations in Virginia and West Virginia.

Also, please note the ad for the open news director job at WFFT-TV in Ft. Wayne, the Fox affiliate there. That’s just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WFFT-TV, Fort Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with newsroom management and leadership experience, then we are interested in speaking with you. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitive and accomplished newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. This is a unique opportunity to take an award-winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All-American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to: Newsdirector@wfft.com

WFFT is an equal opportunity employer.

Executive Producer, Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC:

Want to live in one of the fastest growing cities in the country? Want to be part of a great team and work in a brand new, beautiful newsroom?

Spectrum News in Charlotte has an immediate opening for a creative Executive Producer with solid showcasing skills . We’re looking for someone with several years of line experience who wants to help us use our gorgeous new news studios to their fullest. If you are passionate about producing accurate, timely, and interesting newscasts we want to talk with you.

Spectrum Networks is a series of 27 hyper-local news and 9 regional sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc. We are in markets ranging from the 160s to the top ten so we are a company you can grow with.

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

News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:

WBNG-TV in Binghamton, NY seeks a dynamic News Director to help guide our news department to new heights of journalistic and ratings success. This is an exciting opportunity to join a great team in one of New York’s most beautiful places to live.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading
standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 4 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence, and a desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Binghamton, NY, we want to hear from you.

Please send your resume and cover letter to: rkrummenacker@wbng.com

Bob Krummenacker
General Manager
WBNG-TV
560 Columbia Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

WBNG is part of Quincy Media, a family owned company with television stations in 9 states. Throughout Quincy, positions are available for candidates with all levels of experience and the advancement you are seeking. Visit www.quincymediacareers.com for links to all stations and opportunities.

WBNG-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/10)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/10)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 12/30/18)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/10)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 1/20/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 12/30/18)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (listed 12/23/18)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/6/19)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/13/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/17)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 1/6/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (AM EP, listed 12/23/18)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, listed 1/6/19)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/10/19)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/30/18)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 2/17/19)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (TWO openings, listed 12/30/18)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/30/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (relisted 1/27/19)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Relisted 2/10/17:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Edwards

MARC EDWARDS (real name: ARNOLD FREEMAN), a longtime general manager for KFSN-TV in Fresno, died earlier this month. He was 87. He began his career as a newspaper reporter, moved to radio, then on to television, working most of his career for Cap Cities (which, of course, eventually morphed into ABC and the Walt Disney Company). Details about a long and interesting career are here.

Names in the News (and other items):

Azocar

COLS AZOCAR leaves NBC News (where she worked as a digital video producer) for WXTV, the Univision station in New York. Media Moves reports that she also produced at MSNBC, the News 12 Networks, and worked as a writer for CBS News.

WEWS-TV in Cleveland (Scripps/ABC) has hired JOSH VOIGHT as its new executive producer. He’s been working for the Tribune duopoly (WTTV/WXIN-TV) in Indianapolis for the past four years as a producer and EP. He’s also worked in Louisville and for two stations in Huntsville.

MATT CAMPBELL moves to Meredith’s KCTV in Kansas City as the new morning executive producer. He’s been at WZZM-TV (Tegna/ABC) in Grand Rapids, MI, for almost 14 years, finishing there as Senior News Producer. He’s also worked in Las Vegas, Louisville, and for two stations in Memphis.

Kreger

Once again, you can go home again. Latest example: MARGARET KREGER who returns to Roanoke as the new Assistant News Director for Graham Media’s WSLS-TV. She’s been a producer for WAGA-TV in Atlanta, has been an EP in Greensboro, and a producer in Augusta, GA. (Self serving note #2: ND RICK MOLL kindly noted that she learned of the vacancy via the station’s paid ad in this newsletter.)

General Manager News and Notes:

I have no items to report this week. A reminder that we always welcome your tips to rick@rickgevers.com.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 24, 2019:

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

News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
KGBT-TV 9201 West Expressway 83. Harlingen, TX 78552
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807 (see ad above!)
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KMBT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790 (see ad above!)
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501

February 17, 2019

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Patti M.

A memorial service for PATTI McGETTIGAN will be held this Saturday, February 23, 2019 from noon-3:00 PM at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. (If you don’t know the Lorraine Motel, shame on you.)

We told you this weekend that Patti, a former news director in Memphis, Indianapolis and Grand Rapids, had lost her battle with breast cancer. She was just 53 years old and leaves a daughter and son.

In our newsletter, we shared with you online obits from two of her former stations, WOOD-TV and WISH-TV.

WHBQ-TV in Memphis (where Patti had been ND until illness forced a medical retirement last December) also shared this tribute.

Plans for a memorial service in Grand Rapids are pending.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

ONE newly named news director.

ONE new ND opening.

And both moves involves the same person. We’ll fill you in below.

That means our list of stations looking for a news director stays at 30.

There are FOUR paid help wanted ads this week, including ONE for that new opening.

Sadly we have FOUR obituaries, including one for a three time ND who just left her last job on a medical retirement in December. And there’s an obit for the mother of a longtime CBS News marketing executive who many of you know.

TWO items in our General Manager section…including a new GM in St. Louis. In Names in the News, a promotion for a Meredith newsman and several news managers on the move.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Director:

Laughrin

WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…JOHN LAUGHRIN proves you CAN go home again as he returns to his native Green Bay as ND for this Scripps’ owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND for WBNG-TV in Binghamton (more on that below) but earlier in his career was the ND for WAOW-TV in Wausau, WI. John now completes the Green Bay hat trick, having served as a former EP and sports producer for WLUK-TV and as a producer for WFRV-TV. At WGBA, he replaces JULIE MORAVCHIK who left late last year to become the Assistant ND for the new Spectrum News operation in Milwaukee.

New News Director Opening:

WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY…you read just about that JOHN LAUGHRIN is leaving this Quincy Media owned CBS affiliate to return to his native Wisconsin as ND for Scripps’ WGBA-TV. He’s been here since 2016. You can learn more about this opening by checking out the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:

If you have a passion for excellence, and a desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Binghamton, NY, we want to hear from you.

Please send your resume and cover letter to: rkrummenacker@wbng.com

Bob Krummenacker
General Manager
WBNG-TV
560 Columbia Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

WBNG-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer

cbs11_PANTONE123_2015_Knockout

Assistant News Director, KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX:

Everything is bigger in Texas! CBS O/O in Dallas is looking for an Assistant News Director with a big personality to help lead a vibrant and seasoned team of journalists.

Must be collaborative, creative and an effective communicator. Must hate the phrase “we’ve always done it this way”. We are not ambulance chasers. We focus on hyper local, enterprise story-telling with an emphasis on long form investigative content. Weather is a priority.

Ideal candidate must be able to identify engaging content and guide the daily editorial conversation with respect and consideration. You must play nice in the sandbox. If this is YOU, we want you to join our winning team!

Responsibilities & Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, management or related field OR comparable television management work experience preferred. The candidate must have a proven ability to lead, coach, motivate and solve problems. Applicants should have a minimum 8 years of experience in a medium/large television market or network, with at least three years in management. A flexible schedule is required.

Click here to apply!

WcpoLogo

Senior Manager of Editorial Operations, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH:

Hey Gevers friends,

I’m looking for a rare breed of journalist/leader; someone who has the skills and experience to run the middle of our newsroom in the middle of the day, and at the same time the digital chops to manage the people, platforms and processes that give life to our perennially-award-winning digital content.

We’re WCPO in Cincinnati, Scripps’ hometown station, and we’re the most decorated shop in the market for journalistic quality and innovation on every platform. In addition to 7 hours of weekday newscasts, we produce digital-only enterprise stories, podcasts, comics, documentaries and tireless investigations. We have the market’s only news helicopter, a significant advantage in breaking news. We have all the resources we need to win. What we need now is an experienced newsroom leader who works collaboratively with others to put it all in motion every day. We need someone with fire in the belly to move the newsroom quickly and accurately when news breaks.

This position is one of four co-equal senior managers who, with me, share overall responsibility for the entire newsroom. This position is perfect for someone who has significant experience in both television and digital, with breaking news and enterprise content. This position is perfect for someone with senior leadership experience and the ambition to be a news director in the near future.

You can read our more formal job posting here. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Chip Mahaney
News Director
WCPO / Scripps / Cincinnati
chip@wcpo.com
513-852-4040

WxixLogo

Executive Producer, WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH:

A great station in a great town!

Cincinnati’s #1 news station has an immediate opening for a dynamic, creative, and bold Executive Producer. WXIX is seeking someone who is not afraid to take the reins, with the ability to use showcasing skills and production tools to make the newscast sizzle.

5+ years of line producing experience is required. Executive Producer experience is preferred. Must be a news geek and have the ability to find and dig for stories.

Qualified candidates will have experience working closely with digital team to create content on all platforms. Must be strong at multi-tasking and must possess solid people/management skills.

Qualified applicants, please apply online by clicking here and attach your resume and link to your most recent work.

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