July | 2019 | Rick Gevers & Associates

July 28, 2019

Friday, August 2, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A longtime newtork o-and-o news director turned network o-and-o general manager has a new job on the corporate staff of one of America’s biggest broadcast companies.

Tully

SUSAN TULLY has been named Senior VP of Local Content Development for Nexstar Broadcasting. This news release will tell you that it’s a newly created position and explains the duties.

Susan spent 28 years working for NBC, most of that time as VP/News for the company’s KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth, before become GM for NBC’s WVIT-TV in Hartford/New Haven. We told you last April that Susan was leaving that job after four years, a decision she explained via this email to her staff.

Her new job will be based at Nexstar’s HQ in Irving, TX, so she gets to stay in Texas.

She also worked in news management roles for NBC owned stations in Philadelphia and San Diego.

Congratulations to Susan.

We’ll have details on this story and all the weeks news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

TWO is the magic number in this week’s report.

TWO newly named news directors.

TWO new news director openings.

And TWO paid help wanted ads (among THREE ads this week) for ND openings.

There’s also a new ad for a faculty job at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

All those changes leave 30 stations with ND openings, by count. And we have updated last week’s story about an ND opening in Duluth.

Just ONE item in Names in the News, and that’s the upcoming retirement of a two-time ND who has spent much of the later part of his career in Oklahoma.

And there’s some large market movement in our General Manager section…a change at a network o-and-o in Philadelphia, a former ND (and current GM) moves to a network owned station in Orlando, and two Nexstar GMs get bumped up to corporate jobs.

All that and more follows this ad from our friends at the Devlin Design Group.

Newly Named News Directors:

Estes

WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC…TONYA ESTES joins this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate as its next news director. She’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL, for the past two years, and has also worked for two other WPB stations, and in Miami (two stations), Seattle, Charlotte, and Greensboro, NC. Tonya replaces KYLE BRINKMAN who left in May to become ND at sister-Nexstar station WSPA-TV in Spartanburg/Greenville, SC.

Bradley

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL…VICKI BRADLEY becomes the ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the memo from GM MATT BROWN. She joined the station five months ago as the morning executive producer. Vicki’s a former news director in Tyler, TX, and has worked for two stations in Greensboro-High Point, as well as in Wilmington, NC, and for the Weather Channel. At WTXL, she replaces DAVID LEE who left in June after more than five years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Stanfield

KZBK/KXLF-TV, Bozeman and Butte, MT…these Scripps owned CBS affiliates have an opening for a new news director. KEVIN STANFIELD has been both the news director and anchor there: he is staying on as the anchor but is giving up the ND part of the job. Kevin has worked here since January, 2018, after seven years as an anchor in Bismarck, ND.

Rates

KAEF-TV, Eureka, CA…this Sinclair Broadcasting owned ABC is looking for a news director to replace SCOTT RATES who was both ND and anchor there. Sinclair’s West Coast Group Manager JEFF PARSONS tells me they are looking for an ND only, but might reconsider if the right person came along. Scott has been there for three years, previously worked as the Assistant ND for sister station KRCR-TV in Redding, and has worked as a reporter in San Francisco and Orlando.

Steve G.

Also, we now have more details about the opening at WDIO-TV in Duluth, which we shared with you last week. We didn’t know much about STEVE GOODSPEED, who it turns out had been there for 27 years before station management told him last month that his services were no longer needed. The weekly newspaper in Cloquet, MN, The Pine Journal (circulation, 5,111) caught up with Steve.

Please note: There’s a paid ad below for Steve’s former job at WDIO, as well as an ad for the opening at WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH:

WCMH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, one of the great cities in America, DMA #34, seeks a News Director to lead and supervise all aspects regarding the creation, execution and distribution of news, weather, sports programming and special projects, on all platforms, including our primary TV station, dedicated websites, apps and social media sites.

The News Director stays abreast of changes to the industry that affects both media consumers and journalists and has the ability to devise plans to collect and distribute relevant, meaningful content to audiences regardless of platform.

Manages all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
Plans and manages staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Assigns projects to staff and verifies that deadlines are being met.
Ensures growth and achievement of viewer rating goals and online engagement metrics.
Determines programming and evaluation of equipment needs to produce quality programming.
Responds to coverage questions.
Works with other senior station leaders or other departments in a collaborative way to establish and reach station goals.
Performs other duties as assigned
Reports directly to the station’s VP / General Manager

If you’re up for the challenge, apply by clicking here .

Assistant Professional Practice Professor/KOMU Digital Editor, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO:

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of reporting and editing experience in a newsroom; some newsroom management experience is preferred.

This faculty member will manage the content and presentation of KOMU.com and teach students to create, curate and publish quality digital content for the website and various apps. This individual also will teach students and manage KOMU’s social media channels.

Knowledge of the latest trends and techniques in in interactive news presentation is a must.

The job includes a minimum of 30 hours per week at KOMU-TV, the School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate television station, and supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers. The job also includes classroom teaching and service to the Journalism School and the University.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019 with an immediate start date.

Please visit here and search job opening id #30809 to access the online application system.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that successful candidate will share this commitment.

MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:

WDIO-TV is seeking a News Director ready to take a powerful market leader to new heights. This leader oversees all news, weather and sports content and delivery channels and is responsible for directing and managing the news department — seeing that the station’s vision and community mission is understood by the entire news organization.

WDIO-TV, News Channel 10/13 is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, WDIO-TV is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.

When you work for WDIO-TV, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community. If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!

To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/14/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 7/14/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 7/14/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 7/14/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 7/21/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 7/21/19)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, new listing this week)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)

Other News Management Openings:

New Listings this Week:

WBRE-TV, Wilkes/Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP)

Relisted this week:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/21/19:

E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)

Listed 7/14/19:

Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development)

Listed 7/7/19:

KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/30/19

KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/23/19:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/16/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/27/19:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

Perry

Longtime newsman BILL PERRY is retiring. He’s a former news director in Knoxville and Ft. Myers, and has worked in Dallas, Louisville, Ada, OK, and Oklahoma City. He’s currently the VP of Content Production for OETA (Oklahoma Educational Television Authority), a statewide PBS network in Oklahoma. Learn more about his duties there and the health issue that’s a factor in his decision by reading this email he sent me. Friends can wish him well via an email to: BPerry@oeta.tv

General Manager News and Notes:

Kennedy

BRIEN KENNEDY (and that is the correct spelling ion his first name), who’s been the general manager for CBS o-and-o KYW-TV in Philadelphia, has left the station after four years. During that time, as you’ll learn in this story from the Philadelphia Business Journal, he employed three different news directors. Before KYW, Brien was general manager for CBS owned stations in Minneapolis (WCCO-TV) and Miami (WFOR-TV).

McClain

We told you earlier this week that former (three time) news director MIKE McCLAIN is headed to Orlando as the GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV. More in this story from the Orlando Sentinel. Mike’s been the GM for Fox’s WJYZ/WMYT-TV in Charlotte for the past year, but previously has been the ND for Fox owned stations WTVT-TV in Tampa, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and WBRC-TV in Birmingham.

Nexstar has upped two of its current general mangers to newly created positions of Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. Moving up are MATT ROSENFELD, currently the GM for KGPE/KSEE-TV in Fresno, and TRACI WILKINSON who’s been running Nexstar’s CW affiliate in Phoenix, KSAW-TV. This news release fills in the details.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 28, 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

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202 (see ad above!)
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811 (see ad above!)
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

July 21, 2019

Monday, July 22, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

We always like to report when a news director (or former news director) heads to the general manager’s office, and that’s the case in today’s UPDATE.

McClain

MIKE McCLAIN, who began his career as a news photographer, and worked his way up to news director for three network owned stations, is the new GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando. More details in this story from the Orlando Sentinel.

We told you in yesterday’s newsletter that ALLYSON MEYERS had resigned after six years at WOFL to deal with a family matter.

Mike has been the GM for Fox’s Charlotte duopoly, WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV, since last November. But he came from news, having been the ND for THREE Fox owned stations, WTVT-TV in Tampa, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and WBRC-TV in Birmingham.

Congratulations to Mike. We’ll hopefully have more on this story and all the week’s ‘news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

A busy week to tell you about with FIVE newly named news directors with THREE new openings. Of note: FOUR of those FIVE new news directors were either promoted within their current station or their current company.

TWO of our 30 open ND jobs are featured among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads below.

We have too many obituaries, THREE in all, TWO of former network correspondents who turned to education.

We have several GMs on the move and just one item…but it’s a worth read…in our Names in the News segment.

It’s a busy week…grab your favorite beverage and dig in!

Newly Named News Directors:

WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL..our Monday update told you that DAVE

Ciliberti

CILIBERTI would be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. It’s a move within Nexstar AND a return to Tampa for Dave, who spent 4 1/2 years at the company’s WCMH-TV (NBC), where GM KEN FREEDMAN shared the news with the staff. Dave spent 17 years at WFTS-TV in Tampa in a number of jobs, worked for two New York City stations and began his career as a photojournalist, working in Houston and Washington. At WFLA, he replaces RYAN MINNAUGH who left the station last month after a year as ND.

Denize B.A.

KVDA-TV, San Antonio, TX…DENISE BATTLE-ALONSO has been promoted to news director for this Telemundo owned station. She’s been the Assistant ND for Telemundo’s WNJU-TV in New York City. She joined WNJU in 2014 as an executive producer and was bumped up to assistant news director three years later. She also worked for the Univision station in New York as well as in Puerto Rico and El Paso. Media Moves has more.

St. Peter

WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…KEITH ST. PETER will join this Nexstar operated NBC/CBS team next month as its next news director. Keith has been Managing Editor at WHIO-TV in Dayton after almost three years. He previously served as an EP for WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, FL and also worked as a producer and assignment editor at WTEV-TV in Jacksonville. Keith replaces ROD JACKSON who was promoted in May to ND for Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV.

Baxter

WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…congratulations to ANNA BAXTER who has been promoted to ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director there, and has worked her way up to the top job (with a brief sojourn to WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH) after starting there as an intern. More in her not-yet updated station bio. Anna replaces DAN FABRIZIO. We told you last week that Dan was off to sister Gray station WAVE-TV in Louisville after eight years here.

Rodriguez

KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA…another promotion from Assistant ND to News Director here, as SUZANNE RODRIGUEZ is moving into the big office. She’s been the AND there for almost two years after 18 years at cross-town competitor KGET-TV where she was the Assignment Editor for six years and a producer before that. At KERO, she replaces NANCY BAUER who was promoted to sister-Scripps station KTNV (ABC) in Las Vegas after two years as ND for this ABC affiliate.

And…because we strive for accuracy and context, I want to repeat a correction in case you missed it in our Monday UPDATE. BILL SHORY spent six years as ND for WAVE-TV in Louisville, not six months as I mistakenly told you last week. Apologies to Bill.

New News Director Opening:

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH…we told you above that DAVE CILBERTI was moving within Nexstar to become ND for the company’s Tampa station, WFLA-TV. Dave spent 4 1/2 years as ND for this NBC affiliate.

Haldeman

KXXV-TV, Waco, TX…CHARLIE HALDEMAN has decided to resign as ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here are two emails for you in one simple click: the note from GM ADAM CHASE as well as Charlie’s to the staff. He’s been there for three years and earlier had been an ND for almost six years at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA, and spent almost five years as ND for KXII-TV in Sherman, TX. He also worked as an anchor/reporter in Bryan, TX, and began his career in radio.

WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate is search for a new news director to replace STEVE GOODSPEED, who I believe left the station last month. In addition to Duluth, WDIO covers parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Also, please note another ad below for the open ND job at WAFF-TV in Huntsville.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:

To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:

Senior VP, Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TV:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is seeking an accomplished news manager to lead local content initiatives across the group and complement our dynamic Corporate Content team.

The position of Senior Vice-President, Local Content Development will work with our growing group of stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach with our digital and broadcast news products inclusive of web and mobile content initiatives, our social media engagement as well as our expanding OTT products.

A strong strategic thinker and inspiring leader with amazing editorial acumen will work closely with the Operations team to build on Nexstar’s approach to “Local” while working with our Senior Management on projects, brand development and market evaluations creating a clear vision for the future and a focus on quality. Our growth leads to endless opportunities how we create and distribute content both in-market and regionally.

Content drives “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives to grow ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets. Nexstar has a dynamic group dedicated to the quality of our local product. Successful candidate will understand the focus of “local” in local television and how to be successful at it with a clear passion for the industry.

Minimum 8 years of News/Content Management experience. If you are looking for a job that doesn’t involve travel, this is not the job for you.

Please access the link below and provide us your resume information as well as your career successes and leadership abilities. Why is this opportunity the right one for you? The position will be based in Irving, Texas and reports directly to the EVP, Station Operations & Content Development.

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

News Director, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL:

Work, live and play in the region that U.S. News & World Report calls the “Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2019”.

WAFF is Huntsville, Alabama’s #1 news station and dominates the digital footprint in North Alabama. Ranked at #79, the Huntsville, Alabama market is on pace to become the state’s most populous city by 2025 and is identified as among the Top 25 most-educated cities in America. Embrace space within “the rocket city” – home to NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Space Camp, Redstone Arsenal.

WAFF is seeking a fiercely competitive news director who will champion a team to grow audiences on all screens while delivering compelling, relevant content that impacts lives.

Required talents:

Grasp and manage both On Air and Digital platforms
Visionary leadership that attracts passionate followers
Recruiting, Coaching, Training and Mentoring expertise.
Strategy, Goal-setting, Planning and Content mastery for all platforms.
Flawless verbal and written communication
Integrity, creativity, passion, compassion, positive energy, active listener, engaging personality.
Time management skills, can-do attitude, strong work ethic.
Relentless in preparing budgets, hitting budgets and meeting deadlines.
Mastery of the latest technological advancements in news gathering, production, libel and privacy laws, journalistic ethics, and maintaining professional guidelines and standards of news broadcasts.
Resolute producer of content for website and digital platforms.

WAFF’s finger is on the pulse of one of our nation’s most progressive and most emerging cities. Welcome to our winning team!

Please apply online here.