Rick Gevers & Associates

March 28, 2021

Greetings:

Apologies for the late posting of this week’s newsletter which comes from our west coast office.

But we still have lots to share. THREE new news directors, and THREE new openings, leaving our count of open ND Jobs at 28, as we have also removed one job from the list as we’ll explain below.

Beaumont, TX, is featured in both categories, as one job was filled while another opened up. And THREE larger markets (New York, Seattle, and Hartford) account for SIX of the openings.

You can learn more about TWO of those open ND jobs in Paid Help Wanted ads below.

We have some sad news about a legendary newsman who has entered hospice care. That’s below.

There’s lots of news managers on the move. Of note: ALL five of them moved within their current companies.

And we’ll tell you about a former Illinois news director who’s running for mayor in a city where she worked for two TV stations over more than 20 years.

A Texas Tegna GM gets a promotion, and a Scripps GM moves from Colorado to Florida for his new assignment.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Directors:

McMahan

KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX…KEITH McMAHAN moves across Texas to become news director at this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate. He’s been the Assistant News Director for sister Sinclair station WOAI-TV (NBC) in San Antonio for the last 7+ years. He’s a former ND at KABB-TV in San Antonio. At KFDM, he replaces PAUL ALEXANDER who left the station a few weeks ago.

Terlecki

WAOW-TV, Wausau, WI…COURTNEY TERLECKI has been promoted to ND for this Quincy owned (for now, sale pending to Gray) ABC affiliate. She’s been here for almost six years, most recently as Assistant ND. Courtney replaces KEVIN CARPENTER who’s retiring after three years as news director. Kevin spent much of his career as Director of Digital Operations at WLS-TV in Chicago after beginning as a reporter in smaller markets.

KIDY/KXVA-TV, San Angelo, TX…congratulations to GABE VELA who is being promoted to news director for these Tegna owned FOX affiliates. Gabe is currently the Senior Producer for sister-Tegna station KENS-TV (CBS) in San Antonio, TX. He replaces CODY BROADWAY who left the station in December 2019.

Also, please note that we’ve removed WFMZ-TV in Allentown, PA, from the list of open ND jobs. Longtime ND BRAD RINEHART has decided to stay on.

The station has promoted JAMASYN DIEHL to assistant news director to help Brad. She’s been with WFMZ since 2003, most recently as the executive content manager.

New News Director Openings:

WGXA-TV, Macon, GA…this Sinclair owned FOX/ABC affiliate has a posting for a news director opening. I believe it is to replace JENNA HUFF who left last September to become ND for WANE-TV (Nexstar/CBS) in Ft. Wayne but several emails to a Sinclair representative for that region have not been answered.

Brown

KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX…DANIEL BROWN will leave this Tegna owned ABC affiliate in a few months and will leave television news, as least for a bit. He’s been the news director here for about two years and previously worked at Tegna stations in Atlanta (WXIA-TV) and Charlotte (WCNC-TV), and also worked in Cleveland and Baton Rouge, LA.

Pickey

KOSA-TV, Odessa, TX…this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate is advertising for a new news director. My records show SCOTT PICKEY had been the ND here since July, 2018. He’s a former news director in Oak Hill/Beckley, WV, Wilmington, NC, El Paso, TX and Fayetteville, AR. He’s also worked in Raleigh, Richmond and Syracuse.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WPIX-TV, New York, NY:

The search is on for the next News Director at WPIX in New York City.

Join #NexstarNation in the #1 Market in the country. Lead an award-winning team of journalists for the largest TV ownership group in the nation.

We are looking for an experienced news leader – who has a passion for enterprise reporting, issue-based political coverage, and an eye for stories that impact the local communities that make up New York City.

Must come with a love for weather coverage and sports. WPIX is the broadcast home for both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

WPIX already produces more than 50 hours of local newscasts each week, and we are just getting started, We need a News Director who has a real passion for the industry, the desire to create new products, and the mindset to grow winning teams.

If this describes you, apply here.

News Director, KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS:

KAKE and KAKE.com, Wichita’s legacy ABC affiliate, seeks a News Director to lead a dedicated team of journalists and photojournalists in one of America’s most livable cities.

KAKE produces 40+ hours of local television news each week and embraces a screen-agnostic approach to coverage and, as a result, enjoys a leadership position in the market with digital audience engagement.

We are committed to excellence in journalism. KAKE journalists are timely, accurate, and unbiased in their reporting on all platforms. We seek someone who shares that expectation of excellence and can demonstrate their ability to lead strong teams.
Requirements:

Minimum 4 years of News Director experience
Four-year degree in Journalism, English, Mass Communications or other applicable discipline required
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with an emphasis on collaboration, setting expectations, accountability, managing conflict, decision-making, coaching and delegation
Strong broadcast and AP style writing skills for all platforms
Strong command of the English language, journalism ethics, and the tenets of professional journalism
Competency with Microsoft Office applications, newsroom software, social media, camera equipment, and editing systems

Interested candidates can apply to:

Lori Johnson, Business Manager
e-mail to: ljohnson@kake.com


No telephone calls please

Lockwood Broadcast Group and KAKE provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Pre-employment drug test is required along with a background screen as allowed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/21/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 1/31/21)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 2/21/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted this week)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 3/7/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Proj./Investigations, revised 3/21/21)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 3/7/21)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, relisted 1/31/21)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted 3/14/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, new listing this week)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/21/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, listed 3/7/21)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 2/21/21)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/21/21)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, new listing this week)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/14/21)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 3/14/21)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Digital EP, listed 3/21/21)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 2/21/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted this week)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/21/21)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 3/21/21)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 2/14/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 2/21/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, listing revised this week)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (listed 1/31/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 3/14/21)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/28/21)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 2/14/21)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this Week:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL. (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 3/14/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York, NY

Listed 2/28/21:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)

Listed 2/21/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 2/14/21:

Names in the News:

Davis

I’m sorry to report that legendary broadcaster PAUL DAVIS has entered hospice in Illinois. He’s been battling bone cancer and treatments are no longer working. I spoke to Paul this week and he seemed in good spirits, although he shared that doctors have given him 2-3 months. He no longer accesses email though family would share your thoughts with him via a note to this email. Paul’s a past president of RTDNA and SPJ, spent 14 years as ND of WGN-TV in Chicago, was ND for the former Tribune station in Boston, and was a longtime ND and anchor in Champaign. His mother, ZONA DAVIS, was a ground breaking radio news director in Illinois, as her 1987 obituary explains.

Baldner

Speaking of former Illinois news directors, NORA BALDNER is running for mayor of Quincy, IL. She spent four years as news director for KHQA-TV in Quincy (leaving in 2014) and worked for almost 20 years in a variety of roles at WGEM-TV in Quincy. She also worked in Columbia, MO, where she received a masters from the University of Missouri. Her website has more.

Matovina

WTMJ-TV, the Scripps station in Milwaukee, has promoted LAURA MATOVINA to become its broadcast director, reporting to news director TIM VETSCHER. Tim sent this note to the staff outlining Laura’s new role. She’s been the morning EP for this NBC affiliate, and the search is on for her replacement. That opening is listed among many other EP openings above.

Two other internal promotions at Scripps:

SYDNY (cq) BOYD was promoted to EP at KMTV in Omaha. She’s been a producer there. And DAMIEN RICHARD was promoted to EP for KATC-TV in Lafayette, LA, from Assignment Manager.

We have a number of other news manager promotions to share:

Trevizo

VIOLETA TREVIZO has been promoted within Tegna to be the new Assistant News Director at WATN-TV (ABC) in Memphis. She’s been the AND at KWES-TV in Midland, TX.

KERELLE SAMPSON joins Tegna’s WBNS-TV (CBS) in Columbus, OH, as EP. He’s spent most of his career at a variety of operations in Raleigh/Durham as you’ll learn from his Linkedin page.

General Manager News and Notes:

Pappas

EVAN PAPPAS moves from Colorado to Florida to become the next GM for Scripps’ WFTX-TV (FOX) in Ft. Myers. For the last eleven years, he’s been the GM for KOAA-TV (NBC) which Scripps acquired in 2019. It’s a return to Florida for Evan, who previously worked in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville. He also ran KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara, CA, for Scripps.

Gonzales

Tegna has promoted KVUE-TV (Austin, TX/ABC) General Manager KRISTIE GONZALEZ to VP/Media Operations. She’ll continue to oversee KVUE and will add oversight of Tegna’s KYTX-TV in Tyler, TX, to her responsibilities. This news release says she will also help with recruiting for Tegna’s eleven Texas stations. She’s been the GM at KVUE since 2016

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 28, 2021:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017 (see ad above!)
News Nation 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, Illinois 60618
KNXV-TV 515 North 44th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85008
KING/KONG-TV 1501 1st Ave. South Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820
WCCB-TV 1 Television Place Charlotte, NC 28205
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
KAKE-TV 1500 N West St, Wichita, KS 67203 (see ad above!)
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd. Charleston, WV 25301
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600 Columbia, SC 29201
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WILX-TV 500 American Rd, Lansing, MI 48911
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Macon, GA, 31201
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KOSA-TV 4101 E 42nd St. Ste 107 Odessa, TX 79762
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack Abilene, TX 79602
WDAM-TV 2362 US-11, Moselle, MS 39459
KAIT-TV 472 Craighead 766. Jonesboro, AR 72401

March 21, 2021

Greetings:

It’s tough to concentrate when you’re trying to write this newsletter AND watch some very interesting basketball games. While I always try to proofread it before sending (not always well) apologies in advance for any typos this week.

The recent trend of an increasing number of ND openings continues this week, with FOUR new openings and just TWO open jobs filled.

Our list of open ND positions stands at 29 with TWO of those openings featured in Paid Help Wanted Ads.

We have an obituary for a founder of NABJ. There’s a GM retirement in Tennessee, a new high level hire at Scripps, a new EP in Houston, a retirement of a former NY news director who returned to TV after a traumatic brain injury, and a few other items in Names in the News.

Read on and celebrate that your tournament bracket HAS to be in better shape than mine!

Newly Named News Directors:

Saiers

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA…Friday’s UPDATE told you that PETE SAIERS is returning to California to become ND for this Nexstar owned CW affiliate. He’s spent the last two years as ND for KING/KONG-TV (NBC/indy) in Seattle. New tonight: the story from KTLA’s website and the email from KING GM JIM ROSE to the staff. Pete spent 18 years at KPIX-TV (CBS) in San Francisco and replaces JASON BALL who left last month after 12 years as ND.

Agans

KTEN-TV, Denison, TX…BRENDAN AGANS has been promoted to news director for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned NBC/ABC operation. Brendan joined the station three years ago as a sports reporter/anchor and was promoted to sports director in May, 2019. He replaces JOEY PARKER who left in February after nine months as news director.

New News Director Openings:

Casey

KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ…Friday’s UPDATE also told you of veteran ND MARK CASEY’s pending departure from this Scripps owned ABC affiliate after 2+ years. Mark’s email to me will answer your questions and his Linkedin page details his background. He spent 17 years at KPNX-TV (Tegna/NBC) in Phoenix as ND and later station manager, and had a short run as the Director of Public Information for the Maricopa County (Phoenix) Sheriff’s Office before joining KNXV.

KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA…you learned about that PETE SAIERS is leaving this Tegna owned NBC/Indy duopoly to return to California as ND for Nexstar’s KTLA-TV.

Godbout

WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT…it was a busy week for UPDATES: Monday’s told you that LIZ GREY GODBOUT is retiring from this Tegna owned FOX affiliate after more than four years. Liz holds the Hartford hat trick, having served as ND for WTNH-TV (ABC) and WVIT-TV (NBC). She’s also worked in New York City and Miami, and, as her Linkedin page details, spent a few years in jobs outside of TV.

Abraham

WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…congratulations to CARL ABRAHAM who will retire at the end of April after 10 years as ND and 38 years at this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the note to the staff from GM CHUCK MORGAN (who is also retiring on April 30th.) Carl began as the overnight assignment editor and worked his way up. Here’s to a long and happy retirement!

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WPIX-TV, New York, NY:

The search is on for the next News Director at WPIX in New York City.

Join #NexstarNation in the #1 Market in the country. Lead an award-winning team of journalists for the largest TV ownership group in the nation.

We are looking for an experienced news leader – who has a passion for enterprise reporting, issue-based political coverage, and an eye for stories that impact the local communities that make up New York City.

Must come with a love for weather coverage and sports. WPIX is the broadcast home for both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

WPIX already produces more than 50 hours of local newscasts each week, and we are just getting started, We need a News Director who has a real passion for the industry, the desire to create new products, and the mindset to grow winning teams.

If this describes you, apply here.

News Director, KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS:

KAKE and KAKE.com, Wichita’s legacy ABC affiliate, seeks a News Director to lead a dedicated team of journalists and photojournalists in one of America’s most livable cities.

KAKE produces 40+ hours of local television news each week and embraces a screen-agnostic approach to coverage and, as a result, enjoys a leadership position in the market with digital audience engagement.

We are committed to excellence in journalism. KAKE journalists are timely, accurate, and unbiased in their reporting on all platforms. We seek someone who shares that expectation of excellence and can demonstrate their ability to lead strong teams.
Requirements:

Minimum 4 years of News Director experience
Four-year degree in Journalism, English, Mass Communications or other applicable discipline required
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with an emphasis on collaboration, setting expectations, accountability, managing conflict, decision-making, coaching and delegation
Strong broadcast and AP style writing skills for all platforms
Strong command of the English language, journalism ethics, and the tenets of professional journalism
Competency with Microsoft Office applications, newsroom software, social media, camera equipment, and editing systems

Interested candidates can apply to:

Lori Johnson, Business Manager
e-mail to: ljohnson@kake.com


No telephone calls please

Lockwood Broadcast Group and KAKE provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Pre-employment drug test is required along with a background screen as allowed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/21/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 1/31/21)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City,TN (listed 2/14/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/14/21)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 3/7/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Proj./Investigations, listing revised this week)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 3/7/21)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, relisted 1/31/21)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted 3/14/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 1/24/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/21/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, listed 3/7/21)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 2/21/21)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/21/21)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/14/21)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 3/14/21)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 2/21/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 1/17/21)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/21/21)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (listed 3/14/21)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted this week)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 2/14/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 2/21/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (2 jobs, one Digital EP, revised 3/14/21)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (listed 1/31/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 3/14/21)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (listed 3/7/21)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/28/21)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 2/14/21)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 3/14/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York, NY

Listed 2/28/21:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)

Listed 2/21/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 2/14/21:

Obituary:

Brock

PAUL BROCK, the founding executive director of NABJ, died last Sunday, March 14. He was 89. Much of Paul’s career was spent in radio, as you’ll learn by reading this obituary from the NABJ website. In the 70’s he spent two years as deputy director of communications for the Democratic National Committee before returning to radio.

Names in the News:

O’Brian

Longtime ABC News executive KATE O’BRIAN joins Scripps as head of news for its national television networks business, effective April 12. What does that mean? This news release will tell you! In addition to 30 years at ABC News, Kate was president of the short lived Al Jazeera America network which shut down in 2016 after fewer than three years,

At KPRC-TV (Graham Media/NBC) in Houston, LOUIS LOCHTE has been promoted to dayside executive producer. He’s in his second stint here, and has been producing the 10:00 news. In between his time at KPRC he worked in San Francisco and Dallas.

Kracher

FRANK KRACHER, a former news director for WTVH-TV in Syracuse, is retiring from WLOS-TV in Asheville, where he’s spent much of his career. But while ND for WTVH, he suffered a traumatic brain injury. After recovering, he returned to WLOS where he anchored and reported and became an advocate for TBI awareness. More here.

From time to time we like to bring stories about stations who are trying different ways to produce television news. This example details KVIA-TV in El Paso which added its best reporter to the co-anchor team for the late news.

Silcock

Recently retired Arizona State University professor Dr. BILL SILCOCK and his wife ANGELA have established the Angela and Bill Silcock Global Experience Fund at ASU. It will provide financial support for students to participate in study abroad programs. Learn more about it here and you can also find a link to donate. Bill taught for 20 years at ASU, and eight more at Missouri, and likely worked with someone you know.

General Manager News and Notes:

Cooper

COBY COOPER‘s 39 year career in television ends in early May when he retires as GM for WATE-TV, the Nexstar owned ABC affiliate in Knoxville. Remarkably, he’s only worked for two companies, Nexstar and Liberty/Cosmos, where he began in Jonesboro, AR. Coby’s been GM for three other stations: KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, WMBD-TV in Peoria, and WCIA/WCIX-TV in Champaign/Urbana, IL.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 21, 2021:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017 (see ad above!)
News Nation 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, Illinois 60618
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KNXV-TV 515 North 44th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85008
KING/KONG-TV 1501 1st Ave. South Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820
WCCB-TV 1 Television Place Charlotte, NC 28205
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
KAKE-TV 1500 N West St, Wichita, KS 67203 (see ad above!)
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd. Charleston, WV 25301
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600 Columbia, SC 29201
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WILX-TV 500 American Rd, Lansing, MI 48911
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KFDM-TV KFDM 2955 I-10 East Beaumont, TX 77702
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack Abilene, TX 79602
WDAM-TV 2362 US-11, Moselle, MS 39459
KAIT-TV 472 Craighead 766. Jonesboro, AR 72401
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

March 14, 2021

Friday, March 19, 2021 UPDATE:

News director changes in THREE markets (Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix) in this UPDATE.

Saiers

First, PETE SAIERS returns to California to become the next news director for Nexstar’s KTLA-TV (CW) in Los Angeles. He’s currently the news director for Tegna’s Seattle duopoly, KING/KONG-TV. (NBC/independent). He’s been in Seattle for almost two years.

He replaces JASON BALL who left the station earlier this year after a remarkable (by Los Angeles standards) 12 years as ND here.

Pete spent much of his career in the San Francisco market, working for 18 years in a variety of roles at KPIX-TV (CBS owned) and a short time freelancing at KGO-TV (ABC owned) as an EP before moving to Seattle. Pete also worked in Sacramento as a reporter and producer, and in Beirut in both print and TV.

His Linkedin page has more.

Dallman

With his departure, Seattle joins New York City and Hartford as large markets with TWO ND openings. KOMO-TV (Sinclair/ABC) continues its search for a replacement for BILL DALLMAN, who leaves in June to become GM for KARE-TV (Tegna/NBC) in Minneapolis.

Casey

The third change comes from Phoenix, where veteran news director MARK CASEY is leaving Scripps’ KNXV-TV (ABC). Mark explains his move in this email to me.

Mark became ND here in the fall of 2018 after a short period as Director of Public Information for the Maricopa County (Phoenix) Sheriff’s Office. He spent 17 years at KPNX-TV (NBC) in Phoenix as ND and later station manager, and held many other ND jobs around the country. Mark’s Linkedin page has the whole story.

Obviously a busy day. We’ll have all the week’s news in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Monday, March 15, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

What is it about TV stations in the Northeast?

Godbout

There are TWO ND openings in New York (WABC-TV and WPIX-TV, CW) and now TWO in Hartford with news this afternoon that LIZ GREY GODBOUT will retire in June from Tegna’s WTIC-TV. We told you late last month that JANET HUNDLEY was leaving NBC owned WVIT-TV in early April.

Liz has been the ND for that FOX affiliate for more than four years. It was the third station in her Hartford hat trick, having earlier run the news departments at WVIT-TV and WTNH-TV (ABC). She’s also worked in New York and Miami, and held a few jobs outside of televsion. Her linkedin page explains it all.

One update from yesterday’s full newsletter. We transposed the call letters of MIKE REDDING’s station in Maine. It’s WCSH-TV, not WCHS-TV, as I reported.

Apologies for that mistake. We’ll try to do better next weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

In what seems to be an interesting trend, our list of open news director jobs continues to edge slightly higher, with 27 such openings this week.

That comes after TWO open jobs were filled but FIVE others opened up.

ONE of those jobs is one of our TWO paid help wanted ads this week.

We have an obituary for a former NBC president who began his career in news and field produced the network’s coverage of President Kennedy’s assassination.

In Names in the News, Scripps abandons plans to build its own news department in Miami and cuts a deal with another local station. A former meteorologist turned digital expert takes a new job with Fox. There’s a new assistant ND at a Virginia station, and a profile of a architectural designer turned reporter turned news director.

And we make a slight foray into suggesting a column that touches on TV news and journalism but doesn’t have a management angle. Let me know what you think of it.

Good luck when you fill out your brackets!

Newly Named News Directors:

Stack

KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA…we’re a little tardy in reporting the appointment of BRIT STACK as the new news director for this Allen Media owned FOX/NBC duopoly. She began here last month. Her Linkedin Page details her background. She replaces JOSH GOOD who left late last year and to become the news director for WFXR-TV (Nexstar/Fox) in Roanoke, VA.

Lennon

WSWG/WSST-TV, Albany, GA…VINCE LENNON is the new news director for this CBS/My Network TV duopoly. I was not familiar with the station but Vince kindly filled me in on its background, future plans, and his own background. You can read our email exchange here.

New News Director Openings:

Lyons

News Nation, Chicago, IL…we told you via our Tuesday UDPATE that JENNIFER LYONS has resigned as VP/News for the Nexstar News Nation. New in this edition, an updated column from ROBERT FEDER with background on Jennifer’s departure and information about expansion plans for News Nation. She was ND at sister Nexstar station WGN-TV from 2014 until moving to News Nation, except for brief departure to work as a no-profit for a few months in 2018.

Burns

WPIX-TV, New York, NY…our UPDATE yesterday told you that VICKIE BURNS will leave this Nexstar owned CW affiliate in late March. Here’s the note to staff from newly arrived GM CHRIS McDONNELL. She’s been the ND here for two years and consulted the station for previous owner Tribune before that.Vickie’s spent most of her career with NBC owned stations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington.

WCCB-TV, Charlotte, NC…this Bahakel Communications owned CW affiliate is looking for a news director to replaces ANGELA ROBBINS. She’s run the news department here for eight years and served as the assistant news director before her promotion. Her replacement will be only the third news director in the station’s history.

Roethler

WILX-TV, Lansing MI…after 4+ as ND for the Gray Television owned CBS affiliate, BARB ROETHLER is leaving TV and returning to Detroit as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Detroit Health Department, as you’ll learn in this Facebook post. She’s worked for two Detroit stations and is a former ND of WEYI/WSMH-TV in Flint/Saginaw.

Alexander

KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX…this Sinclair station has a posting for news director on its website. My records shows that PAUL ALEXANDER started at this CBS affiliate last June as ND. He’s a former ND in Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Paul began in sports, working as an anchor in Tucson, Austin, TX, San Antonio and St. Louis, a news anchor for the statewide News of Texas, and a news and sports radio talk show host.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI:

News 8 Now/WKBT-TV has a rare opening for a News Director to lead our team in one of Wisconsin’s best cities to live in. La Crosse is a university town, a regional health care center and city with a rich history. La Crosse is home to three institutions of higher learning. La Crosse is also home to top rated Gunderson Health System as well as having a Mayo Clinic Health System hospital and regional clinics.

WKBT has not had a news director opening for nearly thirty years. We are looking for someone to break the mold and connect with local audiences in a new way. We produce 20+ hours of television news a week and embrace coverage through our app, social, web site and streaming video channels resulting in a digital leadership position in the market. The right candidate will have a proven track record of audience growth and will understand how to build emerging platforms.

We are committed to quality journalism. We are proud of being honored as the Small Market Television Station of the Year from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association eight times.

In this role, you’ll be asked to set and execute a strategy for audience growth with a content editorial team. You’ll lead efforts to build and retain a top-notch staff. You’ll need to be aggressive moving resources to meet the demand of a shifting local news marketplace. You’ll be asked to make critical editorial decisions with a deep understanding of journalism ethics.

Apply at https://morganmurphymedia.com/

Executive Producer, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Meredith Corporation is searching for an Executive Producer. This is a great opportunity to create compelling content while promoting an engaging work environment. This position works closely with Producers, Reporters and Assignment Editors in developing and maintaining high quality newscasts. The Executive Producer oversees story selection, pre-production and Producer rundowns. The incumbent proofs and edits scripts on a daily basis. In addition, the Executive Producer helps reporters craft their stories and oversees brand management and content for the show. Prior experience is EP required.

WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com), a leading media company for nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith reaches more than 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of all U.S. women, across media platforms including digital, video, print, and broadcast television. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Portland – and 14 in Top 60 markets. Meredith’s stations produce approximately 745 hours of local news and entertainment content each week and operate leading local digital destinations.

Please visit https://www.meredith.com/careers

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/21/21)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 1/17/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 1/31/21)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 1/24/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City,TN (listed 2/14/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/14/21)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 3/7/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP Special Projects, listed 1/10/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP, listed 1/10/21)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 3/7/21, see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, relisted 1/31/21)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 1/24/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/21/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, listed 3/7/21)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 2/21/21)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/21/21)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (new listing this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted this week)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 2/21/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 1/17/21)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/21/21)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (new listing this week)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (listed 1/17/21)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 2/14/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 2/21/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (2 jobs, one Digital EP, revised this week)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (listed 1/31/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted this week)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (listed 3/7/21)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/28/21)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 2/14/21)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted this week:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York, NY

Listed 2/28/21:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)

Listed 2/21/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 2/14/21:

Obituary:

Mulholland

ROBERT MULLHOLLAND, a former president and COO of NBC, died Tuesday at the age of 87. He came up the news side of the business, joining NBC as a writer at WMAQ-TV and eventually rose to become the news director for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles and EP of the NBC Nightly News. More on an interesting life and career in this obituary.

Names in the News:

Scripps has dropped plans to build a news department at its station in Miami, WSFL-TV. Instead, it has signed a deal with Berkshire Hathaway owned WPLG-TV (ABC) which will produce newscasts for WSFL in time periods that do not compete with WPLG’s newscasts. The Scripps news release is here.

Baron

Old friend and former client (during his weatherman days) STEVE BARON has joined FOX News where he will be SVP/Digital Products and Strategy for Fox Weather. This post from Steve’s Linkedin page fills in details. Steve worked as a on-air meteorologist and reporter before moving to the digital world in 2008 and has held senior positions with a number of companies.

Bazemore

AMANDA BAZEMORE joins Graham Media’s WSLS-TV (NBC) in Roanoke, VA, as its new Assistant News Director. Amanda’s previously worked for stations in Charlotte and Greensboro, NC, but has been out of the business for a little more than two years. Learn more about what she’s been up to during that time by checking out her Linkedin page.

Redding

WCSH/WLBZ-TV (Portland/Bangor, ME) news director MIKE REDDING is profiled in this story from WOUB-TV, the PBS station at Ohio University where Mike studied journalism after abandoning a career in architectural design. And quite a career switch it was. Mike began on air and won 28 Emmys before moving into management.

Finally, we’re not often in the business of suggesting articles that aren’t directly related to management changes, but I found this recent column from BILL McCLELLAN in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch very interesting. I think it’s worth a few minutes of your time. It does involve journalism and television so it’s not completely off track.

General Manager News and Notes:

Doebler

DAVID DOEBLER, who’s been the general manager for NBC’s Chicago owned station, WMAQ-TV will retire at the end of June. He also oversees NBC’s Telemundo station, WSNS-TV. He’s a longtime NBC employee, having worked at NBC stations in Philadelphia, Raleigh, Hartford and Birmingham. More from ROBERT FEDER.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 14, 2021:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017
KTLA-TV 5800 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
News Nation 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, Illinois 60618
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820
WCCB-TV 1 Television Place Charlotte, NC 28205
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
KAKE-TV 1500 N West St, Wichita, KS 67203
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd. Charleston, WV 25301
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600 Columbia, SC 29201
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WILX-TV 500 American Rd, Lansing, MI 48911
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KFDM-TV KFDM 2955 I-10 East Beaumont, TX 77702
KTEN-TV 10 High Point Cir, Denison, TX 75020
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack Abilene, TX 79602
WDAM-TV 2362 US-11, Moselle, MS 39459
KAIT-TV 472 Craighead 766. Jonesboro, AR 72401
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

March 8, 2021

Saturday, March 13, 2021 Update:

Greetings:

Another high level change in news management at a Nexstar property.

Burns

VICKIE BURNS has resigned as VP/News and content at WPIX-TV in New York. She’ll be there through the end of the month, having spent two years at this CW affiliate. She had consulted the station for previous owner Tribune before ascending to the news director’s position in March 2019.

Vickie spent much of her career at NBC owned stations in Washington, Chicago, and Los Angeles. When she left the last of those jobs at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, she said she wanted to live east of the Mississippi. She’s also worked for two stations in Chicago.

We’ll have more on this developing story in our full newsletter tomorrow.

Until then, enjoy all the basketball!

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

More trouble tonight for Nexstar’s troubled NewsNation.

Lyons

JENNIFER LYONS has resigned as VP/News for NewsNation, less than a year after leaving her job as news director of sister-Nexstar property WGN-TV.

Here are stories with more details, first from longtime Chicago media reporter ROBERT FEDER, and the other from The Chicago Tribune.

Jennifer spent more than 25 years at WGN except for a brief interlude of about two months when she left for a job with a non-profit in 2018. She had not been replaced when she decided to return.

Jennifer first became the ND at WGN in 2014.

I’m sure we’ll have more on this story this weekend.

And…while I have you…I need to clarify a poorly written first paragraph from last week’s newsletter.

In referring to ART HOLLDAY’S promotion to News Director at KSDK-TV in St. Louis, I wrote “…this week brought the FIRST Black news director in a top 25 market.”

I meant, of course, that Art was the first Black news director in THAT top 25 market, not the first Black news director in any top 25, of which there have been many…including many currently holding that role.

Apologies and thanks to those who wrote to point out my poor writing.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

To the best of my knowledge, this week brought a top 25 Midwest market its FIRST black news director. That’s ONE of TWO new jobs filled during the last seven days, while we have THREE new openings.

Our total of open ND jobs now increases to 23. And ONE of those openings is among our THREE paid below wanted ads.

We have obituaries for a longtime Tulsa anchor and news director, and another for a veteran broadcaster whose daughter is currently an ND.

We have ONE item about a GM change, and there’s a lot to learn in our Names in the News segment about news managers both current and former.

All that and more below!

Newly Named News Directors:

Holliday

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO…our mid-week UPDATE told you of ART HOLLIDAY’s promotion to ND for this Tegna/NBC station. KSDK interviewed him on air about his new role. He’s been anchoring the 4:00 PM news, but began in 1979 as a sports anchor/reporter. Art was the first anchor of KSDK’s morning newscast and twice served as EP. He’ll report to Director of Content CAROL FOWLER. Full disclosure: we worked together at KSDK and were classmates at the University of Missouri.

Raffaele

WNYT-TV, Albany, NY…the long search for a new news director for this Hubbard Broadcasting NBC affiliate has ended with the hire of MICHAEL RAFFAELE. More here. He’s been the ND for Sinclair’s WACH-TV (FOX) in Columbia, SC. Michael replaces DAVID JONES who left almost a year ago saying he was leaving TV. Four months later he joined WLNE-TV in Providence, RI as news director.

New News Director Openings:

Maisel

KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS…ANTHONY MAISEL has announced his retirement after five years as news director for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. He came to Wichita from another Lockwood station, KTEN-TV in Denison, TX, where he was the GM. He’s had a number of other stops along the way, as you’ll learn when you check out his Linkedin page.

WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…as noted above, MICHAEL RAFFAELE is leaving this Sinclair/FOX operation to become ND for Hubbard’s WNYT-TV in Albany, NY.

Carpenter

WAOW-TV, Wausau, WI…KEVIN CARPENTER is retiring after almost three years as news director for this Quincy Media owned (for now, sale pending to Gray) ABC affiliate. Kevin spent 16 years as Director of Digital Operations for WLS-TV in Chicago and began his career as a reporter in Plattsburgh, VT, and Flint, MI.

And while it’s not a new opening, please check out the new Paid Ad for the open ND job at WKBT-TV in La Crosse, WI.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI:

News 8 Now/WKBT-TV has a rare opening for a News Director to lead our team in one of Wisconsin’s best cities to live in. La Crosse is a university town, a regional health care center and city with a rich history. La Crosse is home to three institutions of higher learning. La Crosse is also home to top rated Gunderson Health System as well as having a Mayo Clinic Health System hospital and regional clinics.

WKBT has not had a news director opening for nearly thirty years. We are looking for someone to break the mold and connect with local audiences in a new way. We produce 20+ hours of television news a week and embrace coverage through our app, social, web site and streaming video channels resulting in a digital leadership position in the market. The right candidate will have a proven track record of audience growth and will understand how to build emerging platforms.

We are committed to quality journalism. We are proud of being honored as the Small Market Television Station of the Year from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association eight times.

In this role, you’ll be asked to set and execute a strategy for audience growth with a content editorial team. You’ll lead efforts to build and retain a top-notch staff. You’ll need to be aggressive moving resources to meet the demand of a shifting local news marketplace. You’ll be asked to make critical editorial decisions with a deep understanding of journalism ethics.

Apply at https://morganmurphymedia.com/

Executive Producer, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Meredith Corporation is searching for an Executive Producer. This is a great opportunity to create compelling content while promoting an engaging work environment. This position works closely with Producers, Reporters and Assignment Editors in developing and maintaining high quality newscasts. The Executive Producer oversees story selection, pre-production and Producer rundowns. The incumbent proofs and edits scripts on a daily basis. In addition, the Executive Producer helps reporters craft their stories and oversees brand management and content for the show. Prior experience is EP required.

WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com), a leading media company for nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith reaches more than 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of all U.S. women, across media platforms including digital, video, print, and broadcast television. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Portland – and 14 in Top 60 markets. Meredith’s stations produce approximately 745 hours of local news and entertainment content each week and operate leading local digital destinations.

Please visit https://www.meredith.com/careers

Executive Producer, WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA:

WTVM News Leader 9 is looking to fill one of our most critical roles: Executive Producer.

Don’t let the market size fool you – we produce 38.5 hours of news per week for the market’s ABC, NBC and Fox affiliates. We’re literally building a bigger newsroom right now! This is a leadership role with a focus on every facet of our newscasts. You will train and hire producers who are not “show stackers”. Instead, you’ll teach them how to select lead stories & showcase them.

You must have at least 5+ years’ experience. Your challenge: build on our already-strong market lead.

Columbus Georgia sits 85 minutes south of Atlanta and we have the kind of breaking news that you just don’t see everywhere. From weather (chasing storms in our Mobile Alert Center) to crime, we really give our “breaking news” graphics a workout.

You’ll have the tools you need to make sure we get news on the air as it happens (with access to several live backpacks, in-camera live capabilities, satellite truck & a pair of drones that can be deployed any day of the week). And as this past year reinforced, NO company cares for its employees more than Gray!

You’ll love Columbus – especially if you like outdoor activities! Mountains and beaches are just a few hours away. And do you love college football? You’ll be surrounded by all the best schools (Auburn is in our DMA).

If you’re a leader ready for your opportunity to shine, please APPLY!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/21/21)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 1/17/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 1/31/21)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 1/24/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City,TN (listed 2/14/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/14/21)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-America/News Nation, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP Special Projects, listed 1/10/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP, listed 1/10/21)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, relisted 1/31/21)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 2/21/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted 1/10/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 1/24/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/21/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, new listing this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 2/21/21)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/21/21)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 1/10/21)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 2/21/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 1/18/21)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/21/21)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (listed 1/17/21)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 2/14/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 2/21/21)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (listed 2/14/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, listed 1/31/21)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (listed 1/31/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, listed 1/3/21)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (new listing this week)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 2/28/21, see ad above!)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 2/14/21)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 2/28/21:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)

Listed 2/21/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 2/14/21:

Listed 1/10/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York

Obituaries:

Vaughn

CLAYTON VAUGHN, a longtime anchor and news director for KOTV in Tulsa, died Wednesday, March 3, at the age of 86. He spent much of his career in Tulsa but also anchored at KABC-TV in Los Angeles and at stations in New York and New Jersey. More on his life (and a Bob Hope anecdote) here. KOTV remembered their former colleague with this story.

Luck

ROD LUCK, a longtime broadcaster and father of KXLY-TV (Spokane, WA) News Director MELISSA LUCK, died February 27th at the age of 72. He lost a battle with cancer. Rod anchored sports in a number of large markets and finished his career as high profile morning reporter for KUSI-TV in San Diego, which aired this tribute to him. And the San Diego Union Tribute did a long obituary on him.

Names in the News:

The New York Times looks at Nexstar’s NewsNation program, which has already undergone many changes since its September launch. Here’s the story, which may require a subscription to read.

We have a number of new news managers named this week.

Stegen

In St. Louis, KSDK-TV (Tegna/NBC) added ANNE STEGEN as its Director of Digital Content. As will newly named ND ART HOLLIDAY (see above) both will report to Director of Content CAROL FOWLER who introduced Anne to the staff via this email.

KRISTIE ANDERSON jumps from Managing Editor of Daily Content to Assistant News Director at another Tegna NBC affiliate, WXIA-TV in Atlanta.

Two new news managers at NBC o-and-o WVIT-TV in Hartford. ND JANET HUNDLEY sent this memo to the staff introducing AMANDA STEFFEN as the new Senior Content Producer and SHELITHA HURD as the station’s new Dayside Executive Producer.

NICOLE BUFFINGTON has been promoted to executive producer for Scripps‘ KSTU-TV (FOX) in Salt Lake City. She’s been a producer there.

And we have news of THREE former news directors:

Faye

KATIE FAYE is retiring after 41 years in television news. She’s currently the news manager for WTGS-TV in Savannah, GA. Katie reports to the ND of sister Sinclair station WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, but runs the day to day operation in Savannah. She sent me this email detailing both her background and her plans going forward. (Her email address is there for anyone wanting to wish her well.)

Samp

APRIL SAMP, late of WOI-TV in Ames/Des Moines, IA, has achieved her dream of being a small business owner.

And one-time WATE-TV (Knoxville, TN) ND MARTHA DOOLEY is in the news for filing a grievance against the Knox County Sheriff (she’s long worked for the department.)

General Manager News and Notes:

Dunaway

KEVIN DUNAWAY, who spent 16 years as ND for WWTV/WWUP-TV in Traverse City, MI, before a five year run as GM of that CBS affiliate, has a new job. He’s now the VP of Affiliate Relations for VUit. If you, like me, aren’t familiar with the company, this story will tell you about it and Kevin’s new job.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 7, 2021:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
KTLA-TV 5800 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
KAKE-TV 1500 N West St, Wichita, KS 67203
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd. Charleston, WV 25301
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600 Columbia, SC 29201
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601 (see ad above)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KTEN-TV 10 High Point Cir, Denison, TX 75020
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack Abilene, TX 79602
WDAM-TV 2362 US-11, Moselle, MS 39459
KAIT-TV 472 Craighead 766. Jonesboro, AR 72401
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor