September | 2022 | Rick Gevers & Associates

September 25, 2022

Thursday, September 29, 2022 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Al Primo

AL PRIMO, a legend of our industry, has died.

Al, who played huge roles in the development of both local and network news, died this afternoon after a battle with cancer. He was 87.

Perhaps most well known for having developed the Eyewitness News format, he also held top roles at ABC News, worked as a consultant, and developed the syndicated program Teen Kids News.

Al’s cousin is veteran newsman JOE ROVITTO, who sent me this note tonight with some background on Al’s career and their relationship And there is more on Al’s Wikipedia page.

Al’s wife ROSINA died in 2018. Our sympathy to their daughters, JULIET and VALERI, his cousin Joe. who provided information for this report, and to other family and his many friends.

There will be a lot of coverage in the trades over the next day or two. I’ll try and highlight the best of it in Sunday’s full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

At least for one week, my Colts tickets are of the market. (Colts 20, Kansas City 17). But they were VERY lucky. 🙂

There are TWO new news directors in this week’s report, with NO new openings.

Thus, our list shrinks to just 16 open ND jobs.

For the second consecutive week, no news about GM changes (that seems unusual).

There’s an obituary for a veteran ND who ran newsrooms in several major markets.

We have news about TWO former NDs, who have either a new job or a new honor.

And we have the link to Saturday’s Celebration of Life for longtime Missouri educator KENT COLLINS which was attended by many current or former network executives and correspondents, GMs, and, of course, family, friends and many former students.

All that and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Hums

WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN…our Tuesday UPDATE told you of a new management structure for this Tegna (at least for now) NBC affiliate. SCOTT HUMS, who’d been the interim ND, is upped to Director of Content, while NICOLE BLOCK joins as ND. More details in this news release, and more on Nicole’s background here. They replace JEFF ROSETTI who left in June after three years as news director and eleven at the station.

Irvin

WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV…MATT IRVIN has been promoted to news director for this Gray TV owned NBC affiliate. A 19 year employee of the station, he’s done a little bit of everything, from master control to satellite truck operator to drone supervisor to voice talent! He’s replacing WES ARMSTEAD who is retiring. Wes has been ND here since 2019 and has had a long and varied career.

New News Director Openings:

To the best of my knowledge, there are new new ND openings this week. If I’ve missed something, please send me an email!

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

We have no paid help wanted ads this week. If you are struggling to fill that open ND, EP, or other news management job, considering an ad in THE most targeted publication you can find. Send me an email and I can fill you in.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 7/31/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (listed 7/31/22)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 8/28/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/11/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 8/14/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (relisted 9/25/22)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 8/28/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 8/14/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/11/22)
KAGS-TV, Bryan, TX (listed 9/11/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 9/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/18/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 8/28/22)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (listed 8/28/22)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, listed 8/14/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listing revised 7/31/22)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/17/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 8/28/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (MSJ EP, relisted 9/11/22)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/28/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 9/18/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, relisted 9/11/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 9/11/22)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 9/5/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 8/28/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (relisted 8/28/22)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed corrected 9/25/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Weekend EP, revised 7/24/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 9/18/22)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/5/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 8/28/22)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (listed 8/28/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP, relisted 9/18/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 9/25/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/28/22)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 8/28/22)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, listed 8/28/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, revised 7/24/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 9/11/22)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 7/24/22)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 8/28/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, relisted 8/28/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (relisted 8/28/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 9/11/22)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 8/28/22)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 9/25/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 9/25/22)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (relisted 9/18/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (PM EP, listing revised 9/18/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listing revised 9/18/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 9/5/22)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (Digital EP, listed 8/14/22)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 9/5/22)
WGMB/WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/14/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 9/18/22)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 9/18/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 8/28/22)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA(listed 8/28/22)
Florida 24 Network (based at WFTS-TV in Tampa. listed 9/5/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 8/28/22)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/5/22)
News Center Maine, Portland/Bangor (listed 8/28/22)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 9/25/22:

WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Digital Content)

Listed 9/18/22:

WPTV, West Palm, Beach, FL (Senior Manager of Investigative Content)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Assignment Desk Manager)

Listed 9/12/22:

WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 9/5/22:

AccuWeather, State College, PA (Sr. Producer, Live Broadcast)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 9/5/22:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 8/28/22:

KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital Director)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/31/22:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (Director of Digital Content)

Listed 7/24/22:

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Media)

Relisted 7/24/22:

Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)

Obituary:

Beardsley

MIKE BEARDSLEY, who had a long career in our business and was a news director in many large market newsrooms, died August 20 at the age of 71. This detailed obituary details his many ND stops as well as other career highlights, including a stint as a ‘Chair’ at Louisiana State University where he taught journalism and ethics. Mike also taught journalism internationally.

Names in the News:

Collins

Several hundred people gathered yesterday in Columbia, MO, for a Celebration of Life for the late Missouri journalism educator KENT COLLINS. Kent died at 74 in July after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. You can watch the service here, (it starts about 24 minutes in, preceded by a photo montage) and click here to see the printed program. Kent often referred to the Missouri Journalism School as the ‘Church’ of Journalism, and in his remarks Saturday, Dean DAVID KURPIUS said, “If that’s true, Kent was the Pope”. He impacted SO many lives.

Vann

LES VANN wrote to tell me about his new endeavor. Les stepped down from his last GM job in 2019 to concentrate on his battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Now he’s joining a marketing company as an organizational change consultant, as you’ll read here. Many of you know Les who was a longtime ND and anchor in Springfield, IL, and a GM in many stations. Friends can say hi via email.

Mitchell

One-time news director JAY MITCHELL continues to prove that there is life after the newsroom (as many of you already know). Jay left the newsroom (three of which he ran as a news director) in 2004 for a career as a realtor. Now he’s been named Virginia Realtor of the Year. Details here, and congrats to Jay. Your kind note to him can be sent here.

General Manager News and Notes:

For the second consecutive week, I’m not aware of any GM moves. Please let me know if I’ve missed something.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 25, 2022:

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

KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KPNX-TV 200 East Van Buren Street Phoenix, AZ 85004
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WEHT/WTVW-TV, 800 Marywood Dr., Henderson, KY 42420
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B. Riley Rd. Bend OR 97703
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd North, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 South Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

September 18, 2022

Tuesday, September 20, 2022 UPDATE:

Greetings:

There’s a new management team coming to a Tegna owned NBC affiliate here in Indianapolis. And we have details about a live-stream for this Saturday’s Celebration of Live for longtime Missouri educator KENT COLLINS.

Hums

SCOTT HUMS, currently the interim news director for WTHR-TV, has been named Director of Content. He’s held the interim title since JEFF ROSETTI left the station in June after three years as news director and eleven years at the station. Before becoming interim ND, Scott was Director of Digital for the past seven years. He’d earlier held a similar role for WISH-TV in Indianapolis and at stations in Salt Lake City and South Bend. He began his career as a photographer.

Block

But wait, there’s more! WTHR also named NICOLE BLOCK as its new news director. She’s currently the Assistant News Director for CBS’s KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, and has worked in a number of large markets as you’ll see by checking out her Linkedin profile.

Here’s the station’s news release with more details about both Scott and Nicole.

Collins

One more item. In Sunday’s report on the Celebration of Life for the late Missouri Journalism Professor KENT COLLINS, I neglected to share that the event will be live-streamed for those who can not attend. Here’s the link. It is scheduled to begin at 2:00 (Central time) this Saturday, September 24th.

If you can attend in person, please let the family know by clicking here.

Have a great week!

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Anyone want to buy the rest of my Indianapolis Colts season tickets? (For non sports-fans, the team as gotten off to, shall we say, a VERY disappointing start.)

This will sound familiar as I wrote the very same words last week: Just ONE new opening, and we’ve removed THREE jobs from our list of open jobs for reasons I explain in the “Newly Named News Directors” section just below. (TWO of those are obvious: someone was hired.)

With those changes, our list drops to just 17 open ND jobs. ONE of those 19 jobs is our only Paid Help Wanted ad.

We do have an important UPDATE on details for the Celebration of Life for longtime Missouri Journalism Professor KENT COLLINS. The date and time are the same, but the location has moved (but not by much). That’s below.

THREE obituaries this week of people with widely dramatic backgrounds.

And as far as I know, NO GM changes this week.

And several items in Names in the News: some managers on the move and a longtime Indiana newsman on the mend.

Great to see some of you are RTDNA this week. Glad the weather cooperated!

Newly Named News Directors:

Keenan

KTVT/KTXA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…the first of our TWO UPDATES this week reported that SCOTT KEENAN is returning to this CBS o-and-o as VP/News Director. Scott was the Assistant AND here from 2004-2006. More recently, he’s been the Southwest Bureau Chief for CBS News in Dallas. Scott’s also worked in Chicago. He replaces LAURIE PASSMAN who’s moving to a new role as Director of Special Content after four years as ND and seven at the station.

Shelley

WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA…and our SECOND UPDATE broke the news that JONATHAN SHELLEY is returning to Louisiana as ND for this Manship owned ABC affiliate. He’s a former ND for WDSU-TV (NBC) in New Orleans from 2007-09 and has been ND for WPTA/WISE-TV in Ft. Wayne, IN,. from then until last month. He’s replacing his new boss, TREY SCHMALTZ who’s been promoted to GM.

And I’ve removed WLTZ-TV in Columbus, GA, from the list of stations looking for a new news director. Thanks to the loyal reader who tipped that WTVM-TV now produces news for WLTZ. And has been since 2020. Oops!

New News Director Opening:

Freeman

WEHT/WTVW-TV, Evansville, IN…BOB FREEMAN is retiring from this ABC/CW operation at the end of November. He’s been an ND in the market for 21 years including time as the ND for WFIE-TV across town. GM CURT MOLANDER broke the news to the staff in this email. Bob’s also worked in Louisville during his 43 year career. Nexstar owns WEHT and operates WTVW which is owned by Mission Broadcasting.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR:

NewsChannel 21, the legacy station in Bend, Oregon and the dominant news leader in Central Oregon has an exciting opportunity for someone to lead our news team as News Director. Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in America, Bend is a year-round tourist destination with plenty of recreational activities, nearby ski resort, numerous golf courses and world-famous breweries. We are family owned by News Press & Gazette, a diversified company committed to its people and properties.

The News Director will oversee and provide strategic direction to the station’s news operation consisting of broadcast and digital platforms. We are looking for a strong mentor and developer of staff that considers coaching a priority.

The ability to maximize resources, develop/manage departmental budget and make contributions on a larger scale as a member of the management team are some of the keys to success at the number one news station in Central Oregon.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary coach, and an effective communicator with a passion for the news business. We are bold and creative yet remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining the principles that have earned our community’s trust.

Candidates must have a degree in Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, or related field. In addition, a minimum of four years of newsroom or related managerial experience is a must.

Please apply online at KTVZ.com.