March | 2026 | Rick Gevers & Associates

March 29, 2026

Greetings:

Hope you enjoyed some pretty interesting college basketball games this weekend, leading up to the Final Four next week, held about one mile from our world headquarters here in Indianapolis.

And let me save you an email. I can NOT help you with tickets.

I might be able to suggest restaurants, though many of the closest and best places are already booked.

On to our normal business. ONE new news director job was filled…and it was open less than two weeks. THREE new ND openings, one of which has been open quite a while. There are now 26 stations on our list of places without a news director.

We have ONE paid ad for one of those new openings.

Talent coach BARRY NASH returns with a column about authenticity.

And Octopus Newsrooms is back as a supporter of this newsletter. Change is making moves all across the TV news business, especially in the U.S. Octopus Newsroom has the technology to keep Newsrooms in Motion. See their ad below and see it in person in Vegas at NAB.

We have more on the death of IRE Executive Director DIANA FUENTES, including the cause of the death and details about her funeral yesterday.

And check out these other items:

A federal judge has paused the Nexstar-Tegna deal.
BIG changes in the Tulsa TV news landscape
WENDY McMAHON does her first big interview since leaving CBS.
A 42 year broadcaster turned 16 year politician won’t run for re-election.

All that and more…and see you next week in Indianapolis!

Newly Named News Directors:

Ana H.

WNBC/WJNU-TV, New York, NY…the opening for a news director at this NBC/Telemundo duopoly wasn’t open long. ANA HERNANDEZ moves within NBC (she’d been ND for Telemundo’s WWSI-TV in Philadelphia since 2019.) She replaces DAVE MANNEY who was promoted to VP/News earlier this month, replacing Senior VP/News AMY MORRIS whose job was eliminated. Manney sent this note to staff. New: the NBC release. Ana’s also worked in Puerto Rico.

New News Director Openings:

WPVI-TV, Philadelphia, PA…TOM DAVIS has left this ABC o-and-o after almost 15 years as ND following seven years as the Assistant ND. I’m told he had an off-site meeting with a network executive and did not return. A local website, Crossing Broad has more, and kudos to them for (and shame on me for not) using the headline The Big Story on Action News is…a play on how WPVI started its newscasts for many years.

Elias

KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA…this Cowles owned NBC affiliate is looking for a new news director to replace MATT ELIAS, (right) who left last month. Matt was there a little less than two years. You can learn more about this opportunity by checking out the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.

WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL…the search is on for a news director for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. SHAUN NEWELL had been serving as both General Manager and News Director, but he lost his battle with cancer last October at the age of 47. The last full time news director was ANDREW HARVEY but his position was eliminated in 2024,

Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA:

LEAD A WINNING STATION

KNDU is the number one newsroom in Washington’s Tri-Cities and Yakima markets. We are a dominant NBC affiliate and we need a News Director who’s ready to win and keep winning. If you believe in winning with Breaking News in a LIVE streaming environment, strong storytelling, and leading a team that takes pride in being the best, this is your opportunity.

Are you tired of the corporate news structure? The layers, the limitations, the feeling that decisions are made somewhere far away? We’re a family-owned company that believes in giving you the tools to win. You’ll have the autonomy to lead, innovate, and build a newsroom culture that reflects your vision while working with a team that’s already proven it knows how to succeed.

This is a winning team who want to continue to improve through constructive feedback and positive reinforcement.

This is a newsroom with momentum, in a market that matters, backed by a company that values people over process.

If you’re ready to lead from the front and make an impact every day, we want to hear from you.

Click here to apply and learn more about the job

Position Pay: $81,000-$90,000 DOE + Signing Bonus

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 2/22/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 1/25/26)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/15/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 3/8/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 2/8/26)
WXOW-TV, Wausau, WI (listed 3/22/26)
KWES-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX (listed 3/1/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Sports EP, listed 3/29/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 3/15/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 2/15/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/15/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/22/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 3/15/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 3/15/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/22/26)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (Special Projects EP, listed 3/8/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 3/15/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 3/15/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 3/15/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 3/15/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 3/29/26)
WTEN/WXXA-TV, Albany, NY (Lifestyle show EP, listed 3/29/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (Morning EP, relisted 2/22/26)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Evening EP, listed 3/29/26)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 3/15/26)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (listed 3/22/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 3/15/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 3/15/26)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, relisted 3/15/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 3/8/26:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/1/26:

WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Content Manager)

Listed 2/22/26:

KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)

Listed 2/15/26:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)

Obituary:

Fuentes

Funeral services for IRE Executive Director DIANA FUENTES were yesterday in Del Rio, TX. She died March 20th in Washington, DC. IRE Presdient JOSH HINKLE was among the eulogists and posted his remarks on his Linkedin page. The San Antonio Express News (where Diana served as an editor before joining IRE) published this tribute, while Journal-isms.com had more, including the cause of death.

You can donate to IRE in Diana’s memory by clicking here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

A federal judge in California has issued a temporary restraining order pausing the merger between Nexstar and Tegna. Issued Friday, it orders the companies to pause any integration until a hearing in early April.

McMahon

Former CBS News and Stations CEO WENDY McMAHON has given her first detailed interview since leaving that job. You can read it here in Marie Claire magazine. In a tease for the interview, the magazine says McMahon gets candid about her exit, Bari Weiss and the future of news.

Big changes in Tulsa broadcasting as Sinclair consolidates the newsrooms at KOKI-TV and KTUL-TV. Complete details in this story from The Desk.

Taylor

He began as a reporter, then an anchor, then an ND and then a consultant who started several companies, and then a politician. Now, BILL TAYLOR says he will not run for re-election to a State House seat in South Carolina that he’s held for 16 years. Befitting a former TV guy, he posted the news via a YouTube video. For you younger readers who don’t know Bill (and for older ones whose memory is shot) Bill shared his bio with me.

General Manager News and Notes:

JENNY OLSZEWSKI is the new GM for KLAX-TV in Alexandria, LA. She’s the former GM of KIEM-TV in Eureka, CA.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 29, 2026:

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

WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1001 Highlands Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
KWEX-TV 12451 Network Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78249 **
KWTV 100 West Main, #100, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way. Jackson, MS 39209
WNDU-TV 54516 State Road 933, South Bend, IN 46637
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336 (see ad above!)
WMBD-TV 3131 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KSNT/KTKA-TV 6835 NW HWY 24 Topeka, Kansas 66618
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WLUC-TV 177 US-41 East, Negaunee, MI 49866
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

March 22, 2026

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The search for a duopoly news director in the number one market didn’t take very long.

Ana H.

ANA HERNANDEZ will be the new duopoly news director for WNBC/WNJU-TV (NBC/Telemundo) in New York. She’ll report to VP/News DAVE MANNEY, who sent this note to the staff. We told you last week that Dave is new to that role, appointed after the job of Senior VP/News, held by AMY MORRIS, was eliminated.

For the last 6 1/2 years Ana has been the ND for sister Telemundo station WWSI-TV in Philadelphia, where she began as the Assistant ND. She’s also worked for Telemundo in Puerto Rico.

We’ll be back on Sunday with all the week’s news.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, March 23, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A long tenured news director at a network o-and-o in a top five market abruptly left his job late last week.

Davis

TOM DAVIS, who’d been the ND for ABC’s WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, left the station Thursday. I’m told he had an off-site meeting with a network executive and did not return. Later, CHAD MATTHEWS, president of the ABC television stations, sent staff a note saying that Tom had ‘made the decision to leave 6 ABC’, where he’d been ND since 2011 and the assistant ND for seven years before that. He also worked in Washington, DC, Cleveland, and Youngstown, OH.

Of note: WPVI is currently without a general manager following the retirement of BERNIE PRAZENICA who left the station in January after 17 years as GM and more than 40 at the station.

On another front, as promised in last night’s newsletter, the full obituary for former news director GEORGE TYLL has been updated. When you read it, you’ll learn that George was a news director in five different markets. He retired from broadcasting in 1977 and bought a fence business in Orlando, one of the markets where he had been a news director.

Finally, apologies to WLKY-TV (Louisville/Hearst/CBS) GM GLENN HAYGOOD whose name I misspelled in the emailed version of the newsletter last night.

Have a good week, and we’ll see you Sunday with all the week’s news.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

We have ND changes in the top TWO markets this week where long tenured news managers were eased out. A CBS o-and-o gets a new ND in market #20. And there are TWO new openings, bringing out count of open ND jobs to 24.

It’s the last week for the ONE paid ad for an opportunity at a family owned company in Oklahoma.

We have more on Friday’s death of IRE Executive Director DIANA FUENTES and details about the death of a long ago Ohio and Florida ND.

And check out these other items:

You should know by now the the FCC okayed the Nexstar/Tegna deal.
TWO of last week’s Oscar winners have TV news connections.
A federal judge sends a lawsuit by a fired Michigan ND to trial.
A former ND turned GM turned newspaper guy announces his retirement.
His replacement also has TV news experience.
A Hearst GM retires after 18 years at his at his station.
And a Dallas Assistant ND leaves after 13 years.

All that and more…read it during basketball timeouts!

Newly Named News Directors:

Manney

WNBC/WJNU-TV, New York, NY…lots of changes. DAVE MANNEY has been promoted to VP/News for this NBC-Telemundo duopoly. He’s been the ND for WNBC since 2023, returning in 2016 as EP of Investigations, following two years as ND for WXYZ-TV in Detroit. But Senior VP/News AMY MORRIS’s job was eliminated and she left on Friday. Here are emails from GM ERIC LERNER and Amy. The search is on for a news director for both stations.

Godinez

KMEX-TV, Los Angeles, CA…LUIS FELIPE GODINEZ has been named VP/News Director for this Univision owned station. I believe he’s currently the ND for Univision’s WGBO-TV in Chicago (though the release announcing his new job was unclear about that). We told you just Wednesday that MARCO FLORES had left KMEX after 15 years at the station and ten years at a Univision station in Phoenix.

Rates

KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA…SCOTT RATES returns to a ND job at this CBS owned CBS/independent operation. He’a a former ND at KION-TV in Monterrey but has been working the last five months as a bureau reporter for sister CBS owned KPIX-TV in San Francisco. He’s also been an ND in Eureka, CA. Scott replaces PETE SAIERS. We told you in October that Pete would leave in January.

New News Director Openings:

Tucker

WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN…another week, another veteran Nexstar ND is retiring. Here’s it’s ELBERT TUCKER who will have been here ten years when he leaves in June. Here’s GM MIKE SPRUIIL’s note to the staff and Elbert’s note that he posted to Facebook. He’s been a news director in Indianapolis, Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati and also worked in a few other markets according to his Linkedin page.

WLUC-TV, Marquette, MI…this Gray Media owned NBC/FOX affiliate has an opening for ND. My records show that SHANNON KONOSKE had been promoted from Assistant ND to ND…last July.

Help Wanted Ads:

Director of Local Content, KWTV, Oklahoma City, OK:

The best News Director job in America has just opened.

Griffin Media is seeking a Director of Local Content for KWTV News 9 in Oklahoma City.

KWTV is one of the most ambitious newsrooms in the country, with unmatched resources, a deeply engaged audience, polished talent, and local ownership that believes in the power of local journalism. We invest in content and expect to lead on every platform.

The Director of Local Content will lead our newsroom across broadcast, digital, streaming, and social. This role demands both strategic vision and strong daily execution. You will build and drive a long-term content strategy that strengthens our Oklahoma’s Own brand, grows audience everywhere, and upholds the highest journalistic standards. You will shape culture, develop leaders, and set the tone for excellence.

Weather isn’t a segment here; it’s a mission. As a legacy weather pioneer in the heart of Tornado Alley, we treat every forecast as consequential and every storm as breaking news. Our coverage is powered by an experienced team of meteorologists, a dedicated unit of storm chasers, and our own news chopper delivering critical coverage when viewers need us most.

The ideal candidate is a humble, proven newsroom leader who builds high-performing teams, embraces innovation, and understands that strong people drive strong performance.

If you’re ready to lead with urgency and compete to win every day, come build the future of local journalism with us.

Click here for more details and to apply.