June | 2026 | Rick Gevers & Associates

June 29, 2026

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

I’m sorry to report the passing of a three-time news director…who may also be remembered for a unique story he did during his long ago reporting days.

Comings

RON COMINGS died yesterday, two weeks short of his 78th birthday. He lost his fight against bladder cancer which had metastasized to his bones. Ron served as a news director several stations, among them KXTV in Sacramento, KHON-TV in Honolulu and at KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, a job he left in 2015 after nine years when Nexstar laid off 18 people, including him, shortly after buying the station from Landmark.

He began his career as a photographer and later worked as a reporter in Orlando and Minneapolis. It was while he was working at WFTV in Orlando in 1979 that he covered what is widely believed to be the FIRST story of a water skiing squirrel.

After leaving KLAS, Ron worked as a realtor, teaming with his wife KERRI. (Full disclosure: Kerri was our realtor when we bought a small condo in Las Vegas in 2008.)

He also was an accomplished painter.

Arrangements are pending. We’ll be sure to share them with you when finalized.

We’ll have more on Ron’s life in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Apologies for the late delivery.

It’s a busy week, with THREE new NDs and THREE new openings, including TWO created by names you may recognize.

Our count of ND openings grows to 25.

BARRY NASH returns with some thoughts about something your producers and anchors may not be paying enough attention to. Click on his ad below to learn more.

There’s ONE obituary for a long-ago Spokane ND who had a long career with many stops.

For the first time in several weeks, some GM news to report, including a former TV GM named President and Publisher of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Also this week:

Tegna promotes FOUR executives, including ONE with a news background.
FOUR of the FIVE members of the IRE Executive Commitee are broadcasters. That’s unusual.

A reminder, again, that we always welcome your tips about items worthy of inclusion. Let me hear from you!

We’ll be back next week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Verosko

WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD…due to a filing error by me, we are late in reporting the April promotion of ANDREA VEROSKO to ND for this Sinclair FOX affiliate. Andrea has been here for 13 years, first as a producer and EP, and as the AND for the last five years. She replaces DAVID JOHNS. We told you in February that he moved within Sinclair to be Director of News and Operations after almost five years as ND.

Erikson

WFIE-TV, Evansville, IN…WARREN STEWART, the news director for WEVV-TV (CBS) in Evansville, will now assume additional duties as ND for this NBC affiliate. Gray, which already owned WFIE, recently acquired WEVV from Allen Media, EMILY ERIKSON who had been the ND here, is leaving. Her note to the staff says she has decided to step away and mentions her grandmother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s. Emily’s a former ND and anchor in Meridian, MS.

Ratliff

KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID…SETH RATLIFF has been promoted from Digital Content Director to News Director for this News Press & Gazette owned ABC-CBS-FOX operation. GM KALVIN PIKE kindly sent me this email with details about Seth AND the search the station conducted. Seth’s station bio is here. At KIFI, he replaces another Seth, SETH RANDAL, who left in May after two years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Moore

WREG-TV, Memphis, TN…after a 20+ year career leading the newsroom for this now-owned-by-Nexstar CBS affiliate, BRUCE MOORE left the station on Friday. He sent this note to the staff and posted this longer note on his Facebook page. Bruce began his career as a reporter in Chattanooga, moved as a reporter to Norfolk where he first moved into management as the Assistant News Director before moving to Memphis.

Cuevas

WWAY-TV, Wilmington, NC…after almost six years as ND in her second stint here, MARCY CUEVAS took to Linkedin to report she is leaving. In that post, she teases (but does not reveal) a new job which she will start next month. She was an anchor there for more than 12 years, took a short break, and returned in management, first as a producer, then managing editor before becoming ND.

Hume

KOSA-TV, Odessa/Midland, TX…veteran news director CRAIG HUME has left this Gray Media station after less than a year as ND. Many of you have likely crossed paths with Craig who’s held ND jobs in markets large (Los Angeles and Chicago) and small. His Linkedin page tells the whole story. Super-sub STEVE ACKERMANN will journey across Texas to fill in while the search goes on for Craig’s successor.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. There’s no better place to advertise your news management openings. Email me for details.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 6/7/26)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC listed 5/25/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 5/17/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 5/25/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/10/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (Boston market) (listed 5/17/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 6/21/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 6/7/26)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/19/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 5/17/26)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Lifestyle Show EP, listed 6/7/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 5/17/26)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/17/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 6/21/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/19/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/21/26)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 5/17/26)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 5/17/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 5/17/26)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/7/26)
WBBH-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 5/17/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 5/17/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 6/21/26)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 4/19/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 5/17/26)
WFXR/WWCW-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 6/7/26)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 5/25/26)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 6/21/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 6/14/26)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/2/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/7/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 6/28/26:

WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 6/19/26:

KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)

Listed 5/31/26:

Hubbard DC, Washington, DC (Market President)

Listed 5/25/26:

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (General Manager)
Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (Executive Reporter)

Listed 5/3/26:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Producer, Nighttime Newscast)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Newscast Producer)

Relisted 4/19/26:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)

Listed 4/12/26:

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (GM of Student Broadcast Media and Instructor)

Obituary:

We just learned (thanks to a tip from a loyal reader) of the February death of BOB MELISSO at the age of 72. You’ll learn in this obituary that he had many jobs both in local and network television news, and a long career in documentary production. His local news career included time as the ND for KREM-TV in Spokane and stops in Los Angeles and other markets. His Linkedin page has more details on his career.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

RAQUEL AMPARO has been named SVP of Content for Tegna. She’s been the VP/Content for the Tegna stations in Texas. Hers was one of four promotions announced this week. Raquel is a former General Manager for CBS’s KTVT/KTXA-TV in Dallas and previously was Vice President/News for the Univision station in Dallas.

The IRE Board of Directors re-elected JOSH HINKLE, an investigative reporter at Nexstar’s KXAN-TV (NBC) in Austin, TX, as President. In a bit of a change for the organization, FOUR of the five members of the executive committees are broadcasters. Meet the rest of the executive committee by clicking here.

General Manager News and Notes:

After a few slow weeks, some GM and upper level management changes to report:

Friday was PAUL CURRAN‘s last day as SVP & GM of Cox Media. He’s headed to Cox’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution as President and Publisher. Paul’s a former EVP of Cox Television and a one-time GM for WFTV (ABC) in Orlando. He had some thoughts on his Linkedin page.

GARY YODER is retiring next Friday. He”s currently a regional GM for Allen Media’s stations in Lafayette, Terre Haute, and Fort Wayne, IN. Gary’s also run stations in Toledo and Mobile, AL.

ANNIE CORDELL has been named GM for Gray Media’s WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, June 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
KGO-TV 900 Front St, San Francisco, CA 94111
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
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WLKY-TV 1918 Mellwood Ave. Louisville, KY 40206
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
WREG-TV 803 Channel 3 Drive, Memphis, TN 38103
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KAKE-TV 1500 N. West St. Wichita, KS 67203
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
WHBF-TV 231 18th St. Rock Island, IL 61201
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KOSA-TV 4101 E 42nd St #J7, Odessa, TX 79762
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8 Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

June 22, 2026

Sunday, June 28, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Due to travel, this week’s newsletter will be posted sometime early Monday afternoon.

Apologies…

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Thanks to those of you who reached out with tips after a slow week of news last time. Thanks to our readers, we have lots of news this week.

TWO new news directors were named this week, with TWO new openings

Our count of ND openings grows to 24.

TWO obituaries, including one of a former two-time network correspondent who was a key character in a (to me, at least) fascinating 1977 magazine article called The Great St. Louis Street Fight. (Fascinating to me because I started working in St. Louis shortly after it was published.)

Again this week, NO general manager changes that I am aware of.

Also this week:

Near record attendance at this week’s IRE convention. It’s always a great conference and terrific to see old friends and meet new ones.
Members chose new board of director members, with a growing representation by broadcasters.
The conference was not without controversy coming out of an NBC meeting on Wednesday.
A local newspaper goes in-depth on DuJUAN McCOY, head of Circle City Broadcasting which owns TWO Indianapolis TV stations.
And we have news about managers taking new jobs.

A reminder, again, that we always welcome your tips about items worthy of inclusion. Let me hear from you!

We’ll be back next week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Gibilisco

KREM-TV, Spokane, WA…STEPHANIE RUIZ GIBILISCO returns to this Tegna/CBS affiliate as its next ND. Here’s the memo from Tegna’s JULIE WOLFE, VP/Content West. Stephanie’s been working out of TV for the last three years, but earlier had been both Assistant ND and EP there. Stephanie’s also worked in Omaha, Tucson, and Lincoln, NE. At KREM, she replaces JESSIE KANE who decided to step away from local news. She was ND here for six years.

WLFI-TV, Lafayette, IN…according to her Linkedin page, JANICE O’SHEA is the new news director for this recently acquired by Gray Media CBS affiliate. She’s also worked in Indianapolis.

New News Director Openings:

Tracey

KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA…TRACEY WATKOWSI is leaving this ABC o-and-o after 14 years as news director and an earlier seven years as the Assistant ND. Here are the memos that GM DAVID WURTZEL and Tracy sent the staff. Her time at KGO was split by her 5 1/2 years as ND for sister o-and-o KFSN-TV in Fresno. She also worked in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and at CNN in Atlanta.

Dancy

KNBN-TV, Rapid City, SD…CHRIS DANCY is retiring after just over ten years at this Forum Communications NBC affiliate. He began his career working for NBC NewsChannel, both in Charlotte and the Washington bureau for more than ten years. and spent the next 14 years working in PR for two aviation associations. Some of you may remember Chris’ father, JOHN DANCY, a longtime NBC correspondent.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. There’s no better place to advertise your news management openings. Email me for details.