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September 27, 2026

Greetings:

THREE new news directors, TWO new openings and the count of open ND jobs (please, no wagering) drops to 27.

We told you about TWO of those new NDs in a Tuesday UPDATE.

  • Thanks for those of you who provided details about the passing of former ND and GM MIKE CREW. Details below.
  • We also have an obit for a former Philadelphia ND who seems to have had a heckuva career spanning newspapers, local news, AND network.
  • Several news management jobs have been filled.
  • A longtime Scripps GM gets a promotion.
  • And HANK PRICE has a nominee for the broadcaster with the toughest job in America.

All that and more as you read on!

Newly Named News Directors:

Williams

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…JESSIE WILLIAMS joins this ABC affiliate as ND. She’ll also supervise NDs at Scripps stations in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. Here’s the memo from Regional VP KATHLEEN CHOAL. Jessie is currently Senior Director of News for Scripps’ KTNV-TV (ABC) in Las Vegas. At KMGH, she replaces MEGAN (JURGEMEYER) McRAE who left way back in February.

Buckley

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI…in another Scripps move you learned about in our Tuesday UPDATE, NICOLE BUCKLEY has been promoted from Editorial Director to ND for this NBC affiliate. (I’m told that editorial director is similar to Assistant ND.) New this edition: the staff memo from Regional VP JOE POSS. More on Nicole from her station bio. She replaces TIM VETSCHER who is stepping down after 5+ years as ND.

Beard

KOKI/KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK…LEISHA BEARD achieved her goal of working closer to home (Joplin, MO) as she is now the news director for this Sinclair owned duopoly. When Leisha left her job as ND for KTXL-TV (FOX/Nexstar) in Sacramento last month after 2+ years there, we told you she wanted to be closer to family. And now she is. She’s also been an ND in Harrisburg, PA, and worked for 17 years in Joplin, 12 as ND.

New News Director Openings:

KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…this ABC affiliate is looking for a Senior Director of News to replace JESSIE WILLIAMS. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because we reported a few paragraphs above that she’s headed to Denver as ND for KMGH-TV. She’ll also supervise NDs at Scripps stations in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction.

Dodd

KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA…LAWTON DODD has left this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate after just seven months as news director. He’s also had short stints as an ND in Peoria, and Eugene, OR, but spent 22 years as ND for Hearst’s KSBW-TV in Monterey, CA. His entire career, with jobs both in TV and out of the newsroom, is explained in his Linkedin page.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/27/26:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KING-TV, Seattle, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
WOI/KCWI-TV, Des Moines, IA (Story Desk Manager)
KWNA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 7/26/26:

E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)

Obituaries:

Crew

Former GM and ND MIKE CREW died last month after a long illness. Thanks for those of you who responded to my request for details last week. A loyal reader talked with Mike’s widow and sent me these details. Mike was GM for News 24 in Houston from 2000-2003, a joint venture of Time Warner and Belo. He also held news director jobs in Orlando, Syracuse, Jacksonville, FL, and worked in several large markets.

Warwick

NED WARWICK, a one-time ND for Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV (ABC), died Monday, September 14, at the age of 81. This obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer details a very interesting career. In addition to working for WPVI, he served as news director for WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, worked for several Philadelphia newspapers, and spent five years as ABC’s director of news operations for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

At Univision’s WGBO-TV in Chicago, CHRISTIAN VALTER RODRÍGUEZ has been promoted to executive producer. He’d been a producer there.

RUSSELL HAYTHORN has been promoted from executive reporter to Assistant ND at KMGH-TV in Denver.

CHRIS FORD has joined Cox Media’s WFTV (ABC) in Orlando as EP of Special Projects. He’s a former ND in Rochester, NY, and has held a number of other jobs in many markets around the country.

You think your job is tough. (It probably is!) But HANK PRICE thinks he’s found someone with the toughest job in America. Here’s his column.

General Manager News and Notes:

ANITA HELT has been promoted to Vice President of Local Media for Scripps, overseeing stations in Arizona, Texas, California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana. She first joined the company in 2011 as GM for KNXV-TV (ABC) in Phoenix. She’d earlier been a GM for KXTV in Sacramento and had worked as VP Marketing and Programming for KPNX-TV in Phoenix.

In her post above, Anita tells us that JOHN COOK will replace her as regional GM for stations in Phoenix, Tucson, Corpus Christi, and Waco, TX.

And in San Diego, MARIANGELA PRETTO has been promoted to KBNT-TV, the Entravision owned Univision affiliate there.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 27, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89102
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
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
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

September 20, 2026

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Scripps fills two open ND positions, and we have a make good for an editing error we made over the weekend.

Williams

JESSIE WILLIAMS moves to Colorado where she’ll be the regional ND for three Scripps stations. She’ll be the ND for KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver and will supervise NDs at Scripps stations KOAA/KKTV in Colorado Springs-Pueblo, and KKCO-TV in Grand Junction. Here’s the email from Regional VP KATHLEEN CHOAL. Jessie is currently the Senior Director of News for Scripps’ KTNV-TV (ABC) in Las Vegas. She earlier was ND for the company’s WSYM-TV in Lansing and an EP for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. She replaces MEGAN (JURGEMEYER) McRAE who left way back in February.

Buckley

And speaking of WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee, editorial director (similar to assistant news director) NICOLE BUCKLEY has been promoted to news director there. She’s an eleven year veteran of the station who’s held several different jobs. Learn more about Nicole and her background in her station profile. Nicole replaces TIM VETSCHER. We told you earlier this month that he was stepping away after 5+ years as ND. His note to staff explained why he was leaving.

Finally, apologies to our friend BARRY NASH. Due to an editing error in only our emailed version (probably shouldn’t be writing the newsletter when the Colts are coughing one up on Sunday Night Football) I failed to include the link to his column on the lessons learned…both personal and professional…when your house burns down. Click on the image below for his column. It’s worth your time.

Barring further updates, we’ll be back Sunday with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Obviously the big news of the week was the tragic crash of KNBC-TV‘s helicopter, killing the pilot and a reporter on board, and a passerby on the ground. Reporter ELIANA MORENO and pilot GEORGE MARCINIW died. Both worked for Angel City Air, a helicopter provider.

Here’s a link to the station’s website and its continuing coverage page, with many stories.

In addition, these items of interest on the crash.

Our sympathy to everyone involved.

To our normal business, with just ONE new news director to report and NO new openings. Thus, our list of open ND positions drops to 28.

  • We have an obituary for a long ago Arkansas anchor and ND.
  • A longtime Houston news man is retiring after 42 years at his station.
  • A Florida man (couldn’t resist) is moving across the state for a new job.
  • And a changing of interim NDs in Washington with names you probably know.

Also, I am told that former news director MIKE CREW has passed, but am unable to confirm or find any details on his passing. If any readers can provide more information I’ll share it next week.

Have a great week.

Newly Named News Director:

WWAY-TV, Wilmington, NC…ANDREW BANAS leaves New York State for North Carolina and the news director job at this Morris Multimedia owned ABC/CBS/CW operation. He’s been the Assistant ND for WROC-TV (Nexstar/CBS) in Rochester, NY. He replaces MARCY CUEVAS who left earlier this summer after six years as ND (and 12 at the station) for a PR job with Cape Fear Community College.

New News Director Openings:

I’m not aware of any new openings this week. Please let me know if I’ve missed anything.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/20/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/2/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 7/26/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 7/2t/26:

E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)

Obituary:

Gaddy

KAYE BANES GADDY, a long ago news director and anchor for KPOM-TV in Ft. Smith, AR, died last Sunday. She was 87 years old. She worked in a number of Texas markets, including KTVT-TV in Dallas where she anchored and midday and evening news, according to this obituary. She had many other jobs outside of television after leaving the newsroom.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Bishop

After 47 years in our business, 42 of them at one station, BILL BISHOP is retiring. He’s been the managing editor for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston in the latest of a wide variety of jobs there. The station honored him here.

MARTIN GONZALEZ moved across Florida to fill one of the vacant EP openings at WINK-TV (CBS) in Ft. Myers. He had been working at WPTV in West Palm Beach where he worked with WINK Chief of News and Content Strategy KATHY REYNOLDS when she was the Executive ND there. One more EP has been hired and will be announced later.

And a changing of the guard…or at least the interim news director job…at Nexstar’s WDCW/WDVM-TV, branded as DC NEWS NOW in Washington,. Former Orlando, Raleigh, Tulsa, and Little Rock ND ED TRAUSCHKE has been filling in there for the last nine months. He’s returning to retirement and is being replaced in the interim role by STEVE ACKERMANN, (on the left in the picture below) the latest in a series of interim jobs for Steve, who posted this on Linkedin.

General Manager News and Notes:

Diener

Tuesday’s UPDATE brought first word that SCOTT DIENER is coming out of retirement to become GM for KOMU-TV (NBC) in Columbia. That’s owned by the University of Missouri and where Scott began his career.. Scott retired last summer after nine years as ND for KMOV-TV (CBS) in St. Louis, the last of his many jobs during his career. He’s just the FOURTH GM in the last 52 years for the station.

NJPBS, now operated by Montclair State University, filled SIX key positions, including GM and ND, as it prepares to launch programming on October 1. Details about the hires…and the operation…in this news release.

Gray Media has upped RONNA (CORRENTE) STEBER to Chief Revenue Officer. Ronna has held several upper management jobs for Gray and also served as GM for several of the company’s stations.

TIM MALONEY, a 20 year veteran of the station, has been promoted to GM and Director of Sales for Gray’s WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, KY.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 20, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203 (Regional ND for CO)
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
WTMJ-TV 20 E Capitol Dr Milwaukee, WI 53212 (internal candidates only)
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
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
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

September 13, 2026

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A veteran news director comes out of retirement to take the GM job at the station where he began his career.

Diener

SCOTT DIENER has been named General Manager for KOMU-TV (NBC) in Columbia, MO, the University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate. Most of you probably know that’s where journalism school students produce multiple newscasts a day (with, obviously, faculty and staff supervision). Scott, of course, is a Missouri alum.

More details about Scott, his new job, and his career history in this news release.

Scott most recently was the ND for Gray’s KMOV-TV in St. Louis, a job from which he ‘retired’ in the summer of 2025. That was his seventh ND job across a career which included ND stops in several large markets, including Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco and Phoenix. The full story is in his Linkedin page.

Remarkably, Scott becomes just the fourth GM at KOMU in more than 50 years, following TOM GRAY (1974-1998), MARTY SIDDALL (1999-2017) and MATT GARRETT, who is retiring after nine years on the job.

You can send a note of congratulations to Scott via an email here.

We’ll be back next Sunday barring any other updates.

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

TWO new news directors were named this, with both leaving current jobs, meaning we have TWO new openings.

Our count of open ND jobs remains at 29.

Check out our paid ad for a management job in a beautiful place to live. That’s below.

Also this week:

We have an obituary for the son of a longtime Hearst executive who many of our, uh, seasoned readers will remember.

Scripps is making more changes with GM’s running multiple stations, and eliminating more than two dozen jobs.

And we have several articles of interest:

  • The NY Times reviews the ‘new’ 60 Minutes which debuted tonight/
  • RTDNA says TV news employment declines again.
  • How four different companies are using very different tactics to battle changes in the business.
  • A Houston station becomes the latest to change its late news format.
  • Tips on how to change your content and improve your news marketing since breaking news is, in the author’s opinion, just a commodity.
  • Is CBS moving away from branding its o-and-o stations as CBS News (Location)?

Have a great week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Talley

WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA…a move within Tegna sends ASHLEY TALLEY to The Big Easy. Ashley is currently the news director for Tegna’s WZZM-TV (ABC) in Grand Rapids, MI, one of several jobs she’s held within Tegna. Her Linkedin page tells all. Ashley replaces NICOLE (WAIVERS) EVERAGE. We told you in July that Nicole was leaving this CBS affiliate after 3+ years as ND.

Shill

WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…KRISTEN SHILL crosses the street to become the next news director for this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate. She’s worked at now-owned-by-Allen-Media’s WQOW-TV for almost 14 years, starting as an audio operator and video editor, and the last 7+ as news director. At WEAU, she replaces RUDY MURIETTA who left the station late last month after less than a year as news director.

New News Director Openings:

While not a new opening, please note that Scripps has reclassified the opening at its Denver station, KMGH-TV (ABC). It is now a Regional News Director position for all the Scripps Colorado stations (Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction).

WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…you learned above that ASHLEY TALLEY is moving within Tegna to become ND for WWL-TV in New Orleans. Ashley was at the ABC affiliate for about a year.

WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI...and if you were paying attention, you also learned above that KRISTEN SHILL is crossing the street, leaving this Allen Media station (after 7+ years as ND) to become ND for WEAU-TV, the NBC affiliate owned by Gray.

Help Wanted Ad:

Assistant News Director, KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:

KRDO13 is looking for an ambitious news leader to help drive coverage at the #1 station in Colorado Springs. This is a chance to make a real impact in a high-performing newsroom where local, live news, great people and winning still matter.

You’ll be at the center of the action each day, setting the tone and pushing beyond the obvious to set us apart. We want a leader who isn’t afraid to take chances, think bigger and be EXTRA when it comes to great journalism.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a true people person who knows how to coach and develop journalists at every level. And you won’t do it alone. You’ll have a talented management team at your side, ready to help you win the day.

KRDO13 is part of News-Press & Gazette, a rare family-owned media company that values stability, people and local journalism.

This is a high-profile opportunity to lead a winning newsroom in one of the country’s most desirable places to live.

Click here to apply!

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26, see ad above!)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 8/30/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/2/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/12/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 7/19/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 7/26/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 7/2t/26:

E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)

Listed 7/12/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Manager of Coverage and Content)

Obituary:

J. Young

JONATHAN YOUNG, son of longtime Hearst executive FRED YOUNG, died suddenly last month. He was 61 years old and is survived by his wife and two children. Jonathan was an attorney for Neighborhood Legal Services in Pittsburgh, which mourned his passing here. Many of our older readers will remember Fred, who retired in 2008 as Senior VP/News for Hearst, after 46 years with the company. More on Fred’s career here. You can send a kind note to Fred here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

No ‘names in the news’ per se this week, but I found several articles that I hope you will find interesting.

The New York Times reviews tonight’s 59th season premiere of 60 Minutes.

RTDNA reports that employment in local TV news continues to decline.

TVNewscheck analyzes four different companies and their very different approaches to the future of local TV.

Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF takes a long look at what KPRC-TV(Graham Media/NBC) is doing to differentiate its 10:00 PM broadcast.

TVNewscheck columnist TODD WISEMAN says ‘breaking news’ is a commodity and that stations need to improve both content and marketing that content.

And old friend KIRK VARNER (who clearly watches a lot of TV for a guy who is retired) found something which makes him wonder if CBS is getting away from its policy of branding its o-and-o’s as CBS News (Location).

General Manager News and Notes:

More changes at Scripps this week, which resulted in the elimination of 27 jobs in what the company calls ‘local market and sales leadership’ positions.

The company is dividing its stations into 11 regions which will have GMs overseeing between 2-4 stations. The company’s news release names those regions and ten of the 11 GMs (one TBA). And here’s more on the changes from thedesk.net

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 13, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203 (Regional ND for CO)
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
WTMJ-TV 20 E Capitol Dr Milwaukee, WI 53212 (internal candidates only)
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
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
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

September 7, 2026

Greetings:

Much of this week’s news coverage will involve the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Longtime readers know that the 2001 (then) RTNDA convention was scheduled that week in Nashville. It had a huge impact on the organization, as it did, of course, to the country.

Priddy

Two time RTDNA Chair BOB PRIDDY was already in Nashville for the convention and has shared his extensive notes from the day that changed RTDNA and America. It’s long and includes perspective about the day’s events. Click here to read it.

On to our normal business, with perhaps a little more activity than expected for the week before a holiday.

THREE new news directors were named, with ONE job opening up (sorta). We’ll explain.

Those changes bring our count of open ND jobs to 29.

We have a new ad for an Assistant ND opening in a beautiful place to live. That’s below, along with an ad for ONE of those 29 open ND jobs.

TWO veteran GMs are retiring, and ONE new GM was named for an opening we first reported last week.

Also this week, imagine this nightmare: You’re boarding a flight home when your wife calls with this chilling message: “Our house is on fire.”

And then the flight attendant announces there is no WiFi service on the flight.

That’s what happened to our friend and longtime newsletter supporter BARRY NASH.

I encourage you to read his account just below for both the personal and professional lessons learned.

Newly Named News Directors:

Nwosu

WPVI-TV, Philadelphia, PA…NNEKA NWOSU returns to her native Philadelphia as VP/News for the ABC o-and-o. She’s been the VP/Marketing and Local Programming for WLS-TV in Chicago, first joining as Assistant ND in 2022 after eight years in a variety of roles at WCVB-TV in Boston. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more. Nneka replaces TOM DAVIS who ‘resigned’ in March after failing to return from a lunch with a network executive. Tom was ND here for 15 years.

Tina C.

WREG-TV, Memphis, TN…TINA COMMODORE returns to the ND chair at this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. She most recently was ND for Cox’s WFTV (ABC) in Orlando, a job she left in May, 2025. Tina was also a news director for Cox’s KOKI-TV (FOX) in Tulsa. Her Linkedin page details her complete career history. At WREG, she replaces BRUCE MOORE who retired in June after more than 20 years as ND.

Warden

KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA…BETH WARDEN moves from one Sioux (Sioux Falls), where she was an investigative reporter at KSFY-TV, to another Sioux (Sioux City) and from investigative reporter to ND for this Nexstar owned ABC station. Here’s the note from GM MARI OSSENFORT. Beth’s background is different than many. Check out her Linkedin page to see if you agree. She replaces ANDY BOTTGER who left last month after four years as ND and 13 at the station.

New News Director Openings:

Vetscher

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI…Wednesday’s UPDATE first told you that TIM VETSCHER is stepping down as ND for this Scripps owned NBC affiliate. Click on this link to read both Tim’s note to the staff and the one from GM JOE POSS. Tim’s been ND for 5+ years and worked here for seven. We are adding the opening to our list before, but we are told it is only being posted internally within Scripps.

And a reminder to check out the paid help wanted ad below for the ND opening at Gray’s KOLD-TV in Tucson.

Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:

KRDO13 is looking for an ambitious news leader to help drive coverage at the #1 station in Colorado Springs. This is a chance to make a real impact in a high-performing newsroom where local, live news, great people and winning still matter.

You’ll be at the center of the action each day, setting the tone and pushing beyond the obvious to set us apart. We want a leader who isn’t afraid to take chances, think bigger and be EXTRA when it comes to great journalism.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a true people person who knows how to coach and develop journalists at every level. And you won’t do it alone. You’ll have a talented management team at your side, ready to help you win the day.

KRDO13 is part of News-Press & Gazette, a rare family-owned media company that values stability, people and local journalism.

This is a high-profile opportunity to lead a winning newsroom in one of the country’s most desirable places to live.

Click here to apply!

News Director, KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ:

Are you a high-energy leader ready to lead Tucson’s #1 news station into a digital-first future? KOLD-TV is seeking a dynamic, competitive News Director to inspire our team and dominate across all platforms in one of the most beautiful areas of the country with vibrant desert sunsets, rich culture, and a welcoming Southwestern spirit!

What You’ll Do:

  • Drive the Win: Execute high-impact daily strategies for digital and broadcast.
  • Lead the Team: Recruit, coach, and retain top-tier talent in a high-performance culture.
  • Master Storytelling: Direct visual, viewer-oriented coverage and story placement.
  • Own Breaking News: Lead dominant breaking news and severe weather coverage.
  • Innovate & Collaborate: Partner across platforms and departments to build a unified, unstoppable station culture.

What You Bring:

  • Proven Leadership: 3+ years of newsroom management (News Director, Assistant ND, ME, or EP).
  • Strategic Mindset: Exceptional critical thinking and editorial judgment under pressure.
  • Digital-First Drive: A passion for delivering news wherever audiences are.
  • Dynamic Communication: Ability to motivate a team and build strong relationships.
  • Journalistic Integrity: Rock-solid ethics and a track record of winning. Journalism or Mass Communication degree preferred.

Why KOLD-TV?

  • Market Leader: Lead the top station in Tucson with the resources of Gray Media.
  • Community Impact: Shape stories that keep Southern Arizona safe and informed.
  • Professional Growth: Benefit from mentorship, training, and career advancement.

Ready to lead Tucson’s best news team?

Click here to apply today to create the future of news with KOLD-TV.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26, see ad above!)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 7/12/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 8/30/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/2/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/12/26)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/26/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 7/19/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 7/26/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 6/21/26)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (PM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 7/26/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 7/26/26)
WIVT/WBGH-TV, Binghamton, NY (listed 8/30/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 7/5/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 7/2t/26:

E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)

Listed 7/12/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Manager of Coverage and Content)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

If you missed our Wednesdau UPDATE, here it is again:

Tegna is eliminating the jobs of TWO of the company’s FIVE Regional VPs of Content with the duties spread among the remaining three VPs.

Valentine

MICHAEL VALENTINE is one of the two people who is out of a job. He’s been in his current role at Tegna for a little more than a year, and spent eight years before that as a VP/Station Manager for the company’s Washington, DC, station, WUSA-TV (CBS). He’s a former news director in Dallas (WFAA-TV), Norfolk (WVEC-TV), and Evansville, IN (WEHT-TV). Michael’s complete career history is contained in his LinkedIn profile.

Wolfe

JULIE WOLFE is the other Regional VP of Content who is out in this shuffle. She’s been in the role, like Michael, for little more than a year. Before that she was the ND for Tegna’s KING-TV (NBC) in Seattle and WHAS-TV (ABC) in Louisville. She also spent 12 years at Tegna’s WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta. Julie began with the company as an MMJ at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo. More on her Linkedin page.

Their duties will be shared by CAROL FOWLER, CHRIS PENA, and JAVI MORGADO. As part of the reorganization, news directors now will report to their local GM as opposed to the regional content VP.

General Manager News and Notes:

Varnier

The GM opening for WDBJ-TV in Roanoke wasn’t open long. We told just last last week that MATT PUMO was retiring after ten years at this CBS affiliate. Monday, Gray Media announced that WILLIAM VARNIER would fill the opening. He’s been the Creative Services Director for Gray’s KCTV (also CBS) in Kansas City. Varnier has Virginia ties, having worked for two stations in Norfolk and he was graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Laura W.

LAURA WILLIAMSON is retiring after six years as GM of Hearst’s cluster of stations in Monterey-Salinas, CA. She’s been running KSBW-TV, Central Coast ABC, and Estrella Costa Central and earlier spent 12 years in sales roles for the company’s KCRA-TV in Sacramento.

SEAN BANKS, GM for Nexstar’s WOWK/WVNS-TV in Charleston, WV, is retiring in November. He’s been GM there since 2017…in his second stint at the station. He earlier worked there from 2005-2014 before taking a brief respite from TV.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, September 7, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
WTMJ-TV 20 E Capitol Dr Milwaukee, WI 53212 (internal candidates only)
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
WWL-TV 1024 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70116
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743 (see ad above!)
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
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
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station