Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

July 21, 2014

Friday, July 25, 2014 UPDATE:

Strickland

A busy week ends with a big surprise from Houston, where longtime KTRK-TV News Director DAVID STRICKLAND resigned today from this ABC o-and-o, effective immediately.

In a note to his staff (click here to read the entire message) Dave says he wants to spend more time with his family.

He’s been the ND here for the past 14 years, and worked there earlier in his career, as well, rising to Managing Editor before leaving in 1996 to become Executive Producer for WAVY-TV in Norfolk. He become the ND at WAVY in 1996, before returning to Houston and KTRK in 2000.

Also, another longtime ND left his job late this week, as JOE SCHLAERTH parted ways with WIVB-TV in Buffalo. More on that in our full report later this weekend.

Any week with three updates during the course of the week means a chock-full newsletter which may not arrive until Sunday.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 UPDATE:

Another day, another promotion to News Director in a Pacific Northwest market.

Today it’s KOIN-TV in Portland, OR, where KATE GLOVER has been promoted from Assistant ND to ND. It’s not her first ND gig…she spent a year as ND at KMIR-TV in Palm Springs, CA, earlier in her career. She joined KOIN a few months ago and has served as interim ND since BRAD NEUHOFF left this LIN owned CBS station in February.

Kate’s background is on the assignment desk and field producing…she held those roles for two stations in Washington, and also for CNN and Fox News Channel. She also worked as an EP in San Diego.

Also today, a rare cross-town move in Madison, WI, where JOE RADSKE left his job as ND for WKOW-TV to move to WISC-TV as EP.

More later in our full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, July 21, 2014 UPDATE:

Milstein

Congratulations to JAKE MILSTEIN who’s been promoted to News Director of Cox’s KIRO-TV in Seattle. Jake joined that CBS affiliate in 2008 as Managing Editor…and was promoted to oversee the station’s digital efforts in 2012. He previously worked as a Senior Producer at WRC-TV in Washington, as an Assistant News Director for KCOY/KKFX-TV in Santa Maria, CA, and as a producer at KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco.

At KIRO, he replaces BOB JORDAN who retired at the end of June, ending a 45 year career in our business.

More on all the week’s news management news in our full newsletter, which will likely be delayed this week by my attendance at Sunday’s Brickyard 400 NASCAR race here in Indianapolis.

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Greetings:

News Director changes in large markets top this weeks report, with TWO new NDs in top 15 markets, and ONE of our TWO new openings come from a top 15.

That means we now show 27 stations with open news director positions.

We have THREE paid help wanted ads. Those jobs are great opportunities for people with a range range of backgrounds.

Congratulations to EIGHT stations who’ve been honored with Regional Emmy awards. TWO of those stations won two awards. We have the entire list below.

And we have lots of news managers and general managers on the move. That’s all detailed below.

New News Director Openings:

Michaelsen

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA…we told you earlier this week that LANE MICHAELSEN had left this Meredith-owned CBS affiliate after less than a year and a half as news director. Here’s part of a note Lane shared with me:

I am very proud of the team there and the work they did over the last sixteen months. I have something in the works that is both a familiar position and a familiar location. I will miss the newsroom team at CBS46.

More in this article. Lane’s been an ND in Cincinnati, Washington, DC, Tampa, and Little Rock, served as VP-News for Gannett, and worked at Poynter. A former photojournalist, he spent eight years as Director of Photography at KARE-TV in Minneapolis.

Stacy

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA…MELISSA (PREAS) STACY is moving up within Media General. She’s joining sister-station WFLA-TV in Tampa as the Assistant News Director. Except for three years (2004-07) as ND for Media General’s WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC, she’s spent most of her career at WSLS, joining the station in 1999. She’s been the ND for this NBC affiliate for the past seven years.

Newly Named News Directors:

WXTB-TV, Atlanta, GA…JORGE BUZO is the new ND for this Telemundo affiliate. He’d been an anchor and reporter there.

LaVelle

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX…you learned via our midweek UPDATE that RHONDA LaVELLE has been promoted to ND for this Post-Newsweek owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND there since March, and has been the interim news director since DEBORAH COLLURA left in May to become GM for Gannett’s WCNC-TV in Charlotte. Deb was ND there for just over three years. Rhonda’s a 16 year Post-Newsweek veteran, all of it at WDIV-TV in Detroit, most recently as executive producer.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Nightside Executive Producer, KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ:

KOLD/KMSB in Tucson, AZ has an immediate opening for a dynamic Nightside Executive Producer.

The perfect candidate is a show doctor who loves breaking news, understands the importance of weather and knows how to think fast. You never fall in a love with the plan, but you can pitch one like a top notch salesperson.

You must be confident, have strong news judgment and love social media as much as you love the AP Stylebook.

People like working and living here. Large market stations like to hire from here. We have a proven track record of growing careers and setting high standards for quality television news. That’s a combination for a great career move! But wait, there’s more! It’s Arizona! No snow shovels or heavy winter coats required! We enjoy the best winter weather in the country!

If you are interested in getting into management, this is a great opportunity. Producing experience expected, management experience is preferred. Qualified applicants must apply online, and attach resume and links to your work to www.raycommedia.com

Associate News Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

WRAL, the dominant television station in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market, is seeking a creative and driven associate news producer. The AP will assist in all aspects of producing newscasts and special coverage; this includes writing stories, pitching story ideas, setting up interviews, creating graphics, even leading the production team in the control room. The person in this position will be trained to produce newscasts and may be called on to fill-in produce.

Prerequisites for working in our fast-paced newsroom are good judgment, knowledge of current events, strong writing skills and the ability to perform well under high pressure. Must have a four-year college degree or be in the process of obtaining one. Previous journalism experience is required and previous broadcast journalism experience is preferred. This is a part time position, approximately 25 hours per week. A pre-employment drug screening is required.

All candidates must apply online at http://www.capitolbroadcasting.com/careers/

POSTED: July 18, 2014 CLOSING: August 1, 2014

EOE, M/F.
All Capitol Broadcasting Company properties are tobacco free.
Capitol Broadcasting Company participates in E-Verify.

It is the policy of the company to be fair and impartial in all relations with employees and applicants for employment. No person will be discriminated against in employment because of race, color, religion, age, sex, military status, national origin, physical/mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law.

Morning Executive Producer, KATU-TV, Portland, OR:

KATU seeks a dynamic newsroom leader to help create and execute the most innovative newscast in the Portland, Oregon market.

The ideal candidate has a passion for morning news, an award-winning background in local television news production, and a vision for how to showcase the morning team in new, exciting ways every day. Oh yeah, and the ideal candidate is a social media rock star who really knows how to incorporate digital content into our daily coverage.

Duties include providing input and constructive oversight for newscast producers on story selection and presentation, reviewing reporter scripts for creativity and accuracy, and coaching the team on strategic initiatives including programming to the target audience, managing meters, weather storytelling and creating more organic anchor “moments.”

Candidates must also demonstrate strong news judgment and the ability to coordinating an aggressive response to breaking news and weather.

So grab your outdoors gear and your hunger for award-winning chefs and every kind of food cart under the sun. It’s a great opportunity to shine as a first-time or newer manager in one of the most desirable cities in the Pacific Northwest.

News Director Tiffani Lupenski will make the hire. But to get her attention, you first need to apply online by clicking here!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WLS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 5/24/14)
WLS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 5/24/14)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/15/14)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/15/14)
KRNV/KRXI, Reno, NV (new listing this week)
KRCR/KCVU-TV, Redding, CA (listed 7/6/14)
WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL (relisted 7/13/14)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (AM EP, listed 5/30/14)
WLS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 5/24/14)
KTVU-TV, San Francisco/Oakland, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/22/14)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 6/15/14)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 6/22/14)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 7/13/14, see ad above!)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (AM EP, listed 7/6/14)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, new listing this week)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 6/15/14)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, listed 6/22/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (2 positions, EP & Spec. Proj., listed 7/13/14)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Dayside EP, listed 6/22/14)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 6/15/14)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Nightside EP, listed 5/24/14)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (Nightside EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 5/30/14)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (PM EP, listed 7/13/14)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (listed 5/30/14)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, relisted 6/22/14)
WCIV-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 5/24/14)
KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK (relisted 7/13/14)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 5/30/14)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 7/6/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 7/13/14)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital ME, relisted 5/18/14)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 6/7/14)

DIRECTOR OF NEWS TECHNOLOGY:

WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 5/24/14)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted this week)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

Congratulations to WFAA-TV in Dallas and WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, each honored with two Regional Emmy Awards in the News and Documentary Awards from NATAS. Six other stations received one each. Click here for the complete list of both regional and national winners.

DEREK SCHNELL completes the Hearst hat trick as he joins KCRA-TV in Sacramento as the Nightside EP. He’s leaving the same job at Hearst’s KMBC-TV in Kansas City, and previously worked at the company’s Oklahoma City station, KOCO-TV. Derek’s also worked in Columbia, MO.

If you’ve seen a steady stream of moving vans on I-95 from Orlando to Jacksonville, we know why. First it was BOB LONGO who went from ND at WESH-TV to ND at WTEV/WAWS. Bob’s now hired WESH Executive Producer JERRY GOODMAN to be the new morning EP at WTEV. Jerry previously worked at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. And MARILYN VACA leaves WFTV in Orlando to become the Managing Editor at WTEV.

VALERIE WILSON returns to WAVE-TV as morning EP. She’s been the Morning EP for another Raycom station, WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, but had been a producer at WAVE before taking the Myrtle Beach job.

Congratulations to former news director JERRY HOWARD, back in a newsroom as the new Assignment Manager for KMTV in Omaha. Jerry most recently was ND for WYIN-TV in Merriville, IN, but that PBS station dropped its nightly newscast earlier this year. Jerry’s also been a news director in Great Falls, MT, and worked in Kansas City, Little Rock, and Topeka. Jerry’s also taught in a number of places.

Former San Diego (XETV) News Director ALBERTO PANDO has been named General Manager of Radio and TV Marti in Miami…that’s under the Voice of America. He’s going to continue to operate a consulting business. His Linkedin profile describes that.

Old friend WARREN MILLS is already recuperating at his Indianapolis home after a successful kidney transplant last Sunday. He’s the Senior Web Master at WTHR-TV here where he began as a photographer 24 years ago. He’s also worked in Shreveport, Savannah, and Columbia, MO. Warren spent four years on the transplant waiting list before a successful match. He went home on Thursday, where he’d enjoy your good wishes: wmills@wthr.com

General Manager Notes:

BRAD MOSES, who’s been GM for Media General’s WFLA-TV in Tampa for two years, will leave that post at the end of the month. He also been a GM in Raleigh and Savannah, earlier was the marketing director for WFLA, the promotion manager at WLS-TV in Chicago and ran the production editing suite at WTOL-TV in Toledo when I was the ND there.

One time News Director TERRY COLE left his job as GM of Sinclair’s WEAR-TV in Pensacola, FL, this week. Terry’s a former GM in Portland, ME, and for two stations Charleston/Huntington, WV, and has been an ND in Charleston/Huntington and Tampa.

PAULA HAYWARD is the new GM for Sinclair’s KFDM-TV in Beaumont, TX, replacing RIX GAREY who retired after 34 years at the station. Paula had been the GM for KMSS-TV, the Fox affiliate in Shreveport, LA.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, July 20, 2014.

KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
New England Cable News, 160 Wells Avenue Newton, MA 02459
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston MA 02134
WFDC-TV 101 Constitution Ave. NW Washington DC 20001 *
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle WA 98121
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave. Cleveland OH 44115
KMAX-TV 2713 Kovr Drive Sacramento CA 95605
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr. Charlotte NC 28217
WHP-TV 3300 North 6th Street Harrisburg PA 17110
WPTV 1100 Banyan Blvd. West Palm Beach FL 33401
WBMA/WCFT/WJSU-TV 800 Concourse Parkway, # 200, Birmingham, AL 35244
WTLV/WJXX-TV, 1070 E. Adams St. Jacksonville, FL 32202
WSET-TV 2320 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg VA 24501
WSLS-TV P.O. Box 10 Roanoke VA 24022
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines IA 50266
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WCBD-TV 210 W. Coleman Blvd. Charleston SC 29464
KVRR-TV 4015 9th Ave S Fargo ND 58103
WAKA-TV 3251 Harrison Road Montgomery AL 36109
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette LA 70506
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman Pocatello ID 83201
KTAB/KRBC-TV 4510 S. 14th St. Abiliene, TX 79605
KLDO/KXOF-TV 226 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo TX 78040
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

July 13, 2014

Thursday, July 17, 2014 UPDATE:

Michaelsen

Veteran News Director LANE MICHAELSEN resigned today as News Director of Meredith’s WGCL-TV in Atlanta. He’s been ND there for about 16 months, joining this CBS affiliate in March, 2013, after about a year as ND for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. Lane’s also been an ND in Washington, DC, Tampa, and Little Rock, served as VP/News for Ganettt, and worked at Poynter. He began his career as a photographer and spent eight years as Director of Photography at KARE-TV in Minneapolis.

I’ve left a message for Lane and will hope to have his response by the time of our full report later this week.

regards,

gevers

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014 UPDATE:

LaVelle

Congratulations to RHONDA LaVELLE, who gets her first News Director job today as she’s been promoted at KPRC-TV in Houston, the Post-Newsweek station there. Rhonda’s been the interim ND since DEBORAH COLLURA left in May to become GM at WCNC-TV in Charlotte.

Rhonda just joined this NBC affiliate in March, but she’s no stranger to Post-Newsweek, having worked for sister-station WDIV-TV in Detroit for 16 years, most recently as the Executive Producer.

More on this story in our full report later this week.

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Greetings:

Ever start a job as the only employee of the news department, with your first day around a table in an apartment with only one landline phone to work with? That’s the backstory of one ND who’s moving from that job (a job he’s held for 18 years) to become a general manager.

That’s one of THREE new openings in this week’s report, with TWO newly named NDs, one in a top five market. Those changes leave our count of open ND jobs at 26.

If you’d like to be a Morning EP, there are TWO such opportunities among the FOUR paid help wanted ads this week.

And in Names in the News, we’ll tell you about a few news managers on the move, and new jobs for some former NDs.

All that…and more…below.

New News Director Openings:

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL…we reported earlier this week that MIKE GARBER is leaving this Scripps’ owned NBC affiliate for a job in Dallas (more below). He’s been the ND here for two years. Scripps has dispatched DAN WILSON, the assistant ND for KNXV-TV in Phoenix, to serve as the interim ND here, while JAMIE IOOS will step up from EP to handle Dan’s duties while he is away.

Kelly

WBMA/WCFT/WJSU-TV, Birmingham, AL…congratulations to longtime ND and old friend GARRY KELLY who’s leaving this owned-by-Albritton-for-now ABC affiliate to become the GM for WSLS-TV, the Media General owned NBC affiliate in Roanoke, VA. Garry was the first ND here, as he described in a note to me:

It is hard leaving this station. Remember it did not exist when I first started. On my first day there were three of us sitting around a dining room table in an apartment with one phone (a land line). I helped carry in the set, helped pull the wiring and cables throughout the building and hired everyone in the department that’s there today. Ten of those people were part of the original team.

That was in 1996. He’d been an ND in Huntsville for three years, and has also worked in Nashville, Denver, and Detroit.

Assistant ND JEFF HOUSTON will be the interim ND. A permanent replacement will likely await the completion of the sale of the station. Albritton announced plans to sell to Sinclair but the deal has been held up and faces a deadline later this month.

KTAB/KRBC-TV, Abilene, TX…after 2+ years here, KEVIN OSGOOD is trading hot weather for cold as he moves to sister-Nexstar station WFRV-TV in Green Bay as its next ND. More below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Garber

KTVT/KTXA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…as noted above, MIKE GARBER will be the next news director for this CBS owned duopoly. Mike’s been the ND for Scripps’ WPTV in West Palm Beach for the past two years. Before that, he spent four years as ND in Jacksonville, FL, (WLTV/WJXX-TV), five years as ND WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC, and as an Assistant ND in Tucson. Mike began his career as a sports producer for two stations in Tampa and in San Francisco. In Dallas, he becomes the fifth ND in eight years as he replaces ADRIENNE ROARK, who left to become a GM for KOIN-TV in Portland. (Apologies to Mike: our earlier report listed him as a GM at WLTX when he was the ND there.)

Osgood

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…KEVIN OSGOOD will be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. We told you above that he’s leaving his job as ND for the company’s Abilene duopoly, KTAB/KRBC-TV. Kevin’s a former ND in Huntsville. He’s also worked in Richmond, Tampa, and for a second Huntsville station, and took a seven year hiatus from news to work for several companies in the set design field. At WFRV, he replace KENT HARRELL who left after not quite two years to return to Illinois as ND for WICS-TV in Springfield.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Morning Executive Producer, KATU-TV, Portland, OR:

KATU seeks a dynamic newsroom leader to help create and execute the most innovative newscast in the Portland, Oregon market.

Candidates must also demonstrate strong news judgment and the ability to coordinating an aggressive response to breaking news and weather.

News Director Tiffani Lupenski will make the hire. But to get her attention, you first need to apply online by clicking here!

Morning Executive Producer, WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT:

WTNH — the ABC affiliate in the Hartford/New Haven, CT market — has an immediate opening for a morning show Executive Producer.

So what are we looking for?

A real morning show specialist and leader. Someone who can guide the coverage on their shift. Make the important calls as to crews, resources and what gets on the air.

An innovator. We need someone has great ideas and who’ll adopt the mantra that today’s shows are going to be different than any shows we’ve aired before.

A motivator. Can you get the people working with you excited about today’s challenge?

A Watchdog for the Brand. We’re the Voice of the People. That means our stories have to have some viewer benefit and they have to be told through the eyes and voices of real people. We also say “We’ve Got Your Back” a lot: we want to do stories that stand up for the regular guy, ask tough questions and hold people accountable.

Why New Haven? This is a fantastic part of the country, miles from the Long Island Sound and located in easy driving/train riding distance from New York, Boston, Cape Cod, Philadelphia and the JerseyShore.

WTNH has a large newsroom with three satellite newsrooms, multiple sat trucks, live vans and TVUs. Do you want to work for a newsroom that is growing?

Apply at wthh.com

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Assistant News Director, KRCR-TV, Redding, CA:

KRCR/KCVU is looking for an Assistant News Director to help manage a dynamic newsroom filled with young journalists eager to be the best they can be.

This is a fantastic opportunity to earn those management stripes.

You will work closely with the News Director in running all aspects of the KRCR news department as well as any new start-up operations.

Duties include supervising all reporters, producers, anchors and photographers as well as overseeing the news production department. You will be instrumental in building and executing a successful strategic plan across our broadcast, web, social media and mobile platforms.

The right person will be an energetic leader with good motivational skills who wants to teach visual storytelling and solid journalism techniques to people who are often just getting their start in the business. Good organizational and computer skills are also a must.

We are a fun group of people who work hard and play hard in gorgeous Northern California. We are surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers and streams and just a couple of hours away from the beach. It’s a great job in a dreamy place to live.

Four years of producing or assignment desk experience is preferred along with a college degree.

Send resume to: Jennifer Scarborough, News Director: jscarborough@krcrtv.com

or via mail to:

Jennifer Scarborough
News Director
KRCR
755 Auditorium Drive
Redding CA 96001
KRCR-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Executive Producer, KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/ FILL-IN PRODUCER needed for award-winning ABC affiliate in Abilene, Texas. This position is responsible for training and overseeing our AM, 5p, 6p, 10p, and weekend newscasts.

We are looking for someone who ensures our goals of “getting the facts right, and alerting to weather danger”. The right candidate will have strong news judgment, and solid fact checking abilities. Other duties include: rundown supervision, ensuring clear and compelling writing that matches video, and also working with producing staff to develop custom graphics.

This position will assist the Assignment Editor, Internet Content Director, and News Director. This position will also be involved with special projects including elections, ratings periods, and major breaking stories. Creativity is a must, we are looking for an EP to help differentiate our newscasts. This is primarily a dayside Monday- Friday position, however, schedule changes will occur based on training needs. This position will fill-in as producer as needed.

If you are interested in getting into management, this is a great opportunity. At least three years of producing experience required. Send resume and link to News Director Jason Goodwin via email: jgoodwin@ktxs.com or resume and tape via mail to:

Executive Producer Opening
KTXS-TV
Attn: Jason Goodwin
News Director
4420 N. Clack
Abilene TX 79601