Rick Gevers & Associates

January 12, 2015

Monday, January 12, 2015 UPDATE #2:

Two veteran news directors are on the move.

Costello

First, PAT COSTELLO is returning to Seattle.

He’s just been named News Director for KOMO-TV, Sinclair’s ABC affiliate there. He’s spent the last two years as ND for Scripps’ KNXV-TV in Phoenix. But Pat told me the lure of family is taking him back to Seattle: he has four children and two grandchildren there.

Here’s the memo KNXV General Manager ANITA HELT sent to the staff.

Before Phoenix, Pat spent more than a dozen years at KING-TV in Seattle, the first seven years as News Director and later as Station Manager. He moved to KNXV in January, 2013. He’s also been a news director in Chicago and Salt Lake City, an assistant news director in Baltimore, and began his career as a photojournalist in Indianapolis and Columbia, MO.

Pat replaces HOLLY GAUNTT at KOMO. She left after the November book to become News Director for KDVR/KWGN-TV in her hometown of Denver.

McGettigan

And PATTI McGETTIGAN is headed to WHBQ-TV in Memphis as ND. That’s the recently-acquired-by-Cox FOX affiliate there.

Patti’s been working as an EP for WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH, but previously spent three years as ND for WISH-TV in Indianapolis and more than eight years as ND for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids. She’s also worked in Pittsburgh.

Click here to read the news release announcing her hire.

At WHBQ, she replaces KEN JOBE who left the station a few months ago after Cox took over the station.

We’re off to a busy year, it appears. Stay tuned!

Monday, January 12, 2015 UPDATE:

I’m always pleased to report the promotion of a long time news director to General Manager, and that’s the case this morning.

Butt

Congratulations to MICHELLE BUTT, longtime news director for Hearst’s WBAL-TV in Baltimore, who’s been named General Manager of the company’s WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s a return to the station for Michelle, who spent three years as ND for WXII before moving to WBAL in 2003.

She first joined Hearst as the Assistant ND for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh in 1998.  She’s also worked in Raleigh and for two stations in Norfolk.

At WXII, she’s replacing HANK PRICE who is moving to newly acquired Hearst station WVTM-TV in Birmingham.

Here’s the email sent to WBAL staffers this morning. Michelle’s bio page on the station website is here, and the Hearst news release is just a click away here!

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

It’s been a VERY busy week, with a total of SEVEN new news director openings and TWO newly named NDs.

All the changes increase our list of open news director jobs to a higher-than-it’s-been-in-a-while 32 openings.

We welcome a new advertiser this week: Masstech for News. It allows you to automatically archive, access, share and use content directly from within popular newsroom system interfaces, with the unique Video-Follows-Text ability enabling all story elements – including text, metadata and media – to be transferred together seamlessly with a single drag-and-drop action. Click on their ad below for more information.

We also have TWO paid help wanted ads.

In Names in the News, a jump from a Dallas TV newsroom to editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and a big addition to the family of a Boston news director. We also have an article which takes a bit of a inside look at the operation of the new CBS affiliate here in Indianapolis. And we have the largest number I can ever recall of General Manager moves, several of them involving former news directors.

All that…and more…as you read on.

New News Director Openings:

Salamone

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH…in one of several moves we reported to you earlier this week, longtime News Director DAN SALAMONE left this Raycom-owned duopoly on Friday after nine years. The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran this article. In his note to his staff (which you can read here) Dan says the decision came after a lot of reflection over the last month. (I suspect he’ll spend the next week reflecting on the upcoming game between his beloved New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts). Dan’s been a news director in Detroit, Portland, OR, Albuquerque and Providence.

KATU-TV, Portland, OR…another story we shared with you earlier this week was TIFFANI LUPENSKI’s departure from this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate to become ND for KGTV in San Diego. She’s been ND here for 2+ years, first joining the station in 2010. More on her move below.

Sanders

KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX…we also told you about TRISTON SANDERS departure from this Gannett owned CBS affiliate after two years as ND. She’s moving to New York, where she will work as a consultant for Frank N. Magid Associates. Tristan has also been a news director in Tallahassee, worked as an anchor or reporter in Ft. Myers and Sarasota, and as a producer in Miami and Tampa.

Dahl

KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT…JENNIFER DAHL is being promoted within Sinclair to become a Group News Director. She’ll work with Sinclair’s West Coast stations. Here’s the memo announcing her move, sent from Sinclair’s Vice President of News, SCOTT LIVINGTSON, to the company’s news directors. Jennifer has spent ND here for the past four years, preceded by two years as Director of News and Marketing for Tribune, six years as Assistant News Director for KUTV, and five years as Special Projects Executive Producer for KTVK-TV in Phoenix.

Siegel

WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA…another story we reported earlier this week to you in an UPDATE was the departure of BILL SIEGEL from the Gannett-owned CBS station. He’s off to Scripps as one of their Directors of News Strategies. That move re-connects him with Scripps VP/News SEAN McLAUGHLIN: they worked together at KMOV-TV in St. Louis when Sean was the ND there and Bill was an EP. Here’s the news release announcing his hire. Bill was ND here for more than three years, and has also worked in Milwaukee, San Antonio, and Palm Springs, CA.

Hill

KSNT/KTKA-TV, Topeka, KS…we’re a little late in reporting NATE HILL‘s departure from this Media General owned NBC/ABC duopoly at the end of 2014. He’s making a career change to work as a financial advisor in Topeka. He joined the station in 1994 as a sports intern, and was named news director here six years ago. Nate was also an anchor for the station. You can click here to see the story the station posted online after Nate’s last broadcast.

Lowell

KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX…after 34 years at the station (in two tours of duty), 28 of them as news director, DAVID LOWELL left this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate on Friday. He’s also worked as a photographer in Oklahoma City and in Columbia, MO. More in his Linkedin page. David told me he’s exploring options both in and out of television. Fun fact: one of David’s three daughters is a producer in Dallas.

Geraghty

Two other notes. We told you earlier this week that TIM GERAGHTY had left Central Florida News 13, where his title was Senior Director of News. MIKE GAUTREAU, who has the same title for Bright House Network’s sister operation in Tampa, Bay News 9, will now oversee both operations. More in this story from the Orlando Sentinel. Tim’s a former news director in Miami, Sacramento, and Grand Rapids, MI. He’s also worked in Kansas City, Kalamazoo, and Columbia, MO.

And in another item involving the same Florida markets, JORGE FRIGULS has left Entravision, where he oversaw the news departments for the company’s Tampa and Orlando stations.

Newly Hired News Directors:

Lupenski

KGTV, San Diego, CA…as mentioned above, and reported to you first earlier this week, TIFFANI LUPENSKI will become ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate in March. She’s spent the last two years as ND for KATU-TV in Portland, OR, where she first joined that ABC affiliate in 2010. She’s also been an EP in Seattle and Denver, and has worked in Birmingham, Lake Charles, LA, as well as for CNN and for radio stations in both Atlanta and San Antonio. At KGTV, Tiffani replaces JOEL DAVIS who’s been promoted to Station Manager here.

Day

KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA…DEANA DAY is the next ND for this Quincy owned NBC affiliate. She’s currently an anchor for WTOK-TV in Meridian, MS and anchored in Fayetteville, AR. She’s also worked as ND and anchor for another Meridian station, and spent seven years working in marketing and development for a variety of organizations. At KTIV, she replaces BRIDGET BREEN who has been ND and Station Manager here. She’ll now concentrate strictly on her Station Manager responsibilities.

Finally, apologies to News Director KIMBERLY WYATT whose name I bungled last week in reporting her move from KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, to WEAR-TV in Pensacola, FL.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, WHTM-TV, Harrisburg PA:

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Our next Assistant News Director will have big shoes to fill. This person is the cornerstone in executing our editorial strategy and must be committed to applying our standards to TV, web, mobile and social media.

The AND works closely with the entire news staff, guiding reporters in the development of their stories, assisting producers in showcasing content and providing feedback often to the entire team. We are aggressive in the pursuit of enterprise content and breaking news. Our Assistant News Director must be able to maintain our excellence in these very critical areas.

If you have producing experience you will stand out as an applicant. Our AND needs to be able to fill in line-producing newscasts in a pinch or helping out on the assignment desk occasionally.

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fx: 717-745-3997

*** NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE***
WHTM-TV/abc27 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO/M/F

Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV Local 2, the Graham Media Group owned NBC station in Houston, Texas, is looking for an Executive Producer who is aggressive, competitive, and wants to win every newscast.

Responsibilities:

Houston is a growing city and we need an Executive Producer who can help develop stories that are compelling to our very diverse audience. We need someone who can showcase stories, has good story ideas, knows how to leverage web and social media to help drive ratings, and gets the importance of engaging storytelling, stand-ups and live shots. Our Executive Producers need to react to breaking news and weather quickly and be willing to scrap stories the team has been working on all day to get it covered. You will also help manage anchors, producers, reporters, photographers and editors. In addition, you will be involved in daily planning and sweeps projects.

Qualifications:

Extensive knowledge of television news.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required
Able to lead a team and achieve objectives
Must have the ability to work in a fast paced environment calmly and manage deadline pressures.
3-5 years experience as an Executive Producer in a television news operation required.
Must be a strong writer and copy editor.
You will also be on the weekend on-call manager rotation.
College degree in journalism or broadcasting preferred

Comments:

Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment alcohol and drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks. You must hold a valid driver’s license and be insurable under Texas Law.

To apply, please send resume to:

Rhonda LaVelle
News Director
KPRC-TV, Local 2
8181 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77074
rlavelle@kprc.com

No Phone Calls Please – EOE/DRUG-FREE

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 12/27/14)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 12/27/14)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted this week, see ad above!)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted this week)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 12/21/14)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (TWO openings, listed 11/21/14)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 1/3/15, see ad above!)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, listing revised 11/30/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted this week)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, listing revised 1/3/15)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/14/14)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted this week)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted this week)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 11/16/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 11/16/14)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 12/27/14)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted this week)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and 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:

The Indianapolis Star offer this ‘peak-behind-the-curtain‘ at the new CBS affiliate in Indianapolis, WTTV, and its sister station, FOX affiliate WXIN-TV. One note…the story is more than ten days old (I forgot to include it last week.)

GEORGE RODRIGUE. who’s been the Assistant ND for WFAA-TV in Dallas for the past three months, is on his way to Cleveland as the Editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. George’s background includes both print and broadcast work. This post from Jim Romenesko details his background and the move..

Congratulations to WFXT-TV News Director LEE ROSENTHAL and his wife JOANNA (a one-time reporter) on the December 29th birth of identical twins..who were almost born on different days! SASHA FRANCES was born at 11:52 PM, while JOCELYN CLAIRE almost had a different birthday, arriving at 11:59 PM. Sasha weighed 5′ 6″, with Jocelyn weighing 5′ 8″. Mom Joanna and the girls are home now, where they join daughter and sister SHEA who will turn two in March. A note of congratulations will reach Lee at: lee.rosenthal@coxinc.com

The Rosenthals

General Manager News:

Lots of activity this week, much of it at Raycom stations.

Former New Orleans and Phoenix News Director SANDY BRELAND leaves her job as GM of WVUE-TV in New Orleans to become a Group Vice President for Raycom.

TIM INGRAM, who’s currently GM of Raycom’s KFVS/WQWQ-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO, will replace her in New Orleans.

DAVE THOMASON replaces Ingram in Cape Girardeau. He’d been the sales manager there.

COLLIN GASTON moves within Alabama to become GM at Raycom’s WBRC-TV in Birmingham. He’d been the GM at the company’s WSFA-TV in Montgomery.

ERIC DUNCAN replaces Gaston in Montgomery. He’s been the General Sales Manager at KCBD-TV in Lubbock, TX.

One time Tulsa News Director and most recently GM of KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, STEVE WEINSTEIN, gets promoted to GM for sister-Scripps station WEWS-TV in Cleveland. Read more about it here.

MIKE CUKYNE is the new GM for Meredith’s KCTV/KSMO-TV in Kansas City. It’s a return to KCTV for Mike, who once oversaw digital sales there.  He’ll keep his responsibilities as Senior Vice President of Digital Media for Meredith’s Local Media Group. He replaces DARRIN McDONALD who left the station on Friday. More in the official news release.

CATHY PIRCSUK is retiring as GM of WWNY/WNYF-TV in Watertown, NY. She joined the station in 1979 as a reporter, worked her way up to News Director, then Station Manager, before becoming GM in 1996. The station posted this story on its website.

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, January 11, 2015.

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KOMO-TV 140 Fourth Ave. North Seattle WA 98109
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th St. Cleveland OH 44114
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Boulevard Portland OR 97232
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus OH 43202
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WHBQ-TV 485 South Highland Memphis TN 38111
WWL-TV 1024 North Rampart St. New Orleans 70116
WGHP-TV 2005 Francis St. High Point NC 27263
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. East Syracuse, NY 13057
KGBT-TV 9201 West Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX 78552
KFSM-TV 485 South Highland Ft. Smith AR 72901
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Road East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave. Altoona, PA 16603
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KSNT-TV 6835 NW Highway 24 Topeka KS 66618
KFDM-TV 2955 Interstate 10 East Beaumont TX77702
KCBD-TV 485 South Highland Lubbock TX 79404
WALB-TV 1709 Stuart Ave. Albany, GA 31707
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway, Bluefield WV 24701
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV 5956 Smith Hill Road Utica NY 13502
KAIT-TV 472 CR 766 Jonesboro AR 72401
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

January 4, 2015

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 UPDATE #2:

The first of the year has brought a flurry of news director changes!

Lupenski

The latest finds KGTV (Scripps/ABC) in San Diego announcing its new ND. It’s TIFFANI LUPENSKI, currently ND for Sinclair’s KATU-TV in Portland. Tiffani’s has worked for this ABC affiliate for four years, first as Assistant ND and (since August, 2012) as ND. She’s also worked in Seattle, Denver, Birmingham, Lake Charles, LA, and for CNN and for radio stations in both Atlanta and San Antonio.

Lowell

Another Sinclair News Director announced his departure today, and he’s one of the longest tenured news directors in the country. DAVID LOWELL is leaving KFDM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Beaumont, TX, at the end of the week. He’s been the news director here for 28 years, and at the station (in his second stint there) for 34 years. He also worked as a photographer in Oklahoma City and in Columbia, MO. Of note…one of David’s three daughters is a producer in Dallas.

A busy week to be sure, and thus a full newsletter this weekend!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 UPDATE:

Several items to share with you today…two of them have not yet been reported elsewhere, as best I can tell.

Geraghty

In Orlando, TIM GERAGHTY is leaving Brighthouse Networks’ Central Florida News 13. I’m told his departure is linked to a reorganization there. He’s been the Senior Director of News at this cable channel for almost three years, has been an ND in Miami, Sacramento and Grand Rapids, MI, and has worked in Kansas City, Kalamazoo, and Columbia, MO. His Linkedin page has the full background.

Dahl

KUTV (Salt Lake City) News Director JENNIFER DAHL has been promoted to Group News Director for Sinclair Broadcasting, which owns KUTV. She’s been the news director there for more than four years, spent 2+ years as Director of News and Marketing for Tribune. She’d been the Assistant News Director for KUTV before taking the Tribune position. (Her linkedin page is here.) Jennifer’s also worked at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. She’ll work with Sinclair’s West Coast stations.

Weinstein

Finally, an item that you may have seen elsewhere: Congratulations to former newsman STEVE WEINSTEIN who’s been promoted to General Manager of Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland. The news release is here. He’s been the GM for Scripps’ KERO-TV in Bakersfield for 2+ years. But his background is news: he spent more than six years as news director for Scripps’ KJRH-TV in Tulsa, almost three years as news operations manager for WMAR-TV in Baltimore, and ten years as chief photographer at WBFF-TV in Baltimore.

We’ll have a very full newsletter later this week!

Monday, January 5, 2015 UPDATE #2:

It’s a busier day that I knew when I updated the site less than an hour ago.

We’ve since learned that two Gannett news directors are leaving for new jobs.

Siegel

BILL SIEGEL, who’s been the News Director at WWL-TV in New Orleans since 2011, is moving to Scripps as a Director of News Strategy. Here’s the news release. The move reunites him with Scripps’ VP/News, SEAN McLAUGHLIN. They worked together at KMOV-TV in St. Louis when Sean was the ND and Bill was an EP. Bill’s also worked in Milwaukee, San Antonio, and Palm Springs, CA.

Sanders

Speaking of San Antonio, KENS-TV ND TRISTON SANDERS is leaving after two years to take a consultant job with Frank N. Magid Associates, to be based in New York.  In the small world department, she worked with Bill Siegel at WWL, where she was the Assistant News Director.  She’s also been a news director in Tallahassee, worked as an anchor or reporter in Ft. Myers and Sarasota, and as a producer in Miami and Tampa.

And…no surprise here…noted Patriots fan DAN SALAMONE was first to point out the error in my earlier UPDATE about his departure from WOIO/WUAB-TV in Cleveland. His Patriots play Baltimore this weekend, not Pittsburgh. (Another noted Patriots fan, ESPN’s AL JAFFE, was not far behind in correcting me.)

As I said…it’s been a busy week already!

Monday, January 5, 2015 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Salamone

After nine years on the job, DAN SALAMONE told his staff today he’s leaving as News Director for WOIO/WUAB-TV in Cleveland at the end of the week.  Dan says his decision to move on came after a lot of reflection over the past month. You can read his note by clicking here.

Dan’s been a news director in Detroit, Portland, OR, Albuquerque, and Providence.

His note says he’s off on a planned vacation this weekend. I’d guess there’s a good chance that involves a trip to see his beloved New England Patriots play the Ravens!

Two other notes:

Breland

Congratulations to former News Director SANDY BRELAND who today was named a Group Vice-President for Raycom Media. Sandy’s currently GM of WVUE-TV, which Raycom runs via a shared services agreement with Louisiana Media Company. She’d been the news director for WWL-TV in New Orleans for years, and later ND for KTVK-TV in Phoenix. She first joined Raycom as GM of the company’s WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge.

She’ll be replaced as GM of WVUE by TIM INGRAM who’s currently GM of Raycom’s KFVS/WQWQ-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO.

And apologies to KIMBERLY WYATT whose name I bungled in our last newsletter in reporting her move to news director for WEAR-TV in Pensacola.

It’s already been a busy week, and it’s barely Monday afternoon. We’ll have all the news in our full newsletter this weekend.

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

Greetings:

I hope your holidays were happy. Mine will be a little better if the Indianapolis Colts beat Cincinnati tomorrow.

Just ONE ND change this week…as a Sinclair news director is promoted. That leaves our count of open ND jobs at 27 stations.

ONE of those open ND jobs (actually an ND/Anchor position) is among THREE paid help wanted ads this week, including an EP opening in Houston.

We have an obituary for a former Florida, Virginia, and Indiana news director, and updated information on the passing of former ND and GM JIM BOYER.

And there are a few items in Names in the News.

All that and more after this reminder about an approaching deadline for applications for the next Carole Kneeland Project seminar.

The Kneeland Project Accepting Applications Now.

Start your New Year right. Apply today!

You have only one week left to apply for The Kneeland Project’s next session, which will be held March 4-7 in Austin, Texas.

Thanks to Kneeland’s generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for 18 selected participants. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as hotel and several meals.

“The Kneeland Project was an amazing experience where I learned new skills that are helping me and my team be better journalists every day. I am definitely a better leader after attending Kneeland.” – Carrie Hofmann, KSHB news director, Kansas City

In a recent survey of Kneeland Fellows, 100% reported they still regularly use lessons learned at Kneeland, believe that time spent at Kneeland improved their career, and said they have recommended Kneeland to a friend or colleague.

You’ll leave the program with a solid plan to guide your leadership decisions starting the day you return to your newsroom. This isn’t theoretical information that you will put on a shelf and neglect. Every participant will walk away with concrete action items to implement immediately that will make a difference in their station…and their life.

It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. Journalists return to their stations refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges newsrooms now face.

There’s an easy way to apply!  Just click here.

Remember – apply before next Friday, January 9th. Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply now!

New News Director Openings:

KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX…KIMBERLY WYATT has left one Sinclair station for another. She’s the new ND at WEAR-TV in Pensacola, FL. More below.

Newly Named News Directors:

WEAR-TV, Pensacola, FL…KIMBERLY WYATT is on the job as the new news director for this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the ND at Sinclair’s KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, for the last 7 1/2 years, and previously worked as an executive producer for that CBS affiliate.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV Local 2, the Graham Media Group owned NBC station in Houston, Texas, is looking for an Executive Producer who is aggressive, competitive, and wants to win every newscast.

Responsibilities:

Houston is a growing city and we need an Executive Producer who can help develop stories that are compelling to our very diverse audience. We need someone who can showcase stories, has good story ideas, knows how to leverage web and social media to help drive ratings, and gets the importance of engaging storytelling, stand-ups and live shots. Our Executive Producers need to react to breaking news and weather quickly and be willing to scrap stories the team has been working on all day to get it covered. You will also help manage anchors, producers, reporters, photographers and editors. In addition, you will be involved in daily planning and sweeps projects.

Qualifications:

Extensive knowledge of television news.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills required
Able to lead a team and achieve objectives
Must have the ability to work in a fast paced environment calmly and manage deadline pressures.
3-5 years experience as an Executive Producer in a television news operation required.
Must be a strong writer and copy editor.
You will also be on the weekend on-call manager rotation.
College degree in journalism or broadcasting preferred

Comments:

Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment alcohol and drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks. You must hold a valid driver’s license and be insurable under Texas Law.

To apply, please send resume to:

Rhonda LaVelle
News Director
KPRC-TV, Local 2
8181 Southwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77074
rlavelle@kprc.com

No Phone Calls Please – EOE/DRUG-FREE

News Director/Anchor, WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with on-air and newsroom leadership experience, then we are interested in you. You must be a compelling on air anchor with an added ability to write the competitive and strategic master plan for the newsroom. This is a great opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitive and accomplished FOX newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an understanding of local news, as well as the ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

Fort Wayne is located in northeast Indiana and is the second largest city in Indiana and the 76th largest city in Country. The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to:

WFFT Fort Wayne
Attn: Bill Ritchhart
3707 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne IN 46807

email: Britchhart@wfft.com

Nexstar Broadcasting is an equal opportunity employer.

Assignment Manager, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

10TV News, Central Ohio’s News Leader, seeks an Assignment Manager to plan and drive hard news coverage for the number one station in Central Ohio.

The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day news coverage, executing enterprise coverage, and long-range news planning. Must have exceptional news judgment, be extremely resourceful, and make enterprising a priority. Must be able to manage assignment editors, assist crews with computer assisted reporting skills, and own breaking news utilizing satellite and live trucks, and helicopter.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills coupled with the ability to work effectively under pressure; strong social media skills are preferred. This position requires at least three years experience in a television newsroom.

Qualified candidates may apply online at www.dispatchbroadcast.com.

DISPATCH BROADCAST GROUP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/9/14)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 12/27/14)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 12/27/14)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/30/14)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 12/14/14)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 11/1/14)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 12/21/14)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (listed 12/27/14)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (TWO openings, listed 11/21/14)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/9/14)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/1/14)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, listing revised 11/30/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted 10/11/14)
WSPA-TV, Greenville/Spartanburg, SC (AM EP, listed 10/11/14)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 11/1/14)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, listing revised this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/16/14)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/14/14)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 10/11/14)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 11/16/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 11/16/14)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 12/27/14, see ad above!)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/1/14)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/26/14)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 11/1/14)

Obituaries:

Funeral servies will be held Tuesday, January 6, at St. Michel’s Church in Exeter, NH, for former news director JIM LaBRANCHE. He died suddenly the day after Christmas at a Miami hospital.  Jim served as a news director in Tampa, Jacksonville, FL, Roanoke, and Terre Haute, before leaving the TV business about eleven years ago to open his own business as a wedding photographer.  More details, including next of kin and memorial suggestions, in this obituary.

And if you missed our update last week on arrangements for JIM BOYER, there will be no formal funeral service for the longtime news director and GM. But this note contains suggestion on how to honor Jim, along with memorial suggestions and contact information for his survivors.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and 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:

JESSE GOSSELIN has been promoted to Digital EP for WTNH-TV in Hartford/New Haven, CT. He had been a marketing producer there.

DONNA HAYES has been promoted to Executive Producer at WGHP-TV in Greensboro/Winston Salem, NC. She has been the 8:00 AM producer for this FOX affiliate. She’s worked there for 15 years, and previously worked at another station in the market and in Greenville, NC.

General Manager News:

Nothing to report this week. Let me know if any moves you learn about by sending me an email to: rick@rickgevers.com

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 Saturday, January 3, 2015.

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KOMO-TV 140 Fourth Ave. North Seattle WA 98109
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92101
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus OH 43202
WHBQ-TV 485 South Highland Memphis TN 38111
WGHP-TV 2005 Francis St. High Point NC 27263
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WEAR-TV 4990 Mobile Highway Pensacola FL 32506
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. East Syracuse, NY 13057
KGBT-TV 9201 West Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX 78552
KFSM-TV 485 South Highland Ft. Smith AR 72901
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Road East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave. Altoona, PA 16603
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807 (see ad above!)
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KCBD-TV 485 South Highland Lubbock TX 79404
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City IA 51108
WALB-TV 1709 Stuart Ave. Albany, GA 31707
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway, Bluefield WV 24701
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV 5956 Smith Hill Road Utica NY 13502
KAIT-TV 472 CR 766 Jonesboro AR 72401
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

December 28, 2014

Monday, December 29, 2014 UPDATE:

Boyer

There will be no formal funeral for JIM BOYER, who died last Wednesday of esophageal cancer.  He was 68.

Click here to read the family’s suggestions for ways to celebrate his life.  The link also includes suggestions for a memorial gift and for contact information for survivors, including his wife JAN ALLEN, herself a former news director and station manager.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

This week’s report, as you might expect during a holiday week, is brief thought with some interesting items.

Sadly, one includes the death of longtime news director and general manager JIM BOYER, which we first reported to you last night. We have only a few new details but those are below.

There are TWO new news director openings with ONE new ND, bringing the list of openings to 27 stations. FOUR of those stations are running help wanted ads below, with another TWO ads for management openings at very strong stations.

Two veteran GMs (one a former ND) are on the move. That’s below, as well as a new EP in Portland, OR.

New News Director Openings:

Giesler

WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…JERRY GIESLER has left this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate after just three months as news director. Jerry told me he was returning to Ft. Wayne to be closer to family. He spent nine years in Ft. Wayne as the GM of a Granite-owned duopoly. Jerry’s been a GM in a number of markets, including San Francisco, worked in the online world for a while, spent seven years as a consultant for Magid, and also worked in Phoenix as an Assistant ND.

Ball

WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…DAN BALL is leaving this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate to return to Palm Springs, CA, as an anchor. That job allows him to be closer to his daughter. Dan’s been both news director and anchor here, and the station is advertising for his replacement below. He’s been here for two years, previously anchored for almost five years for the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas, and worked in Palm Springs before that.  (This item was added to last week’s report late, so we’re repeating it for those who may have missed it.)  Learn more about this ND/Anchor opportunity in the paid ad below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Brown

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL…we told you earlier this week about MATT BROWN‘s ascension to news director for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the interim ND there since both ND BILL McFARLAND and Assistant ND MICHELE MURRAY left on the same day in October. Matt’s had been the Assistant ND for Scripps’ KSHB-TV in Kansas City. He’s a former ND in Tulsa and Sherman, TX, and has worked in Austin, TX, and Wichita.  WFTS posted this story to its website.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director/Anchor, WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with on-air and newsroom leadership experience, then we are interested in you. You must be a compelling on air anchor with an added ability to write the competitive and strategic master plan for the newsroom. This is a great opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitive and accomplished FOX newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an understanding of local news, as well as the ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

Fort Wayne is located in northeast Indiana and is the second largest city in Indiana and the 76th largest city in Country. The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to:

WFFT Fort Wayne
Attn: Bill Ritchhart
3707 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne IN 46807

email: Britchhart@wfft.com

Nexstar Broadcasting is an equal opportunity employer.

Assignment Manager, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

10TV News, Central Ohio’s News Leader, seeks an Assignment Manager to plan and drive hard news coverage for the number one station in Central Ohio.

The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day news coverage, executing enterprise coverage, and long-range news planning. Must have exceptional news judgment, be extremely resourceful, and make enterprising a priority. Must be able to manage assignment editors, assist crews with computer assisted reporting skills, and own breaking news utilizing satellite and live trucks, and helicopter.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills coupled with the ability to work effectively under pressure; strong social media skills are preferred. This position requires at least three years experience in a television newsroom.

Qualified candidates may apply online at www.dispatchbroadcast.com.

DISPATCH BROADCAST GROUP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.

News Director, WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY:

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is searching for a dynamic and forward thinking News Director to lead our local news operation at NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV, the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, NY.

Serious candidates must have a proven track record of success of developing and coaching talent, consistent execution of fiercely competitive product, strategic thinking and planning, high ethical standards and effective newsroom management. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level.

To be considered, you must have a minimum of 5 years experience as a news manager and more than 10 years experience in a news operation. Prior experience with on-line and social media is required. A degree in journalism is preferred.

You need to apply online at the Nexstar job site .

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

News Director, KCBD-TV, Lubbock, TX:

The dominant number one station on the South Plains has an opening for a news director to lead this award winning news department.

The winning candidate will be a passionate, proven leader capable of recruiting, motivating, teaching, mentoring, and retaining a diverse newsroom. The news director will have the challenge of covering a regional population of over 350,000 people. Lubbock is the 11th largest city in the state of Texas and home to Texas Tech University.

The news director will oversee the content and production of 26 ½ hours of news each week and work directly with the longest running anchor team in the country. The news director will also be responsible for content produced on station website and digital platforms.

We are looking for a visionary with demonstrated skills and experience as a manager in local television news who also has the desire to live in the “friendliest city in the country.”

Apply at this link.

News Director, WALB-TV, Albany, GA:

WALB-TV, the dominant NBC/ABC news leader in Albany, Georgia, is looking for a News Content Director to lead our award winning news department.

Albany is the largest city in Southwest Georgia and offers great local restaurants, mild weather and lots of outdoor activities centered around the Flint River. The city is home to the Parks at Chehaw wildlife preserve and the Flint Riverquarium, and is just a three hour drive from the beautiful beaches of Panama City Beach, FL.

The successful candidate will be a passionate, proven leader, capable of recruiting, motivating, teaching, mentoring, and retaining a diverse newsroom.

Candidate should have examples of creative approaches to executing an established news brand, as well as experience managing people, financial, technical resources.

The News Director is responsible for providing strategic direction for daily news coverage, as well as working closely with the General Manager on long range planning, special news coverage, and station projects.

WALB’s newsroom is a successful blend of veteran reporters and anchors, as well as up-and-coming Multi-Media and Digital Journalists.

The News Director will oversee a progressive newsroom that utilizes the latest technology in news gathering, and includes an aggressive digital news operation.

Candidates should have at least five years experience in newsroom leadership roles. Strong communication and organizational skills are a must.

A degree in Mass Communication or Journalism is preferred. WALB is part of Raycom Media.

Please submit resume and application by clicking here.

EOE-M/F/D/V

Executive Producer, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX:

We are seeking an Executive Producer who will take the editorial lead each day and develop multi-platform content that succeed on air and on digital. This individual will manage, coach, and motivate a team of producers, writers, reporters, anchors, and photojournalists who are among the best in the business. The Executive Producer is responsible for the overall content of assigned newscasts, manages all aspects of breaking news, social engagement, and ensures the product stays on brand. Effective communication and decision making under daily deadline pressure are a must. The Executive Producer must have strong ethics, a solid producing background, a desire and ability to win the day, and be an exceptional troubleshooter. This individual must be able to generate unique content, and develop and produce specials as required. The EP will also work closely with other news managers and the News Director to implement winning strategies for each newscast.

We are seeking a candidate with the following:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
Must have five or more years producing experience in a major television market.
Must be able to effectively manage people & act decisively under pressure.
Must know news and what is important to the community.
Must have social media knowledge and a digital footprint.
Must have technical expertise to booth live newscasts and troubleshoot problems
Must perform administrative duties including scheduling, performance reviews, training of new staff, and provide critical feedback as needed.

RECRUITER:

Human Resources
214-977-6393
humanresources@wfaa.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/9/14)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (new listing this week)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (new listing this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/30/14)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 12/14/14)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 11/1/14)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 12/21/14, see ad above!)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (new listing this week)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (TWO openings, listed 11/21/14)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/9/14)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/1/14)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, listing revised 11/30/14)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital EP, listed 10/26/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted 10/11/14)
WSPA-TV, Greenville/Spartanburg, SC (AM EP, listed 10/11/14)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 11/1/14)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Dayside EP, relisted 10/26/14)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/16/14)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/14/14)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 10/11/14)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 11/16/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 11/16/14)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (new listing this week, see ad above!)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/1/14)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/26/14)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 11/1/14)

Obituaries:

Boyer

I’m told it could be Monday or Tuesday before funeral arrangements are finalized for JIM BOYER, who died Wednesday after a short bout with cancer. He retired in 2012 as GM of KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. Jim was also a GM in Portland, OR, and Des Moines, and a news director in Seattle and New Orleans, where he worked for nine years at WWL-TV, four as ND. Earlier stops in her career include Philadelphia, Baltimore, and York, PA. A very brief item was posted to the KFOR-TV website, Our report yesterday shared this story from WWL-TV.

When the arrangements are finalized, I’ll update my website.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and 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:

JODIE PIETRUCHA joins KATU-TV in Portland, OR, as the morning executive producer. She’d been a producer at WXIN-TV in Indianapolis and previously worked in South Bend.

General Manager News:

Two longtime General Managers will take over at two stations recently acquired by Hearst. HANK PRICE will move from the company’s WXII-TV in Winston-Salem to WVTM-TV in Birmingham, AL. And TIM MORRISSEY will lead WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA. It’s a return to Hearst for Tim, who once served as ND of the Hearst station in Milwaukee, WISN-TV. Tim most recently was GM for WCNC-TV in Charlotte. More on these moves and both men’s background in this news release.

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 Saturday, December 27, 2014.

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KOMO-TV 140 Fourth Ave. North Seattle WA 98109
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92101
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus OH 43202
WHBQ-TV 485 South Highland Memphis TN 38111
WGHP-TV 2005 Francis St. High Point NC 27263
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WEAR-TV 4990 Mobile Highway Pensacola FL 32506
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 (see ad above!)
KFSM-TV 485 South Highland Ft. Smith AR 72901
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Road East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave. Altoona, PA 16603
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807 (see ad above!)
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KCBD-TV 485 South Highland Lubbock TX 79404 (see ad above!)
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City IA 51108
WALB-TV 1709 Stuart Ave. Albany, GA 31707 (see ad above!)
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway, Bluefield WV 24701
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV 5956 Smith Hill Road Utica NY 13502
KAIT-TV 472 CR 766 Jonesboro AR 72401
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

December 22, 2014

Saturday, December 27, 2014 UPDATE:

Jim Boyer

I’m sorry to report the passing of longtime broadcaster JIM BOYER, who died Wednesday.

WWL-TV in New Orleans, where Jim worked for nine years, four as news director, posted this online obituary late Friday night. As of this posting, the story has few details about his passing but provides a lengthy recap of his life and career.

Jim retired in 2012 as VP/GM of KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. He’d been a GM in Portland, OR, and Des Moines, was a news director in Seattle as well as New Orleans, and also worked in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and York, PA.

He’s survived by his wife and two children. Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.

I’ll post later articles here over the weekend, so check back for more details.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, December 23, 2014 UPDATE:

Brown

One of the Scripps’ news director openings has been filled with the news that MATT BROWN will be the next ND for WFTS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tampa, FL.

He’s been the interim ND there since both ND BILL McFARLAND and Assistant ND MICHELE MURRAY left the station on the same day in October.

Matt most recently has been the Assistant ND for Scripps’ KSHB-TV in Kansas City. He’s a former ND in Tulsa and Sherman, TX, and has worked in Austin, TX, and Wichita.

Here’s the link to the story the company posted on its website.

One other note…the FOX affiliate in Ft. Wayne, IN, is looking for a news director/anchor. I updated my website with a paid ad for the position, which you can check out here.

More in the next edition of the full newsletter, which may or may not be published this weekend!

Happy holidays!

Monday, December 22, 2014 UPDATE:

We updated last night’s edition to add ONE new news director opening (technically a news director/anchor position) in Ft. Wayne, IN. Details (and a paid ad) are below.

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

Here’s your week-before-the-holiday’s newsletter. Depending on developments, I may take a break next week…but will certainly let you know about any significant changes.

I know of THREE people who are pretty busy this holiday season..they’re getting ready to take new news director jobs. And there are FOUR (updated) new openings which provide opportunities for someone else to move up.

My list shows 27 (updated) stations with ND openings. FOUR (updated) of those stations are running help wanted ads below. And there are THREE other ads for a variety of positions.

Be sure to check out Names in the News below. You’ll see a story about a New York News Director whose home was destroyed by fire. We’ll tell you about FOUR local stations who won duPont Awards, while the broadcast networks won a total of ZERO. We have more about the departure of Tribune’s Senior VP/News, and more.

Enjoy the holidays, travel safe, and we’ll see you next year.

New News Director Openings:

Miles

WMBF-TV, Myrtle Beach, FL…we always like to see news people promoted to GM, so congratulations to SARAH MILES. She’s been promoted to General Manager for this Raycom Media owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the ND there since 2010 and worked for Raycom’s WAVE-TV in Louisville for eight years. Sarah’s also worked in Evansville and Peoria.

Ball

WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…is looking for a News Director/Anchor to replace DAN BALL, who has been the ND/Anchor there for the past two years.   Dan’s taking a morning anchor position in California to be closer to his daughter. This FOX affiliate is owned by Nexstar.  You can learn more about this opening in the paid help wanted ad below.

Hobby

WALB-TV, Albany, GA…DAWN HOBBY is changing careers and will become a realtor when she leaves this Raycom Media station after her replacement is named. She’s been ND for almost two years, but spent almost 20 years in the market as an anchor/reporter, most of it at WALB. She left for five years to launch the news department for WFXL-TV, the FOX affiliate in Albany, but returned to WALB. Learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below.

KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR…HATTON WEEKS is leaving to become ND for another Raycom station, WLBT-TV in Jackson, MS. More on that below.

And while they are not new openings, please check out the ads below for the ND openings at WSYR-TV in Syracuse, NY, and KCBD-TV in Lubbock, TX.

Newly Named News Directors:

Weeks

WLBT-TV, Jackson, MS…HATTON WEEKS moves from one Raycom Media station to another as he becomes the next ND for this NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND for Raycom’s KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR, since 2008. Hatton first joined KAIT in 1996, left the business for a while in 1999, and returned to the station as Assistant ND in 2006. At WLBT, he replaces WILSON STRIBLING who remains at the station but is returning to his morning anchor role.

Ritter

WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC…DANA BROWN RITTER has been named ND for this Media General owned CBS affiliate. She’s been an EP for (as of Friday) another Media General station, WAVY-TV in Norfolk. She’s also worked for the CBS News Washington Bureau, in Pittsburgh and Roanoke, as well as an earlier stint in Norfolk. Dana replaces STEVE KORIOTH who left the station in August after two years as ND. He’s now the interim ND at Quincy’s WVVA-TV in Bluefield, WV. He previously worked for Quincy.

KTLM-TV, McAllen, TX…MIGUELANGEL LOPEZ has been promoted to news director for this Telemundo o-and-o, He’s been the EP here and previously worked in Miami and Puerto Rico. Miguelangel replaces JUAN FRANCISCO COBOS who became a correspondent for Telemundo based in McAllen. More from Mediamoves.com.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY:

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is searching for a dynamic and forward thinking News Director to lead our local news operation at NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV, the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, NY.

Serious candidates must have a proven track record of success of developing and coaching talent, consistent execution of fiercely competitive product, strategic thinking and planning, high ethical standards and effective newsroom management. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level.

To be considered, you must have a minimum of 5 years experience as a news manager and more than 10 years experience in a news operation. Prior experience with on-line and social media is required. A degree in journalism is preferred.

You need to apply online at the Nexstar job site .

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

News Director/Anchor, WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with on-air and newsroom leadership experience, then we are interested in you. You must be a compelling on air anchor with an added ability to write the competitive and strategic master plan for the newsroom. This is a great opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitive and accomplished FOX newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an understanding of local news, as well as the ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

Fort Wayne is located in northeast Indiana and is the second largest city in Indiana and the 76th largest city in Country. The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to:

WFFT Fort Wayne
Attn: Bill Ritchhart
3707 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne IN 46807

email: Britchhart@wfft.com

Nexstar Broadcasting is an equal opportunity employer.

News Director, KCBD-TV, Lubbock, TX:

The dominant number one station on the South Plains has an opening for a news director to lead this award winning news department.

The winning candidate will be a passionate, proven leader capable of recruiting, motivating, teaching, mentoring, and retaining a diverse newsroom. The news director will have the challenge of covering a regional population of over 350,000 people. Lubbock is the 11th largest city in the state of Texas and home to Texas Tech University.

The news director will oversee the content and production of 26 ½ hours of news each week and work directly with the longest running anchor team in the country. The news director will also be responsible for content produced on station website and digital platforms.

We are looking for a visionary with demonstrated skills and experience as a manager in local television news who also has the desire to live in the “friendliest city in the country.”

Apply at this link.

News Director, WALB-TV, Albany, GA:

WALB-TV, the dominant NBC/ABC news leader in Albany, Georgia, is looking for a News Content Director to lead our award winning news department.

Albany is the largest city in Southwest Georgia and offers great local restaurants, mild weather and lots of outdoor activities centered around the Flint River. The city is home to the Parks at Chehaw wildlife preserve and the Flint Riverquarium, and is just a three hour drive from the beautiful beaches of Panama City Beach, FL.

The successful candidate will be a passionate, proven leader, capable of recruiting, motivating, teaching, mentoring, and retaining a diverse newsroom.

Candidate should have examples of creative approaches to executing an established news brand, as well as experience managing people, financial, technical resources.

The News Director is responsible for providing strategic direction for daily news coverage, as well as working closely with the General Manager on long range planning, special news coverage, and station projects.

WALB’s newsroom is a successful blend of veteran reporters and anchors, as well as up-and-coming Multi-Media and Digital Journalists.

The News Director will oversee a progressive newsroom that utilizes the latest technology in news gathering, and includes an aggressive digital news operation.

Candidates should have at least five years experience in newsroom leadership roles. Strong communication and organizational skills are a must.

A degree in Mass Communication or Journalism is preferred. WALB is part of Raycom Media.

Please submit resume and application by clicking here.

EOE-M/F/D/V

Executive Producer, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX:

We are seeking an Executive Producer who will take the editorial lead each day and develop multi-platform content that succeed on air and on digital. This individual will manage, coach, and motivate a team of producers, writers, reporters, anchors, and photojournalists who are among the best in the business. The Executive Producer is responsible for the overall content of assigned newscasts, manages all aspects of breaking news, social engagement, and ensures the product stays on brand. Effective communication and decision making under daily deadline pressure are a must. The Executive Producer must have strong ethics, a solid producing background, a desire and ability to win the day, and be an exceptional troubleshooter. This individual must be able to generate unique content, and develop and produce specials as required. The EP will also work closely with other news managers and the News Director to implement winning strategies for each newscast.

We are seeking a candidate with the following:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
Must have five or more years producing experience in a major television market.
Must be able to effectively manage people & act decisively under pressure.
Must know news and what is important to the community.
Must have social media knowledge and a digital footprint.
Must have technical expertise to booth live newscasts and troubleshoot problems
Must perform administrative duties including scheduling, performance reviews, training of new staff, and provide critical feedback as needed.

RECRUITER:

Human Resources
214-977-6393
humanresources@wfaa.com

Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

News 4 is seeking a top Executive Producer who loves to live news! A qualified applicant will be an experienced Executive Producer or Special Projects Producer or the best producer in your shop, who is a great writer and wants to help lead a team of the some of the strongest news people in the business.

You must be able to explain and then sustain our news vision. Some additional job requirements include; knowledge of graphics-use to enhance the value to our audience, know how to showcase a newscast and the ability to lead and enhance the performance of producers, reporters and anchors.

The ideal candidate will understand, use and be able to teach the value of social media and digital content. Great judgment and ethics along with the ability to maintain a flexible work schedule will contribute to your success in this position.

Education/Experience: A Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, TV/film or the equivalent and at least 5 years experience in television or radio broadcast/production.

If you know how to bring value to viewers, love investigative journalism, understand the importance of weather and can work well under pressure, this may be the job for you!

WIVB/WNLO is a LIN Media station. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and offer competitive salaries and wages, and a standard benefit package that includes a 401K plan and medical and dental plans.

To apply online – click here.

EOE/MINORITIES/FEMALES/VETERANS/DISABLED

Promotion Manager, WTTV, Indianapolis, IN:

WTTV, a Tribune Broadcasting station is looking for a Promotion Manager to assist the Creative Services Director in all aspects of promotion and marketing for the station.

The ideal candidate will supervise the on-air writer/producers and is responsible for promotion production technologies as well as writing, producing and editing of all on-air promotional materials.

The successful candidate will assist Creative Services Director with the development of concepts and strategies for selected programming, including formulating a marketing strategy, creating themes, selecting media, assigning facilities and personnel, and coordinating all elements needed to produce effective advertising campaigns while working closely with news managers and reporters to effectively promote local news with topical and image promotion.

This position requires an undergraduate degree or equivalent related experience with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in local television or ad agency. To apply online click here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/9/14)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/30/14)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 12/14/14)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 11/1/14)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (TWO openings, listed 11/21/14)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/9/14)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 11/1/14)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, listing revised 11/30/14)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital EP, listed 10/26/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted 10/11/14)
WSPA-TV, Greenville/Spartanburg, SC (AM EP, listed 10/11/14)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 11/1/14)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Dayside EP, relisted 10/26/14)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/16/14)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/14/14, see ad above!)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, listed 10/19/14)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 10/11/14)
WCTI-TV, Greenville/New Bern, NC (listed 8/31/14)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 11/16/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 11/16/14)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (listed 11/1/14)
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 10/11/14)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/26/14)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 11/1/14)

Obituaries:

EMERSON STONE, a longtime executive at CBS News, died this week at the age of 86. He began in radio before moving into television. The network offered this obituary on its website.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and 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:

Two Tampa stations were among four local news operations honored this week with Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards. WFTS-TV and WTSP-TV in Tampa were joined by KPNX-TV in Phoenix and WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. There were 14 winners, none from the three broadcast network news operations. The news release is here, and you can click here to read summaries of each of the winners and links to the award winning work.

A Long Island fireman remains in critical condition after suffering injuries while fighting a fire at the home of WCBS-TV VP/News DAVID FRIEND. JOSEPH STANFORD, a volunteer fireman with 17 years service, fell through a hole in the floor into the basement. The fire began about 4:00 AM Friday morning. David and his wife were not home at the time. Click here to watch the station’s report on the fire.

Green

We told you late Friday night that KATHERINE GREEN is stepping down as Senior VP/News for Tribune Media after seven months on the job. I spoke with Katherine over the weekend and she told me the exhaustive travel demands of the job were too much for her family, which includes two young daughters. Before joining Tribune, Katherine worked at CNN, was an ND in Washington and Baltimore, and previously worked in New York. Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville, FL, where she began her career as a reporter.

Frank

KELLY FRANK joins WGCL-TV in Atlanta as Senior Managing Editor, Broadcast, Digital, and Social. It’s a new position for this CBS affiliate. Kelly will manage content across all of our platforms: television, digital and social media. She won’t have to move: she’s spent the last six years in Atlanta, first working for CNN, and then freelancing while working on a masters’ in Social Media. She’s also worked in Washington, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Columbus, OH. There’s a lot more to her background, as you’ll learn in this memo from WGCL ND LARRY PERRET.

General Manager News:

BROOKE SPECTORSKY will retire next year as GM of Gannett’s WKYC-TV in Cleveland. There may not be a lot of changes made by his successor, WKYC Station Manager MICKI BYRNES. Brooke and Micki are husband and wife.  She was promotion manager at the station before being promoted to station manager last March.  The couple was married when they joined the station in 1997.

CHRIS GEIGER has left Tribune’s WTIC-TV in Hartford after seven months as GM. He’d previously worked as a GM for Sinclair’s stations in Syracuse.

WSET-TV (Lynchburg/Roanoke, VA) General Manager RANDY SMITH is leaving the station after almost 16 years to become Executive Vice President of Liberty University. Randy previously worked as the GM for WSLS-TV in the same market.

Speaking of the same market, JOSEPH McNAMARA has been named VP/GM of WFXR-WWCW-TV in Roanoke. The stations are owned by Nexstar. He’s previously been a GM in Honolulu and Binghamton, NY.

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, December 21, 2014.

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
WFTS-TV 4045 N. Himes Ave. Tampa FL 33607
KOMO-TV 140 Fourth Ave. North Seattle WA 98109
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92101
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus OH 43202
WHBQ-TV 485 South Highland Memphis TN 38111
WGHP-TV 2005 Francis St. High Point NC 27263
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WEAR-TV 4990 Mobile Highway Pensacola FL 32506
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 (see ad above!)
KFSM-TV 485 South Highland Ft. Smith AR 72901
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Road East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Road Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave. Altoona, PA 16603
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KCBD-TV 485 South Highland Lubbock TX 79404 (see ad above!)
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City IA 51108
WALB-TV 1709 Stuart Ave. Albany, GA 31707 (see ad above!)
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway, Bluefield WV 24701
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV 5956 Smith Hill Road Utica NY 13502
KAIT-TV 472 CR 766 Jonesboro AR 72401
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station