Rick Gevers & Associates

January 6, 2012

Greetings:

There’s a news director change at an Atlanta power house today, and we also are sad to report the death of a former Indiana news director.

Pittman

MARIAN PITTMAN, who’s been ND for Cox’s WSB-TV in Atlanta since 2006, has been named station manager for that ABC affiliate. She’ll oversee news, programming, public affairs and engineering.

Dreaden

Longtime WSB employee MIKE DREADEN has been promoted to News Director. He’s been the Managing Editor there since 1998, and previously worked in New York and Miami.

In addition, several other employees were promoted: MISTI TURNBULL to Managing Editor, REENA BHARDWAJ to Senior Executive Producer, and TINA COMMODORE to Manager of Coverage and Content.

Congratulations to all.

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Doug Runyon

I’m sorry to report the death of former WTHI-TV (Terre Haute, IN) News Director DOUG RUNYON. Doug died yesterday at the age of 47 of an apparent heart attack. Funeral services will be held Saturday in Marshall, IL, where Doug lived.

He left WTHI in 2008. He told me then he was going to work full time for a company he co-owned in the private security business.

More on both stories in tomorrow’s regular weekly full edition of the newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Welcome to a busy report for the first full week of the New Year.

We have TWO new NDs this week (both in top 25 markets), and ONE new ND opening. All these moves involved veteran news directors.

That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 25.

Also this week, THREE help wanted ads, including two ND jobs and an addition to the corporate staff at Scripps. We also have an ad for a great training opportunity for news directors, which is almost free to you!

There are some updates to our Other News Management Openings section, thankfully NO obituaries, and one Name in the News, that of a veteran Michigan newsman, who, after 28 years in the Wolverine State, has figured out a way to escape cold weather.

That’s all below, after this week’s changes:

New News Director Opening:

Morford

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH…veteran news director BOB MORFORD will leave this Scripps owned ABC affiliate in the next few months. Bob turns 55 in April and can officially retire from the company. He plans to take some time off and then pursue his next opportunity. Bob’s been ND here since 2001, and has previously worn the ND hat in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati (WLWT-TV), Knoxville, TN, Huntsville, AL, and Ft. Pierce, FL. He’s also worked in Columbia, MO.

New News Directors:

Schwartz

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL…we alerted you yesterday via an emailed UDPATE about the change at this FOX o-and-o. PHYLLIS SCHWARTZ returns for her third stint as a Chicago ND at her fourth station. (She earlier was ND at WLS-TV and WMAQ-TV, and ass’t ND at WBBM-TV). NBC transferred her to its station in San Diego (KNSD-TV) where she was GM until 2009, when she formed a consulting company. She replaces CAROL FOWLER, herself a three time Chicago ND (WGN-TV and WBBM) who left to pursue other opportunities after three years as ND.

KGW-TV, Portland, OR…congratulations to RICK JACOBS who’s been promoted to News Director for this Belo-owned NBC affiliate. Rick’s been the acting ND since last June when ROD GRAMER left the station. Rick’s been the Assistant News Director for KGW since 1999. Before that, he was the ND at KEZI-TV in Eugene. He’s also worked in Medford, OR, and earlier in his career for another station in Portland.

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News Director, WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA:

Individual will be responsible for the overall responsibility of our news operation, overseeing a staff of approximately 50 at WBRE-TV, the NBC affiliate in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market.

Duties will include, but are not limited to, brand management, daily story selection, news promotion and website content. Must have a clear understanding of new media and social media and how to appropriately integrate it into the newsroom culture. Will be responsible for shaping future news content direction, helping direct news coverage and news gathering. Will be a key member of the station management team.

3-5 years of experience as ND or Assistant ND, managing a sizeable staff. The position requires strong people and coaching skills and dedication to quality broadcast journalism. Please send resumes to:

Personnel
WBRE-TV
62 South Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

lparri@pahomepage.com

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DIRECTOR OF NEWS STRATEGY, E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY:

The E.W. Scripps Company is seeking a Director of News Strategy who will lead strategic initiatives that advance the news departments in the Scripps Television Group and support the company mission of serving our communities by producing quality journalism on multiple platforms through delivering tactical assistance to the newsrooms.

* Provide daily news strategy consultation to Scripps Station Group.
* Work directly with General Managers and News Directors on daily news strategy and development at all levels to incrementally grow and improve news product and commensurate ratings.
* Integrate newly acquired McGraw-Hill stations into Scripps culture in partnership with corporate news strategy team.
* Act as liaison with research consultants to assist news departments in executing tracking and digital research plans.
* Develop content strategies based on tracking research recommendations for each station.
* Work with Director Digital Content to execute cross-platform content advancement on a daily basis.
* Execute daily 3-screen strategies across division with news, marketing and news media teams
* Work with VP Marketing and Directors of New Media to develop strategic products and partnerships
* Lead conversations with Special Projects Executive Producers regarding sweeps calendars, stories and 3-screen innovation for all Scripps stations.
* Execute daily content and sweeps special project strategies in partnership with the D.C.-based Scripps Howard News Service and MMJ team.
* Develop, execute and provide oversight to investigative content strategies and specialty MMJ(s) on special projects.
* Work with Scripps General Counsel in mitigating newsgathering, broadcast risk, ethical decision making and drive FCC compliance.
* Work with HR to design recruitment strategy focused on attracting diverse talent and developing high-potential employees.

Please apply for this role at: www.scripps.com/careers . Requisition # 4347

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Senior Director of News, Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL:

Central Florida News 13 is seeking its next great Senior Director of News. This person will be overseeing an award-winning team of journalists providing around-the-clock local television news coverage for viewers in the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, FL, market. The largest television newsgathering team in Central Florida needs a hands-on leader who can coach and develop talent, inspire a passion for excellence, and who thrives on new technology and innovation.

Previous News Director experience a must, along with a track record of aggressive and strategic news and weather coverage.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

** Developing news coverage strategy for 24-hour local news channel, web site, and on-demand products;
** Daily newscast analysis for quality control and program growth;
** Collaborating editorially with other stations within Bright House Network’s Local Programming Group;
** Leading and inspiring a talented and accomplished team committed to providing outstanding local coverage.

This is an exceptional opportunity to take your career to the next level at a station utilizing the very latest state-of-the-art technology. We have the finest tools available and an exceptional team using them. In the past year alone News 13 has won, among others, a national SPJ breaking news award, regional Edward R. Murrow award for its website, and a national Walter Cronkite Award for Political Reporting. The best candidate for this job will be a leader who appreciates the tradition of television news and who is also constantly looking for ways to establish new and creative coverage traditions for News 13 and its viewers.

Apply online at: www.mybrighthouse.com

Central Florida News 13 is an EOE – all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
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Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 12/16/11)
KDAF-TV, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, (listed 12/9/11)
WTSP-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL (new listing this week)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/14/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 11/25/11)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 11/25/11)
WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 11/25/11)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 12/9/11)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 12/16/11)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/2/11)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (relisted 12/16/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KUNS-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 11/25/11) **
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, relisted 12/16/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 11/11/11)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, listed 10/28/11)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 10/7/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, listing revised 10/14/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 12/31/11)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 12/9/11)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 12/9/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 12/9/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (ME of Video, listed 12/23/11)

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Training Opportunity:

Kneeland Accepting Applications Now

Apply today!

The Kneeland Project is accepting applications until Friday, January 27 for their April 11-14, 2012 session 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. Participants cover only their transportation and a few meals — Kneeland takes care of the rest.

• What you need to do to win 2012 election coverage
• The latest trends in social media – and what your newsroom ought to be doing today
• How your internal and external systems need to be revolutionized
• Leading Millennials
• Ethics and leadership in a 24-hour socially networked world

Selected news directors will be joined by some of the best and brightest leaders in the industry, but they won’t provide didactic, one-way lectures. On the contrary. Kneeland is seeking applications from news directors with high-level expertise, insight, and experience to make a truly unique opportunity.

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

Click here for more information and to apply.

Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!

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Name in the News:

Bleicher

Congratulations to longtime Michigan newsman JIM BLEICHER who’s finally figured out how to stay warm in the winter. He’s been named General Manager for Barrington’s WACH-TV in Columbia, SC. Jim’s spent most of his career in Michigan, first in Detroit, then on to ND jobs in Lansing and later Flint, where he spent more than 20 years as ND for WJRT-TV. Jim left the station last March when new owners took over. You can wish him well via an email to: jimbleicher@gmail.com
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The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, January 6, 2012.

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

NY 1 News                                             75 Ninth Ave. New York NY 10011
WFAA-TV                                           606 Young St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News                160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
Central Florida News 13                  20 N. Orange #13, Orlando, FL 32801 (see ad above!)
WITI-TV                                               9001 N. Green Bay Road Milwaukee WI 53209
WCPO-TV                                       1730 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
WBRE-TV                                         62 S. Franklin Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 (see ad above!)
WACH-TV                                            1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WICS/WICD-TV                                2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KHGI-TV                                              13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KOLO-TV                                         4850 Ampere Dr. Reno, NV 89502
KVII-TV                                                One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KNOE-TV                                         1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe, LA 71211
KRCG-TV                                            Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
KAUZ-TV                                             PO Box 25 Wichita Falls TX 76309
WFXL-TV                                             1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV                                          701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KWES-TV                                         11320 W. County Rd. 127 Midland, TX 79711
KSWT-TV                                             1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV                                           1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
KGNS-TV                                             120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV                                             2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
KGWN-TV                                           2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
KSAX-TV                                             PO Box 189 Alexandria, MN 56308
WYIN-TV                                            8625 Indiana Place Merrilville IN 46410

** Spanish language station

January 1, 2012

Thursday, January 5, 2012 UPDATE:

A former Chicago News Director returns to the Windy City…that’s one of two new NDs in this UPDATE.

Schwartz

PHYLLIS SCHWARTZ has been named ND for WFLD-TV, the FOX o-and-o there.  That’s the third Chicago station for which she’s served as ND.  She replaces another three time Chicago ND, CAROL FOWLER, who’s left the station to ‘pursue other opportunities’.

WFLD will be the third Chicago station for which Phyllis has been ND. She served as ND for both WLS-TV and WMAQ-TV, and also was the Assistant ND for WBBM-TV. NBC later transferred her to San Diego, where she was GM of the company’s KNSD-TV there.

Since 2009, she’s run Phyllis Schwartz Solutions, a programming and content development company in San Diego.

Carol Fowler is also a three time Chicago ND, having overseen WBBM-TV and WGN-TV. She joined WFLD three years ago.

Also this week, RICK JACOBS has been promoted to ND for Belo’s KGW-TV in Portland, OR. He’s been the Assistant ND there, and has been the acting ND since ROD GRAMER left the station in June, 2011.

We’ll have more on both these stories when we update the full newsletter tomorrow.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

As we enter into a new year, I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for their interest in this weekly newsletter. From a modest beginning in 1996 (a private email to two friends looking for a new job), it’s grown to 1,100 email subscribers and more than 1,500 hits a week on my website. Thanks to all, and on to this week’s news.

We have ONE new ND this week (in Washington), and ONE new ND opening (created by someone leaving for a network bureau position in Washington). We also have some newsroom consolidations to tell you about.

Our list of open ND jobs now totals 25.

We have more consolidations of newsrooms, both in California. Cowles Communications of California is combining its newsrooms in Salinas (KION/KCBA) with its newsroom in Santa Maria (KCOY/KKFX). TRACIANN ZERAVICA, who’s been the ND at KION, will oversee both newsrooms.

And Entravision is closing its news operation in Santa Barbara, and will air a newscast produced from Monterrey-Salinas.

Also this week, we’ll tell you about the death of the father of a longtime RTDNA officer and three time ND. And we’ll introduce you to the new son of a California news director.

We have one help wanted ad for an interesting job at The Weather Channel.

That’s all below, after this week’s changes.

New News Director Opening:

Settle

WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA…JEREMY SETTLE is leaving this Nexstar-owned NBC affiliate to return to his hometown of Washington, DC. Jeremy will be the Senior Producer of the Fox News Channel DC Bureau. He’s been the ND for WBRE for just over two years, earlier worked as ND for Albritton’s NewsChannel 8 cable operation in DC, and was an ND/anchor in Charlottesville, VA. He’s also worked for WUSA-TV in Washington.

Newly Named News Director:

WFDC-TV, Washington, DC…KAREN MUNDEZ is already on the job as the new ND for this Entravision owned Univision affiliate. She most recently has been working at WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico, but has earlier been an ND in Orlando and Puerto Rico, and also worked in New York. She replaces ERNESTO CLAVIJO who retired from WFDC earlier this fall.

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Help Wanted Ads:

Managing Editor of Video, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA:

The Managing Editor of Video is responsible for timely delivery of video segments, stories and forecasts across all The Weather Channel platforms.

Duties: Ensure all best video is airing and posting, approves and oversees all field content, manages live content & package production, work closely with executive producers and digital content managers on plans, leads and big story coverage execution. Work with segment producers on daily production.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop strategies to grow video consumption on all platforms as well as cross platform promotion. Work effectively with cross-functional team (meteorologists, producers, designers, developers & product managers) to effectively deliver consistently excellent, compelling content in its most effective form to the particular platform.

Produce multimedia content (video, audio, maps, data presentation) that aligns with programming initiatives. Seek continuous improvement of overall content offering and develop new content ideas. Maintain knowledge of all technologies and platforms that will put our video in the hands of viewers and users.

Required experience:

5 years experience management in television production
Journalism Degree or equivalent experience
Must know how to write, produce, and edit for TV and interactive platforms.
3 years experience in web producing preferred.
Thrives in a multi-team, multi-in-house customer environment.

Go to weather.com/careers to apply.

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Senior Director of News, Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL:

Central Florida News 13 is seeking its next great Senior Director of News. This person will be overseeing an award-winning team of journalists providing around-the-clock local television news coverage for viewers in the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, FL, market. The largest television newsgathering team in Central Florida needs a hands-on leader who can coach and develop talent, inspire a passion for excellence, and who thrives on new technology and innovation.

Previous News Director experience a must, along with a track record of aggressive and strategic news and weather coverage.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

** Developing news coverage strategy for 24-hour local news channel, web site, and on-demand products;
** Daily newscast analysis for quality control and program growth;
** Collaborating editorially with other stations within Bright House Network’s Local Programming Group;
** Leading and inspiring a talented and accomplished team committed to providing outstanding local coverage.

This is an exceptional opportunity to take your career to the next level at a station utilizing the very latest state-of-the-art technology. We have the finest tools available and an exceptional team using them. In the past year alone News 13 has won, among others, a national SPJ breaking news award, regional Edward R. Murrow award for its website, and a national Walter Cronkite Award for Political Reporting. The best candidate for this job will be a leader who appreciates the tradition of television news and who is also constantly looking for ways to establish new and creative coverage traditions for News 13 and its viewers.

Apply online at: www.mybrighthouse.com

Central Florida News 13 is an EOE – all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

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Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 12/16/11)
KDAF-TV, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, (listed 12/9/11)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/14/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/28/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 11/25/11)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 11/25/11)
WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 11/25/11)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 12/9/11)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 12/16/11)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/2/11)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (relisted 12/16/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KUNS-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 11/25/11) **
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, relisted 12/16/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 11/11/11)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, listed 10/28/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 10/7/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, listing revised 10/14/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted this week)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 12/9/11)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 12/9/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 12/9/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (ME of Video, listed 12/23/11, see ad above!)

Obituary:

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2012, in Media, PA, for DR. ENIO TOBIA, father of former ND LOREN TOBIA. Dr. Tobia died December 30th at the age of 80. He’s a retired veteran, having served during the Korean War. Dr. Tobia is survived by his wife, Laura, and two sons, including Loren. Loren’s a former ND in Charleston-Huntington, WV, Omaha, and Syracuse, and is the longtime RTDNA Treasurer. He’s been with Accu-Weather since 2005. A kind note would reach him at: tobia@accuweather.com

Name in the News:

Jacob & Parents

Congratulations to KFSN-TV (Fresno, CA) News Director TRACEY WATKOWSKI and her husband JIM SILVA on the birth of their first child, JACOB LUCIO SILVA. The future newsman was born on December 19th, and weighed in six pounds, eight ounces, and 19 inches long. Mom’s been the ND for that ABC o-and-o since 2006, and earlier worked in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and for CNN. Perhaps she’d have a moment between diaper changings to read a nice email sent to her at: Tracey.Watkowski@abc.com
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The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Saturday, December 31, 2011.

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

NY 1 News                                             75 Ninth Ave. New York NY 10011
WFAA-TV                                           606 Young St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News                160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
Central Florida News 13                  20 N. Orange #13, Orlando, FL 32801
KGW-TV                                                1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WITI-TV                                               9001 N. Green Bay Road Milwaukee WI 53209
WBRE-TV                                         62 S. Franklin Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WACH-TV                                            1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WICS/WICD-TV                                2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KHGI-TV                                              13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KOLO-TV                                         4850 Ampere Dr. Reno, NV 89502
KVII-TV                                                One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KNOE-TV                                         1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe, LA 71211
KRCG-TV                                            Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
KAUZ-TV                                             PO Box 25 Wichita Falls TX 76309
WFXL-TV                                             1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV                                          701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KWES-TV                                         11320 W. County Rd. 127 Midland, TX 79711
KSWT-TV                                             1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV                                           1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
KGNS-TV                                             120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV                                             2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
KGWN-TV                                           2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
KSAX-TV                                             PO Box 189 Alexandria, MN 56308
WYIN-TV                                            8625 Indiana Place Merrilville IN 46410

** Spanish language station

December 23, 2011

Greetings:

Best wishes for a happy holiday to all.

We alerted you earlier this week to a new ND opening in Dallas, but the biggest surprise in this week’s report may be the new news director at a small market Wisconsin station. That news is below, and it’s one of FIVE new NDs named this week. And the Dallas vacancy is the only new ND opening I’m aware of.

Our list of open ND jobs now totals 26.

We have ads for two of those news director openings, as well as a new ad for a Managing Editor job at the Weather Channel. And we’ll tell you about a Rhode Island station looking for producers.

We’re sorry to report the death of the wife of a longtime Milwaukee ND. That’s below.

And we’ll tell you who the top five executives in local TV are…at least according to one publication. That’s among the items in Names in the News.

That’s all below, after this week’s changes.

New News Director Openings:

Valentine

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX…MICHAEL VALENTINE is being promoted to VP of Content for station owner Belo. He’s been ND for this ABC affiliate since 2005, and earlier worked as the ND for Belo’s WVEC-TV in Norfolk, VA. Michael’s first ND job was in Evansville, IN. He’ll continue at WFAA until his successor is found.

Newly Named News Directors:

KDEN-TV, Denver, CO…MARIA ROZMAN has been promoted to News Director for this Telemundo station. She has been the EP there and also anchors for the station.

WLNE-TV, Providence, RI…BOB ROCKSTROH has been named ND for the Citadel Communications-owned ABC affiliate. Bob’s a former ND in Hartford and Ft. Wayne who’s been the EP for FiOS1, Verizon’s news operation in New York. He’s also worked in San Francisco, Minneapolis, and San Diego. At WLNE, he replaces IRENE MAHONEY PAGE who left the station a few weeks ago after four months as ND.

WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…ELISABETH SHAFFER has been named ND for the West Virginia Media owned CBS affiliate. Elizabeth has worked for WCHS-TV for the past 30 years. At WOWK, she replaces APRIL KAULL who will remain with the company. April first joined WOWK in 2000, and has been news director since May, 2010.

Quarderer

WJFW-TV, Rhinelander, WI...after almost 21 years at Magid, JOHN QUARDERER is moving home to Wisconsin and becoming ND for this NBC affiliate. Rhineland is home for John and he told friends he and his wife are excited to be back. Earlier in his career, John was on the faculty of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and was ND for KOMU-TV. He’s also was an ND in Salinas, CA, and an EP in San Francisco. John replaces HEATHER SCHALLOCK who left the station after 12 years as ND for a job out of TV.

Bothwell

WTOV-TV, Steubenville, OH…MIKE BOTHWELL remains with Cox as he has been named ND for this NBC affiliate. Mike’s currently the Director of Content and Coverage for Cox’s WPXI-TV in nearby Pittsburgh. He’s a former ND in Bend, Or, an Assistant ND in Palm Desert, CA, and worked in Philadelphia as well as an earlier stint in Pittsburgh. He replaces BRANDON GOBEL who was also promoted within Cox as he moved to WSB-TV in Atlanta as an EP.

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Help Wanted Ads: 

Managing Editor of Video, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA:

The Managing Editor of Video is responsible for timely delivery of video segments, stories and forecasts across all The Weather Channel platforms.

Duties: Ensure all best video is airing and posting, approves and oversees all field content, manages live content & package production, work closely with executive producers and digital content managers on plans, leads and big story coverage execution. Work with segment producers on daily production.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop strategies to grow video consumption on all platforms as well as cross platform promotion. Work effectively with cross-functional team (meteorologists, producers, designers, developers & product managers) to effectively deliver consistently excellent, compelling content in its most effective form to the particular platform.

Produce multimedia content (video, audio, maps, data presentation) that aligns with programming initiatives. Seek continuous improvement of overall content offering and develop new content ideas. Maintain knowledge of all technologies and platforms that will put our video in the hands of viewers and users.

Required experience:

5 years experience management in television production
Journalism Degree or equivalent experience
Must know how to write, produce, and edit for TV and interactive platforms.
3 years experience in web producing preferred.
Thrives in a multi-team, multi-in-house customer environment.

Go to weather.com/careers to apply.

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

Senior Director of News, Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL:

Central Florida News 13 is seeking its next great Senior Director of News. This person will be overseeing an award-winning team of journalists providing around-the-clock local television news coverage for viewers in the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, FL, market. The largest television newsgathering team in Central Florida needs a hands-on leader who can coach and develop talent, inspire a passion for excellence, and who thrives on new technology and innovation.

Previous News Director experience a must, along with a track record of aggressive and strategic news and weather coverage.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

** Developing news coverage strategy for 24-hour local news channel, web site, and on-demand products;
** Daily newscast analysis for quality control and program growth;
** Collaborating editorially with other stations within Bright House Network’s Local Programming Group;
** Leading and inspiring a talented and accomplished team committed to providing outstanding local coverage.

This is an exceptional opportunity to take your career to the next level at a station utilizing the very latest state-of-the-art technology. We have the finest tools available and an exceptional team using them. In the past year alone News 13 has won, among others, a national SPJ breaking news award, regional Edward R. Murrow award for its website, and a national Walter Cronkite Award for Political Reporting. The best candidate for this job will be a leader who appreciates the tradition of television news and who is also constantly looking for ways to establish new and creative coverage traditions for News 13 and its viewers.

Apply online at: www.mybrighthouse.com

Central Florida News 13 is an EOE – all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

Producer, WLNE-TV, Providence, RI:

ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island is looking for a creative and energetic newscast producer who has the ability to juggle breaking and daily news. We want a producer who takes ownership of the newscast and understands relevant news content and viewer benefit.

Only producers with significant booth and editorial experience will be considered. Please send your resume by 12/31/2011 to:

Anne Marie Menard
Business Manager
WLNE/ABC6
10 Orms Street
Providence, RI 02904

No phone calls please. WLNE-TV / ABC6 is and equal opportunity employer.

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

News Director, KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK:

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

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 12/16/11)
KDAF-TV, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, (listed 12/9/11)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/14/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/28/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 11/25/11)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 11/25/11)
WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 11/25/11)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 12/9/11)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 12/16/11)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/2/11)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (relisted 12/16/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KUNS-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 11/25/11) **
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 12/16/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, relisted 12/16/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 11/11/11)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, listed 10/28/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 10/7/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, listing revised 10/14/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/23/11)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 12/9/11)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 12/9/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 12/9/11)

MANAGING EDITOR:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (ME of Video, new listing this week, see ad above!)

Obituary:

Uitti

CHERYL UITTI, wife of WDJT-TV (Milwaukee, WI) News Director GRANT UITTI, lost her long battle with brain cancer this week. She died Sunday, December 18th, at the age of 46. Cheryl once performed with Second City in Chicago, appeared on QVC, and worked as a reporter for public radio. In addition to Grant, she’s survived by the couple’s two children and her parents. Services were held yesterday in Carbondale, IL.

Names in the News:

Congratulations to WFAA-TV in Dallas, WSB-TV in Atlanta, WTVF-TV in Nashville, and Detroit Public Television, all honored this week with Alfred I. DuPont Awards. Check out the entire list of winners here.

Speaking of honors, WCVB-TV (Boston) ND ANDREW VREES, former ND and now GM for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis JOHN CARDENAS, and longtime newsman ADAM SYMSON were among five people picked by Broadcasting and Cable as the Local TV Executives of the Year.

Longtime RTDNA officer and former News Director LOU PRATO has had an upclose view of the Penn State story this fall, and doesn’t like a lot of what he’s seen. He offered his thoughts in this commentary on the RTDNA website, posted ten days ago.

Bray

Perhaps the busiest man in television is going to get a little busier, apparently. STEVE BRAY, who is the Chief Meteorologist AND News and Weather Operations Manager for WISH-TV in Indianapolis, has been named Assistant News Director for this Lin Media owned CBS affiliate. Steve also does the weather on the 5:00 news. He first joined WISH in 1995, and earlier worked in Mobile, AL, and Lake Charles, LA.

A cross-town move in Cincinnati, where JEANNINE GALLENSTEIN has been named EP of the morning newscast for WKRC-TV.  She’s spent almost 25 years working for WCPO-TV in a variety of roles, but actually began her career at WKRC.

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

The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of December 23, 2011.

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

NY 1 News                                             75 Ninth Ave. New York NY 10011
WFAA-TV                                           606 Young St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News                160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
WFDC-TV                                            101 Constitution Ave. NW Washington DC 20001  **
Central Florida News 13                  20 N. Orange #13, Orlando, FL 32801 (See ad above!)
KGW-TV                                                1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WITI-TV                                               9001 N. Green Bay Road Milwaukee WI 53209
WACH-TV                                            1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WICS/WICD-TV                                2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KHGI-TV                                              13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KOLO-TV                                         4850 Ampere Dr. Reno, NV 89502
KCOY/KKFX-TV                              1211 W. McCoy Santa Maria CA 93455
KVII-TV                                                One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KNOE-TV                                         1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe, LA 71211
KRCG-TV                                            Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
KAUZ-TV                                             PO Box 25 Wichita Falls TX 76309
WFXL-TV                                             1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV                                          701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503 (see ad above!)
KWES-TV                                         11320 W. County Rd. 127 Midland, TX 79711
KSWT-TV                                             1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV                                           1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
KGNS-TV                                             120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV                                             2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
KGWN-TV                                           2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
KSAX-TV                                             PO Box 189 Alexandria, MN 56308
WYIN-TV                                           8625 Indiana Place Merrilville IN 46410

** Spanish language station

December 17, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 UPDATE:

Valentine

MICHAEL VALENTINE, who’s been the news director for Belo’s WFAA-TV in Dallas since 2005, has been promoted toVP of Content for the company.  He’ll work from Belo’s Dallas headquarters.  Michael had earlier been the ND for the company’s WVEC-TV in Norfolk, and has earlier been and ND in Evansville, IN.

His promotion was announced Tuesday, just one day before the station won another Alfred I. Dupont Award for investigative reporting.  WFAA was one of four local stations honored, joining WSB-TV in Atlanta, WTVF-TV in Nashville, and Detroit Public Television.

We’ll have more on these stories and tell you about a couple of new news directors when we update the full newsletter later this week.

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

Greetings:

We’re always happy to report when a News Director is being promoted to General Manager, and that happened with a Memphis ND this week. And her assistant ND was promoted to be the next ND there. That’s one of TWO new NDs to tell you about this week, while we have THREE new news director openings.

Our list of open ND jobs now totals 28.

We have help wanted ads for two of those open ND jobs, for two Assistant ND jobs, and for a producer opening at a station in New England.

We’ve updated our list of Other News Management Openings, and we have two news managers on the move in Names in the News.

And we have two obituaries: one for a former Maryland ND and anchor, and the other for the mother of a three time ND.

All that, and so much more (even I can’t say that with a straight face) after this week’s changes:

New News Director Openings:

KOLO-TV, Reno, NV…DAVE BEECH has left this ABC affiliate after three years as ND. Dave previously was an ND in Grand Junction, CO. His replacement will be the seventh ND in just over ten years for the Gray Television owned station.

KNOE-TV, Monroe, LA…this Hoak Media owned CBS affiliate is advertising for a new news director. My records show MARLA GILCREASE has been ND there since April, 2009.

KWES-TV, Midland, TX…MARK KURTZ is leaving this NBC affiliate to become the new Assistant ND for WAVY-TV in Norfolk. That’s the LIN Media-owned NBC station there. Mark spent almost four years as ND for this Drewry-owned station. He’s also worked in Waco and Corpus Christi, TX.

Newly Named News Directors:

Whitmeyer

KDFW-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…as we first reported to you yesterday, ROBIN WHITMEYER will be the next ND for this Fox o-and-o. Robin most recently was ND for WSOC-TV in Charlotte, a job she left in February after eight years as ND and a total of 30 years at the station. At KDFW, she replaces another longtime ND, MARIA BARRS, who served as ND for 13 of her 17 years at the station. Maria left in August to become GM for KXTV in Sacramento.

Phillips

WMC-TV, Memphis, TN…TAMMY PHILLIPS has been promoted to ND for this Raycom-owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND there and has worked at the station for ten years. And congratulations to the woman she replaces, TRACEY ROGERS, who’s being promoted within Raycom to become GM of KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR. Tracey spent four years as ND in Memphis, and earlier was an ND in Huntsville and Paducah, KY. Tracey’s a Tennessee native and has also worked (for three stations) in Nashville.

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

Help Wanted Ads:  

Senior Director of News, Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL:

Central Florida News 13 is seeking its next great Senior Director of News. This person will be overseeing an award-winning team of journalists providing around-the-clock local television news coverage for viewers in the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, FL, market. The largest television newsgathering team in Central Florida needs a hands-on leader who can coach and develop talent, inspire a passion for excellence, and who thrives on new technology and innovation.

Previous News Director experience a must, along with a track record of aggressive and strategic news and weather coverage.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

** Developing news coverage strategy for 24-hour local news channel, web site, and on-demand products;
** Daily newscast analysis for quality control and program growth;
** Collaborating editorially with other stations within Bright House Network’s Local Programming Group;
** Leading and inspiring a talented and accomplished team committed to providing outstanding local coverage.

This is an exceptional opportunity to take your career to the next level at a station utilizing the very latest state-of-the-art technology. We have the finest tools available and an exceptional team using them. In the past year alone News 13 has won, among others, a national SPJ breaking news award, regional Edward R. Murrow award for its website, and a national Walter Cronkite Award for Political Reporting. The best candidate for this job will be a leader who appreciates the tradition of television news and who is also constantly looking for ways to establish new and creative coverage traditions for News 13 and its viewers.

Apply online at: www.mybrighthouse.com

Central Florida News 13 is an EOE – all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

Assistant News Director, KDAF-TV, Dallas, TX:

Our non-traditional newsroom seeks a non-traditional manager to help us evolve our non-traditional news product in the nation’s 5th Market.

KDAF-TV, the Tribune, CW station in Dallas-Fort Worth, has an immediate opening for a Deputy Content Czar, aka Assistant News Director. The person hired will help us break old school TV rules as we pursue our non-traditional news audience while still maintaining Big J values.

We are looking for someone who leads by example and is equally comfortable producing for the web as they are producing for air. Primary duties include direct oversight of newscasts, work with producers and reporters to create compelling content, and work with our Content Czar to set the tone and direction for the newsroom.

If you have television news management experience, a strong Klout score, and social media skills that equal your journalism skills, send your resume and news philosophy to openings@the33news.com or snail mail to:

Content Czar
KDAF-TV
8001 John Carpenter Freeway
Dallas, TX 75247

EOE

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

Assistant News Director, KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX:

KTXS Television is searching for an Assistant News Director. The ideal candidate would have 3 or more years of experience in television news. Some supervisor experience a plus.

The Assistant News Director will work closely with the ND, and play a major editorial role in the day to day operation. We’re looking for an aggressive journalist who can take charge of a highly motivated newsroom.

KTXS is a station that puts news first, we have the area’s only satellite truck, the market’s only live Doppler radar, and we’re the only station that broadcasts our news in High Definition.

If you’d like to be a part of this team, email your resume to: levesque@ktxs.com

or via mail to:

Assistant News Director Search
KTXS-TV
4420 N. Clack
Abilene, TX 79601

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

Producer, WLNE-TV, Providence, RI:

ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island is looking for a creative and energetic newscast producer who has the ability to juggle breaking and daily news. We want a producer who takes ownership of the newscast and understands relevant news content and viewer benefit.

Only producers with significant booth and editorial experience will be considered. Please send your resume by 12/31/2011 to:

Anne Marie Menard
Business Manager
WLNE/ABC6
10 Orms Street
Providence, RI 02904

No phone calls please. WLNE-TV / ABC6 is and equal opportunity employer.

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

News Director, KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK:

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

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
KDAF-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 12/9/11 see ad above!)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/14/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted this week)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 10/28/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/28/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 11/25/11)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 11/25/11)
WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 11/25/11)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 12/9/11, see ad above!)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (relisted this week)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/2/11)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (relisted this week)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KUNS-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 11/25/11) **
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted this week)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, relisted this week)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 11/11/11)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, listed 10/28/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 10/7/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, listing revised 10/14/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/23/11)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 12/9/11)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 12/9/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (relisted 12/9/11)

Obituaries:

Borngesser

A one time Maryland News Director and anchor, BOB BORNGESSER, died this week of cancer at the age of 79. He worked for 19 years for WHAG-TV in Hagerstown. Bob also worked in Washington as a correspondent for NBC, where he went by the name BOB KEANE. He retired from WHAG in 1997. Bob’s survived by his wife, daughter, and several grandchildren.

Our sympathy to veteran news director ADAM BRADSHAW on the death of his mother.  INEZ P. BRADSHAW died Wednesday at the age of 88, less than a month after she was diagnosed with cancer. Mrs. Bradshaw was a retired school teacher for the Urbana, IL school district who also hosted a cooking show for the blind on the University of Illinois radio networks for several years. She is survived by her husband, Glenn R. Bradshaw, and 5 children, including Adam. He’s currently ND at KVVU-TV in Las Vegas, has previously been an ND in Rochester, NY, and Salt Lake City, and also worked in Los Angeles. Your kind note would reach him via email at: mrnews5@gmail.com

Names in the News:

TIM LIVINGSTON heads west to become the morning EP for KXAS-TV, the NBC o-and-o in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Tim’s currently the Assistant ND for WKEF/WGRT-TV in Dayton, OH. He’s a former ND in Toledo.

Who says you can’t go home again? JULIE JOHNSON has returned to KTUL-TV in Tulsa, this time as Assistant News Director. She worked for the station for eight years before taking a four year break, during which she worked in a variety of positions in town, including the Tulsa World and Cox.

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

The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of December 16, 2011.

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

NY 1 News                                             75 Ninth Ave. New York NY 10011
New England Cable News                160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
WFDC-TV                                            101 Constitution Ave. NW Washington DC 20001  **
Central Florida News 13                  20 N. Orange #13, Orlando, FL 32801
KGW-TV                                                1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WITI-TV                                               9001 N. Green Bay Road Milwaukee WI 53209
WLNE-TV                                            10 Orms St. Providence RI 02904
WACH-TV                                            1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WICS/WICD-TV                                2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KHGI-TV                                              13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KOLO-TV                                         4850 Ampere Dr. Reno, NV 89502
KCOY/KKFX-TV                              1211 W. McCoy Santa Maria CA 93455
KVII-TV                                                One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KNOE-TV                                         1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe, LA 71211
WJFW-TV                                           3217 County Road G Rhinelander WI 54501
KRCG-TV                                            Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
KAUZ-TV                                             PO Box 25 Wichita Falls TX 76309
WFXL-TV                                             1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV                                          701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503 (see ad above!)
WTOV-TV                                           9 Red Donley Plaza Steubenville OH 43952
KWES-TV                                         11320 W. County Rd. 127 Midland, TX 79711
KSWT-TV                                             1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV                                           1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
KGNS-TV                                             120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV                                             2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
KGWN-TV                                           2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
KSAX-TV                                             PO Box 189 Alexandria, MN 56308
WYIN-TV                                           8625 Indiana Place Merrilville IN 46410

** Spanish language station