Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

October 24, 2011

Greetings:

We’re delayed this week by travel and in part by growing pains associated with the new look of the emailed version of our weekly newsletter. I appreciate your patience.

In this week’s report, we have THREE new news directors to tell you about, while there are THREE new openings, bringing our count of open news director jobs to 23.

We have one ad, that for an Assistant News Director job in Tulsa, and we’ve updated our list of Other News Management Openings.

Some of that updating was due to a handful of new news managers at stations around the country, and we cover many of those in Names in the News.

All that’s below after this week’s changes:

Newly Named News Directors:

Mesa

KWHY-TV, Los Angeles, CA…RAYMOND MESA has been promoted to news director for this Spanish language independent station. He has been anchoring there, but earlier in his career he was the ND and anchor for KDBC-TV in El Paso, TX. Ray’s worked for KWHY for the past nine years. The station was recently purchased by The Merulo Group.

KXLN-TV, Houston, TX…MARTHA KATTAN is being promoted to News Director for this Univision owned station. Martha has been ND for sister-Univision station KUVN-TV in Dallas (more on that below). At KUVN, Martha replaces ISABEL GONZALES who left the station in August after almost two years as news director.

WROC-TV, Rochester, NY…BRYAN QUEEN has been named ND for this Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate. He has been News Manager for Time Warner’s News 14 Carolina-Costal, and previously worked for MSNBC and NBC NewsChannel. Bryan’s also worked in Winston-Salem and Asheville, NC. He replaces JERRY WALSH who’s been promoted to a corporate position within Nexstar.

New News Director Openings:

WPVI-TV, Philadelphia, PA…CARLA CARPENTER has been promoted to Senior VP of Digital Media for the ABC o-and-o stations. She’s been ND for this ABC o-and-o since 1997, and has previously worked in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Louisville, Ft. Myers, and Lexington, KY, where she began her career as a reporter.

KUVN-TV, Dallas, TX…as reported above, MARTHA KATTAN is being promoted to ND for another Univision station, KXLN-TV in Houston. Martha’s been ND here for 12 years.

WFDC-TV, Washington, DC…ERNESTO CLAVIJO is retiring from this Entravision owned Univision affiliate.

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Help Wanted Ad:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR, KTUL-TV, TULSA, OK:

KTUL ABC -Tulsa’s Channel 8 is seeking an Assistant News Director. A background in newsroom management is a must.

Duties also include managing the assignment desk and working collaboratively between producers, reporters and photographers. Must be proficient in making sound decisions under deadline and incorporate station goals and objectives across all news platforms including ktul.com.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Email resume and news philosophy to News Director Carlton Houston: chouston@ktul.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 9/10/11)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/14/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 9/17/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 9/3/11)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 10/7/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/10/10)
KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 10/14/11, see ad above!)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 9/17/11)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/23/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/10/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 9/10/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 8/26/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/26/11)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, new listing this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
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)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 8/19/11)

Names in the News:

LIZ GARCIA returns to Arizona and joins KTVK-TV, the Belo-owned independent as EP of the morning news. She is currently the Associate EP for the morning news at WTVT-TV in Tampa, but she had worked in Phoenix earlier in her career. She’s also worked at another station in Tampa and in Washington, DC.

KELLY BROWN is moving south to become the Morning EP for KCNC-TV in Denver. She’s currently a morning product for KING-TV in Seattle. It’s a return to Colorado for her, as she used to work at KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs, CO and still has family there.

Baldi

KEITH BALDI moves from reporter to Assistant News Director for Hearst’s WMTW-TV in Portland, ME. He joined WMTW in 2007 from Grand Rapids, MI, and previously worked in Clarksburg, WV, and Burlington, VT.

Fisher Interactive has promoted JENNY KUGLIN to General Manager, Content and Social Media. She first joined Fisher Interactive as Director of Social Media in 2010. She had previously been ND for Fisher’s KVAL-TV in Eugene, OR.

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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 Sunday, October 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
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin St. Dallas TX 75202
KUVN-TV 2323 Bryan St. #1600 Dallas TX 75201 **
New England Cable News 160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
WFDC-TV 101 Constitution Ave. NW Washington DC 20001
WFOR/WFBS-TV 8900 NW 18th Terr. Miami FL 33172
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic PA 18507
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
WICS/WICD-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KHGI-TV 13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings MT 59102
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV 2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
WTAP-TV One TV Plaza Parkersburg WV 26101
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001

** Spanish language station

October 15, 2011

Looking for our latest report? We’re delayed a bit by travel this week but should have the newsletter updated sometime Sunday.

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Greetings:

Welcome to those of you who normally receive this newsletter via email. Email recipients are being directed here, hopefully for just this week. I’m close to a solution for some intermittent email problems that have cropped up from time to time, and expect to have a new look for the emailed version of the newsletter by next week. (Of course, if the Cardinals make the World Series, this St. Louis native might be otherwise distracted.)

We have ONE new news director to share with you in this week’s edition, and there is ONE new ND opening. That leaves our count of open ND positions at 23.

We have FOUR help wanted ads this week, ranging from a new ad for an Assistant ND job in Tulsa. There are ads for an EP position in West Palm Beach, and for producer openings in Providence. And we’re repeating a blind box ad for a small market Central time zone ND job. I’m merely the middleman in that search (forwarding your emails to the station) but the response has been modest, so it might be worth your consideration. We also have some updates to our list of news management openings.

And we’re pleased to welcome CGS Automation to the list of advertisers who support our efforts with this newsletter. CGS has been providing turnkey ticker, branding and data feeds since 1996. Click on their ad below to learn more about the company.

Also in this week’s report, details about two former news directors who died in the past few days. We first reported their passing on our website earlier this week. Ironically, both men were the same age, both are survived by a wife, a son, and two daughters, and both were involved with broadcast education. Details below.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

New News Director Openings:

WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…this Barrington Broadcasting owned FOX affiliate is looking for a new ND. My records show that BRYAN COX had been ND there since last year.

Newly Named News Directors:

Norred

WHSV-TV, Harrionsburg, VA…KAY NORRED has been promoted to news director for this Gray Television owned ABC. She had been the Assistant ND here, and first joined the staff in 2008. Kay earlier worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer in Tampa. She replaces ED REAMS who left the station earlier this year to become the Assistant ND for WISN-TV in Milwaukee. Ed was ND here for five years.

Our initial report (primarily in our emailed edition) last week on the ND change at KKCO-TV in Grand Junction, CO, was incomplete, as we did not know what was happening with outgoing ND AMANDA WAGNER. We later learned she is continuing as an anchor at the station but giving up her role as ND.

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Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK:

KTUL ABC -Tulsa’s Channel 8 is seeking an Assistant News Director. A background in newsroom management is a must.

The ideal candidate should be a leader with strong organization, communication and writing skills. You will be responsible for managing the day-to-day news, breaking news and special projects. Must be up-to-date on newscast showcasing and production. Duties also include managing the assignment desk and working collaboratively between producers, reporters and photographers. Must be proficient in making sound decisions under deadline and incorporate station goals and objectives across all news platforms including ktul.com.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Email resume and news philosophy to News Director Carlton Houston: chouston@ktul.com

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News Director, Blind Box Ad, Small Market:

Small market affiliate in the Central time zone seeks a News Director for an established news operation. Current schedule of newscasts is about 20 hours per week. Successful candidate will be extremely self-motivated, very enthusiastic, a terrific leader and be creative in their approach to on-air formatting, writing and reporting techniques.

We are looking for a dynamic leader to continue our success. We will welcome applications from those who have a successful track record as an Assistant News Director, Executive Producer, or front-line newscast producer.

Salary and benefits package are negotiable. Solid broadcast company with excellent leadership and experience. Company is an equal opportunity employer. Background and drug test required.

Send resume and cover letter via email to NDad@rickgevers.com or via mail to:

ND Ad
c/o Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077

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Executive Producer, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL:

WPEC, CBS-12 West Palm Beach, FL– has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer. Candidate must have experience in a top 50 market as a line producer and Executive Producer. Looking for someone with exceptional leadership and people skills, a drive to succeed and a proven track record with ratings growth.

Candidate must have a solid understanding of promotion, branding and how to implement the message in daily news coverage. Selected candidate will have a “roll up the sleeves and get it done” attitude who can think outside the box with news coverage and resources. It’s critical the candidate can multi-task personnel, content and future planning.

Strong writing and problem solving skills are a must. Knowledge and experience with enps and ROSS Overdrive are preferred. Send resumes to: cyounkin@cbs12.com

EOE

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Newscast Producers, WLNE-TV, Providence, RI:

ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island is looking for creative and energetic newscast producers who have the ability to juggle breaking and daily news for our HD newscasts. We’re looking for producers who take ownership of the newscast and understand relevant news content and viewer benefit. Producers with significant booth, writing, editorial and deadline experience will be considered first. Great communication skills, with the news and production staffs, also required.

New England experience and/or background are a definite asset.

If this describes you then we should talk today!

Please email resume, references and video link (or send DVD) of a recent newscast to:

Al Sandubrae
VP News
Citadel Communications Company
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266

via email: ASandubrae@myabc5.com

Phone calls will be accepted after initial materials are received.
515.457.9645 ext. 129

ABC6/WLNE-TV is an equal opportunity employer.

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 9/10/11)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (new listing this week)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 9/17/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 9/3/11)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 10/7/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/10/10)
KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 9/17/11)

Executive News Producer:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/23/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 10/7/11)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/10/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 9/10/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 8/26/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/26/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 10/7/11, see ad above)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, listing revised this week)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/23/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 8/19/11)

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Obituaries:

Planer

ED PLANER, a one-time ND for WMAQ-TV in Chicago and WDSU-TV in New Orleans, died Saturday, October 8th, in Atlanta. He was 82 when he died after a long illness. Ed began as a reporter in New Orleans, later became ND at WDSU, and then moved to Chicago as ND for WMAQ in 1972, where he hired JANE PAULEY among others. He later worked for NBC News, and taught at Northwestern and Columbia College in Chicago. Funeral services were private. Ed is survived by his wife, a son (who works at CNN) and two daughters.

Kevorkian

HARRY KEVORKIAN, who spent many years as ND for WNDU-TV in South Bend, IN, died Sunday, October 9th, at the age of 82. He had suffered a massive stroke earlier in the week. Harry worked in Roanoke, VA, then for WSBT-TV in South Bend, before working as a political reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis. In 1967, he moved to WNDU as Director of News and Public Affairs. He was instrumental in the creation of a broadcast education program at Notre Dame University. Harry officially retired from WNDU in 1993. Funeral services were held earlier this week. Harry is also survived by his wife, a son, and two daughters.

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Names in the News:

Dieterle

DANA DIETERLE heads west to become Assistant ND for KDVR/KGWN-TV in Denver. The move puts him closer to family members in California. And it reunites him with KDVR ND ED KOSOWSKI…they worked together at WHDH-TV in Boston when Ed was the ND and Dana was the 11:00 PM EP. Dana most recently has been the Assistant ND for WOIO/WUAB-TV in Cleveland. He’s a former ND for WTEN-TV in Albany, NY, and has also worked in Miami, Hartford, and Providence.

DALE SHEPHERD has been promoted to EP for WLUK-TV, the FOX affiliate in Green Bay, WI. He had been the 9:00 producer there.

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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, October 14, 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
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News 160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 **
WFOR/WFBS-TV 8900 NW 18th Terr. Miami FL 33172
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic PA 18507
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
WICS/WICD-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KHGI-TV 13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings MT 59102
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St. Harrisonburg VA 22802
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV 2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
WTAP-TV One TV Plaza Parkersburg WV 26101
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001

** Spanish language station

October 7, 2011

Monday, October 10, 2011 UPDATE:

Kevorkian

For the second time in two days, we have an obituary for a former news director.

HARRY KEVORKIAN, the longtime ND for WNDU-TV in South Bend, IN, died Sunday at the age of 82. He suffered a massive stroke last Tuesday.

Harry worked in Roanoke, VA, then moved to Indiana where he worked for WSBT-TV in South Bend, then as a political reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis. In 1967, he moved to WNDU as Director of News and Public Affairs. He was instrumental in the creation of a broadcast education program at Notre Dame University. Harry officially retired from WNDU in 1993.

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Joyce, and three children. Funeral services will be held this Wednesday (October 12) at The McGann Funeral Home in Granger, IN.

Sunday, October 9, 2011 UPDATE:

Planer

I’m sorry to report the passing of former news director and NBC executive ED PLANER. He died yesterday in Atlanta at the age of 82 after a long illness.

He began his career as a reporter at WDSU-TV in New Orleans before being promoted to news director there. He was later ND for WMAQ-TV in Chicago, where he hired, among others, JANE PAULEY. He later worked for NBC News in a variety of roles and also taught at Columbia College in Chicago.

He’s survived by Marilyn, his wife of 56 years, and three children, including a son, MATTHEW, who works for CNN. Private funeral services were held Monday.

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Greetings:

An unusual week with just ONE newly named news director and ONE new news director opening, both in the same small market.

That means our count of open ND jobs remains at 23.

If you’re looking for a new job, we have THREE help wanted ads: one is a blind box ad for a small market ND job. If you’re anxious to avoid the upcoming winter’s cold temperatures, how about an EP job in South Florida? We also have an ad for a station in New England which has producer openings, and some new listings in our Other News Management openings section.

In Names in the News, a new job for a two-time New York City news director, a big award from RTDNA for another former New York news director, some news management changes in Houston, and an obituary for the mother of a veteran news director.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

New News Director Openings:

Wagner

KKCO-TV, Grand Junction, CO…AMANDA WAGNER has been ND and anchor here since December, 2008. She’s giving up the ND part of the job but will continue to anchor for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. Amanda went to high school in Grand Junction, and college at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She worked for KKCO earlier in her career, then took an anchor job in Madison, WI before returning to Grand Junction.

Newly Named News Directors:

KREX-TV, Grand Junction, CO…JORMA DURAN has been named ND here. He previously worked as a reporter for the Weather Channel, at KJCT-TV in Grand Junction, as well as in Ft. Myers FL. Most recently he’s been working as a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Jorma replaces KEIRA BRESNAHAN who left the station in July to be a full-time Mom. KREX is a CBS affiliate, owned by Hoak Media.

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Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, Blind Box Ad, Small Market:

Salary and benefits package are negotiable. Solid broadcast company with excellent leadership and experience. Company is an equal opportunity employer. Background and drug test required.

Send resume and cover letter via email to NDad@rickgevers.com or via mail to:

ND Ad
c/o Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077

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Executive Producer, WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL:

Strong writing and problem solving skills are a must. Knowledge and experience with enps and ROSS Overdrive are preferred. Send resumes to: cyounkin@cbs12.com

EOE

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Newscast Producers, WLNE-TV, Providence, RI:

New England experience and/or background are a definite asset.

If this describes you then we should talk today!

Please email resume, references and video link (or send DVD) of a recent newscast to:

Al Sandubrae
VP News
Citadel Communications Company
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266

via email: ASandubrae@myabc5.com

Phone calls will be accepted after initial materials are received.
515.457.9645 ext. 129

ABC6/WLNE-TV is an equal opportunity employer.

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

Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 9/10/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 9/17/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 9/3/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (new listing this week)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/10/10)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (relisted 9/10/10)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 9/17/11)

Executive News Producer:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/23/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, new listing this week)
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/5/11)
KCNC-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 8/26/11)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/10/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 9/10/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 8/26/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/26/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/23/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 8/19/11)

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Names in the News:

Forman

DAN FORMAN, who’s been the ND at both WNBC-TV and WABC-TV in New York, has joined another NYC station, WCBS-TV, as Managing Editor. Dan has been working as Managing Editor for DNAinfo.com, a hyperlocal NYC news site. He served as ND at WNBC from 2002-2008 (his second stint there) and at WABC from 2000-2002. He’s also worked for WWOR-TV in New York, and in Boston, Providence, and Albany, NY.

Another one-time NYC ND, AL PRIMO, is one of two people who’ll be honored with Distinguished Service Awards by RTDNA. Primo and former CBS News Correspondent RICHARD C. HOTTELET will receive their awards at Monday’s Edward R. Murrow Award dinner in New York City.

Some news management changes at KPRC-TV in Houston. GEOFF DANKERT has returned to Chicago for health reasons, a few months after joining this NBC affiliate as News Content Director. And RICK McFARLAND has been named Senior Executive Producer. He’ll oversee investigative reporting and special assignment reports, among other duties. Rick’s been at this Post-Newsweek NBC affiliate for more than 30 years, first as a sports photographer. Most recently he’s been the Assistant ND and spent almost two years as ND there.

Our sympathy to WAVY-TV ND JIM GILCHRIEST on the loss of his mother. MARY GILCHRIEST was 85 when she died at her home in late September after a long illness. In addition to Jim, she’s survived by four other sons and six daughters. Jim’s been in Norfolk since July, was a news director in Boise, ID, for four years, spent many years at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, and has also worked in Winston-Salem and Rochester, NY. Your note of sympathy would reach him at: jim.gilchriest@wavy.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, October 7, 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
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News 160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 **
WFOR/WFBS-TV 8900 NW 18th Terr. Miami FL 33172
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic PA 18507
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
WICS/WICD-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KHGI-TV 13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings MT 59102
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St. Harrisonburg VA 22802
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KKCO-TV 2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
WTAP-TV One TV Plaza Parkersburg WV 26101
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001

** Spanish language station

September 30, 2011

Monday, October 3, 2011 UPDATE:

This may fall a bit from our normal coverage area, but it’s a topic of interest to many of you who read our weekly newsletter.

The E.W. Scripps Company just announced it will buy the McGraw-Hill TV station group for $212 million. The group consists of nine stations, but the most significant are ABC affiliates in Denver, Indianapolis, and San Diego, as well as an ABC affiliate in Bakersfield, CA. The other stations are low-power stations affiliated with the Azteca network.

More detail in this news release from Scripps.

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Greetings:

Congratulations to FOUR new NDs who were named during the past week. And, to the best of my knowledge, there are NO new ND openings.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to just 23.

We have an ad for an EP position at The Weather Channel, and in Names in the News, details about a promotion for a longtime CBS employee who most affiliates will know.

And I’ll offer some observations about this week’s RTDNA conference.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

New News Director Openings:

None, that I know of. Please let me know of any opportunities that aren’t on our complete list of openings at the bottom of this newsletter.

Newly Named News Directors:

WGGB-TV, Springfield, MA…JIM TORTORA is the new ND here. Jim most recently was the longtime ND for WSYR-TV in Syracuse, a position he left in May after almost ten years. He replaces DAVID BAER at this Gormally Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. Dave left the station in July after three years as ND. He’s since been named ND for WXXA-TV in Albany, NY.

Kuester

KLEW-TV, Lewiston, ID…NATE KUESTER returns to Lewiston as ND for a station for which he previously anchored. Nate spent the last 4+ years as an anchor/reporter/EP for KTRV-TV in Boise, but he spent the previous two years as an anchor/reporter at this CBS affiliate. He replaces GREG MEYER who spent more than nine years as ND for this Fisher Broadcasting station.

Clenney

WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL…ANDREA CLENNEY returns to the ND chair and returns to Florida as the new ND for this Diversified Communications owned ABC affiliate. Andrea’s a former ND in Wilmington and Greenville, NC who has been working as a producer for KMGH-TV in Denver. She’s a Florida native who’s also worked in Orlando, Tampa, Austin, TX, Albany, GA, and Syracuse. She replaces TERRY GRAHAM who left the station in July just a few days before he passed away from a long illness. Terry had only been at WCJB for a few months.

Robinson

WLUC-TV, Marquette, MI…REGINA ROBINSON has been named ND for this NBC affiliate located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Regina is a native of Michigan who once worked for WDIV-TV in Detroit. She’s spent the last 16 years in Washington working for a variety of outlets. Regina replaces BRIAN CABELL who left this Barrington Broadcasting owned property after almost seven years as ND.

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Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA:

The Weather Channel is looking for a seasoned manager who will join the leadership team to help drive the live programming and editorial needs of The Weather Channel. The Executive Producer will oversee the daily editorial process, work closely with producers and other managers across all platforms, pushing our unique content on-air and online. This is a terrific opportunity to join an exciting work environment and help drive TWC into the future.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for all aspects of live programming.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Determine daily editorial content, overall production elements, graphic support and contributions from bureaus and affiliate partners.
Supervise, coordinate, schedule, teach, guide, coach and work hand in hand with individual show producers.
Script approval on studio copy, pre-produced packages and series and live content from field reporters and meteorologists.
Producing in a control room, including multiple live shots from various locations.
Consult with Meteorologists during daily briefings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE:
10-15 years experience in live television news production
Bachelor’s degree in communications, or related subject preferred.
Control room experience producing live news programs that contain live remote elements.
Must be able to work in a team environment with minimum supervision.
Advanced knowledge of computer newsroom systems

SKILLS REQUIRED:
Must be a leader
Excellent writing skills.
Organizational skills
Management skills
Strict attention to detail
Creativity
Ability to work within deadlines and within a team environment.
Must be able to clearly communicate with live crews in the field, providing clear directions and scripting information as well as studio talent and the broadcast operations crews
Work well with others especially under stressful situations.

To apply, go to The Weather Channel Career Center by clicking here.

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RTDNA Observations:

It was great to meet some new friends and see many old ones at this week’s RTDNA convention in New Orleans. Many of you have asked about my impressions. It felt more like one of the pre-2001 conventions, with a higher concentration of people you knew in one area. The exhibit floor, while a far cry from the 2000 and earlier versions, was larger and more interesting than ones in Las Vegas. Kudos to Scripps which sent at least five people from each of their nine stations. (If there are other groups who were similarly represented, I apologize). Hopefully more of the larger groups will return.

Kudos as well to Quincy Broadcasting which used the convention as a platform to launch a new program featuring year-round paid internships. That should produce a field of good candidates for future openings at the company’s 11 stations.

While I’m sure there were many get-togethers I missed, those social events are a great place to make connections and renew old ones. The crowd at the Missouri Mafia reception was spilling into the hallway, and host DAN DEVLIN and his colleagues 615 Music and Brightline had to restock the bar…twice! And the tradition continued with a sizable gathering of news managers in the lobby bar one evening. Several left that gathering to explore Bourbon Street. To my knowledge, none of them required bail money.

I hope to see many of you at next year’s convention in Ft. Lauderdale, September 20-22, 2012. Consider adding the convention to your 2012 budget, as I know many of you are in the middle of budget preparations right now.

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 9/10/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 9/17/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 9/3/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/10/10)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (relisted 9/10/10)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 9/17/11)

Executive News Producer:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/23/11, see ad above!)
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/5/11)
KCNC-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 8/26/11)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/10/11)
KPTV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 9/10/11)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/17/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 8/26/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/26/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 9/23/11)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 8/12/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 8/19/11)

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Name in the News:

Duke

Congratulations to THERESE DUKE who’s been named Senior Director of Broadcast Marketing for CBS News. She’ll continue to keep her duties with CBS Newspath. Therese and her now-retired husband JOE DUKE have worked as liaisons between the network and its affiliates for many years. Therese will oversee a unit which will coordinate promotional efforts with affiliates.

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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, September 30, 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
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin St. Dallas TX 75202
New England Cable News 160 Wells Ave. Newton MA 02459
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 **
WFOR/WFBS-TV 8900 NW 18th Terr. Miami FL 33172
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic PA 18507
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
WICS/WICD-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield IL 62703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KHGI-TV 13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings MT 59102
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St. Harrisonburg VA 22802
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor Grand Junction CO 81502
WTAP-TV One TV Plaza Parkersburg WV 26101
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001

** Spanish language station