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August 19, 2011

Greetings:

You might be able to blame the summer doldrums, but it’s been a slow week.  There’s just ONE new ND to introduce you to, and, to the best of my knowledge, NO new ND openings.

That brings our list of open ND jobs to just 26.

Also this week, we’re re-running an ad for an EP opening in Green Bay, and we have an obituary for a pioneering female news director.

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

New News Director Openings:

None, that I know of.  If you know of any updates to our list, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

Newly Named News Directors:

Daley-Hinkens

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…CARMELYN DALEY-HINKENS is the new ND here.  It’s her second stint at this CBS station now owned by Nexstar.  She was a producer and reporter here in the early 90’s before moving to WISC-TV in Madison where she eventually became ND, serving in that role for almost six years.  Carmelyn moved to Texas for a while to accompany her husband to a new position there, but they returned to Wisconsin in 2008 when she joined WFRV as an EP.  She replaces LEE HITTER who left the station in June after 17 years as ND.

Also, last we week we reported that KATE GLOVER was leaving KMIR-TV in Palm Desert, CA, but we didn’t know where she was headed.  Newsblues is reporting that Kate is joining KNSD-TV in San Diego as an EP.

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Help Wanted Ad:

Evening Executive Producer, WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI:

Immediate opening for talented producer interested in advancing into management.

We produce six hours of daily news. The Evening Executive Producer supervises content for our website and two hour-long evening newscasts: FOX 11 News at Five and FOX 11 News at Nine.

Successful candidate will have strong leadership and motivational skills, with a love of creative writing, a dedication to grammar, and the ability to help others get the most out of their own writing skills.

The Evening Executive Producer is also responsible for long term projects and special events coordination. This position is part of the newsroom management team.

College degree required. Two to four years producing experience preferred.

Please forward a link to your cover-letter, resume and producing reel to:

juli.buehler@wluk.com

Juli Buehler
WLUK-TV
787 Lombardi Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54304

EOE
**** ***** ****

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

Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11)
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 8/5/11)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/1/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)

Executive News Producer:

KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/5/11)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (AM EP, listed 8/12/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/17/11)
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 (listed 7/1/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 8/12/11, see ad above!)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (new listing this week)

Managing Editor:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/17/11)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/17/11)

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Obituary:

Wean

CAROLYN WEAN, the first female ND for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, died last week at the age of 68.  She later became GM at KDKA, and later served as GM of another Westinghouse station in San Francisco.  Carolyn also spent some time as ND for KYW-TV in Philadelphia.  She finished her career working for WQED-TV, the PBS station in Pittsburgh.

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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, August 19, 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
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy.          Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St.                       Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St.                              New Haven CT 06510
KMSB-TV     1855 N. 6th Ave.                             Tucson AZ 85705
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St.                           Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St.                                 Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St.                      Waterloo IA 50703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir.            Colorado Springs CO 80905
WGGB-TV 1300 Liberty St.                                Springfield MA 01104
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St.                                     Lewiston ID 83501
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center                       Amarillo TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd.                     Rockford IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr.                         Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd.                       Albany GA 31707
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St.                             Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave.                                  Yuma AZ 85364
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St.                                 Harrisonburg VA 22802
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East                Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.                       Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor                         Grand Junction CO 81502
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong                     San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway                         Cheyenne WY 82001
WAGM-TV 12 Brewer Road                                Presque Isle ME 04769
KSAX-TV PO Box 189                                         Alexandria MN 56308

 

August 12, 2011

Greetings:

We’re a little early this week due to travel but we do have a few interesting items to report.

There are TWO new ND openings to tell you about, along with TWO newly named news directors.  That brings our count of open news director jobs to 27.

Two of those openings are featured in paid help wanted ads before.  One of the jobs is in the middle of the country, and the other is in beautiful Colorado Springs.  And we have a new ad for an EP that’d be great for anyone who loves  the Green Bay Packers.

In Names in the News, new jobs for two former NDs, a well known CBS newsie has a new position, an EP crosses the street in Cincinnati, and an obit for a long-ago Chattanooga ND.

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

New News Director Openings:

KVII-TV, Amarillo, TX…is advertising for a new news director.  STEVE PAIR has been ND for this Barrington Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate since December, 2008.  He’s leaving for a job outside of TV news.

KMIR-TV, Palm Desert, CA…this Journal Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate is looking for an ND to replace KATE GLOVER. She’s been ND there since February, 2010.

Newly Named News Directors:

Galloway

WFIE-TV, Evansville, IN…SCOTT GALLOWAY has been promoted to ND after 24 years at this Raycom-owned NBC affiliate.  Scott’s entire career has been in Evansville when you include one year at a competitor.  He first worked at WFIE as a photographer, then chief photographer, assignment editor and assistant news director.  He’s been the interim ND since CJ HOYT left last month to become ND at sister-Raycom station WTOL-TV in Toledo after more than three years as ND.

Parker

WUTR/WFXV-TV, Utica, NY…JOEY PARKER will be the first ND (and the first evening anchor) for this Nexstar-owned ABC/FOX cluster.  Joey’s been working in the non-profit field since he left his job as Assistant ND and anchor for WCJB-TV in Gainesville, FL.  It’s Joey’s second start-up…he held the same job when KCWY-TV went in the air in Casper, WY, in 2003.  He’s also worked in Hastings, NE, Montgomery, and Dothan, AL.

 

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Help Wanted Ads:

Evening Executive Producer, WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI:

Immediate opening for talented producer interested in advancing into management.

We produce six hours of daily news. The Evening Executive Producer supervises content for our website and two hour-long evening newscasts: FOX 11 News at Five and FOX 11 News at Nine.

Successful candidate will have strong leadership and motivational skills, with a love of creative writing, a dedication to grammar, and the ability to help others get the most out of their own writing skills.

The Evening Executive Producer is also responsible for long term projects and special events coordination. This position is part of the newsroom management team.

College degree required. Two to four years producing experience preferred.

Please forward a link to your cover-letter, resume and producing reel to:

juli.buehler@wluk.com

Juli Buehler
WLUK-TV
787 Lombardi Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54304

EOE

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

News Director, KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA:

KWWL in Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Dubuque-Iowa City – DMA 88, seeks a dynamic News Director to lead our news team to the next level.

KWWL, Iowa’s News Channel is a healthy heritage station, rich with history and tradition, and an industry frontrunner in new media, consistently ranking among the top broadcast web sites in the country. We produce nine half hours of television news daily.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel and preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. Reporting to the Station Manager, the News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 8 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. You must demonstrate a strong working knowledge of community issues and needs, as well as sound journalistic principles. You must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic, ethical and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead what can become the best local broadcast news operation in Eastern Iowa, we want to hear from you.

Send your resume to: kleer@kwwl.com or mail your information to:

Kim Leer
KWWL Television
500 East Fourth Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50703

KWWL is part of Quincy Newspapers Inc. Broadcast Group, a family owned company with 12 stations broadcasting in 11 states.  EOE

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News Director, KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:

Live in beautiful Southern Colorado! #1 KOAA/NBC and News5Now (24/7 News Channel) is seeking a News Director. Work for one of the best broadcasting companies, privately held Cordillera Communications, and most advanced news operations in the country (content management center with MMJ’s and intensive social media focus) in Colorado Springs/Pueblo Market.  Established product and resources.

News Director candidates must have strong resource management skills, exceptional news judgment, extensive marketing knowledge, effective recruiter and excellent people skills. A successful record of ratings growth, budget maintenance and new media development is a must. You must have proven leadership, hiring and teaching abilities.

Three to five years of News Management is required. Opening is immediate as our previous ND was here 17 years and just left for position with the new mayor.

Competitive compensation/benefits are provided – send resume to:

epappas@koaa.com

Evan Pappas
President and General Manager
KOAA-TV
530 Communications Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80905

EOE

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11)
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 8/5/11)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/1/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)

Executive News Producer:

KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/5/11)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (AM EP, new listing this week)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 7/15/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised this week)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 8/5/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/1/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 6/24/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (new listing this week)

Managing Editor:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/17/11)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/17/11)

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Names in the News:

Williams

CAROLYN WILLIAMS is headed down I-65 to Louisville as the new Assistant ND for Raycom’s WAVE-TV, the NBC affiliate there.  Carolyn most recently worked for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, first as Assistant ND, then ND, then back to Assistant ND.  She’s also been an ND in Tulsa and worked in Dallas and Tucson.  Her new job reunites her with WAVE news director KATHY HOSTETTER. They worked together at WTHR a few years back.

TED WILSON crosses the street and joins WCPO-TV in Cincinnati as the Morning EP.  Ted had held the same job at WKRC-TV in The Queen City.  He’s also worked for two stations in Detroit, and in Harrisburg, PA, Columbus, OH, and…for those of you graybeards out there…at the Satellite News Channel.

Warren

Longtime CBS’er A.J. WARREN has a new job…with a new program.  She’s now the Executive Director of Affiliate Relations for The Anderson Cooper Show.  A.J. tells me she’s looking forward to forging new relationships and maintaining those she developed over 22 years with CBS, most recently as Director of the Broadcast Marketing Unit.  Friends can say hi via email at: aj.warren@andersoncooper.com

Parsons

Former Atlanta and Norfolk ND JEFF PARSONS has joined Sinclair Broadcasting as Director of News Projects.  He’s working with Sinclair NDs on a variety of topics, including using content across the group.  He’s also operating his own business, Digital Strategy Specialists, which offers businesses (both media and non-media) valuable insight into making the web work for them — from design and user experience to marketing and revenue strategies  In addition to his ND stints, Jeff’s worked in Columbus, OH, and Huntington, WV, and for Internet Broadcasting and the Associated Press.

STEVE CONRAD, who once served as ND for WDEF-TV in Chattanooga, died Tuesday, August 9th, at the age of 87.  He also anchored at both WDEF and WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, and was elected to public office 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, August 12, 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
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy.          Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St.                       Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St.                              New Haven CT 06510
KMSB-TV     1855 N. 6th Ave.                             Tucson AZ 85705
WFRV-TV 1181 E. Mason St.                            Green Bay WI 54301
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St.                           Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St.                                 Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St.               Waterloo IA 50703 (see ad above)
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir.    Colorado Springs CO 80905 (see ad above)
WGGB-TV 1300 Liberty St.                                Springfield MA 01104
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St.                                     Lewiston ID 83501
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center               Amarillo TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd.                     Rockford IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr.                  Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd.                       Albany GA 31707
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St.                             Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave.                                  Yuma AZ 85364
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St.                                 Harrisonburg VA 22802
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East                Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.                       Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor                         Grand Junction CO 81502
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong                     San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway                         Cheyenne WY 82001
WAGM-TV 12 Brewer Road                                Presque Isle ME 04769
KSAX-TV PO Box 189                                         Alexandria MN 56308

August 6, 2011

Greetings:

It was great to see some of you (and meet a few others for the first time) at this week’s NABJ conference.   I hope to see many more of you at RTDNA in New Orleans next month.

It’s been a busy week for ND changes, with TWO new openings…one in a top five market…and FIVE new news directors to introduce you to.

That reduces our list of open news director jobs to 27.

We have a new ad for one of those openings…that’s below, as well as some updated information in our Other News Management section.

And there are few items in Names in the News, including surgery for the wife of a longtime news director and a new baby for a four-time ND and his wife.

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

New News Director Openings:

Barrs

KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX…we told you earlier this week that MARIA BARRS was leaving this Fox o-and-o to become General Manager for KXTV, Gannett’s ABC affiliate in Sacramento.  It’s a return to Sacramento for Maria, who worked there much earlier in her career, a career which has also included stops in St. Louis, Redding, CA, Salinas-Monterey (as ND), and 17 years in Dallas, the last 13 as news director.

KLEW-TV, Lewiston, ID…GREG MEYER has left this Fisher Broadcasting owned CBS station after almost ten years as News Director.

Newly Named News Directors:

Baer

WXXA-TV, Albany, NY…veteran news director DAVID BAER returns home as ND for this Newport Television owned FOX station.  We told you just two weeks ago that David was leaving WGGB-TV in Springfield, MA, after three years as ND.  He tells me he grew up in nearby Troy, NY, still has lots of family in the area, and was graduated from college in the market.  In addition to WGGB-TV, David’s been an ND in Indianapolis, Raleigh, Providence, Portland, ME, and Buffalo.  In fact, his former GM and owner in Buffalo, SANDY DIPASQUALE is the CEO of Newport TV. David replaces GARY LaPLANTE who left last month after three years as ND to be the Assistant ND for WFXT-TV in Boston.

KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX…veteran broadcaster PAUL ALEXANDER takes over as ND for this NBC affiliate.  Paul’s been a sports anchor in Tucson, Austin, TX, San Antonio and St. Louis, a news anchor for the statewide News of Texas, and a news and sports radio talk show host.  He replaces JON McCALL who retired as ND of this Communications Corporation of America station back in June.  Jon was ND there for nine months.

Morris

KTVB-TV, Boise, ID…this Belo owned station has promoted KATE MORRIS to News Director.  She’s been the EP for this ABC affiliate for the last 3 1/2 years.  She’s a native of the area who has also worked for KSAZ-TV in Phoenix as a news producer.  Kate replaces JIM GILCHRIEST who left the station in June to become ND for WAVY-TV in Norfolk after almost four years as ND.

WAOW-TV, Wausau, WI…JOHN LAUGHRIN moves west across Wisconsin to become ND for this Quincy Newspapers owned ABC affiliate.  John is currently an EP for WLUK-TV in Green Bay, where he earlier worked as a sports producer.  John also worked for WFRV-TV in Green Bay as a news producer.  He’s a Wisconsin native who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (and I’m just guessing he’s a Packers fan).  John replaces KATHY REYNOLDS who oversaw the newsroom with the title of Assistant ND.  She left in June to become the ND for WEYI-TV in Flint, MI.

KYMA-TV, Yuma, AZ…JENNIFER MUSA returns to Yuma as news director for this Intermountain West Communications (formerly Sunbelt) owned NBC affiliate.  She earlier had worked for KSWT-TV in Yuma before taking a reporting job in San Diego.  Ironically, the man she is replacing, LUIS CRUZ, is leaving Yuma to take a reporting job in…San Diego.  Luis was ND here for three years in his second stint as ND for KYMA.

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Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA:

KWWL in Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Dubuque-Iowa City – DMA 88, seeks a dynamic News Director to lead our news team to the next level.

KWWL, Iowa’s News Channel is a healthy heritage station, rich with history and tradition, and an industry frontrunner in new media, consistently ranking among the top broadcast web sites in the country. We produce nine half hours of television news daily.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel and preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. Reporting to the Station Manager, the News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 8 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. You must demonstrate a strong working knowledge of community issues and needs, as well as sound journalistic principles. You must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic, ethical and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead what can become the best local broadcast news operation in Eastern Iowa, we want to hear from you.

Send your resume to: kleer@kwwl.com or mail your information to:

Kim Leer
KWWL Television
500 East Fourth Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50703

KWWL is part of Quincy Newspapers Inc. Broadcast Group, a family owned company with 12 stations broadcasting in 11 states.  EOE

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11)
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (new listing this week)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/1/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)

Executive News Producer:

KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted this week)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 7/15/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted this week)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (2 openings, AM & afternoon, relisted 6/24/11)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, new opening this week)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/1/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 6/24/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)

Managing Editor:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/17/11)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/17/11)

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Names in the News:

Morone

LINDSEY MORONE returns to the Central Time Zone as EP of Special Projects for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.  Lindsey has been an EP for WAVY-TV in Norfolk for the past year or so.  She earlier worked as a Managing Editor/Senior Investigative Reporter for KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA, and earlier worked for KWQC-TV in Davenport, IA, as a reporter/videographer.

NATE LEDING has been named EP for KFSN-TV in Fresno, CA.  He most recently was ND for KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA, which continues to search for his replacement (see ad above). Nate’s a former ND in Alexandria, MN, and has worked in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Columbia, SC, and for ESPN and Conus Communications.

DAVID VOELKER, Ph.D. is joining CJ&N as a senior research analyst as the media research and consulting firm expands its research capabilities.  He’ll be working with clients on selected projects and also alongside Dr. Mary Beth Marks, the company’s VP of Research.

Diane Giles

Please join me in extending best wishes to DIANE GILES, wife of longtime Indianapolis news director LEE GILES who is recovering from surgery in her fight against stage 2 breast cancer.  She was diagnosed in June, doctors operated on Diane this past Monday, and she received good news from the surgeon a few days later.  As those of you who’ve met her from her many trips to industry conventions would expect, Diane is fighting this battle with her customary upbeat and positive attitude.  You can wish Diane and Lee well via an email to Lee at: leegiles8@gmail.com.  Lee, of course, retired from WISH-TV in 2003 after an amazing 40 years at the station, 35 as news director.

Max, Keith, and Cristian

Speaking of Indianapolis news directors, congratulations to WTHR’s KEITH CONNORS and his wife KARLA on the birth of their second son, MAX CONNORS, who was born Tuesday afternoon at 4:53 PM, just in time to watch the 5:00 news.  Max weighed in at an even eight pounds and is 20.75 inches long.  The picture on the right shows young Max with his older (by 21 months) brother CRISTIAN with proud papa Keith.  Dad’s been ND for WTHR since January, and has previously been an ND in Houston, Charlotte, Norfolk, and Rochester, NY, and also worked in Nashville and Toledo, where we worked together at WTOL-TV. Your good wishes would reach Keith via email: kconnors@wthr.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, August 5, 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
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy.          Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St.                       Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St.                              New Haven CT 06510
KMSB-TV     1855 N. 6th Ave.                             Tucson AZ 85705
WFRV-TV 1181 E. Mason St.                          Green Bay WI 54301
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St.                         Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St.                               Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St.               Waterloo IA 50703 (see ad above)
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir.         Colorado Springs CO 80905
WFIE-TV 1115 Mount Auburn Rd.               Evansville IN 47720
WGGB-TV 1300 Liberty St.                            Springfield MA 01104
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St.                                Lewiston ID 83501
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd.                   Rockford IL 61105
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd.                       Albany GA 31707
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St.                             Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave.                                  Yuma AZ 85364
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Rd.  Utica NY 13502
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St.                               Harrisonburg VA 22802
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East                Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.                       Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor                         Grand Junction CO 81502
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong                     San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway                         Cheyenne WY 82001
WAGM-TV 12 Brewer Road                                Presque Isle ME 04769
KSAX-TV PO Box 189                                        Alexandria MN 56308

July 30, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011 UPDATES:

Barrs

Congratulations to MARIA BARRS who’s been named General Manager for KXTV, the Gannett owned ABC affiliate in Sacramento. It’s a return to California for Maria who worked in several California markets earlier in her career, including Sacramento. We told you below that she is leaving Fox’s KDFW-TV after 17 years, 13 as news director.

More in this story in our regular weekly newsletter later this week.

**** **** ****
As anchors are so fond of saying…”Updating our earlier story….”.

MARIA BARRS tells me her new job will be announced at noon Eastern time today (though she specifically noted the time of the announcement would be 9:00 AM Pacific time) and said only that the announcement (and presumably the position) would be “in a place much cooler than Dallas..temp-wise at least.”  She added that it is NOT Los Angeles.

Now that’s a tease worthy of any producer.  Check back here and I’ll update the site when I can.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 UPDATE:

A Dallas-Fort Worth newspaper is reporting that longtime (13 years) KDFW-TV News Director MARIA BARRS is leaving that FOX o-and-o.  The article quotes KDFW GM KATHY SAUNDERS as ‘appreciating Maria’s hard work’ during her 17 years at the station.  The story goes on to speculate that she is headed to California for family reasons, and later speculates that she’s headed to KTTV/KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, where her former Assistant ND at KDFW, KINGSLEY SMITH, arrived in June as the ND.

Maria first joined KDFW in 1994 as Managing Editor and was promoted to ND in 1998.  She’s also been an ND in Salinas, CA, and has worked in Sacramento, St. Louis, and Redding, CA.

I tried to reach Maria tonight without success.  I’ll update this site when I hear from her.

More on this story…and some other changes…in our full newsletter later this week (though it may be delayed by my attendance at NABJ in Philadelphia.

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Greetings:

Lots of movement among the news director ranks this week, much of it in smaller markets.  We have SIX newly named NDs, and TWO new openings.

That means there are, by my count, 30 stations looking for a news director.

We have just ONE new news management opening.  In Names in the News, new jobs for two veteran news directors, and a new EP in New York.

This week, our industry lost a man who had an amazing impact on TV news during a long and storied career.  ELMER LOWER died at the age of 98.  If you don’t know his story, I hope you’ll spend a few minutes checking it out.  More on Elmer’s life and career below, including how I once turned this icon into a barking dog…at least on TV.

That, and more, after this week’s changes:

Newly Named News Directors:

Silva

WSCV-TV, Miami, FL…veteran Miami newswoman HELGA SILVA starts next week as VP/News for this Telemundo owned station.  Helga spent ten years as ND for WLTV, the Univision station in Miami.  She’s also been an ND for the Telemundo and Univision stations in New York City.  Most recently, she’s been the EP of the Telemundo show Persiguiendo Injusticias, an unsolved crime program.  To the best of my knowledge, Migdalia Figueroa had been ND here since 2005.

Ward

KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara, CA…C.J. WARD has been promoted to news director here.  He’s worked for this Smith Media ABC affiliate since 2002.  He’s been anchoring the evening shows but will give up the late news with this promotion.  He’s previously worked for two stations in Phoenix, as well as stations in Fresno, Lansing, MI, and Palm Springs, CA.  He succeeds JIM BUNNER who left the station in June after almost five years as news director.

Lauber

WSAW-TV, Wausau, WI…Anchor/reporter MIKEL LAUBER has been promoted to ND for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. He’s been at the station since 2007 and is a Wisconsin native, having grown up in Fond du Lac.  He replaces SUSAN RAMSETT, who left the station a few weeks ago when she was promoted to ND for Gray’s KOLN/KGIN-TV in Lincoln, NE, after just over four years as ND.

Snider

WOAY-TV, Oak Hill, WV…SCOTT SNIDER is the new ND for this ABC affiliate.  Scott is currently ND and anchor for WDTV in Bridgeport, WV (more on that below).  He’s worked there for 13 years, first joining the staff as a reporter, then anchor, then assistant ND, and was named news director in 2004.  At WOAY, he replaces veteran newsman BOB BRUNNER who has retired.  Bob spent six years as ND and anchor for this Thomas Broadcasting owned station.

Brocato

WDTV, Bridgeport, WV…JOE BROCATO has been promoted to News Director here, replacing the above-mentioned SCOTT SNIDER, who was ND for seven years.  Joe has worked for this Withers Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate since 2000.  He is currently the Sports Director.  In addition, WDTV anchor/reporter NATE SMAIL has been promoted to the newly reopened position of Assistant News Director.

Dunster

KECI/KTVM/KCFW-TV…Missoula, MT…SEAN DUNSTER is being promoted to ND for Bonten Media’s cluster of NBC affiliates across Montana.  He’s been the Assistant ND, based in Bozeman.  Sean’s been in Bozeman a year.  He previously worked for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati for 22 years in a variety of roles, from news to sports to EP of the station’s special projects unit.  He also has worked in Dayton, OH, and Lima, OH, where his father, GEORGE DUNSTER was ND for almost 20 years at WLIO-TV.  Sean replaces GAVIN MALISKA who is returning to Florida as ND for WJHG-TV in Panama City after one year in Montana.

New News Director Openings:

Reams

WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA…after five years as ND here, ED REAMS is leaving to be the new Assistant ND for Hearst’s WISN-TV in Milwaukee.  It’s a return to Hearst for Ed, who spent seven years as a reporter and fill-in anchor for the company’s WDSU-TV in New Orleans.  He’s also worked in Atlanta, Raleigh, and Roanoke, VA., but he began his career as a reporter and photojournalist at WHSV in 1990.  The station is an ABC affiliate and is owned by Gray Television.

Bresnahan

KREX-TV, Grand Junction, CO…KEIRA BRESNAHAN has left the station to be a full time Mom.  Keira gave birth to a baby boy named Ford in February.  She’s worked for this Hoak Media owned CBS affiliate since 1999, first joining the station as a reporter, and has been ND since July, 2001.  She also anchored for the station…here’s her farewell on-air.

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11))
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11))
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11))
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/1/11))
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 6/24/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Morning EP, new listing this week)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 7/1/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)

Executive News Producer:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Weekend EP, listed 5/13/11)
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 5/8/11)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 7/15/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 6/17/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/17/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (2 openings, AM & afternoon, relisted 6/24/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 6/24/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/1/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 6/24/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)

Managing Editor:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/17/11)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/17/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 6/24/11)

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

Obituary:

Elmer Lower

ELMER LOWER died Tuesday, July 26, at the age of 98.  He was truly one of the pioneers in our industry.  I’m biased because I had the pleasure of knowing him, but he held major roles at the three original networks, including serving as President of ABC News from 1963-1974.  During the time, the then-struggling network hired PETER JENNINGS, TED KOPPEL, FRANK REYNOLDS, SAM DONALDSON and many others.  He later went on to a teaching career, including a short stint as interim dean of our shared alma mater, the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

I hope you’ll permit me a personal story of our first meeting.  In April, 1975, Elmer visited the journalism school and stopped at the NBC affiliate the University owns, KOMU-TV, during the noon news.  I was producing and was told to include a sound bite from an interview Elmer had done the night before.  That interview was preceded by a package on the dog pound (done by current NBC Correspondent MARK POTTER).  Someone (probably me) had failed to cue Mark’s audio cart, so the package didn’t air.  We went back to anchor SALLY FITZ (who went on to anchor at WSVN-TV in Miami) who ad libbed and then introduced Elmer’s interview.

Unfortunately, what came up was the tail (pun intended) end of the dog pound story and two dogs going “Woof.  Woof.”

Elmer, News Director JACK HUBBARD, and Department Chair DAVE DUGAN were all in the control room.  We all froze and looked at Elmer.  Luckily, he laughed heartily, and so I was allowed to graduate a few weeks later. Had he not laughed, I might still be there.

Ironically, Elmer was the graduation speaker a few weeks later and, of course, included the story.  Fortunately he left out the names, saving my parents the embarrassment.

That sparked a long friendship, which regularly included a Christmas card with a detailed personal note from Elmer for many years.  Given the names in his rolodex, it’s a bit of the measure of the man.

Funeral services will be private.  A public memorial service will be held later. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elmer Lower Fund, Missouri School of Journalism, 120 Neff Hall, Columbia, MO 65211.

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

Names in the News:

Congratulations to longtime Louisiana newsman CHRIS SLAUGHTER who’s back where he belongs…in a Louisiana newsroom.  Chris is now an EP for WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, a move which reunites him with station GM SANDY BRELAND. They worked together at WWL-TV in New Orleans, where Chris succeeded Sandy as ND in 2007.  Chris spent 30 years at WWL, including 3+ as ND.  At WAFB, he’ll be working with the station’s investigative unit and also working with reporters on their daily stories. You can congratulate Chris via email: christopherslaughter2@gmail.com

Cugini

Another longtime station employee turned ND, WJAR-TV’s BETTY JO CUGINI, has a new job.  She’s the new media supervisor in the marketing and communications department at the University of Rhode Island.  Betty Jo spent 22 years at WJAR, the last 7 1/2 as the station’s first female news director, before she was laid off in 2009.  She also worked for WLNE-TV in Providence and worked at a radio station in Rhode Island.

The New York Daily Newsreports that AMY COHEN has been promoted from producer to executive producer of the 5:00 and 6:00 news at WNYW-TV in New York City.  She replaces JERRY ANDREWS who was promoted to Managing Editor.  She’s worked at the station since 2008.

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

The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, July 29, 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
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy.          Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St.                       Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St.                              New Haven CT 06510
WXXA-TV 28 Corporate Circle                         Albany NY 12203
KMSB-TV     1855 N. 6th Ave.                             Tucson AZ 85705
WFRV-TV 1181 E. Mason St.                          Green Bay WI 54301
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St.                         Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St.                               Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St.                     Waterloo IA 50703
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway                        Brownsville TX 78521
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir.         Colorado Springs CO 80905
WFIE-TV 1115 Mount Auburn Rd.               Evansville IN 47720
WGGB-TV 1300 Liberty St.                            Springfield MA 01104
KTVB-TV 5407 Fairview Avenue                  Boise ID 83706
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd.                   Rockford IL 61105
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave.                           Wausau WI 54403
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd.                       Albany GA 31707
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St.                             Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave.                                  Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV 1385 S. Pacific Ave.                          Yuma AZ 85365
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Rd.  Utica NY 13502
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St.                              Harrisonburg VA 22802
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East                Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.                       Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor                 Grand Junction CO 81502
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong                     San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway                         Cheyenne WY 82001
WAGM-TV 12 Brewer Road                                Presque Isle ME 04769
KSAX-TV PO Box 189                                       Alexandria MN 56308

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