Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

March 13, 2010

Greetings:

It’s been a busy week.

We have a number of news director changes, above and beyond those we shared with you in an ND List UPDATE earlier this week. And several of them involve some veteran NDs on the move.

In all, there are FIVE new news directors this week, while we have THREE new ND openings.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to 17.

We have one new news management opening, and be sure to check out our ads for a news management job in Columbus, OH, and for a great traffic service.

Also below, funeral information for WTHR-TV (Indianapolis) General Manager JIM TELLUS, who died earlier this week.

In Names in the News, a new GM job for one former ND and a new wife for another, with a little bit of a twist.

All that and more after this week’s many changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC…JIM PLATZER has left this Gannett-owned CBS affiliate after just ten months as ND. Jim’s a former ND in Decatur, IL, and Clarksburg, WV. He’s also worked in Orlando, Tampa, Mobile, Altoona, and Johnstown, PA.

Glazier

WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…LEEZA GLAZIER is leaving to become the Morning Executive Producer for WTEV/WAWS-TV in Jacksonville, FL. Leeza’s been ND for this West Virginia Media Holdings since August, 2008, when she was promoted. She’s also worked in Shreveport and Alexandria, LA. In addition to her management experience, Leeza’s also worked on air as a morning weather anchor.

WMBF-TV, Myrtle Beach, FL…MATT MILLER is leaving this Raycom NBC affiliate for another Raycom station. He’s been named ND for WXIX-TV in his native Cincinnati. More on that below. He’s been the ND here since the station first starting airing news in 2008.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WGBO-TV, Chicago, IL…I’m told this Univision owned station has named a new news director. Regretfully, I don’t know her name. Can anyone help?

Roark

KTVT/KTXA-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX…ADRIENNE ROARK will be the next ND for this CBS o-and-o. She comes from another CBS owned station, WFOR/WFBS in Miami, where she’s been ND since June, 2007. Adrienne has also worked in Orlando, Columbus, OH, and Cleveland. She replaces SCOTT DIENER who also moved up in CBS, taking over as ND for KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Aldama

WFOR/WFBS-TV, Miami, FL…CESAR ALDAMA will replace Adrienee as ND here. He’s currently the Assistant ND for yet another CBS o-and-o, KYW/WPSG-TV in Philadelphia. It’s the third tour of duty for Cesar in Miami, who earlier worked as an editor, photographer, and assignment manager at WSVN-TV as well as a stint at WFOR as Managing Editor. He’s also worked in Baltimore and Orlando.

Miller

WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH…congratulations to Cincinnati native MATT MILLER who returns home as ND for this Raycom-owned FOX affiliate. Matt’s currently ND for Raycom’s WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC. Matt will now have worked at all four Cincinnati stations: as a floor director for WKRC-TV, as a sports reporter for WLWT-TV, and as the Assistant ND for WCPO-TV. He’s also worked in Macon, GA. Matt replaces STEVE ACKERMANN who’s being promoted to Regional News Director for Raycom. Steve will continue to be based in Cincinnati, where he’s been ND for WXIX since February, 2005.

Turpin

KMPH-TV, Fresno, CA…veteran news director JIM TURPIN will be the next ND for this FOX affiliate owned by the New World TV Group, which took over many of the former Pappas stations. Jim’s a former ND in Memphis, Norfolk, Wichita, the Quad Cities, and Ft. Smith, AR. The ND job at KMPH was vacant for several years during the Pappas bankruptcy proceedings. The last fulltime ND there was GEOFF ROTH who left in July 2007

Finally, two clarifications on items from last week. KOHD-TV in Bend, OR, will continue to produce local news updates and a ten minute newscast at 11:00 PM, in addition to regular web updates. The station will NOT serve as a bureau for it’s Eugene, OR, sister station.

And we reported that MACRADEE AEGERTER has been promoted to ND for KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, WY. We’ve since learned her predecessor, TREGG WHITE, has been named station manager for the company’s Northern Colorado operation.

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HELP WANTED AD:

Manager of Content Presentation, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH

NBC 4 (WCMH-TV) is an NBC affiliate of the Media General Inc. and market leader with breaking news, Storm Team 4, and news on the Web at www.nbc4i.com is looking for a Manager of Content Presentation to join the Content team.

The person filling this position will be responsible to assure a high level of quality and consistency in all finished digital journalism content presented across the WCMH Broadcast Distribution platforms. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining a high level of quality in the use of graphics, video and sound as well as the overall energy and flow of the various programs. Additionally, the Manager of Content Presentation will coach Anchors and Reporters to assure a consistent high level of performance and engagement.

Ideal candidate will have a College Degree in Journalism, Communication or any other related field. 3-5 producing live newscasts for broadcast. Additional experience in other areas of a local television news operation would be helpful.

Qualified applicants may either apply online at: www.mediageneral.com, or send their resume and cover letter to:

WCMH-TV
Attn: Human Resources
3165 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43202

or via email to: wcmhhr@wcmh.com

Background check and drug screen required. EOE M/F/V/D

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 2/26/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/12/10)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 3/5/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
News 12 New Jersey (AM EP, new listing this week)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised 1/29/10)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised 1/29/10)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 2/26/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 2/5/10)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (PM EP, listed 2/19/10)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 3/5/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 3/5/10)

MANAGER OF CONTENT PRESENTATION:

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 3/05/12, see ad above)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)

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OBITUARIES:

Tellus

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Saturday, March 13) in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, IN, for WTHR-TV General Manager JIM TELLUS who died earlier this week. Jim, 47, died of an apparent heart attack while in Columbus, OH, for the monthly board meeting of WTHR’s parent company. I’ve heard from many of you this week after reporting his death and all agree that he was one of the truly good guys in the business. He’d been GM for WTHR since January, 2008, and previously had been ND there. He’d also been an ND in Seattle, Norfolk, and Wichita. Jim was a New York City native. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, a son, and three daughters. The station aired this report on his passing.

In addition to the memorial suggestions mentioned in the linked articles above, there is now a Jim Tellus Memorial Fund at his alma mater, Wichita State University. You can contribute online, via mail, or via phone (316-978-6842.) Contributions can be sent to:

Jim Tellus Memorial
c/o WSU Foundation
1845 Fairmount, Box 2
Wichita, KS 67260-0002

or you can go online here, go to ‘other’ near the bottom of the page and write in Jim Tellus Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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More than 10 days after his death, The Miami Herald ran this obituary on WPLG-TV Executive Producer CHRIS GILKS. Chris was a former ND in Atlanta and Spokane, WA.

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Maroney

Congratulations to one-time news director PETER MARONEY who’s been named VP/GM for Local TV’s KDVR/KWGN-TV, the Fox/CW duopoly in Denver. Peter is currently GM for the company’s WTVR-TV in Richmond, VA. He’s previously been a GM for KOIN-TV in Portland, OR, where he had been the VP/News and Programming. He’d also been ND for KPIX-TV in San Francisco, and worked in newsrooms in Boston, Minneapolis, and Houston.

WPIX-TV in New York has hired HOWARD DORSEY as an Executive Producer. He’s been the morning EP for News 12 New Jersey, which is now searching for his replacement as listed above.

Barnes

Finally, former Los Angeles and Seattle News Director JOE BARNES will have a unique twist when he gets married later this month. His ‘best man’ will be a woman: ADRIENNE LAURENT, who was the Assistant ND at KOMO-TV in Seattle when Joe was the ND there. Adrienne’s also a former anchor and news director and anchor for KSBW-TV in Salinas/Monterrey, CA. Adrienne also served on the faculty of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She and her husband, MARK SHILSTONE, were among the co-founders of Medialine. Joe is still in Seattle, where he’s Chief Marketing and Development officer for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, March 12, 2010.

And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

KVEA-TV, 3000 W. Alameda Ave. Los Angeles, CA 91523 ***
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. 10 Mile Road Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WTIC-TV, 285 Broad St. Hartford, CT 06115
WZTV-TV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WFMY-TV 1615 Phillips Avenue Greensboro NC
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany, NY 12204
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205 Honolulu HI 96817
WNWO-TV 300 S. Byrne Rd. Toledo OH 43615
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WMBF-TV PO Box 3579 Myrtle Beach SC 29577
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe LA 71292
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

March 5, 2010

March 10, 2010 UPDATE:

We have news of ND changes in two large markets, and funeral/memorial information for JIM TELLUS in this update.

Two CBS owned stations have new news directors today.

Roark

ADRIENNE ROARK, who’s been ND for WFOR/WFBS-TV in Miami since June, 2007, has been named ND for another CBS o-and-o, KTVT/KTXA in Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX. She replaces SCOTT DIENER who was promoted earlier this year to be the news director for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Adrienne has also worked in Orlando, Cleveland, and Columbus.

Aldama

CESAR ALDAMA will replace Adrienne as ND at WFOR. He’s currently the Assistant ND for CBS’s KYW/WPSG-TV in Philadelphia, a job he’s held since 2003. It’s a return to WFOR and Miami for Cesar, who was the Managing Editor for WFOR before moving to Philadelphia. Earlier in his career, Cesar worked for WSVN-TV in Miami as a video editor, photographer,and assignment editor. He’s also worked in Baltimore and Orlando.

Congratulations to both Adrienne and Cesar on their promotions.

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Visitation for WTHR-TV (Indianapolis) General Manager JIM TELLUS will be held Friday, March 12, from 3:00-9:00 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel. A vigil service will be held at 7:30 on Friday, with a funeral mass held Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Jim’s family suggests donations to the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

March 9, 2010 UPDATE:

Jim Tellus

1962-2010

I’m very sorry to report the death of WTHR-TV (Indianapolis) General Manager JIM TELLUS, who died this morning of an apparent heart attack. Jim was in Columbus, OH, for a board meeting of WTHR’s owners, the Dispatch Broadcast Group. Jim failed to appear for today’s meeting and was found in his hotel room. This tribute is posted on the station’s website.

Jim was 47. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and four children.

Many of you know Jim as a longtime news director. In fact, he first joined WTHR as ND in December, 2006. He was promoted to VP/GM in January, 2008, and named President and GM in January, 2009. He came to Indianapolis from Seattle, where he spent more than five years as ND for KOMO-TV. Jim also served as a news director for WVEC-TV in Norfolk, VA, and at KSNW-TV in Wichita, KS.

For those of you who did not know him, he was one of the truly great guys in our business: warm, caring, with a terrific sense of humor. Please join me in extending your best wishes to his family, friends, and the staff of WTHR.

Please see above for details on services.

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March 7, 2010 UPDATE:

Gilks

More than ten days after this death, an obituary for WPLG-TV Executive Producer CHRIS GILKS ran in today’s Miami Herald. Chris died February 24 at the age of 42, more than five months after a liver transplant. The article contains information about a Celebration of Life service and where friends can send contributions.

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Greetings:

We have just ONE new ND to tell you about and ONE new opening in this week’s newsletter.

That leaves our count of open ND positions at 18.

But do read on….there’s news of one station closing its news department, a handful of new news management openings, and we welcome Beat the Traffic as a new advertiser. We also have news of three news managers on the move, including two who are moving up within the same company.

All that, and more, after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

KTVE/KARD, Monroe, LA…MELISSA KLINZING has left this Mission Broadcasting owned NBC/Fox duopoly after just ten months as news director. She’s a former ND in Philadelphia, Tampa, Denver, and Oklahoma City. She’s also worked in Cleveland and Norfolk. Her replacement will be the ninth news director in less than nine years here.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

Aegerter

KGWN-TV, Cheyenne, WY…MACRADEE AEGERTER is now the news director for this SagamoreHill Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. Macradee tells me she’s a native of Laramie, WY, and was graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2006. She started at KGWN as a sports reporter, and spent three years as sports director before becoming ND. Her predecessor, TREGG WHITE, has been promoted to Station Manager for the company’s Northern Colorado property. (Updated 3/9/10).

Also, KOHD-TV in Bend, OR, is dropping traditional local newscasts in place of news and weather updates both on-air and online during the day. The station will air a ten minute newscast at 11:00 PM.

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HELP WANTED AD:

Manager of Content Presentation, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH

Qualified applicants may either apply online at: www.mediageneral.com, or send their resume and cover letter to:

WCMH-TV
Attn: Human Resources
3165 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43202

or via email to: wcmhhr@wcmh.com

Background check and drug screen required. EOE M/F/V/D

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