Rick Gevers & Associates

February 17, 2010

Greetings:

TWO new openings (one in the number two market!) top this week’s newsletter.  And, as far as I know,  NO new ND’s have been named in the last week.

That brings the total number of ND openings to 16. Three of those are at Spanish language stations.

Also this week, we have one new news management opening, and LOTS of Names in the News, including a three time ND with a new job as an Assistant ND in Texas and details about someone completing his SECOND hat trick in a market (three stations, and he’s worked at each of ’em TWICE!).

And we’ll tell you about a veteran Ohio News Director recovering from surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Creste

KVEA/KWHY-TV, Los Angeles, CA…ESTEBAN CRESTE has left this Telemundo-owned duopoly after less than two years as ND.  He’s previously been an ND for Telemundo’s WSNS-TV in Chicago and Managing Editor for Telemundo’s WNJU-TV in the New York market.

Rockstroh

WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT…BOB ROCKSTROH has left this Tribune owned FOX affiliate after more three years as ND.  He’d been at the station for six years, and previously worked as a news director in Ft. Wayne.  He’s also worked in Minneapolis, San Diego, and San Francisco.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

I don’t know of any.  Do you?  Email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/12/10)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
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)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 2/5/10)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (PM EP, new listing this week)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

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

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

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

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

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

Andrea

Longtime news director ANDREA PARQUET TAYLOR has been named Assistant News Director for Belo’s KHOU-TV in Houston.  Andrea most recently was the ND for WXYZ-TV in Detroit, a job she left last September.  She’s also been an ND in Baltimore and Raleigh.

Another Belo station makes a management hire as KING-TV in Seattle adds a new Morning Executive Producer.  DAN RASMUSSEN will join the staff next month after leaving his job as Senior Producer for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.  He does have history in the Pacific Northwest, having wokred in both Portland, OR, and Spokane earlier in his career.

Mason

Congratulations to JOHN MASON who has been promoted to Assistant News Director for Hubbard’s KSTP-TV in Minneapolis.  He has been the Managing Editor since last June, and had anchored for that ABC affiliate before that.  John’s also anchored in Chicago, Albuquerque, and Omaha.

ERIC OLSEN heads north to become Morning EP for WBZ-TV in Boston.  For the last seven years, Eric’s been the Evening EP for WGHP-TV in Greenboro/High Point, NC.  You’ll note above the station is looking for his replacement.

Lots of people have worked at three (or more!) stations in a market.  Know anyone who’s done it twice? Meet  STEW HIRSCH, who is returning to Columbus, OH, as assignment manager for WBNS-TV. That completes his second Columbus hat trick.  And he’s even had time to work as an ND in Huntsville, an interim ND in Ft. Myers, and on the desk in Raleigh and Cincinnati, his current job.

Finally, please join me in sending best wishes to WKEF/WRGT-TV (Dayton, OH) News Director PATRICK CASEY. Pat tells me he had a malignant brain tumor removed earlier this month, and he’ll being radiation treatment next week.  Pat (who’s been an ND in Cincinnati and, I believe, has worked in Los Angeles) tells me that newly hired Assistant ND TIM LIVINGSTON will hold down the fort at the Sinclair-owned duopoly until his doctors give him the green light to return to work.  Until he’s back on the job, I’m sure he’d appreciate your note of good cheer: mmcasey1957@aol.com

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, February 19, 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 ***
WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110     Chicago IL 60611  ****
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                            Ft. Worth TX 76103
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
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.                   Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205     Honolulu HI 96817
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                    Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr.                  Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St.                          Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.         Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                            Macon GA 31208
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.               Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

February 12, 2010

Greetings:

It’s a relatively slow week, with just ONE new ND to share with you, and, to my knowledge,  NO new openings.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to just  14, which is as low as I can remember it in more than 14 years of tracking this information.

One of those jobs (in Hawaii, if you’re tired of the winter weather) is advertised below, as well as an opening for an EP position in Texas.

We do have an item or two in Names in the News, including our tardy report on the departure from CBS News of a longtime employee who worked closely with CBS affiliates.  We also have details about the death of a veteran Washington state newsman, and memorial information for Frank Magid, whose passing we reported last week.

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

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

None that I know of!

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KMIR-TV, Palm Desert, CA…KATE GLOVER will be the next ND for this Journal Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate.  She’s a former Assignment Editor at WESH-TV in Orlando, and replaces JON FISCHER who left the station in November after just more than a year as ND here.

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

HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS/CONTENT DIRECTOR, KGMB/KHNL-TV, HONOLULU, HI

We have a unique professional challenge and great career opportunity to align with forward thinking broadcasters.  You will be responsible for directing a competitive and quality newsroom, providing news content for a statewide (island state) audience for three television stations and online platforms, while living in beautiful Hawaii. You will lead Hawaii’s largest television newsroom while providing 40+ hours of news per week for KGMB (CBS Affiliate), KHNL (NBC Affiliate) and KFVE (Independent, broadcast home of University of Hawaii sports).

Key responsibilities:

• Guide daily and long-range editorial decision-making.
• Ensure high quality standards of journalism and production consistent with goals of the stations.
• Ability and experience in developing and executing news strategy; create and coordinate special news programs which enhance the image of being the market leader; strong production skills a must.
• Fiscal Management:  Ability to prepare and implement an operations plan/budget consistent with overall company and station goals.
• Coach, mentor and provide constructive feedback/evaluation to newsroom personnel, provide ongoing critiques for newscasts on a daily basis.
• Online:  Innovate and manage content and workflow to effectively and efficiently utilize the station website and mobile platform as the leading source of new media news and information in the market.
• Ensure adherence to accepted standards of journalism and compliance to laws regarding libel/slander.

Education / Experience / Personal Skills required:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Proven track record of success as a News Director or in a senior news management position (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Excellent people skills; strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead; experience in a multi-cultural setting, preferred.
• Strategic thinker, competitive and passionate for the business of local television news

Forward Cover Letter and Resume to:

Rick Blangiardi
General Manager
KGMB/KHNL-TV
Hawaii Now
420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205
Honolulu HI 96817

or email to: rblangiardi@hawaiinewsnow.com

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WOAI-TV, SAN ANTONIO, TX

JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties and responsibilities include hands-on, take charge leader to oversee the daily execution of WOAI TV newscasts. Duties include but not limited to journalistic, presentation and format quality control of newscasts.

The Executive Producer will be responsible for carrying out the news philosophy, and the goals and objectives of the news department as it relates to on-air presentation.  The Executive Producer must have solid journalistic credentials, outstanding writing and production skills, be a superb visual storyteller, and have dynamic creativity and excellent people skills.

Must be able to lead and motivate staff members in a positive way.  The Executive Producer will also be instrumental in the development of future news product.

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as an Executive Producer or News Director is required.  College degree is preferred.

CONTACT:

Tom Bell, News Director
WOAI TV
P.O. Box 2641
San Antonio TX  78299

Or via email:  tombell@woaitv.com

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (new listing this week)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
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)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 2/5/10, see ad above!)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

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

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

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

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

OBITUARY and MEMORIAL INFORMATION:

Thielke

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 13, 2010, for longtime KIRO-TV (Seattle) Assignment Editor BRYAN THIELKE who died earlier this week after a bout with pancreatic cancer.  He was 58.  Bryan had also worked in Salt Lake City and Denver.  His colleagues paid tribute to him in a video produced and shown to him before he died.

Family of the late Frank N. Magid has designated a charity for anyone wishing to contribute in his memory.  It’s Direct Relief International, based in Santa Barbara, CA.  A private, family funeral service was held last Tuesday in Santa Barbara, where Frank died of cancer last week at the age of 78.

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

Three television and two radio news directors have been elected to two year terms on the Board of Directors of RTDNA.  TV news directors are PEGGY PHILIP of KSHB-TV in Kansas City, ANDREW VREES from WCVB-TV in Boston, and KEVIN BENZ, the longtime news director of News 8 Austin. Radio NDs elected were KATHY WALKER of KOA-AM in Denver, and RANDY BELL from Jackson, MS.

RAMON ESCOBAR returns to Telemundo as Executive Vice President of the Spanish language broadcaster’s network news program.  He’s a former ND at NBC’s WTVJ-TV in Miami and also worked at MSNBC.

And color us among the many very sorry to see JOE DUKE leave CBS News after 12 years.  During that time he primarily worked with Newspath and the CBS affiliates.  Joe’s one of the good guys in the business, who began as a news photographer and later served as ND for WWL-TV in New Orleans and KHOU-TV in Houston.  If you want to wish Joe well on his next adventure (or on his golf game!), your email finds him at: joeduke4@gmail.com

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

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

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

WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205  Honolulu HI 96817 (see ad above)
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

February 6, 2010

Greetings:

Frank Magid

1931-2010

We begin this week with late word of the passing of a legend in television news.

FRANK N. MAGID, founder of the consulting company that bares his name, died in Santa Barbara, CA, today (Friday, February 5) after a battle with cancer.  He was 78.

More details in this story and this obituary from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports on his death here.

Our sympathy to his wife and two sons, including Brent, who is now the CEO of the firm.

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

On to our regular business…we have  THREE new news directors to tell you about this week, and  NO new openings.

That means our list of open ND jobs is down to an extremely low 15!

We have two new help wanted ads this week, both great opportunities if you’re tired of snow!  One is for a news director’s job in Hawaii, and I’m told the station is anxious to fill this one before the incumbent leaves in May.  And the other is for an EP position in San Antonio, TX.  Check out both listings below.

Otherwise, it’s a fairly slow week, with one new news management openings and just one item of note in Names in the News.

Remember to email me your items!

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

None that I know of!

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…STEVE LANGE returns as the new VP/Content for this NBC o-and-o.  Steve was the Assistant ND here earlier in his career.  He’s a former ND for WBBM-TV in Chicago, Executive Editor at WCBS-TV in New York, and an EP at the EXTRA news magazine.  Most recently he’s run his own production company.  In addition, KEITH ESPARROS has been named Director, Content.  He has been the Assistant ND there and is a former news director at WVUE-TV in New Orleans.  The new structure comes following the retirement of longtime KNBC ND BOB LONG who left the station in September.

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…ERIC MAZE will be the next ND for this Journal Broadcasting-owned FOX affiliate.  Eric’s currently the Assistant ND for KSHB-TV in Kansas City.  He’s a former ND in Jefferson City, MO, and has also worked in Kirksville, MO.  At WFTX, he replaces FRANK VERDEL who left the station last September after seven months as ND.  Eric will be the fifth ND in seven years here.

Malyn

WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY…MATT MAYLN moves with the Newport Television group to become the next ND for this ABC station.  Matt’s currently the Assistant ND at Newport’s KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City.  He’s a former ND at KOLD-TV in Tucson, and has also been an Assistant ND in Detroit, Memphis, and Las Vegas, and has been an EP in Cleveland and Columbus.  He replaces STEVE DAWE who took a job with Rochester’s PBS station after three years as ND.

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

HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS/CONTENT DIRECTOR, KGMB/KHNL-TV, HONOLULU, HI

We have a unique professional challenge and great career opportunity to align with forward thinking broadcasters.  You will be responsible for directing a competitive and quality newsroom, providing news content for a statewide (island state) audience for three television stations and online platforms, while living in beautiful Hawaii. You will lead Hawaii’s largest television newsroom while providing 40+ hours of news per week for KGMB (CBS Affiliate), KHNL (NBC Affiliate) and KFVE (Independent, broadcast home of University of Hawaii sports).

Key responsibilities:

• Guide daily and long-range editorial decision-making.
• Ensure high quality standards of journalism and production consistent with goals of the stations.
• Ability and experience in developing and executing news strategy; create and coordinate special news programs which enhance the image of being the market leader; strong production skills a must.
• Fiscal Management:  Ability to prepare and implement an operations plan/budget consistent with overall company and station goals.
• Coach, mentor and provide constructive feedback/evaluation to newsroom personnel, provide ongoing critiques for newscasts on a daily basis.
• Online:  Innovate and manage content and workflow to effectively and efficiently utilize the station website and mobile platform as the leading source of new media news and information in the market.
• Ensure adherence to accepted standards of journalism and compliance to laws regarding libel/slander.

Education / Experience / Personal Skills required:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Proven track record of success as a News Director or in a senior news management position (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Excellent people skills; strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead; experience in a multi-cultural setting, preferred.
• Strategic thinker, competitive and passionate for the business of local television news

Forward Cover Letter and Resume to:

Rick Blangiardi
General Manager
KGMB/KHNL-TV
Hawaii Now
420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205
Honolulu HI 96817

or email to: rblangiardi@hawaiinewsnow.com

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WOAI-TV, SAN ANTONIO, TX

JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties and responsibilities include hands-on, take charge leader to oversee the daily execution of WOAI TV newscasts. Duties include but not limited to journalistic, presentation and format quality control of newscasts.

The Executive Producer will be responsible for carrying out the news philosophy, and the goals and objectives of the news department as it relates to on-air presentation.  The Executive Producer must have solid journalistic credentials, outstanding writing and production skills, be a superb visual storyteller, and have dynamic creativity and excellent people skills.

Must be able to lead and motivate staff members in a positive way.  The Executive Producer will also be instrumental in the development of future news product.

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as an Executive Producer or News Director is required.  College degree is preferred.

CONTACT:

Tom Bell, News Director
WOAI TV
P.O. Box 2641
San Antonio TX  78299

Or via email:  tombell@woaitv.com

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
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)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

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

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

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

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

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

Ryan

Congrats to old friend SCOOBIE RYAN who is now the Associate Director of the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Telecommunications.  She also teaches a variety of courses there.  Scoobie’s worked at TV stations in Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, and Columbia, MO, where we worked together at the University of Missouri campus radio station, KCCS (now KCOU-FM).  Other old friends can re-connect at: scoobie@uky.edu

And while not really a Name in the News, thanks to those of you who responded to my shameless pandering for Super Bowl tickets in last week’s edition.  We had some opportunities but passed on the astronomical prices, and will be watching the game on TV like so many others.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, February 5, 2010.

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

WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205  Honolulu HI 96817 (see ad above)
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KMIR-TV   72920 Parkview Drive            Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

January 30, 2010

Greetings:

We have a modest amount of activity involving news director changes this week.  There are  FIVE new news directors and just  ONE new opening.  This flurry of activity means there are now just 18 stations with known ND openings.

But that’s not all!

You’ll get the opportunity to watch me shamelessly beg for the chance to buy Super Bowl tickets.  We have a handful of Names in the News, including a VERY close call for a veteran, well liked ND.  We also have two help wanted ads if you’re looking for a new challenge, and an ad for the Devlin Design Group where you’ll learn that are two people with the same name in a fairly small newsroom in a large market.

Before we get to this week’s changes, let me once again pander shamelessly before you in my quest to take my wife to her first Super Bowl.  Our local team is once again headed to Miami to play the Saints.  My wife and I have plane tickets.  We have a place to stay.  We lack game tickets (an important item, to be sure.)  If you have access to two ducats at (or near) face value, please email me: rick@rickgevers.com or call: 317-769-7900. Anyone who comes through will get an automatic one year extension of their subscription to this newsletter, and I can also come up with Indy 500 tickets if someone wants to see the 2010 Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Enough pandering…on to this week’s changes and all the other news:

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT…PAT LIVINGSTON fills the vacant ND chair at this Newport TV-owned ABC affiliate.  Pat’s currently the VP/News for Barrington Broadcasting, and earlier he’d been the ND for the company’s WNWO-TV in Toledo.  He’s also been an ND in Youngstown and Peoria.  At KTVX, Pat replaces TOM BELL who was promoted to the company’s San Antonio, TX, station, WOAI-TV late last year after about a year and a half as ND there.

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL…has reached across the Scripps family as it hires JEFF BROGAN as ND.  Jeff is currently the Assistant ND for the company’s WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.  He started in Cincinnati as a producer, became Executive Producer before moving up to AND in 2008.  He’s a Cincinnati native and earlier had worked at WXIX-TV there.  At WPTV, he replaces PETER ROGHAAR who left the station last fall to become ND for WTSP-TV in Tampa, FL.

Julie S.

KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM…JULIE SZULCEWSKI will be the next news director for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate.  Julie is currently the Managing Editor for WSOC-TV in Charlotte.   She’s also worked in Orlando, Miami, St. Louis, and Ft. Myers, FL.  At KOB, she replaces JAMIE IOOS who left the station last month after about 17 months as news director.

Vincent

KQDS-TV, Duluth, MN…has named JASON VINCENT news director.  He’s currently the morning anchor at WDAY-TV in Fargo, ND.  Jason is a Minnesota native and worked in Mankato before moving to Duluth in 2006.  At KQDS, he replaces JULIE MORAVCHICK who left the station earlier this month after four years as ND.  She was the first ND in the station’s history.

KUPB-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX…this Entravision owned Spanish language station has named JOSE ANTONIO PESQUEIRA as its next news director.  He previously worked as a sports anchor here and also worked as a reporter in Lubbock.  KUPB is a Univision affiliate.

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENING:

KMTV, Omaha, NE…SCOTT PICKEN has left this CBS affiliate after just more than a year as ND for this Journal Broadcasting owned station. Scott moved to Omaha from Journal’s station in Boise, one of two Boise stations where he’s been an ND.  He also worked at Journal’s Green Bay station, and has also worked in Honolulu, Rockford, IL, and Ft. Smith, AR.

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HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS CONTENT MANAGER, WAVE-TV, LOUISVILLE, KY

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FACULTY OPENING, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of television newsroom experience. Some newsroom management experience is preferred.  Duties include a minimum of 30 hours per week in the KOMU-TV (NBC-affiliate) newsroom supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers.  Duties also include classroom teaching and service to the journalism school and the university.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010 with a start date as soon as possible. Applications must include an academic CV or professional resume, video of recent television stories or television newscasts produced by the candidate, the names of three references in the field of television journalism, and a cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in teaching and in students. This cover letter must also include an analysis of the television news profession’s transition from solely broadcast to broadcast and digital/internet news platforms.

Applications may be sent electronically (preferred) to: hardte@missouri.edu

or by mail to:

Elizabeth Hardt
Staff Assistant to the Dean
Missouri School of Journalism
120 Neff Hall
Columbia MO 65211

If sending the application electronically, please send as a Word or PDF attachment with candidate’s last name as title. Please reference position number 100005.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that the successful candidate will share this commitment. MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised this week)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (relisted 12/18/09)

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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NAMES in the NEWS:

CHRIS PASSON has been named Director of Content for KPTV/KPDX in Portland, OR.  He has been the nightside EP there.  That move creats one of two EP openings for this Fox affiliate, as noted above.

JOSE SUAREZ returns to the NBC/Universal family as Director of Digital Platforms for the Telemundo Station Group.  Earlier he’d been the Director of Digital for NBC’s WTVJ-TV in Miami.  Most recently he served a short stint as ND for WSFL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale.  He’s also been an ND in Toledo.

Former News Director WALTER CHRISTOPHERSEN has written A Temporary European about his experience working in Europe on a newsmagazine that aired on PBS.  Earlier in his career, Walt was an ND at WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC, and later at WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH.  He’s also worked for Radio Free Europe and CNN International in Atlanta.

Finally, we’re pleased to report that veteran newsman PAUL STEUBER is on the mend after a very close call.  Many of you know Paul, who most recently was an ND in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, but has worked in a number of markets like Miami, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids.  Seems Paul went in to the hospital for a routine procedure, was released, and almost bled to death at home.  His rehab’s been tough but he proudly told me he went up 18 steps one foot over the other (instead of one at a time) earlier this week.  When you email him your good wishes – rpaulstu@aol.com – have him tell you the whole story.  It’s a well written, entertaining (yet somewhat scary) read.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, January 29, 2010.

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

KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203 (see ad above)
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
WFTX-TV   621 SW Pine Island Rd.          Cape Coral FL 33991
KGMB-TV 1534 Kapiolani Blvd. Honolulu HI< 96814
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WHAM-TV   4225 W. Henrietta               Rochester NY 14623
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KMIR-TV   72920 Parkview Drive            Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

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