Rick Gevers & Associates

October 3, 2009

Thursday, October 8, 2009 UPDATE:

JEFF ZELLER has been promoted to news director for WOFL-TV, the FOX owned station in Orlando.  He has been the Assistant ND there, and has also worked in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Tampa, Dayton, and Cincinnati.  He replaces GAVIN MALISKA who left the station in September after ten months as ND.

More in the next edition of the newsletter which will come out sometime this weekend.

Greetings:

After a few weeks of very heavy activity, it’s a bit slower this week, but we still have some interesting items.

One of the TWO new ND openings we have involves a veteran news director whose name many will recognize.  And there’s  ONE new ND to report….if you can call someone who was named ND last April a ‘new’ ND.  (Yes, we’re a little late on this one…a reminder that we always appreciate your emailed tips to: rick@rickgevers.com)

Be sure to check out our paid ad for a service to help your traffic coverage..

We have an obituary for a veteran Florida radio newsman, details about a Michigan station which has closed its news department, and we’ll tell you about a new job for a former ND which will win her many new friends among any auto racing fans out there.

All that and more, below.

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Harding

WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, PA…as we told you in an UPDATE earlier this week, CORRIE HARDING is leaving this NBC affiliate after 4 1/2 years as ND.  Both Corrie and GM RAY CARTER say it was a mutual decision.  Carter, a former ND in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, will oversee the newsroom, with some help from MIKE DREADEN, the Managing Editor at sister-Cox station WSB-TV in Atlanta, until the search for a new news director is completed.

Paolicelli

WWAY-TV, Wilmington, NC…veteran newsman PAUL PAOLICELLI has left this Morris-Multimedia owned ABC affiliate after two years as ND.  Paul’s also been a news director in Houston, Orlando, and for the Ohio News Network, and has worked as the Washington Bureau Chief for the NBC o-and-os, and also worked in Buffalo.  He’s also an author, having penned two books.  (And, as of this writing, his well-written blog is still available on the station’s website!)

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL…we’re beyond late in reporting the promotion of HEATHER KRETZER to ND here. Heather was named interim ND last January and given the position in April. She replaces long-time WMBB ND LARCHE HARDY who left the station.  WMBB is owned by Hoak Media and is an ABC affiliate.

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (listed 9/4/09)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/12/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 9/18/09)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Special Projects, listed 9/18/09)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 9/4/09)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/28/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 9/25/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (PM EP, listed 9/18/09)
KCTV,    Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 9/4/09)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 9/18/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (PM EP, listed 9/4/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (new listing this week)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL listed 8/28/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/18/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 9/18/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)

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OBITUARY:

Longtime Pensacola, FL, radio news director DON PRIEST died last Wednesday (September 30).  Don was the ND for WCOA radio in Pensacola for 41 years.  More details in this obituary from the Pensacola News-Journal.

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NAMES IN THE NEWS (and other stuff):

Another newsroom has closed its doors.  WLAJ-TV, the ABC affiliate in Lansing, shut down its news operation last week and is airing syndicated programs.  They are airing a 90 second news update at 11:00, which is produced by sister-Freedom Broadcasting station WWMT-TV in nearby Kalamazoo, MI.

Riser

Former News Director CHRISTINE RISER has a new job that will be the envy of anyone who loves auto racing.  She’s the new Director of Advertising and Promotion for the Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway and Dragway.  Christine most recently was the General Manager of several of Media General online operations in the area, and before that was ND for WJHL-TV in Johnson City, TN.

Lobo

Veteran TV executive DICK LOBO is retiring (again) as GM of WEDU-TV, the PBS station in Tampa. He’s been the GM there since 2002.  Dick’s a former ND at WKYC-TV in Cleveland and a one time GM at WTVJ-TV in Miami.  He also held network-related positions in New York, Chicago, and Washington.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, October 2, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WPIX-TV   220 E. 42nd Street              New York NY 10017
KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
NewsChannel 8  1100 Wilson Blvd.          Arlington VA 22209
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
WTSP-TV   11450 Gandy Boulevard           St. Petersburg FL 33702
WSFL-TV   200 E. Las Olas Blvd.           Fort Lauderdale FL 33301
WOFL-TV   35 Skyline Dr.                  Lake Mary FL 32746
WPXI-TV   11 Television Hill              Pittsburgh PA 15214
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte NC 28217
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WWMT-TV   590 W. Maple St.                Kalamazoo MI 49008
WHP/WLYH-TV  3300 North 6th Street        Harrisburg PA 17110
WHAS-TV   520 W. Chestnut St.             Louisville KY 40203
WBRE-TV   62 S. Franklin                  Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WSAZ-TV   645 Fifth Ave.                  Huntington WV 25701
WFTX-TV   621 SW Pine Island Rd.          Cape Coral FL 33991
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
KRNV-TV   1790 Vassar St.                 Reno NV 89502
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
WWAY-TV   615 N. Front St.                Wilmington NC 28401
WBBJ-TV   346 Muse St.                    Jackson TN 38301
KALB-TV   605 Washington St.              Alexandria LA 71301

September 26, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009 UPDATE:

Harding

CORRIE HARDING, news director of Cox’s WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh for the last 4 1/2 years, has left the station.  GM RAY CARTER told the staff he and Harding had “mutually agreed to go our separate ways”.  Carter, a former ND at sister Cox station WSB-TV in Atlanta, will oversee the newsroom, along with WSB’s Managing Editor MIKE DREADEN until a replacement is named.   And that could be soon…Carter’s memo said the first candidate will visit the newsroom tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29).

Greetings:

Once again, we have a lot of action to report to you.   THREE new news directors named this week, one returning to the ND chair after two years out of the business.

And there are  TWO new openings to report, one involving an ND who’d only been on the job for seven months.

We still show a total of  32 stations with an ND opening.

Also this week, we’ve got an ad for a pretty neat service that will improve your traffic coverage…and maybe even save you some money.

There’s an obituary for a long-ago ND who’s credited with overseeing the construction of the Newseum’s new facility.

There’s also good news for two stations honored with National EMMYs, details about an upcoming name change for RTNDA, and some Names in the News.

Read all about it below!

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…FRANK VERDEL has left this Journal Broadcasting owned FOX affiliate after just seven months as ND.  His replacement will be the fifth ND since December, 2003.

Grantham

WBBJ-TV, Jackson, TN…BRAD GRANTHAM is leaving this ABC affiliate after three years as news director.  He and his wife are moving back to Louisiana to be closer to their families.  (We told you a few months ago that Brad and his wife ANGIE had a stillborn baby this summer.)  WBBJ is owned by Bahakel Communications.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…REBECCA SAPAKIE returns to West Michigan as ND for this LIN-owned NBC affiliate.  She worked here for seven years earlier in her career, eventually becoming Assistant News Director before leaving to become Senior Web Producer for WDAF-TV in Kansas City three years ago.  Rebecca replaces PATTI McGETTIGAN who was promoted two months ago to become ND for sister-LIN station WISH-TV, the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis.  Patti had been the ND in Grand Rapids for eight years.

Weindel

KBCI-TV, Boise, ID…JULIE WEINDEL returns to the ND chair as she moves west to this Fisher-owned CBS affiliate.  Julie’s a former ND at WHIO-TV in Dayton who’s owned her own media business since leaving WHIO more than two years ago.  Julie tells me she and her husband have wanted to move to the Rockies.  At KBCI, she replaces YVONNE SIMONS who left in July to become the Assistant ND at WBTV in Charlotte.  Julie becomes the sixth ND here in seven years.

Chapman

WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY…CANDACE CHAPMAN has been promoted to ND for this Granite-owned CBS affiliate.  She’s been the EP there as well as the anchor of the 6:00 news.  Candace has also worked in Lawton, OK, and Columbia, MO.  Her promotion to ND allows GREG CATLIN to concentrate on his GM duties here.  Greg has been doing both jobs since being promoted to GM earlier this year.

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (listed 9/4/09)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/12/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 9/18/09)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Special Projects, listed 9/18/09)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 9/4/09)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/28/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted this week)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (PM EP, listed 9/18/09)
KCTV,    Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 9/4/09)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 9/18/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (PM EP, listed 9/4/09)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL listed 8/28/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/18/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 9/18/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)

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OBITUARY:

Max Page

I’m sorry to report the death of one-time news director MAX PAGE.  He died on September 15th from a heart attack at the age of 60.  Max had been working for the Freedom Forum and the Newseum in Washington, and oversaw the design and construction of the new facility.  Earlier in his career, Max was a news director at WNEP-TV in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, an EP in Atlanta, and the Washington Bureau Chief for Gannett News Service.  He also worked in Wichita, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Dallas.  Much more on his life in this obituary from The Washington Post.

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NAMES IN THE NEWS (and other stuff):

Congratulations to KHOU-TV in Houston and KSTP-TV in Minneapolis-St.Paul for winning national EMMYs.  KHOU won for an investigative report, while KSTP was honored for its coverage of the I-35 bridge collapse.  Read more here.

If you haven’t already heard, RTNDA becomes RTDNA in a few weeks.  The explanation for the name change is in this letter from the board.

RICHARD HOLDEN has been promoted to morning EP for WREG-TV in Memphis.  He first joined the station 2007 as a producer.

KALISA WELLS, wife of forme KGTV News Director DON WELLS pled guilty this week to a felony charge of corporal injury.  She shot Don at their home last May.  More details in this article.

Apologies to SAM JULIEN, who we told you last week had been promoted to EP at WXIN-TV in Indianapolis.  We referred to Sam as a ‘he’ when in fact Sam is a ‘she’!  That’s a good lesson about not assuming anything.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, September 25, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WPIX-TV   220 E. 42nd Street              New York NY 10017
KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
NewsChannel 8  1100 Wilson Blvd.          Arlington VA 22209
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
WTSP-TV   11450 Gandy Boulevard           St. Petersburg FL 33702
WSFL-TV   200 E. Las Olas Blvd.           Fort Lauderdale FL 33301
WOFL-TV   35 Skyline Dr.                  Lake Mary FL 32746
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte ND 28217
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WWMT-TV   590 W. Maple St.                Kalamazoo MI 49008
WHP/WLYH-TV  3300 North 6th Street        Harrisburg PA 17110
WHAS-TV   520 W. Chestnut St.             Louisville KY 40203
WBRE-TV   62 S. Franklin                  Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WSAZ-TV   645 Fifth Ave.                  Huntington WV 25701
WFTX-TV    621 SW Pine Island Rd.    Cape Coral    FL    33991
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
KRNV-TV   1790 Vassar St.                 Reno NV 89502
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
WBBJ-TV    346 Muse St.    Jackson    TN    38301
KALB-TV   605 Washington St.              Alexandria LA 71301

September 18, 2009

Greetings:

Another busy week.  FOUR new ND openings, including  THREE in top 20 markets.  THREE new NDs named.  And LOTS of Names in the News, including interesting items about several former NDs.

Those changes bring our count of open ND jobs to 32.

We told you about several of this large market changes mid-week, both via emailed UPDATES and mid-week updates to the website.

We have two paid ads this week:  one for a service that says it can save you money and increase your ratings, and the other is for an open ND job in Pennsylvania.

And we have updates on a few news management openings.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Andrea

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI….ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR is out as the ND at this ABC affiliate.  She’s been the ND for this Scripps owned station since January, 2004, coming from another Scripps station, WMAR-TV in Baltimore.  She’s also been a news director for WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

Suarez

WSFL-TV, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, FL…After less than a year on the job, JOSE SUAREZ has left this Tribune owned independent, which produces a morning program.  Jose’s title was Director of Local Programming.  He earlier had worked for WTVJ-TV in Miami as an EP and had been a news director at the Fox affiliate in Toledo.

Maliska

WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL…GAVIN MALISKA has left this FOX o-and-o after ten months as ND.  He previously had been an ND for WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, was an Assistant ND for Fox’s WJBK-TV in Detroit, and Managing Editor for yet another FOX o-and-o, WFLD-TV in Chicago.  Gavin began his career in newspapers, including a stint as Assistant Business Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times.  His replacement will be ND #5 in just over six years.

WWMT-TV, Kalamazoo, MI…CATHY YOUNKIN is leaving one Freedom Broadcasting-owned CBS affiliate to join another, as she’s been named ND of sister station WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach, FL.  More on that below.  She’s been the ND here for more than two years.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH…IKE WALKER has been promoted to Director of Digital Journalism.  That’s the title station owner Media General is using to reflect changes in the media industry.  Ike joined the station as Content Brand Manager last year, and previously was a news director/station manager in Topeka.  He’s also worked in Tulsa and Savannah, GA.  He replaces DAN BRADLEY who was promoted to GM.

Younkin

WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL…as we noted above, CATHY YOUNKIN will be the next ND for this Freedom-owned CBS affiliate.  She’s been the ND at sister-Freedom CBS affiliate WWMT-TV in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, MI, since 2007.  Earlier she’d been an ND for WSTM-TV in Syracuse and worked for two Cleveland stations.  Cathy replaces DAVE CHRISTOPHER who left the station last month after two years as ND.

Kessie

WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS…congratulations to longtime WLOX employee BRAD KESSIE who has been promoted to ND at this Raycom-owned ABC affiliate.  He first joined the station 21 years ago, right out of college, and has worked in a variety of roles, including reporter, weekend assignment editor, and anchor.  Brad replaces long- time ND DAVE VINCENT who was promoted to GM.

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NEWS DIRECTOR, WHP/WLYH-TV, Harrisburg, PA

CBS 21 News, the CBS affiliate serving market 39: Harrisburg-Lancaster- Lebanon-York, PA, has an immediate opening for an experienced News Director to manage the efforts of the CBS 21 News team, including the 10:00 pm news on sister station CW 15.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of leadership in all areas of news management, with emphasis on crafting compelling coverage and winning breaking news.

This position requires previous successful television news director experience, excellent communication skills as well as the responsibilities for department budgeting and resource management. A Bachelor’s degree is required.

No phone calls, please.

Email cover letter and resume to resumes@cbs21.com, fax to 717-234-7076, or via mail to:

WHP-TV/WLYH-TV

Attn: News Director Opening

3300 North Sixth Street

Harrisburg, PA 17110

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (listed 9/4/09)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/12/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted this week)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Special Projects, new listing this week)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 9/4/09)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/28/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (PM EP, new listing this week)
KCTV,    Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 9/4/09)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted this week)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (PM EP, listed 9/4/09)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL listed 8/28/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted this week)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted this week)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Congratulations to longtime newsie BILL LORD who assumes additional duties as Station Manager for Albritton’s WJLA-TV in Washington.  Bill’s the VP/News there, joining the station seven years ago.  He’s also been a news director in Los Angeles, Seattle, and in Nashville, where he consistently stole good people who were working for me when I was a news director in Toledo.

TIFFANI LUPENSKI heads north to join KCPQ-TV in Seattle as the Nightside EP.  She’s been an EP at KUSA-TV in Denver for the last three years, and earlier worked for CNN, and as a reporter/anchor in Birmingham and Lake Charles, LA.

Who says you can’t go home again?  Just ask GERARDO LOPEZ, who returns to KRPC-TV in Houston as the Managing Editor.  Gerardo was an assignment editor for this Post-Newsweek owned NBC affiliate from 2000-2004, before beginning his own tour of Texas, working in Dallas, Austin, and back to Dallas before returning to KPRC.

WXIN-TV has named not one but TWO new executive producers.  SAM JULIEN was promoted from 10:00 producer to Nightside EP.  She’s worked there for six years. And OLIVIA DANGLER returns to the Midwest as Morning EP. She’s been a morning producer for KNXV-TV in Phoenix, but earlier worked in Columbus, OH, and New Bern, NC.

We have news of note about three former news directors.

JOHN BUTTE, a former ND in Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Tampa, and a former ND and GM in Cleveland, is now the Director of Teleproductions in the College of Communications and information at Kent State University.  John tells me that’s the video production center for Kent State: academics, university events and promotion and the Kent State Sports Network.  In addition to his ND jobs, John was the founding VP/GM of the Ohio News Network and was the creator and EP of The Crusaders. He’ll continue to work as an agent.  Ironically, John’s daughter Carolina is a student at Kent State, a decision he says was independent of his new job there.

AL CARL has a new job and doesn’t have to move.  He’s the new morning EP for Scripps’ KSHB-TV in Kansas City.  Al was a victim of staff reductions at another KC station, WDAF-TV, a few weeks ago, where he was an EP.  He’s a former ND for WAAY-TV in Hunstville, AL.

Conway

Speaking of former ND’s, MIKE CONWAY’s has penned a new book on the early innovators of TV news.  It’s called The Origins of Television News in America: The Visualizers of CBS in the 1940s. You can read more about it here, and that link also includes links to interviews Mike did with some of those pioneers.  Mike’s a former ND in Traverse City, MI, and Erie, PA.  He also worked in Flint/Saginaw and Wichita, and is now an Assistant Professor in the Indiana University Journalism School.  You can wish Mike well via email at: mtconway@indiana.edu

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, September 18, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WPIX-TV   220 E. 42nd Street              New York NY 10017
KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
NewsChannel 8  1100 Wilson Blvd.          Arlington VA 22209
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
WTSP-TV   11450 Gandy Boulevard           St. Petersburg FL 33702
WSFL-TV   200 E. Las Olas Blvd.           Fort Lauderdale FL 33301
WOFL-TV   35 Skyline Dr.                  Lake Mary FL 32746
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte ND 28217
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WOOD-TV   120 College SE                  Grand Rapids MI 49503
WWMT-TV   590 W. Maple St.                Kalamazoo MI 49008
WHP/WLYH-TV  3300 North 6th Street        Harrisburg PA 17110 (see paid ad above)
WHAS-TV   520 W. Chestnut St.             Louisville KY 40203
WBRE-TV   62 S. Franklin                  Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WSAZ-TV   645 Fifth Ave.                  Huntington WV 25701
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
KRNV-TV   1790 Vassar St.                 Reno NV 89502
KBCI-TV   140 N. 16th St.                 Boise ID 83702
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KALB-TV   605 Washington St.              Alexandria LA 71301

Rick Gevers
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
317-769-7900
317-769-7910 (fax)
rick@rickgevers.com
www.rickgevers.com

September 13, 2009

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 UPDATE:

There are two changes in top 20 markets to tell you about today.

Andrea

ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR has left WXYZ-TV in Detroit, where she’s been the news director for more than five years.  That’s the Scripps-owned ABC affiliate.  Andrea has also been an ND for Scripps’ WMAR-TV in Baltimore and at WRAL-TV Raleigh, NC.

Suarez

And in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, JOSE SUAREZ has left WSFL-TV, the Tribune owned independent there.  The station produces a local morning program.  Jose has also worked at WTVJ-TV in Miami as an EP, and also was a news director for WUPW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Toledo.

It’s shaping up to be a busy week.  We’ll cover all of it when we do our full report on Friday.

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Monday, September 14, 2009 UPDATE:

Maliska

A surprising move in Orlando today, where WOFL-TV VP/News GAVIN MALISKA has suddenly left the station.  He’s been there since last December, coming from WXIN-TV in Indianapolis where he was ND for more than two years.  Gavin was the Assistant ND for Fox’s WJBK-TV in Detroit and previously the Managing Editor for another Fox o-and-o, WFLD-TV in Chicago.  He began his career in newspapers.

More on this and all the week’s changes later this week.

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

Greetings:

A very busy week to tell you about in this slightly delayed version of your weekly newsletter covering news director and news management changes.

There are FIVE new ND openings this week, including TWO in top 20 markets.  And there have been FOUR new NDs named since our last report.  One of those new NDs is being promoted to replace his former boss who is assuming a larger, regional role for her company.

Our count of open ND jobs increases slightly to 30.

We have a paid ad for one of those new openings…be sure to check that out if you’re looking for a new challenge.

There’s a new Assistant ND opening in our listing of other news management openings.

And we have a handful of Names in the News, as well.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Newschannel 8, Washington, DC….JEREMY SETTLE has resigned as News Director for this cable news channel owned by Albritton.  He’s been ND there since last November. BILL LORD, who’s VP/News for Albritton’s WJLA-TV, says Jeremy will be replaced but that decision won’t happen for a few months.

Richards

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL…DARREN RICHARDS has resigned as the ND for this Gannett-owned CBS affiliate.  He’s taken a new job as VP of Tampa-based PR firm Tucker/Hall.  Darren’s worked for Gannett for 19 years, including five years as ND here, seven years as ND for the company’s WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC, and in news management roles at Gannett stations in Phoenix, Denver, and Jacksonville.  He’s also worked in Topeka, KS, and Ft. Myers, FL.

WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY…GENIE GARNER is leaving this Belo-owned ABC affiliate to become ND for KITV in Honolulu.  More on that below.  She’s been the ND here for less than two years, and was previously the Assistant ND for sister-Belo station KMOV-TV in St. Louis.  She’s also a former ND in Terre Haute, IN.

WHP/WLYH-TV, Harrisburg, PA…CAROLINE IMLER is returning to North Carolina for family reasons. She’ll leave this Newport TV owned CBS/CW Network duopoly sometime next month.  She’s been the ND here for just over two years.  Caroline has also been an ND in Myrtle Beach, SC, and also worked in Louisville and Norfolk. More on this opportunity in the paid ad you’ll find below.

KALB-TV, Alexandria, LA…MICHELLE GODDARD has been promoted to General Manager.  Michelle has been ND here since she was promoted to that job in December, 2002.  KALB is owned by Hoak Media and is an NBC affiliate.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KITV,    Honolulu, HI…GENIE GARNER returns to Hawaii as ND for this Hearst TV owned ABC affiliate.  As noted above, Genie has been ND for WHAS-TV in Louisville, but earlier in her career she worked as a producer for another Honolulu station.  She’s also been an Assistant ND in St. Louis.  At KITV, she replaces TOD PRITCHARD who left in July after almost eight years as ND.

Zimmerman

WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA…ROBB HAYS has been promoted to news director here, replacing longtime news director VICKI ZIMMERMAN who is assuming regional responsibilities for station owner Raycom.  She’ll work primarily with the company’s many stations in the South.  Robb had been the Assistant News Director for this CBS affiliate.

Jam Sardar

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI…JAM SARDAR has been promoted to ND for this Young Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate.  He had been the Assistant ND here, and replaces PHIL HENDRIX who left the station in June after six years as ND.  Jam started as a reporter, and worked for another Lansing station, as well as in Lafayette, IN, Grand Rapids, MI, and for a cable news operation in Philadelphia.  He’s a former National VP for AAJA.

John LaPorte

WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…JOHN LaPORTE is the new ND here, replacing the late JOHN HOFFLAND.  (You’ll remember that John died several months ago at the age of 64, after 25 years as ND in two stints at the Gray TV owned NBC affiliate.)  John LaPorte has been the Managing Editor for KPRC-TV in Houston, but previously was an ND in Milwaukee and Palm Springs, CA.  He’s also worked in Green Bay, Albany, NY, Hartford, and Omaha. John tells me he’s happy to be back in Wisconsin and closer to his son who’s in college there.

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

PAID AD:

NEWS DIRECTOR, WHP/WLYH-TV, Harrisburg, PA

CBS 21 News, the CBS affiliate serving market 39: Harrisburg-Lancaster- Lebanon-York, PA, has an immediate opening for an experienced News Director to manage the efforts of the CBS 21 News team, including the 10:00 pm news on sister station CW 15.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of leadership in all areas of news management, with emphasis on crafting compelling coverage and winning breaking news.

This position requires previous successful television news director experience, excellent communication skills as well as the responsibilities for department budgeting and resource management. A Bachelor’s degree is required.

No phone calls, please.

Email cover letter and resume to resumes@cbs21.com, fax to 717-234-7076, or via mail to:

WHP-TV/WLYH-TV
Attn: News Director Opening
3300 North Sixth Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (listed 9/4/09)
WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (new listing this week)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 7/31/09)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 9/4/09)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/28/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (two jobs, AM & PM, listed 8/14/09)
KCTV,    Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 9/4/09)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 8/28/09)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/14/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (PM EP, listed 9/4/09)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL listed 8/28/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)

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

NAMES IN THE NEWS:

WFTS-TV in Tampa has a new Assistant News Director.  SUSAN D’ASTOLI joins this Scripps-owned ABC affiliate from another Scripps owned ABC affiliate, KNXV-TV in Phoenix, where she was Senior EP for Investigations and Special Projects.  She earlier spent 12 years working in Atlanta.

Here’s an update on some management changes at WMUR-TV, the Hearst-owned ABC affiliate in Manchester, NY.  DAVID HURLBURT has been promoted to Assistant News Director here.  He had been the Executive Producer.  SHAUN NEVILLE replaces David as EP.  He had been a Special Projects Producer at Hearst’s Washington Bureau.

ERIC PAGE joins KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA, as Content Manager/Assistant ND.  Eric has been a producer at KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA.  KWWL-TV is an NBC affiliate and is owned by Quincy Newspapers.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Saturday, September 12, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WPIX-TV   220 E. 42nd Street              New York NY 10017
KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affilate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
NewsChannel 8  1100 Wilson Blvd.          Arlington VA 22209
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WTSP-TV   11450 Gandy Boulevard           St. Petersburg FL 33702
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte ND 28217
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WPEC/WFLX 1100 Fairfield Dr.              W. Palm Beach FL 33407
WOOD-TV   120 College SE                  Grand Rapids MI 49503
WHP/WLYH-TV  3300 North 6th Street        Harrisburg PA 17110 (see paid ad above)
WHAS-TV   520 W. Chestnut St.             Louisville KY 40203
WBRE-TV   62 S. Franklin                  Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WSAZ-TV   645 Fifth Ave.                  Huntington WV 25701
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
KRNV-TV   1790 Vassar St.                 Reno NV 89502
KBCI-TV   140 N. 16th St.                 Boise ID 83702
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
WLOX-TV   208 DeBuys Road                 Biloxi MS 39531
KALB-TV   605 Washington St.              Alexandria LA 71301