June 6, 2021
Thursday, June 10th, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Apparently my crystal ball (re: yesterday’s comment about whether there would be more UPDATES this week) was wrong, as we have news today of a top ten market ND getting bumped up to the corporate staff.
Harrison
Congratulations to PAIGE HARRISON, ND for Hearst’s WCVB-TV (ABC) in Boston, who’s been named VP/News for Hearst. Details here. Paige has been ND for WCVB since 2017 and earlier had been ND of the company’s West Palm Beach station, WPBF-TV. She’s also worked in Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Oklahoma City, as well as in three markets in her native Canada.
She replaces ANDREW VREES on the corporate staff. Andrew, himself a former WCVB ND, was promoted to GM for Hearst’s WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH, last month. Paige will report to Senior VP/News BARB MAUSHARD and will move to the corporate office in New York.
Barring any further big news, we’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 UDPATE:
Greetings:
TWO medium market news directors have new jobs in tonight’s UPDATE, while another former ND has landed a new gig just a few weeks after leaving his last position.
Jacob
First, MITCH JACOB is leaving Meredith’s (soon to be Gray’s) WSMV-TV (NBC) in Nashville after a little more than two years as ND. His new job will be announced soon, he told me tonight. Mitch is a former ND in Washington, Phoenix, Columbus, Wichita, Toledo and Harlingen, TX. His successor will be the FIFTH news director in little more than six years here.
Kurtz
MARK KURTZ is moving from the ND office at Nexstar’s Norfolk NBC affiliate, WAVY-TV, to the GM’s office at Lockwood’s WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA, Mark’s been at WAVY for nine years and has been the ND since August, 2015. Staff learned in this note from GM CAROL WARD. Mark’s a former ND in Midland-Odessa and has worked in Waco and Corpus Christi.
Flannigan
Finally, SCOTT FLANNIGAN starts June 21st as the next ND for NPG’s KMIZ-TV (ABC) in Columbia, MO. It will be a short move for Scott, whose last job ended in April at Meredith’s KCTV in Kansas City (okay, officially Fairway, KS, right across the state line.) He replaces CURTIS HANCOCK who left KMIZ last month after six years as ND.
My crystal ball doesn’t know if we’ll have any more UPDATES before the weekend, but if it doesn’t know, who does? (Don’t answer that!)
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A busy week, with FOUR new news directors and THREE new openings.
All those changes leaves our list of open ND jobs at 36. ONE of those open ND jobs is among our FOUR paid help wanted ads.
THREE obituaries this week, including one for a well known journalism educator and author. We also have obituaries for a longtime public radio ND whose husband was a TV news director, and the other for a veteran Texas newsman.
A 19 year veteran of CBS retired Friday as GM of one of its largest owned stations.
And in Names in the News, details about a new job for a former Montana ND, a new book from a former Ohio ND, and we’ll mark the retirement of a Green Bay newsman.
Read on for the details!
Newly Named News Directors:
Hodak
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI…JAYNE HODAK returns to TV at this Meredith (but being sold to Gray) owned CBS affiliate. More in this note from GM KEN FRIERSON. Jayne spent 16 years at WJRT-TV (ABC) in Flint, eight as ND, before leaving in 2019. For the last year, she’s been working for NATAS-Michigan and has worked in Detroit, Raleigh, Lansing, and Traverse City. Jayne replaces KARIN MOVEISAN who transferred to Meredith’s (soon Gray’s) KCTV in Kansas City.
Sadiwskyj
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…LENA SADIWSKYJ has been promoted at this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND here since March 2020, and is a former ND in Dothan, Knoxville, Orlando, Tucson, and Shreveport. She’s also worked in Dallas, Phoenix, Birmingham, as well as Toronto and Halifax in her native Canada. Lena also taught at the Missouri School of Journalism. She replaces MICHAEL RAFFAELE who was named ND at WNYT-TV (Hubbard/NBC) in March.
Spadea
KETK-TV, Tyler, TX…family in the vicinity is why JOE SPADEA wanted the transfer from Nexstar’s WVLA/WGMB-TV in Baton Rouge. Joe’s been the ND in Baton Rouge for just over two years, and has been an ND in Oklahoma City and Baton Rouge. He’d also worked in Los Angeles, Boston, Providence, and Lancaster, PA. In Tyler, he replaces ED KOSOWSKI who moved within Nexstar to KTXL-TV (FOX) in Sacramento.
Speier
KOSA-TV, Odessa, TX…DREW SPEIER starts June 14th as the next news director for this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate. He’s been anchoring for Scripps’ KRIS/KZTV in Corpus Christi, and had spent some of his five years there as the ND for KZTV. Drew began his career in sports before moving to news anchoring: his Linkedin page has the whole story. If my records are correct, Drew replaces SCOTT PICKEY who left earlier this year after not quite three years as ND.
New News Director Openings:
Boan
WHNS-TV, Greenville, SC…after 16 years at the station, eight as ND, and the last year as station manager and ND, KELLY BOAN has left this Meredith (but being sold to Gray) FOX affiliate. Staff learned in a note from GM JEFF HOLUB, printed here in its entirety. (Hint: It won’t take long to read it.) Kelly has also worked in San Francisco, Atlanta for another another Greenville station.
Flesch
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL…RICH FLESCH has left this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate after five years as news director. He was also the assistant ND during his 15 years at WCIA and had earlier worked for another Champaign station.
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA…you learned above that JOE SPADEA was transferring within Nexstar to the company’s Tyler, TX, station, KETK-TV for family reasons. He was ND here for about two years.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
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Assistant News Director, WBRC-TV Birmingham AL:
WBRC Fox6 in Birmingham AL is looking for an Assistant News Director.
Our A-ND is humble and quick to share credit praise others freely and likes to celebrate wins.
He/she is motivated diligent and has a strong desire to go above and beyond.
He/she is emotionally intelligent and self-aware.
He/she is coachable and has a knack for coaching.
Our A-ND treats people well is fiercely competitive and has the spirit of a servant.
Executive Producer. WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:
It’s fun to work in a company where people believe in what they do!
WIVB-TV is stationed between historic downtown Buffalo, New York and beautiful Niagara Falls. To those who are unfamiliar with Western New York, Buffalo may just be another “rising” city. But to all of us at WIVB-TV, we know it’s much more than just chicken wings and beef on weck. It’s the City of Good Neighbors, the Queen City, or simply – home.
From the ever-growing Waterfront development, the changing seasons, wine country, and pro sports (with passionate fans like you’ve never seen before) and the flavorful food, it’s pretty tough to beat the unique, local feel! We’re a big city without big city congestion. Be a part of a welcoming community, a great place to live life with plenty of room to grow.
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WIVB News 4, the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, is looking for an Executive Producer with the skills, instinct and talent to lead the market’s number one news team. The perfect candidate will be innovative, a motivator and a multi-platform thinker (television and digital). They must also be passionate about winning breaking news and weather every day of the week. Most of all, the successful candidate must have the instincts and drive to win.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/4/21)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 5/31/21, see ad above!)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 5/9/21)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (listed 4/25/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (listing modified 5/16/21)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 3/28/21)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 5/9/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 4/25/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
News Nation, Chicago, IL (listed 5/16/21)
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, listed 5/16/21)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 5/9/12)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/16/21)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (AM EP, listed 5/23/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listing revised 5/2/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 3/28/21)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 3/28/21)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/31/21)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (Lifestyle show, relisted 5/9/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 5/31/21, see ad above!)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (EP/Digital Content, listed 5/23/21)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital EP, listed 5/23/21)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listing revised 5/9/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 3/28/21)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/31/21, see ad above!)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (listed 5/2/21)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (new listing this week)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (new listing this week)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 4/18/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 4/25/21)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 5/2/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, listing revised 3/28/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 5/16/21)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 4/11/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 4/18/21)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL. (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 5/23/21:
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI, (Content Manager)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 5/16/21:
News Nation, Chicago, IL (Social Media Manager)
Listed 4/25/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 3/28/21:
Obituaries:
Shook
We’re sorry to report the passing of longtime journalism educator FRED SHOOK who died in late May at the age of 78. He founded the broadcast journalism department at Colorado State University, and taught at the University of Oklahoma, Indiana University, and at NPPA workshops. He also wrote a popular textbook on visual storytelling. A memorial service is planned in Denver in October. More in this obituary.
Belote
MISSY SHELTON (BELOTE), a former public radio news director in southwest Missouri, and wife of former Springfield, MO, TV News Director BRAD BELOTE, lost her battle with ovarian cancer this week at the age of 44. She died in her home state of Tennessee, where she and Brad moved to raise their family. In 2000, she narrowly missed boarding a plane with Missouri Governor MEL CARNAHAN which crashed, killing all aboard. This obituary from KSMU-FM, her former station, is worth your time.
Gately
Longtime Waco, TX, area newsman PAUL GATELY died this week at the age of 70. He worked for newspapers, radio stations, and for at least two TV stations, including a stint as the Assistant ND for KWTX-TV in Waco. You’ll learn in this story that he was best known for his great story telling skills and even see one brief example of those skills.
Names in the News:
PHILLIP OHNEMUS is joining WBMA-TV (ABC) in Birmingham, AL, as its next Assistant ND. We told you a few weeks ago that he was leaving KULR-TV in Billings, MT, after six years as ND. It’s a return to Birmingham for him: he earlier worked there as a reporter, maintenance technician, and as a producer.
Kiefer
After 34 years at WLUK-TV (FOX) in Green Bay, BILL KIEFER retired last Tuesday. He’s been the Assistant News Director there since 1995. The station paid him tribute in this story while the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has a more detailed report on his long career.
Knopps
ANTHONY KNOPPS, longtime Toledo newsman and former ND for WTOL-TV there, is now an author. Anthony suffered a traumatic brain injury not long after leaving WTOL, but is on the mend, teaching at Bowling Green State University and at Adrian College in Michigan. His new book, A Page in History, a political thriller set in 2024, is available for advance purchase.
General Manager News and Notes:
Schneider
GARY SCHNEIDER, longtime general manager for KTVT/KTVA-TV in Dallas, retired on Friday after 12 years running that CBS owned duopoly. In all, Gary spent 19 years working for CBS in a variety of jobs. His Linkedin page has details on his entire career..
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 6, 2021:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let
me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WCBS-TV 530 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
KTRK-TV 3310 Bissonnet, Houston TX 77005
KNXV-TV 515 North 44th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WBFF/WNUV-TV 2000 W 41st St., Baltimore, MD 21211
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (see ad above!)
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court Greenville, SC 29615
WFOX/WJAX-TV 11700 Central Pkwy., Suite 2 | Jacksonville, FL 32224
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk VA 23510
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WHAS-TV 520 West Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd.. Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
WVLA/WGMB-TV 10,000 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, LA 70810
WFFF/WVNV-TV 298 Mountain View Dr, Colchester, VT 05446
WHBF-TV 231 18th St., Rock Island, IL 61201
WFXG-TV 3933 Washington Rd., Augusta, GA 30907
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Macon, GA, 31201
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac Michigan 49601
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th St., La Crosse, WI 54601
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901
KBJR-TV 246 South Lake Ave., Duluth MN 55802
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd., Duluth, MN 55811
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack, Abilene, TX 79602
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDTV 5 Television Drive. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WBKO-TV 2727 Russellville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
KSAN/KSLT-TV 2800 Armstrong St., San Angelo, TX 76903
**: Spanish language station
WFFF/WVNY-TV, Burlington, VT…this Nexstar owned duopoly (FOX/ABC) is looking for a new news director. BOB ROCKSTROH is leaving. He’s been the ND here since 2018, when he transferred from Nexstar sister station WETM-TV in Elmira, NY. Bob’s a former ND in Providence, Hartford, and Ft. Wayne and has worked in New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and San Diego.
