Rick Gevers & Associates

September 12, 2021

Wednesday. September 15, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

This just in…as you TV types like to say.

NAB has cancelled its in-person show, scheduled for early next month in Las Vegas. The news comes after several large exhibitors (Sony, Panasonic, Ross, and Canon) had pulled out.

The announcement…linked above…says it intends to resume an in-person show next April.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

I do hope your football teams did better than mine this weekend!

The biggest development for this week’s newsletter seems to be a surfeit (see, I did pay attention in English class) of executive producer openings, including ads for TWO of them in large markets.

There were NO new news directors named this week, while THREE new openings make our list. Our list of open ND jobs increases to 40.

TWO of those open ND jobs are among our FIVE help wanted ads this week.

No obituaries this week, fortunately.

TWO items about GMs…one leaving a top ten market network owned station, while Sinclair names a new GM at one of its FOX stations.

A former Hartford news director returns to a local newsroom after years at the network. And we have interesting stories involving Hearst, Scripps, and a new hire at the CBS owned stations divisions who’s coming from a Viacom property…in Australia.

All this and more below!

Newly Named News Directors:

It’s been a slow week…to the best of my knowledge, there were NO new news directors hired this week.

I anticipate that will NOT be the case next week.

New News Director Openings:

Mendoza

WOAI/KABB-TV, San Antonio, TX…MANDI MENDOZA’s last day at this Sinclair owned NBC/FOX duopoly was Friday. I’m told she is leaving news to ‘spend more time with family’ (I wish I had copyrighted that phrase.) An 18 year veteran of the station, she’s been ND since March, 2018, was Assistant ND before her promotion and began as an investigative producer in 2003. She’s also worked in Knoxville and San Angelo, TX.

Hatmaker

KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA…KELLY HATMAKER is moving to a new role within Cowles, helping develop a new streaming product for the company. He’s been the ND for 2+ years, had been manager of coverage and content for 2+ years before that, and has also worked in San Diego, Portland, OR, St, Louis, Columbus, OH, and New Haven, CT.

Baxley

WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL…after about 18 months as news director for this ABC affiliate, DAVID BAXLEY is being promoted to Assistant ND for Nexstar’s Birmingham station, WIAT-TV. It’s a return to this CBS affiliate for David, who was once an investigative producer there for two years. His background is interesting: he was even a chief meteorologist once!

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director KIEM/KVIQ-TV, Eureka, CA:

Redwood News has a News Director Opening!

Duties include:

• Overseeing the daily operations of the television newsroom
• Must be tech savvy with attention to website content and social media
• Hire, train, and coach news staff.
• Reviewing stories to make sure they are fair and accurate before they air
• Ensuring adherence to journalistic and legal standards
• Mentor and guide the team

News Director experience preferred, however experienced executive producers or assistant news directors looking to move into the News Director role are also welcomed to apply. A minimum of three years’ experience in broadcast management is preferred.

Eureka and Humboldt County sit along California’s rugged northern coastline. Nestled among ancient redwood trees Humboldt County is famous for timber fishing and in recent decades the production of world-class legal cannabis products. Neighboring Arcata is home to Humboldt State University, known for their outstanding programs in natural resources and sciences as well as leadership in sustainability. Humboldt State recently became a polytechnical University.

If you love beautiful scenery hiking and nature you will fall in love with the area. Located 270 miles north of San Francisco Humboldt County is a place of cultural individualism with a thriving arts community where more artists sustain their livelihood through the arts than any other county in California. Our municipal airport offers daily flights to San Francisco Los Angeles and Denver.

If you’re the right candidate send your resume and cover letter to: jennyo@redwoodnews.tv or mail your information to:

Jenny Olszewski
General Manager
KIEM/KVIQ-TV
5650 South Broadway
Eureka CA 95503

All inquiries will be held in the strictest confidence.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Senior Producer, NY1, and MMJ, New York, NY:

Headline: NY1 is looking for amazing storytellers to cover impactful stories in the country’s largest media market. We are ready to hire creative Producers-MMJs who want to make their mark on NYC.

We’re innovative. We’re growing. We’re different. If you haven’t yet considered Spectrum Networks for your next job—now is the time!

Spectrum News NY1 is available throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Spectrum News NY1 serves Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island and provides 24-hour hyper local news, politics, features and weather seven days a week.

Senior Producer, Mornings on 1: Click here to learn more and apply.

Multimedia Journalist: Click here to learn more and apply.

Executive Producer, KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ:

Come work for the strongest news team in the Valley of the Sun!

We are a company committed to true journalism. Our vision is to create a better informed world and help communities get the information they need to make their own decisions.

KNXV, the E.W. Scripps owned ABC affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona is looking for an Executive Producer to join our team. The Executive Producer must be a proven newsroom leader who knows how to execute content strategy and also win breaking news and weather coverage on all platforms, maintain a strong sense of urgency with our newscast production and newsroom culture, and knows how to balance serious journalism with lighter moments critical to the success of our newscasts.

The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for newscasts or local programs, including oversight on story selection, content, and production, ensuring that the station is competitive within the market.

Please click here to learn more about this opportunity and to apply!

News Director KNDO/KNDU, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA:

Here’s your chance to lead a special newsroom, in a place you’d be proud to call home.

The NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA market has newsrooms filled with talent! We are a family-owned media company, committed to strong journalism and community service. And our newscasts are consistently rated #1 in southcentral Washington state.

The KNDU/KNDO News Director will lead our award-winning newsroom with proven leadership skills and at least three years of leadership experience. You must be a catalyst and a leader in our digital/social efforts and set the tone every day in the newsroom. Excellent coaching and communication skills are required.

This is a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest, consistently recognized for its incredible quality of life. Rivers, mountains, vineyards, breweries and farmers markets – it’s all here.

Responsibilities include supervision and development of news department staff, providing direction in story selection, storytelling, and coverage. You’ll coach, critique, and motivate. You’ll plan big coverage!

Digital? Glad you asked. KNDU/KNDO is on the leading edge of the content revolution. We are part of a hyper-local 24 hour news service for three states.

The News Director will hire, train, lead, and manage news department personnel, prepare operating budgets, and be involved in news department capital planning.

Applicants require a college degree in journalism, broadcasting, or related field, previous experience as a newsroom leader, and an ability to work in a high stress environment. To apply, email Cowles Director of Recruiting JEFF HITE at jeff.hite@khq.com

Executive Producer, Investigative Unit, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Passionate to uncover stories? Proactive self-starter? Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer for its Investigative Unit to manage a large numbers of ongoing projects. Requires a high-level understanding of TV strategy and tactics, visual storytelling, graphics, teases, and promotional opportunities. Will lead team in generating a large quantity of high quality investigative stories; creating and managing sweeps calendars and franchise stories; producing one-time specials.

WGCL-TV is a CBS affiliate in the # 7 television market in the United States. The station delivers over 32 hours of weekly news product. WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com), a leading media company for nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith reaches more than 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of all U.S. women, across media platforms including digital, video, print, and broadcast television.

Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Portland – and 14 in Top 60 markets. Meredith’s stations produce approximately 745 hours of local news and entertainment content each week and operate leading local digital destinations.

Please visit this website to learn more and apply.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (relisted 8/29/21)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this week:

New York 1, New York, NY (Sr. Producer, Mornings on 1) (see ad above!)

Listed 9/5/22:

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital Manager)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 8/15/22:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 8/1/21:

KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News:

Manning

TOM MANNING joins Tegna’s WTIC-TV (FOX) in Hartford as Morning News Content Director. Details in this story on the station’s website It’s a return to the station for Manning who had been chief photographer, operations manager and assistant news director there. He’s also a former ND at WTNH-TV (ABC) in Hartford/New Haven and has worked for many years as a photographer for ABC News.

Dagan

ROSS DAGAN has been named (deep breath!) Executive Vice President, News Operations and Transformation for CBS News and Stations. The release explains exactly what that means for the newly combined divisions. He most recently served as Network Director of News for News 10, a Viacom owned network based in Sydney, Australia.

Biancuzzo

Hearst has tabbed longtime company executive FRANK BIANCUZZO to head a new division, Hearst Media Production Group. It will develop and produce original programming. Details in this news release. Frank’s been with Hearst for years in a variety of roles, including GM for the company’s Milwaukee station, WISN-TV (ABC). He also worked for Magid as a consultant.

And Scripps has hired two new executives for its Scripps Networks news division. ETHAN NELSON will oversee program development, while CHRISTINE HARTMAN will be in charge of news standards. More about both and the responsibilities here.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lund

After nine years on the job, MARK LUND is leaving as general manager for CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston, citing a desire to (let’s say it all together now) ‘spend more time with family’. His background is his sales as you’ll learn in this Boston Herald article from when he was hired in October, 2012. He’s also worked in Hartford.

Manzi

JOHN MANZI joins the Sinclair Broadcast Group as general manager of its Wichita station, KSAS-TV, the FOX affiliate there. More details on this background in this news release from the company.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 12, 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

KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
WBTS-TV 189 B St., Needham, MA 02494
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KCNC-TV 1044 Lincoln, Denver, CO 80203
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
KUAN-TV 9680 Granite Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92123
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WOAI/KABB-TV 4335 NW Loop 410. San Antonio, TX 78229
KLAS-TV 3228 Channel 8 Drive Las Vegas, NV 89109
KTBC-TV 119 East 10th Street Austin TX 78701
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive; Knoxville, TN 37919
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KLKN-TV, 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KNDO/KNDU 216 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902 (see ad above!)
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac, MI 49601
KATC-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Road. Lafayette, LA 70506
KION-TV 1550 Moffett Street Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WJET-TV 8455 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Avenue Missoula MT 59801
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 South Broadway Eureka CA 95503 (see ad above!)

**: Spanish language station

September 5, 2021

Greetings:

I hope you are having a nice, long, Labor Day weekend, but given that it’s the news business, I suspect many of you are working.

We’re here to provide you a little reading in a spare moment.

THREE new news directors were named this week, with FOUR new openings. Our list of open ND jobs increases to 37.

ONE of those open ND jobs is among our THREE paid help wanted ads this week: the other two are for management jobs in top ten markets.

There’s an obituary for a Waco newsman who sent 45 years in the market, including time as a news director. We’ll tell you about the death of a Minnesota General Manager, and we have more details about the passing of the wife of a former Indianapolis news director.

Also: a longtime Memphis GM is retiring, cuts at NBC NewsChannel will impact the number of stories it sends out, a promotion at GMA, a new job for a former Chicago ND, and a new management hire at IRE.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Director:

Burke

WCBS-TV, New York, NY…our Tuesday UPDATE first brought you the news of Sarah Burke’s return to this CBS o-and-o as news director. She’d been an EP here, went to CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston as Assistant ND, and spent the last seven years as the Assistant ND for WLS-TV (ABC owned) in Chicago. She replaces DAVID FRIEND who left the station earlier this year (along with his boss, PETER DUNN) amidst charges of a hostile work environment.

Shoultz

WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA…TIAIRA SHOULTZ has been promoted to news director for this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. She first joined WVEC as an executive producer in 2013, was promoted to assistant ND four years later, and assumed the ND job late last month. Tiaira replaces CHRIS GEGG who was transferred to sister Tegna station WHAS-TV (ABC) in Louisville after 18 months as ND here.

Lacombe

Spectrum News 1, Massachusettes, Worcester, MA…ANDY LACOMBE, a 20 year veteran here, has been promoted to news director for this cable news operation. Andy’s been the Assistant News Director here since 2019 and began as a sports/anchor and reporter. More details in this news release from the company.

New News Director Openings:

Dobson

WBTS-TV, Boston, MA…we reported Wednesday via an UPDATE that BEN DOBSON was leaving this NBC o-and-o after 2+ years as ND. New this edition: his farewell note. Ben spent almost ten years with NBC, moving between Boston and the company’s o-and-o in Hartford, WVIT-TV, where he joined NBC as the Managing Editor in 2011. He moved to Boston, then back to Hartford as ND, before returning to Boston in 2018.

Foley

KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV…TERRI FOLEY is out after six years as news director for this Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate. She joined the station in 1986 as a newsroom coordinator and moved up, spending eight years as the Assistant ND before being promoted to ND in 2015. This unusual on-air farewell aired Friday (unusual because it sounds like it was not Terri’s decision to leave).

Hardy

KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE…veteran newswoman JENNIFER HARDY has left this Standard Media owned ABC affiliate after 13 months as ND. She’s been a news director in Sarasota, Huntsville, and Reno, and held news management positions in Las Vegas (two stations), Memphis, Tulsa and Spokane. Of note: her replacement will be the fourth news director in less than two years here.

KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, WA…this Cowles owned NBC operation is advertising for a new news director. JANA GRAY is currently the news director here and is planning to retire last next year. Whoever is hired will work with Jana during the transition. You can learn more about this opportunity by checking out he Paid Help Wanted Ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director KNDO/KNDU, Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA:

Here’s your chance to lead a special newsroom, in a place you’d be proud to call home.

The NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities/Yakima, WA market has newsrooms filled with talent! We are a family-owned media company, committed to strong journalism and community service. And our newscasts are consistently rated #1 in southcentral Washington state.

The KNDU/KNDO News Director will lead our award-winning newsroom with proven leadership skills and at least three years of leadership experience. You must be a catalyst and a leader in our digital/social efforts and set the tone every day in the newsroom. Excellent coaching and communication skills are required.

This is a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest, consistently recognized for its incredible quality of life. Rivers, mountains, vineyards, breweries and farmers markets – it’s all here.

Responsibilities include supervision and development of news department staff, providing direction in story selection, storytelling, and coverage. You’ll coach, critique, and motivate. You’ll plan big coverage!

Digital? Glad you asked. KNDU/KNDO is on the leading edge of the content revolution. We are part of a hyper-local 24 hour news service for three states.

The News Director will hire, train, lead, and manage news department personnel, prepare operating budgets, and be involved in news department capital planning.

Applicants require a college degree in journalism, broadcasting, or related field, previous experience as a newsroom leader, and an ability to work in a high stress environment. To apply, email Cowles Director of Recruiting JEFF HITE at jeff.hite@khq.com

Executive Producer, Investigative Unit, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Passionate to uncover stories? Proactive self-starter? Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer for its Investigative Unit to manage a large numbers of ongoing projects. Requires a high-level understanding of TV strategy and tactics, visual storytelling, graphics, teases, and promotional opportunities. Will lead team in generating a large quantity of high quality investigative stories; creating and managing sweeps calendars and franchise stories; producing one-time specials.

WGCL-TV is a CBS affiliate in the # 7 television market in the United States. The station delivers over 32 hours of weekly news product. WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group. Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com), a leading media company for nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith reaches more than 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of all U.S. women, across media platforms including digital, video, print, and broadcast television.

Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25 – including Atlanta, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Portland – and 14 in Top 60 markets. Meredith’s stations produce approximately 745 hours of local news and entertainment content each week and operate leading local digital destinations.

Please visit this website to learn more and apply.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

Morning Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

Here’s your chance to lead the critical morning news daypart in a diverse, bustling, vibrant, affordable city! KPRC is hiring a morning news Executive Producer.

Every morning, millions of Houstonians rise and shine to get their kids to school. They head to work as doctors, nurses and support staff at the largest medical center in the world. They start unloading cargo at the busiest port on the Gulf Coast. And they head to offices, plants and refineries at the largest concentration of oil and gas companies in the world.

Our team of passionate and dedicated morning news journalists strive to connect with these viewers, through superior coverage of breaking news, severe and inconvenient weather that affects their safety, consumer investigations that impact their finances and by helping viewers navigate traffic disruptions to get them to their destinations safely.

As Executive Producer of this team, you’ll focus on a comprehensive approach to executing our winning strategy. Hiring the right people, giving them direction and guidance, coaching on-air staff to reach their full potential and ensuring the overall quality and winning attitude on one of our most important dayparts.

To learn more and apply, please visit this website:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/8/21)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 9/29/21)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (new listing this week)
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 8/22/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 8/22/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 8/29/21)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/25/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR (listed 8/8/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 8/29/21)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA, (Weekend AM EP, listed 8/29/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning EP, listed 8/29/21, see ad above!)
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted 7/25/21)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (2 openings, listed 8/8/21)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/29/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/1/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 8/15/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/25/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
WOWK-TV, Charlestown, WV (listed 8/22/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (relisted 8/29/21)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this week:

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital Manager)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 8/15/22:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 8/1/21:

KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Bradfield

I’m sorry to report the death of RICK BRADFIELD, the managing editor for KWTX-TV (Gray/CBS) who died Thursday of an apparent heart attack. He was 66. Rick spent 45 years at the station in a variety of roles, including many years as news director. The station remembered him here, and the Waco Herald-Tribune paid him tribute in a very nice story.

Woloszyn

The GM for Gray’s KEYC-TV in Mankato, MN, ED WOLOSYZN, died Thursday after a brief fight with cancer. He joined the station in 2016 and was promoted to general manager in 2019. He’d also worked for stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. More details about his life and career in this obituary.

Campbell

Finally, we have more details and a complete obituary for MARLENE CAMPBELL, wife of former Indianapolis (WTHR-TV) news director BOB CAMPBELL, We told you last week that Marlene died August 22nd from cancer. More details about her life and career are in this obituary. A kind note would reach Bob here.

Names in the News:

About two thirds of the staff at NBC NewsChannel’s Charlotte operation lost their jobs this week…about 60 people. Apparently it’s the result of a new contract between the network and its affiliates which dramatically cut funding for NewsChannel…and will result in a dramatic cutback in service. That will likely have a big impact on small and medium market stations who relied on that material to help fill newscasts.

Brouwer

More management changes at ABC’s Good Morning America this week. CHRISTINE BROUWER has been promoted to executive broadcast producer, filling the vacancy created by last week’s promotion of SIMONE SWINK to executive producer of GMA. Brouwer is a 13 year veteran of ABC. More details in this story.

Balta

HUGO BALTA has a new job. He’s now the associate editor for The Chicago Reporter. Details from Media Moves, which also has background on the Reporter. Hugo most recently was the ND for Chicago’s WTTW-TV (PBS), a job he left in February. He’s also worked for MSNBC and ESPN, is a former ND for WNJU-TV (Telemundo) in New York City. He’s also worked for two other stations in New York, one in Miami and is a two time President of NAHJ.

Lopez

Speaking of NAHJ, the two time executive director of that organization, ANNA LOPEZ, is joining IRE as Director of Partnerships. At IRE, that means she will lead IRE’s foundation, fundraising, sponsorship and partnership management and will also head IRE’s scholarship and fellowship programs. Anna’s also a former head of Unity.

General Manager News and Notes:

Walter

RON WALTER, who’s been General Manager at Nexstar’s WREG-TV (CBS) in Memphis for 17 of the 34 years he worked there, is retiring. He joined the station in a marketing role in 1987 and was promoted to GM in 2004. You’ll learn in this story that he is also very active in the community.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 5, 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

KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
WBTS-TV 189 B St., Needham, MA 02494
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KCNC-TV 1044 Lincoln, Denver, CO 80203
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
KUAN-TV 9680 Granite Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92123 **
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
KLAS-TV 3228 Channel 8 Drive Las Vegas, NV 89109
KTBC-TV 119 East 10th Street Austin TX 78701
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive; Knoxville, TN 37919
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KLKN-TV, 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KNDO/KNDU 216 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902 (see ad above!)
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac, MI 49601
KATC-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Road. Lafayette, LA 70506
KION-TV 1550 Moffett Street Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WJET-TV 8455 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Avenue Missoula MT 59801
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501

**: Spanish language station

August 29, 2021

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Today’s UPDATE brings news of a news director opening at a top ten market network owned station.

Dobson

BEN DOBSON has left NBC’s Boston operation, WBTS-TV, (branded as NBC Boston) after more than three years as VP/News. Staff learned of the change within the hour.

Ben’s spent almost ten years with NBC, moving between Boston and the company’s o-and-o in Hartford, WVIT-TV, where he first joined NBC as the Managing Editor there in 2011. He moved to Boston, then back to Hartford as news director, before returning to Boston in 2018.

He’s also worked for two other Boston stations, as you can see on his Linkedin page.

We should have more on this story and all the week’s developments in our full newsletter, sometime this Labor Day weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 UPDATE:

CBS has filled its long open WCBS-TV (New York) news director opening with a former WCBS EP.

Burke

SARAH BURKE returns to the station as news director. She was an EP there before moving to CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston as an Assistant ND for about 18 months. She’s been the Assistant ND for ABC’s Chicago owned station, WLS-TV, for the past seven years. Sarah’s also worked in Denver and Indianapolis.

More details in the news release.

Longtime Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER first reported early yesterday that Sarah was leaving WLS and speculated that she was headed to WCBS.

The man who hired her in New York, WCBS GM JOHNNY GREEN Jr., also worked at WBZ, but I believe she left before Johnny got there (it’s possible he replaced her as assistant ND before becoming ND there.)

At WCBS, of course, she replaces DAVID FRIEND who was ousted earlier this year…along with his boss, PETER DUNN…after a Los Angeles Times investigation into accusations of a hostile work environment. Since then, two other o-and-o GM’s have been dismissed.

We’ll have more on this story and all the week’s developments in our full newsletter sometime this Labor Day weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

We have another busy newsletter, with several news director changes and lots of other news.

THREE new news directors appointed, with THREE new openings. Our list of open ND jobs remains at 34.

We have ONE paid help wanted ad for a morning EP job in a top ten market.

And there’s an ad promoting the upcoming RTDNA conference in Denver. Of note: RTDNA will require proof of vaccination to attend and offering a unique choice of lanyards to attendees.

THREE obituaries this week, of a former San Antonio newsman, a one-time Norfolk ND who is better known as an anchor for an unusual NBC program, and for the wife of a former Indianapolis news director.

I was tempted but did NOT include the obituary of one time Minneapolis News Director LOU GRANT. (Wait. Maybe I just did.)

A former ABC News executive is accused of sexual assault in a civil law suit, while ABC named his replacement this week. We have more on the retirement of NBC NewsChannel’s SHARON HOUSTON as well as on the retirement of a longtime Iowa journalist.

And two items from St., Louis, where a newsman (!) has been promoted to chief engineer, and why another newsman made a career change, basing his decision on “We instead of me”. And that’s why he’s now a first time news director.

All that and more below.

New News Director Hires:

Jacoby

WHNS-TV, Greenville, SC…MARYBETH JACOBY returns to South Carolina as ND for this now-owned-by-Meredith-but-soon-to-be-owned-by-Gray FOX affiliate. Details in this news release. She’s spent the last 3 1/2 years as ND for Gray’s WVLT-TV in Knoxville but earlier served as ND for ten years at WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. Marybeth replaces KELLY BOAN who left in June after eight years as ND and now holds that job at WLNE-TV in Providence, RI.

Mason

WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY…AARON MASON sheds the interim title and become ND for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. GM MARC JAROMIN shared the news with the staff via this email. Alan’s been the interim ND since ROB HEVERLING left earlier this year, first to become interim ND for Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI. He’s now the ND for WDIO-TV in Duluth, MN.

Taylor

WFFF/WVNY-TV, Burlington, VT…ROB TAYLOR gets his first ND job at this Nexstar FOX/ABC duopoly. He’s currently the Assistant ND for Nexstar’s WJTV in Jackson, MS. Rob’s a veteran of the Chicago market, spending 18 years at WFLD-TV and WLS-TV. He’s also worked in Memphis and Greenville, SC. He replaces BOB ROCKSTROH who left earlier this summer to accompany his wife to a new job in Connecticut.

New News Director Openings:

Wieland

KCNC-TV, Denver, CO…we first shared news of TIM WIELAND’s move to the GM chair at this CBS o-and-o in an UDPATE earlier this week. More here. He’s worked there for 27 years (in two stings) with a short time at CNN in between. As we told you in the UPDATE, he’s the THIRD consecutive CBS GM to come from the news ranks and replaces the retiring WALT DeHAVEN.

Vaught

KTBC-TV, Austin, TX…congratulations to PAM VAUGHT who is retiring. She posted this note on Linkedin:

After almost 40 years in TV news I’m retiring. For the last 29 years I’ve been with FOX and 23 of those years at FOX 7 in Austin. I’m so glad to have connected with so many of you over the years. September 20th is my last day and then it’s time for some new adventures.

WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN…we told you above that MARYBETH JACOBY is leaving to return to South Carolina as ND for WHNS-TV, the Meredith (for now) FOX affiliate. She was ND here for 3 1/2 years.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Morning Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

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Every morning, millions of Houstonians rise and shine to get their kids to school. They head to work as doctors, nurses and support staff at the largest medical center in the world. They start unloading cargo at the busiest port on the Gulf Coast. And they head to offices, plants and refineries at the largest concentration of oil and gas companies in the world.

Our team of passionate and dedicated morning news journalists strive to connect with these viewers, through superior coverage of breaking news, severe and inconvenient weather that affects their safety, consumer investigations that impact their finances and by helping viewers navigate traffic disruptions to get them to their destinations safely.

As Executive Producer of this team, you’ll focus on a comprehensive approach to executing our winning strategy. Hiring the right people, giving them direction and guidance, coaching on-air staff to reach their full potential and ensuring the overall quality and winning attitude on one of our most important dayparts.

To learn more and apply, please visit this website:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/8/21)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (new listing this week)
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 8/22/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 8/22/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (new listing this week)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/25/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR (listed 8/8/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (new listing this week)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA, (Weekend AM EP, new listing this week)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted 7/25/21)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (2 openings, listed 8/8/21)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (new listing this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/1/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 8/15/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/25/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
WOWK-TV, Charlestown, WV (listed 8/22/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (relisted this week)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 6/27/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 8/15/22:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 8/1/21:

KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Rogers

Our update earlier this week told you of the death of former KENS-TV (San Antonio, TX) news director BOB ROGERS. Bob died last week at the age of 87. He helped build KENS into a powerhouse during his 27 years at the station. Two obituaries: the first from KENS, and the second from the San Antonio Express News.

Dobyns

One time WAVY-TV (Norfolk) news director LLOYD DOBYNS died last Sunday at 85 after a series of strokes. Dobyns, of course, was MUCH better known for his stint at NBC News, particularly as co-anchor of NBC Overnight with LINDA ELLERBEE. The New York Times has this obituary (which may be behind a paywall.)

Campbell

Finally, MARLENE CAMPBELL, wife of former Indianapolis (WTHR-TV) news director BOB CAMPBELL, died Sunday night from cancer. Doctors removed a lemon sized tumor from her brain last December. Bob and Marlene met at WTHR where she was a sales manager and were married more than 35 years. I hope to have more details about arrangements later.

Bob and I were at Missouri at the same time: he was a graduate student when I was there. A kind note would reach him here.

Names in the News:

Corn

MICHAEL CORN, the former executive producer of both ABC’s Good Morning America and World News Tonight has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed this week by a former producer, KIRSTYN CRAWFORD. The new President of ABC News, KIM GODWIN, has called for an independent investigation of how the network handled the charges, which Corn denies. He is now President of Nexstar’s NewsNation.

Swink

In what seems to be a bit of unusual timing, ABC named Corn’s replacement at Good Morning America this week. SIMONE SWINK has been the senior broadcast producer for GMA, and first joined GMA as a writer in 2010. She’s been overseeing the second hour of GMA. More details in this story from deadline.com

Houston

We have a few more details about SHARON HOUSTON’s upcoming retirement as President of NBC’s Charlotte based NewsChannel, where she has worked since 1991. Sharon kindly shared the photo at right as well as this note which was part of what she sent her staff. Sharon began her career at WBTV in Charlotte, spent a few years in Atlanta at this CBS Bureau there, and ends back in Charlotte. Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!

Cardin

Speaking of retirements, congratulations to longtime KCCI-TV (Des Moines, IA) Assistant News Director DANA CARDIN who is retiring after more than 40 years at this Hearst owned CBS affiliate. He began as a reporter and moved into the Assistant ND job 25 years ago. Here are two notes, first the note from KCCI GM BRIAN SATHER and the second from Dana himself.

McCormac

In a rare move, a news manager will be the next chief engineer at KMOV-TV, the now-owned-by-Meredith-but-soon-to-be-owned-by-Gray CBS affiliate in St. Louis. BILL McCORMAC started as a photographer, and has served as chief photographer, executive producer, and, since 2010, news operations manager. Details in this email from GM JD SOSNOFF.

Holliday

And while we’re in St. Louis, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiled longtime newsman ART HOLLIDAY today, You know from our earlier reports that Art became ND for Tegna’s KSDK-TV (NBC) earlier this year, reporting to Director of Content CAROL FOWLER. He’s been there more than 40 years, starting in sports, was the first morning co-anchor, and has filled many other roles. Full disclosure: we worked at KSDK together and were at Missouri at the same time.

General Manager News and Notes:

A reminder that we told you above about TIM WIELAND’s appointment at GM for KCNC-TV, the CBS owned station in Denver.

Two other GMs were named this week:

Gentile

FRANCO GENTILE will be the next GM for Sinclair’s KPTM-TV (FOX) in Omaha. He’s currently the sales manager for the company’s Columbus, OH, operations.

And Nexstar named STEPHEN EATON GM of its Billings, MT, properties. He’s been the sales manager for cross-town competitor KTVQ-TV.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 29, 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
KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KCNC-TV 1044 Lincoln, Denver, CO 80203
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
KUAN-TV 9680 Granite Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92123
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
KTBC-TV 119 East 10th Street Austin TX 78701
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive; Knoxville, TN 37919
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac, MI 49601
KATC-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Road. Lafayette, LA 70506
KION-TV 1550 Moffett Street Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WJET-TV 8455 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Avenue Missoula MT 59801
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501

**: Spanish language station

August 22, 2021

Thursday, August 26, 2021 UPDATE:

CBS has filled another general manager opening at one of its owned stations, and for the THIRD consecutive time, they’ve tabbed a news person.

Wieland

Today it’s TIM WIELAND, who’s been promoted to general manager of KCNC-TV in Denver. He’s been the news director there since 2004.

More in this news release.

Tim’s a 27 year veteran of KCNC, having first worked there from 1992-1999, beginning as a writer and progressing to executive producer. He left for a short stint at CNN, and returned in 2001 as the assistant ND.

Tim replaces WALT DeHAVEN who is retiring.

As I mentioned above, Tim’s the third consecutive newsperson to fill a CBS owned station GM job.

First was JOHNNY GREEN, Jr. at WCBS-TV in New York, followed last week by JENNIFER LYONS, who was named to the top job at WBBM-TV in Chicago.

Still open: KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and KTVT-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Let the wagering begin!

Rogers

We”ll have a lot of interesting stories in this week’s newsletter which would take to long to include here, but I do want to tell you about the passing of legendary KENS-TV (San Antonio) news director BOB ROGERS who died earlier this week at the age of 87. The station remembered him here while the local newspaper did a nice job of looking back at his 27 year career at the station.

Finally, a correction from last week’s full newsletter. WISC-TV in Madison, WI, won the National Edward R. Murrow for Overall Excellence for small market TV. I accidentally listed another Madison station.

We’ll see you this weekend with a busy newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Lots of movement and lots of news in this week’s report.

FOUR new news directors appointed, with just ONE new opening. Our list of open ND jobs drops to 34.

Sadly (and least for me and my bank account) NONE of those new jobs are featured in a paid help wanted ad.

But we do have an ad from RTDNA reminding all that the registration deadline for next month’s annual convention. “The Year of the Team” is coming up soon. Check out the ad just below for details. I hope to see many of you there.

Speaking of conferences, NAB’s will require proof of covid-19 vaccinations for attendees at its October gathering in Las Vegas.

We first alerted you to a rash of top 50 market GM appointments earlier this week, THREE of which involved people with news director experience. We’ll revisit those hires below.

In Names in the News, we’ll tell you of the pending retirement of a longtime NBC NewsChannel executive. We also have details of how being a Star Wars fan played a role in a life-saving organ donation for a longtime Pennsylvania news director. We’ll recap the National Edward R. Murrow Award winners, tell you who RTDNA will honor with the Paul White Award, and share news of a retirement of a longtime major market anchor who also spent a year as a news director in California.

And we’ll tell you about a unusual purchase by Nexstar.

New News Director Hires:

Palestina

WVUE-TV, New Orleans, LA…KRISTEN PALENTINA has been promoted to news director for this Gray owned FOX affiliate. She’s been the assistant news director here for 12 years and earlier in her career worked for WWL-TV (CBS) in New Orleans for two years. She’s replacing MIKEL SCHAEFER who’s being promoted to general manager (more on that in our GM section below).

Breazeale

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX…JIM BOB BREAZEALE has been named Director of Content for this Scripps owned NBC affiliate. Details from GM RAMON PINEDA. Jim Bob is currently the Assistant ND for KGBT/KVEO-TV in Harlingen and Brownsville. He’s also worked in Austin. At KRIS, he replaces MARK SILBERSTEIN who left in May after nine months as news director.

McLain

WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA…an inter-Gray TV transfer sends WILLIAM McLAIN to this ABC affiliate for his first ND job. GM HOLLY STEUART told the staff in this memo. William is currently the Assistant ND for Gray’s WAFF-TV in Huntsville, AL, where he began as a producer, advanced to digital content manager, and eventually AND. He’s also worked in Montgomery and replaces MARK ROSEN who moved closer to family and be ND for WFXG-TV in Augusta, GA.

LeSavage

KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN…another Gray station filled its open ND job by promoting interim ND BRIGGS LeSAVAGE. She’s a Duluth native who first joined this dual NBC/CBS operation as a producer, co-anchor and reporter five years ago. She’s replacing veteran newsman KEVIN JACOBSEN who left to operate a business with his wife.

New News Director Opening:

Gaylord

KPAX-TV, Billings, MT…ERIC GAYLORD is leaving this Scripps owned CBS affiliate after two years as ND to take a job at Scripps’ Newsy. He’s also been a ND in Great Falls, MT. Eric began as a photographer, working in Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, and as a chief photographer in San Diego before moving into management.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No paid ads this week.  If you want to advertise your management openings, it’s just $300 for two weeks, $550 for four to reach the most targeted audience. Email me: rick@rickgevers.com for details.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/8/21)
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL (new opening this week)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (new opening this week)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/25/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
KAIT-TV, Jonesboro, AR (listed 8/8/21)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted 7/25/21)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (2 openings, listed 8/8/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/1/21)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/27/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 8/15/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/25/21)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro-High Point, NC (AM EP, relisted 8/1/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 8/8/21)
WOWK-TV, Charlestown, WV (new listing this week)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, relisted 6/13/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 6/27/21)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 8/15/22:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 8/1/21:

KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/27/21:

Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content

Listed 6/20/21:

KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital Content Director)

Names in the News:

SHARON HOUSTON is retiring as President of NBC’s NewsChannel, where she has worked since 1991. Before moving to Charlotte and NewsChannel, she worked at the CBS Bureau in Atlanta. CORRIE HARDING gets a new title of (take a deep breath) VP of News Partnerships and Executive In Charge of NBC News Channel. Congrats to Sharon, who I have missed working with since my days as an NBC affiliate ND and when she was the deputy bureau chief for CBS in Atlanta and I was the AND at the CBS affiliate in Jacksonville.

Platzer

A mutual passion for Star Wars played a role in helping WJAC-TV (Johnstown, PA) news director JIM PLATZER receive a life-saving liver transplant. Details from the WJAC website. You may remember last year the station sponsored a blood drive on Jim’s behalf after he collapsed in the newsroom. Jim began his career at WJAC, and returned as ND in 2011 after ND stints in Greensboro, NC, Decatur, IL, and Clarksburg, WV. He’s also worked in Orlando, Tampa, Mobile and Altoona, PA.

Nolte

STEPHANIE NOLTE moves within Nebraska to become the next Assistant News Director for Standard Media’s KLKN-TV (ABC) in Lincoln. She’s been the chief photographer for KMTV in Omaha (Scripps/CBS) for the past four years. She has also worked in Des Moines, LaCrosse, WI, and Florence, SC, where she worked as a multimedia journalist for a newspaper.

In case you missed our emailed UPDATE earlier this week, RTDNA announced the winners of the National Edward R. Murrow Awards. Congratulations to Chicago’s WBBM-TV (CBS owned) and WKOW-TV WISC-TV in Madison, WI (ABC/Morgan Murphy Media) for taking the Overall Excellence Awards. The complete list is here.

In that UPDATE, I congratulated my friend and former WTOL-TV (Toledo, OH) employee STEVE HARTMAN of CBS News for another win for Excellence in Writing but failed to note that my friend and Missouri classmate JOHN FERRUGIA and his team at Rocky Mountain PBS took top honors in large market TV for documentary. Congrats to both and to all the winners.

Zirinsky

Another RTDNA note: The organization announced that longtime CBS newswoman and past CBS News President SUSAN ZIRINKSY will be honored with the Paul White Award at the upcoming conference in Denver. Paul White was the first news director for CBS news. The award honors people for their lifetime contributions to broadcast news.

Becker

One time Palm Springs (KMIR-TV) News Director ROSS BECKER (who is MUCH better known for his many large market anchor jobs) has announced he’s stepping off the anchor desk after 49 years. But he’s not calling it a retirement, saying he’s working on a project. Ross most recently worked for KAAL-TV in Rochester, MN. Details on his background and future plans in this story.

Finally, Nexstar has purchased the online political site The Hill for $130 million dollars. More here.

General Manager News and Notes:

Our Friday UPDATE brought news of FOUR top 50 market GMs, three with news backgrounds.

Lyons

In Chicago, former longtime WGN-TV ND (and short time News Nation executive) JENNIFER LYONS was named general manager for CBS owned WBBM-TV. Veteran Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER has more. She replaces DEREK DALTON who was released a few weeks ago, along with KCBS-TV (Los Angeles) GM JAY HOWELL. Earlier in her career, Jennifer worked in Des Moines and Davenport, IA.

Ellis

BOB ELLIS returns to Detroit’s WDIV-TV (Graham Media/NBC) as GM. Earlier in his career, Bob was the ND there for 18 months at the end of a 15 year run. He’s spent the last 12 years running Graham Media’s successful independent station, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, FL. Bob’s replacing longtime Detroit media executive MARLA DRUTZ, who retired.

Corrente

Gray Television promoted TWO employees to new general manager jobs. RONNA CORRENTE moves to WAVE-TV (NBC) in Louisville as GM, replacing KEN SELVAGGI who left the station earlier this month. She’s been the GM for Gray’s WVUE-TV (FOX) in New Orleans. Ronna is a Kentucky native who began her career in sales at WDKY-TV (FOX) in Lexington.

Schaefer

Gray immediately replaced her at WVUE by promoting news director MIKEL SCHAEFER. He’s been the news director here since 2008 and earlier worked for cross-town CBS affiliate WWL-TV. And he was immediately replaced as ND by the Assistant ND there, KRISTEN PALESTINA, as you learned above.

The promotions of Ronna, Mikel, and Kristen are covered in this Gray news release.

Nexstar has named MICHAEL SILECCHIA GM of its Rockford, IL, station, WQRF-TV (FOX). He’ll also be in charge of Mission Broadcasting’s WTVO-TV (ABC). Michael comes from the sales side of our business, having worked most recently in Oklahoma City and Fresno.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 22, 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
KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
KUAN-TV 9680 Granite Ridge Drive San Diego, CA 92123
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court Greenville, SC 29615
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
WKBW-TV 7 Broadcast Plaza. Buffalo, NY 14202
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main Street , Dayton , OH 45409
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
WFFF/WVNV-TV 298 Mountain View Dr, Colchester, VT 05446
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac, MI 49601
KATC-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Road. Lafayette, LA 70506
KION-TV 1550 Moffett Street Salinas, CA 93905
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WJET-TV 8455 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Avenue Missoula MT 59801
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501

**: Spanish language station