Rick Gevers & Associates

July 5, 2020

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another news director moves to the general manager chair!

Barkley

This time the congratulations go to BRUCE BARKLEY, who’s been named Presdient and GM of KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR. The news release is here.

Those are Hearst stations, as is WYFF-TV (NBC)in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville market in the Carolinas where Bruce has been ND since 2012. Before that, he was the ND of Hearst’s WAPT-TV (ABC) in Jackson, MS for 12 years. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC, and has worked in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, TN markets.

At KHBS/KHOG, Bruce will replace SHAWN OSWALD who was promoted to GM for the company’s KETV (ABC) in Omaha.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

As you might expect, the holiday week brought few changes.

But we do have ONE newly named news director to share, and THREE new openings, including ONE at a top ten market CBS affiliate.

Those changes leave our list of open ND jobs at 28 positions.

There’s ONE paid ad for a content manager job in Tulsa.

No obituaries, thankfully, and just ONE GM move.

And the only item in Names in the News is a positive health update on a former ND and multi-time general manager.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Munoz

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…JAMES MUNOZ adds news director to his duties at this Morgan Murphy Media owned ABC affiliate. He’s been anchoring there and will continue to anchor the 5:00 news. James has been a news director before in Midland and San Angelo, TX, and has worked on-air in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Amarillo and Lufkin, TX. He replaces ROXANN FISHER who left the station in February after less than six months as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Ramirez

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…SALLY RAMIREZ is leaving this Tegna-owned CBS affiliate. She’ll stay while the search for her successor goes on. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more. The news of Sally’s departure came as her husband, anchor RUSS LEWIS announced he was leaving to return to Oregon to work in his family’s business. Sally was ND for 4+ years, coming from KGW-TV in Portland, OR, where she was the assistant news director for the last five of her 17 years at that Tegna sister station. She’s also worked in Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, Tucson and El Paso.

Vizcon

WTMO-TV, Orlando, FL…ROBERTO VIZCON is out at this Telemundo affiliate after a little more than two years in his second stint at the station. The first time he was general manager. And the current GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week. The entire soap opera is detailed in this story from Media Moves. Vizcon has worked as a news director for Univision stations in Miami and Puerto Rico.

Sadar

WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…congratulations to SINAN SADAR who’s the latest beneficiary of a promotion within Hearst. He’s been named director of news talent recruitment for the company. Details here. Sinan’s been ND here for 5+ years, spent more than six years as ND for WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY, and four years as the Ass’t, ND for Hearst’s KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, NM. Sinan has also worked in Houston (two stations), Cleveland, Albany, NY, and Syracuse.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Content Manager, Morning News, KOKI-TV, Tulsa OK:

KOKI-TV/Fox 23 and Cox Media Group are searching for an experienced journalist who has the drive, energy and passion to work as the station’s Content Manager for our 5- hour long morning newscasts.

The successful candidate will execute the station’s strategic plan on all platforms, utilizing research to oversee content and coverage on our TV, radio, digital, and social media platforms. “

KOKI-TV, Fox 23, is Tulsa’s most trusted news source, Covering News That Matters. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which debuted in October of 1980. Since 2012, the station has been owned by Cox Media Group.

Tulsa is known for being a dynamic city with a variety of bustling urban districts, exceptional dining, an unsurpassed love of the arts and one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the nation.”

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (listed 6/21/20)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

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

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager, see ad above!)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Names in the News (and other items):

Vann

A positive health update for longtime GM (and former news director) LES VANN. We told you recently that Les had broken four ribs and injured his sternum while he battled both Parkinson’s Disease and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. But he advised me this week that he’s back home:

General Manager News and Notes:

We mentioned the only GM move we know about above, in our report on the ND opening at WTMO-TV in Orlando. The station’s GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week, too.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 5, 2020:

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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

June 28, 2020

Monday, June 29, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Ramirez

Big news today from Houston, where KHOU-TV News Director SALLY RAMIREZ is leaving that Tegna-owned CBS affiliate.

That word came on the same day that her husband, 4:00 PM anchor RUSS LEWIS, announced he was leaving to return to Oregon. Russ plans to work with his father in the family’s business of developing property.

Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF filed two separate stories on these developments.

Here’s his report on Sally’s departure (which will happen later this year.)

And here’s what he posted about Lewis’ move.

Sally’s been ND there for four years, coming from sister station KGW-TV in Portland, OR, where she was the assistant news director for the last five of her 17 years there. She’s also worked in Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, Tucson and El Paso.

Stanley

And one update on a story we reported yesterday, that of the death of JEANA STANLEY, VP of Finance for Hearst and wife of longtime newsman RANDAL STANLEY. Hearst posted this obituary on its website earlier today.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

A busy week.

We have FOUR newly named news directors to tell you about.

There are THREE newly opened ND jobs, ONE created by the upcoming retirement of a 37 year veteran Indiana newsman.

Those changes leave our count of open ND jobs at 26. ONE of those openings is featured among our TWO paid help wanted ads.

There’s a handful of news managers on the move, and we’re making a rare excursion from our normal course of business to share a link for a column written by my client ALAN SEALLS. That’s in Names in the News.

In our General Manager’s section, we’ve got details of the pending retirement of a Nexstar executive and a new GM in Corpus Christi.

And there are THREE obituaries: one for a veteran PBS and NBC news executive, and the other TWO for wives of news directors, one current, and a former one who played a big role in my career.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Tamez

KMPX-TV, Dallas, TX…CARLOS TAMEZ returns to Dallas as ND for this Estrella owned operation. He’s also oversee newscasts in Houston and Miami. Most recently, he was worked for a 24 hour news operation in Mexico, but he previously worked for the Telumundo station in Dallas. At Estrella, he replaces RUBEN OLAGUE who departed in May after two years. More in this story from Media Moves.

Ortiz

KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA…congratulations to MARTIN ORTIZ who stays within the ABC owned station group and returns to Fresno as ND of that o-and-o. He began his career at KFSN in 2007 as an assignment editor and moved quickly to producer. Martin then headed north to Oakland as a producer for KTVU-TV before rejoining ABC as a producer…and eventually EP…at KGO-TV in San Francisco. In Fresno, he replaces his new boss, MICHAEL CARR, who was promoted to GM in May.

Harper

WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…JANIS HARPER has started as the next ND for this Gray owned NBC affiliate. We told you last week that Janis had left KTVA-TV in Anchorage, AK, though did not know her destination. She left KTVA on the seventh anniversary of her start, where she began as the Assistant ND and advanced to ND three years later. Janis has also worked in Evansville, Tyler, TX, Roanoke, Louisville, and Lake Charles, LA. In Eau Claire, she replaces LISA PATROW who spent more than two years as ND and earlier had been ND at another Eau Claire station.

Speaking of KTVA-TV, the station continues its search for Janis’ replacement, as you’ll learn in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Parker

KTEN-TV, Ada, OK/Sherman, TX/Addison, TX…JOEY PARKER is the new news director for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned NBC/ABC affiliates. He most recently was the anchor and assistant ND at KMIZ-TV in Columbia, MO. Joey’s been an ND in Utica, NY, and Casper, WY, and has also worked in Gainesville, FL, Hastings, NE, Montgomery, and Dothan, AL. At KTEN, he succeeds MARK FARRELL who died in April at the age of 55.

New News Director Openings:

Hardy

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL…JENNIFER HARDY has left his Gray Television owned ABC affiliate that’s technically part of the Tampa market. Jennifer spent four years as ND here, and earlier was an ND at WAAY-TV (ABC) in Huntsville for more than 2 years and at KOLO-TV (also ABC) in Reno. She’s also worked in Las Vegas (two stations), Tulsa, Spokane, Memphis, and Tucson.

Luque

WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC…TINA LUQUE is leaving this now-owned by Nexstar FOX affiliate (once a FOX o-and-o) after more than four years as news director. She’s been a news director at WTKR-TV in Norfolk for more than seven years, and WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, for five years. She’s also worked in Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Charleston, SC.

Linn

WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…fellow Indy 500 mega-fan TED LINN is retiring in September, around the time he turns 66. Ted’s spent 43 1/2 years in our business, more than 37 of them with one company (well, one company that’s had several owners…currently Nexstar, which bought Media General, which bought LIN.) Ted’s been the ND for this CBS affiliate for 16 plus years, and spent the previous 21 years at sister station WISH-TV in Indianapolis, ending up as the Assistant ND. He’s also worked in Dayton, Lafayette, and began his career in radio in Kokomo, IN.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Content Manager, Morning News, KOKI-TV, Tulsa OK:

KOKI-TV/Fox 23 and Cox Media Group are searching for an experienced journalist who has the drive, energy and passion to work as the station’s Content Manager for our 5- hour long morning newscasts.

The successful candidate will execute the station’s strategic plan on all platforms, utilizing research to oversee content and coverage on our TV, radio, digital, and social media platforms. “

KOKI-TV, Fox 23, is Tulsa’s most trusted news source, Covering News That Matters. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which debuted in October of 1980. Since 2012, the station has been owned by Cox Media Group.

Tulsa is known for being a dynamic city with a variety of bustling urban districts, exceptional dining, an unsurpassed love of the arts and one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the nation.”

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

News Director KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK:

Looking for an adventure? Keep reading!

KTVA, the CBS affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska needs a News Director.

While the market is 150+ you would not know that when you watch. The creative team of journalists, including regional Murrow and Emmy winners, wants someone to guide them through the next big thing. Oh boy, are there big things that happen here: politics is basically the unofficial state sport, nearly 24 hours of sunlight in the summer, the beauty of the northern lights in the winter and the occasional earthquake.

Alaska has its challenges; the goal of our newsroom is to talk about those issues and offer solutions-when we can. Our goal has been, and continues, to focus on helping our communities be stronger, safer and well-informed. We do this through enterprise storytelling and investigative reporting.

You have the support of a pro-active engineering team and tireless creative services department to get your message to the masses.

It may sound too good to be true; it’s not. Apply here to find out.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (listed 6/21/20)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listings this week:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager, see ad above!)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Listed 6/21/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituaries:

Crystal

LES CRYSTAL died this week. He was 85 and succumbed to pneumonia and brain cancer. Les spent more than 20 years as the executive producer of the PBS News Hour. He also served as the President of NBC News from 1977-79 and was the executive producer for the NBC Nightly News from 1973-76. More details about a remarkable career in this obituary from PBS.

Our next two obituaries are for wives of news executives, one current and one former.

Jeana Stanley

JEANA STANLEY, VP of Finance for Hearst and wife of News 12 Networks VP of Operations RANDAL STANLEY died suddenly on Friday. She was just 54 years old. Jeana worked for WUAB-TV and WKYC-TV in Cleveland and WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando. She first joined Hearst as Comptroller for WBAL-TV in Baltimore and later moved to Hearst Television’s corporate staff and then to parent company Hearst. Funeral services are pending in Akron, OH.

Randal Stanley

Randal posted this message on Facebook. Many of you know Randal, who’s been with News 12 for 13 years, first as Vice President and News Director for News 12 New Jersey, before being bumped to the corporate staff in 2018. He is a former ND in Washington (WUSA-TV), Cleveland (WKYC-TV), Buffalo (WGRZ-TV), and Lincoln, NE (KLKN-TV), and has worked in Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Salt Lake City. Our sympathy to Randal and the family.

Muriel Choate

Finally, MURIEL CHOATE died Saturday, June 20th, at the age of 91. She suffered from COPD. Here’s Muriel’s obituary . She was married to DAVE CHOATE for 48 years. Dave’s a former news director for Channel 7 in Miami (originally WCKT-TV, now WSVN-TV) as well as a former NBC Bureau Chief in Miami. He left TV in the late 80’s and spent 17 years running a Broward County Commission on substance abuse.

Dave Choate

A personal note, if you’ll allow. Dave was the Assistant ND at WCKT when I started there as a producer in 1976, my first job out of college. I was young and inexperienced: he was calm, smart, knowledgeable, helpful, funny, and served as a buffer between the newsroom and an ND who was unpopular with the troops. It’s not an exaggeration that everyone in that newsroom loved working for him. Even though it’s been more than 45 years since we worked together, I go out of my way to see him when I am in Miami.

My sympathy to Dave and his four daughters.

Names in the News (and other items):

There are two management promotions at Scripps’ stations.

At WKBW-TV (ABC) in Buffalo, SUE DOBMEIER has been promoted to the Executive Producer of Lifestyle. She used to produced the program (and filled in during the search.) Sue has most recently been the Director of Creative Services here.

And at WTVR-TV (CBS) in Richmond, JAMES JOBES has been upped to Executive Producer. He’s been a producer there since 2012 and earlier worked in Columbia, MO.

Sealls

Some of you may know (or know of) my client, Chief Meteorologist ALAN SEALLS of WPMI-TV in Mobile, AL. He’s worked in Mobile for more than 20 years and was dubbed “Best Weatherman Ever” by Reddit after a video of Alan explaining the latest on Hurricane Irma went viral in 2017. Recently, Alan wrote this column for the Lagniappe weekly newspaper in Mobile entitled: The sky is blue, my skin is brown.

I think it’s worth a few minutes of your time.

General Manager News and Notes:

Jones

BRIAN JONES, who’s been with Nexstar since 2003 and has been Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer since 2008, is retiring August 1. That brings and end to a 40 year career in broadcasting. More on Brian and his career in this news release. Before joining Nexstar, he spent seven years as general manager for CBS owned KTVT/KTXA-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Pineda

RAMON PINEDA joins Scripps as general manager for the company’s KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, TX. He joins the company from Univision where he oversaw sales teams in a variety of markets. He’ll have lots of opportunities to shape the news department there: the station is currently looking for a Senior Director of Local Media Content (you and I might call that news director) as well as a senior broadcast manager and a real time desk manager (which we might call Assignment Manager).

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 28, 2020:

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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503 (see ad above!)
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

June 21, 2020

Greetings:

We have a fairly busy report for you this week, with TWO new news director openings and TWO new news directors to tell you about.

That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 23. TWO of those 23 openings are featured in our Paid Help Wanted ads.

We have way too many (FOUR) obituaries, THREE items in our Names in the News segment and TWO general managers on the move.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Flannigan

KCTV, Kansas City, MO…SCOTT FLANNIGAN moves within Meredith to become news director for this CBS affiliate. Here’s the note from GM CHARLIE HEINRICH. Scott’s been the ND of sister Meredith station WALA-TV (FOX) in his hometown of Mobile, since March 2014. Before that, Scott was ND at WCBD-TV in Charleston, SC, for four years and KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA. He’s also worked in Miami and Birmingham. At KCTV, he replaces CASEY CLARK who left the station in April after less than two years.

Martin

KKTV, Colorado Springs, CO…LAURI MARTIN is now the ND for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. She had been the assistant news director. I believe she replaces LIZ HALTIWANGER who had been serving as both GM and news director. The station’s website now lists KERRI BLANCO as the GM. She had been the sales manager there.

New News Director Openings:

WALA-TV, Mobile, AL…if you’ve been paying attention 🙂 you learned above that SCOTT FLANNIGAN is leaving one Meredith station for another. He’s the new news director for KCTV in Kansas City. Scott’s been ND here for just over six years.

Harper

KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK…JANIS HARPER is leaving this GCI/Denali Media Holdings owned CBS affiliate after three years as ND. Janis first joined the station as the Assistant ND in 2013 and was upped to the big chair three years later. She’s also worked in Evansville, Tyler, TX, Roanoke, Louisville, and Lake Charles, LA. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK:

Looking for an adventure? Keep reading!

KTVA, the CBS affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska needs a News Director.

While the market is 150+ you would not know that when you watch. The creative team of journalists, including regional Murrow and Emmy winners, wants someone to guide them through the next big thing. Oh boy, are there big things that happen here: politics is basically the unofficial state sport, nearly 24 hours of sunlight in the summer, the beauty of the northern lights in the winter and the occasional earthquake.

Alaska has its challenges; the goal of our newsroom is to talk about those issues and offer solutions-when we can. Our goal has been, and continues, to focus on helping our communities be stronger, safer and well-informed. We do this through enterprise storytelling and investigative reporting.

You have the support of a pro-active engineering team and tireless creative services department to get your message to the masses.

It may sound too good to be true; it’s not. Apply here to find out.

News Director WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA:

WCAV in Charlottesville, VA is seeking a highly motivated News Director to lead our talented staff.

Duties:

Plan, staff and train news department
Develop news coverage for station and digital platforms
Quality control news stories to correct errors and improve content
Develop strategy for news content to meet station goals while collaborating with Creative Services and Sales departments to ensure those goals are met.

Skills:

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Able to use Microsoft Office
Ability to meet deadlines and priorities (prioritize) assignments
Ability to work as a team leader for news staff
Excellent problem-solving skills
Be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

Requirements:

5 years working in a newsroom
2 years working as a news director or assistant news director

Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism or related field or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent news judgment, motivational skills, and the ability to find and develop talent.

Send resume to: John Cochrane at jcochrane@lockwoodbroadcast.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (new listing this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/12/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (new listing this week)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (EP of Lifestyle Content, listed 5/24/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (new listing this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (new listing this week)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted this week:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituaries:

KTVO-TV in Kirksville, MO/Ottuma. IA posted this remembrance to its late assistant news director, ANDY GROVE. We told you last week that Andy died suddenly on June 10th.

Doty

RALPH DOTY, former news director and anchor for KBJR-TV in Duluth, MN, died June 13th at the age of 78, Doty passed away from a combination of diseases, Frontotemporal Dementia, PSP, and Parkinsonism’s and had been ill for sometime. He also served in the state senate and is survived by seven siblings, one of whom is former Duluth mayor GARY DOTY.

Sutton

A former CEO of Media General who also headed the Home Shopping Network and helped launch the Golf Channel died June 7th. BOB SUTTON was 80 and held many executive positions, including general manager for WFLA-TV in Tampa. More in this obituary.

And BILL TURNER, who was the general manager for both KCAU-TV and KTIV-TV in Sioux City, IA, for much of 1970s and 1980s, died June 16th in Naples at the age of 90.

Names in the News (and other items):

Johnston

One-time WFXT-TV (FOX) Boston news director PAMELA JOHNSTON is the new General Manager for News for WGBH. Most recently, Pamela has been the Senior Director of Strategy and Audience for Frontline, the investigative documentary series produced by WGBH. She spent eight years at WFXT, the last four as ND before leaving for two PR jobs. She’s also worked in Raleigh and Portland, ME. More details in this story from the WGBH website.

JASON BALTHAZAR returns to WFTV (ABC/Cox Media Group) in Orlando as Managing Editor. He’s spent the last two years as (according to his Linkedin Page) the Multiplatform Content Manager at Cox’s WJAX-WFOX-TV) in Jacksonville but had earlier spent more than twenty years at WFTV.

KEN DUNHAM, who served five years as an news director in the early 70’s, is retiring from his latest job, Executive Director of the West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association. That’s the latest stop in a long and varied career that included being ND at KFBB-TV in Great Falls MT, from 1971-1976. Ken kindly sent me this note explaining his other career moves.

General Manager News and Notes:

Nexstar has promoted MIKE LEE to GM for KWKT-TV (FOX) in Waco, Temple, and Bryan, TX. He’s been the GM for the company’s KMID-TV in Midland and Odessa, TX.

He’ll be replaced at KMID by MARK GARCIA. More about Mark and his background here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 21, 2020:

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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503 (see ad above!)
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902 (see ad above!)
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

June 14, 2020

Greetings:

We’re a little late this evening due to travel, and while we have just TWO new news directors to report with ONE new opening, our Names in the News segment is chock full of interesting items.

That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 22.

The aforementioned Names in the News segment has stories about TWO people being investigated for inappropriate comments, one an ABC executive. We also have a health update on a former ND (and NINE time GM), a new job for a FOUR time ND (who will join FOUR other former news directors at the same employer), some news managers on the move at Nexstar, and a big award for the a longtime educator.

And TWO obituaries this week, one of an Assistant ND for a Missouri station, and the other for a longtime Syracuse newsman.

Newly Named News Directors:

Heisner

WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH…JODIE HEISNER will be the next ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. It’s an internal move for Jodie, who’s been the Assistant ND for the company’s ABC station in Detroit, WXYZ-TV for not quite two years. She joined WXYZ in 2017 as EP of Special Projects. Jodie also worked for Scripps in Phoenix and started in Lansing, MI. She replaces SEAN McGARVY who was promoted to one of several Director of Content Strategy jobs for the company.

Baldwin

WDTV, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, WV…MICHAEL BALDWIN has been named ND for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. He’s been the Saturday evening anchor and nightside reporter for sister Gray station WXIX-TV (FOX) in Cincinnati. He’s also worked in Cleveland and several other markets as you’ll read here. He replaces KEITH “KC” CONNER who was named ND in March. And he replaced JOHN EHRHART who retired in November.

New News Director Openings:

Pederson

WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA…this Lockwood Broadcasting owned CBS/FOX affiliate is looking for a news director again. We told you in March that ANDY PEDERSON had joined the station as ND, coming from KTVE/KARD-TV in Monroe, LA. Andy replaced VAL THOMPSON who was the ND there for five years. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA:

WCAV in Charlottesville, VA is seeking a highly motivated News Director to lead our talented staff.

Duties:

Plan, staff and train news department
Develop news coverage for station and digital platforms
Quality control news stories to correct errors and improve content
Develop strategy for news content to meet station goals while collaborating with Creative Services and Sales departments to ensure those goals are met.

Skills:

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Able to use Microsoft Office
Ability to meet deadlines and priorities (prioritize) assignments
Ability to work as a team leader for news staff
Excellent problem-solving skills
Be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

Requirements:

5 years working in a newsroom
2 years working as a news director or assistant news director

Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism or related field or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.

The ideal candidate will possess excellent news judgment, motivational skills, and the ability to find and develop talent.

Send resume to: John Cochrane at jcochrane@lockwoodbroadcast.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/12/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 4/12/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, news listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted this week)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (EP of Lifestyle Content, listed 5/24/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (relisted 5/3/10)
KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 5/3/10)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 4/19/20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituaries:

Grove

Visitation will be held tomorrow for ANDY GROVE, the assistant news director for Sinclair’s KTVO-TV (ABC/CBS) in Kirksville, MO. He died Wednesday, June 10th and was only 51 years old. Andy was a 16 year veteran of the station. He began his journalism career as a writer for the Ottumwa Courier, he job he took after the school at which he taught closed down. Details in this obituary.

Peterson

Longtime Syracuse newsman ART PETERSON died this week at the age of 91. He first worked for (then) WHEN-TV in Syracuse, moved to radio, and then back to television in 1976 as the Assistant News Director for WSYR-TV. While there, he broke a story that resulted in the removal of a pain killer, Zomax, from the market. WSYR aired this story.

Names in the News (and other items):

Fedida

BARBARA FEDIDA, ABC News Senior Vice President for Talent, Editorial Strategy and Business Affairs. has been placed on administrative leave during a network investigation. The probe will look at claims that Fedida used inappropriate language to staff. The story was first reported by the HuffPost, and you can read it here. She worked at ABC for 17 years, went to CBS News in a similar position for almost five years before returning to ABC in 2011.

Duhe

Loyola University in New Orleans says it will not rehire SONYA DUHE who left the school to become Dean of the Cronkite School at Arizona State University. Duhe had been the director of the School of Communication in Design at Loyola but resigned to take the ASU job. But ASU withdrew the offer after allegations of racism and mistreatment of students surfaced.

Two management moves at Chicago’s WGN-TV. Managing Editor RICK STRASSER, who’s been at WGN for 23 years has been promoted to Assistant ND and EP DANA BALLARD was named Content and Special Projects Director.

That wasn’t the only Nexstar station making management moves. KSWB-TV in San Diego promoted DOUG DOWNING to executive producer.

D’Ambrosi

FRED D’AMBROSI, who’s been a news director in Washington, Cleveland, San Diego and Milwaukee will (eventually) return to Washington where he’s been hired as a performance review analyst at the Voice of America. This note from VOA’s JOHN LIPPMAN has more details, and you’ll learn that Fred will be the FIFTH former news director working at VOA.

Vann

Former ND and GM LES VANN has had a tougher-than-most 2020, and that’s saying something. As you know from earlier reports here, Les is battling Parkinson’s Disease. After a March vacation in Florida, Les began having health problems and lost more than 50 pounds. After tests, doctors diagnosed Guillain-Barre Syndrome. On-going blood transfusions have helped, but he fell this week and suffered four broken ribs and a damaged sternum. Les told me his prognosis is good, and that he might be able to return to the golf course this year. Your email to Les here would cheer him up. Les has been a GM at nine stations and spent 17 years as an anchor and ND in Springfield, IL.

Utsler

Longtime Kansas and Missouri broadcast professor MAX UTSLER has won one of education’s top honors, the Edward L. Bliss Award for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education. More here. Max retired last year after 36 years at Kansas. He earlier taught at Missouri, where I was in one of his first classes and we were later best man in each other’s weddings. Max also worked in newsrooms in Phoenix, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Peoria, IL.

General Manager News and Notes:

Heston

After 21 years, JOE HESTON will retire later this year as President and General Manager of Hearst’s KSBW-TV in Salinas-Monterey, CA. Before KSBW, he worked for Hearst stations in Boston, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. More details in this story from the KSBW website.

Gray Television has named new general managers for two of its stations. SCOTT SANDERS joins WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach-Florence, SC while LORI BRUFFETT to General Manager of KBTX-TV in Waco-Temple-and Bryan, TX,

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 14, 2020:

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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902 (see ad above!)
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station