Rick Gevers & Associates

June 7, 2020

Monday, June 8th, 2020 UPDATE:

As teased in last night’s newsletter, we have a new news director in a top 20 market today and some news from the world of journalism education.

Heisner

JODIE HEISNER moves within Scripps to become the next news director for WEWS-TV, the company’s ABC affiliate in Cleveland.

She’s been the Assistant ND for Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (also ABC) in Detroit since September 2018. Jodie first joined WXYZ in 2017 as EP of Special Projects.

Before that, she worked at another Scripps station, KNXV-TV (another ABC affiliate) in a variety of roles. She began her career as a producer in Lansing, MI.

At WEWS, she replaces SEAN McGARVY who was promoted to one of several Director of Content Strategy jobs for the company.

Duhe

One another note. We told you a few weeks ago that SONYA DUHE had been named the next Dean of the Cronkite School at Arizona State University. That job offer has now been withdrawn as you’ll learn in this story.

We’ll have our full weekly newsletter later this week with any updates as warranted along the way.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Just ONE news director change to share this week. And that involves a promotion at a station which has had ONE news director in the last 22 years, and he’s retiring.

That leaves our list of open ND jobs at 22. However, we anticipate that one of the larger openings on the list will be filled early this week. Stay tuned.

THREE obituaries, one of a well respected Twin Cities news manager, one for a legendary African American broadcaster, and the third the widow of a former Kentucky news director whose death this week bore a sad similarity to her late husband’s.

And once again, there is a lot of movement in the GM ranks. TWO of the THREE new GMs we’ll tell you about are former news directors.

Newly Named News Directors:

Nelson

WWNY-TV, Watertown, NY…JEFF NELSON is being promoted to news director for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate, effective August 5th. He’s currently an anchor AND the Assistant News Director there. Jeff reported for WWNY for ten years before moving to the anchor desk. He’ll give that spot up… this news release details all the shuffling that entails.

Atkinson

That same release also details the pending retirement of Jeff’s former boss, SCOTT ATKINSON, after 22 years as news director. Scott began his career as a reporter for newspapers and radio stations in Northern New York, then reported for one year at WWNY before moving to Syracuse, where he spent 17 years as a reporter for WTVH-TV. Scott then returned to Watertown as ND. He’ll stay on to assist with the transition and election coverage this fall. Scott told me via email today: Here’s the thing: I liked every job I’ve had.

Here’s to a long and happy retirement, though Scott did indicate he may not be done with journalism.

New News Director Openings:

To my knowledge, there are no new openings this week. If you know of one I’ve missed, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 5/17/20)
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:

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted this week)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (EP of Lifestyle Content, listed 5/24/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, new listing this week)
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:

McEnroe

PAUL McENROE, who was the executive producer of the investigative unit for Hubbard’s KSTP-TV (ABC) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, lost a long battle with cancer this week. He was 69. Paul spent 35 years at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune before moving to KSTP in 2015. Check out these obituaries from The Star-Tribune and from KSTP to learn more about a true newsman.

Lothery

EUGENE LOTHERY, a trailblazing African American broadcaster, died Sunday, May 31 at the age of 78 of complications from partial paralysis. He’d been in a wheelchair for seven years. In 1990, when there were few minority general managers (not like there are a lot today) he was named GM for WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, then owned by CBS. He left that job in 1995 when NBC bought the station, and returned to CBS headquarters in New York. More in this obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Turner

A sad irony in this story. GERALDINE TURNER, widow of TONY TURNER, the former news director and station manager of WYMT-TV in Hazard, KY, died Friday, June 5th. She was 57 and the victim of a head-on collision in Greensburg, KY. More here.

Tony Turner also died in a head-on collision.

His accident was 18 years ago this week.

Names in the News (and other items):

I have no items this week.  We always like your tips via email to: rick@rickgevers.com

General Manager News and Notes:

Once again, we have a surfeit of GM moves.

Antoniotti

We told you Monday that one-time ND JUSTIN ANTONIOTTI continues his move up the Hearst corporate ladder with a promotion to GM for WGAL-TV (NBC) in Lancaster-Harrisburg, PA. He’s been GM for Hearst’s WPTZ/WNNE-TV, the NBC/CW affiliates in Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT. Justin was the ND for Hearst stations in Greenville, SC and Pittsburgh. He’s also worked in Milwaukee, Houston, Memphis, Biloxi, and Columbia, MO. His father STEVE ANTONIOTTI was a news director in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City, and a GM for several stations in Detroit.

Romines

Nexstar has named veteran broadcaster RON ROMINES as general manager of its Charlotte duopoly, WJYZ-WMYT (FOX/My Network). He’s spent the last year as a senior VP and regional manager for Nexstar. This news release has more.

STEVE DANILOFF has left Nexstar’s WBRE/WYOU-TV in Wilkes-Barre, PA, after more than three years as GM.

White

And in one more instance of a news director being promoted to GM. Scripps has named TREGG WHITE as GM for KGUN/KWBA-TV (ABC/CW) in Tucson, AZ. He’s been the GM for KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, WY, where he had earlier been the news director. KGWN is owned by Gray Television.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 7, 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 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
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
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

May 31, 2020

Monday, June 1, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Our run of telling you about news directors (or ex-NDs) taking a new GM job continues today with word of a promotion for a second generation broadcaster.

Antoniotti

JUSTIN ANTONIOTTI has been promoted to GM for Hearst’s WGAL-TV (NBC) in Lancaster-Harrisburg, PA. Justin’s spent the last four years as GM for the company’s WPTZ/WNNE-TV, the NBC/CW affiliates in Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT.

He’s spent much of his career with Hearst, beginning in 2005 when he joined WISN-TV in Milwaukee as the Assistant News Director. From then, he went on to be ND at WYFF-TV (NBC) in Greenville, SC and ND for WTAE-TV (ABC) in Pittsburgh before becoming GM at WPTZ/WNNE in 2016.

He’s also worked in Houston, Memphis, Biloxi, and Columbia, MO.

Some of our more veteran readers will remember Justin’s father STEVE ANTONIOTTI. Steve served as a news director in Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City, and as a GM for several stations in Detroit.

Finally, one clarification from last night’s news newsletter. Our report on COREY HANSON’s move to Mobile as a GM had the wrong call letters. She will run WALA-TV there, not WPMI-TV as I erroneously reported.

Have a safe week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Longtime readers know I enjoy telling you about news directors (or former NDs) moving into a GM’s job. This week that pleasure is times FOUR as EVERY new GM in our report is a former ND. And they are ascending to the top job in good sized markets, like NINE, TEN, 27 and 57. Congrats to all and I’m hopeful that trend continues to grow. Details in our GM section below.

And lots of action on the ND front as well, with FIVE new news directors to share, and TWO new openings, both being created by promotions. Our count of open news director jobs drops to 22, which is the lowest it’s been in quite a while.

We have an obituary for a legend of TV news who helped launch the careers of many very well known reporters and anchors.

And there are TWO news managers on the move in our Names in the News section.

Let’s hope the week ahead is better and safer than the last few days have been in our country.

Newly Named News Directors:

O’Neill

KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM…JESS O’NEILL returns to this Hearst owned ABC affiliate for his first ND job. Details in the station’s news release. Jess is currently the assistant news director at sister Hearst station WESH-TV (NBC), where, years ago, he was a producer. Earlier in his career he was a senior producer at KOAT. He’s also worked for CNN and in California. He replaces GREG SHEPPERD who left in March after 4 1/2 years as ND to return to Chicago for family reasons.

Loring

KRCR-TV, Redding, CA…we are apparently a little tardy in reporting KERRY LORING’s return to this ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair. (Her Linkedin page reports she’s been ND there since August.) That same Linkedin page tells us she was the Assistant ND there from 2008-2012. She’s also worked in Los Angeles (twice), San Francisco, and Phoenix. Kerry replaces JENNIFER SCARBOROUGH who left last year after more than 20 years at the station to spend more time with her aging parents.

Alexander

KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX…PAUL ALEXANDER starts June 15th as the next ND for Sinclair’s CBS affiliate. He’s a former ND in Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Paul began in sports, working as an anchor in Tucson, Austin, TX, San Antonio and St. Louis, a news anchor for the statewide News of Texas, and a news and sports radio talk show host. SCOTT LAWRENCE, who’s been the ND for the last five of his 39 years at the station, is returning to his old job of EP.

Maples

KHQA-TV, Quincy, IL…this CBS/ABC duopoly (owned by Sinclair) has promoted RAJAH MAPLES. Her new title is News Manager. Here’s her bio from the station website. Rahah’s also worked for two stations in Columbia, MO and replaces KRISTEN HAMILTON who was promoted last December to ND for sister Sinclair station KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA. Kirsten worked here five years.

Javid

KAEF-TV, Eureka, CA…another Sinclair station has promoted NAZY JAVID to news director. According to her station bio, she also anchors for this ABC/FOX operation.  She also studied law for two years.

New News Director Openings:

Elmore

KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…congrats to veteran ND ROB ELMORE. He’s returning to Raleigh-Durham and ascending to the GM’s office at sister ABC o-and-o WTVD-TV, where he spent 17 years as ND before moving to KABC five years ago. The news release is here. Before his first tour in Raleigh-Durham, Rob was an ND in Rochester, NY, and worked in Nashville and Watertown, NY, where he began his career as a reporter.

Roach

WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH…KEVIN ROACH, who’s been the ND here since 2016, is moving within Sinclair to become the AM News Content Director for the company’s WJLA-TV (ABC) in Washington. He’s also been a news director (twice) for another Dayton station as well as for WXIX-TV (FOX) in Cincinnati. It’s a return to DC for Kevin, who worked there for the Associated Press. His entire work history is here on his Linkedin page. Sinclair owns WKEF, the ABC affiliate and operates FOX affiliate WRGT under an LMA.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 5/17/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (new listing this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/12/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (relisted 4/26/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 4/12/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 3/29/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (EP of Lifestyle Content, listed 5/24/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted this week)
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)

Obituary:

One of the legends of our industry died this week.

Small

BILL SMALL died Sunday, May 24 at the age of 93. He ran the legendary Washington Bureau for a dozen years during the heyday of CBS News in the 60’s and 70’s. During his tenure, he hired many renowned reporters. Mr. Small later ran NBC News and served as President of UPI. These obituaries are worth a few minutes of your time: One from The Washington Post, The New York Times, and from CBS News.

A personal anecdote, if I may. A few years ago at an RTDNA convention, I was at a reception when I realized I was standing next to him. He seemed to know no one, and no one seemed to know him. I introduced myself and tried to make sure he met some appropriate people. He was very gracious, which (as you read in the obituaries above) was not always his strong suit. 🙂

Names in the News (and other items):

O’Donnell

Nexstar’s KDVR/KWGN-TV (FOX/CW) duopoly in Denver has hired SEAN O’DONNELL as its next Digital Content Executive Producer. Here’s the memo from News Director BRIAN GREGORY. Sean’s been working for WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh (Cox/NBC) and earlier worked for another Cox station, WFXT-TV in Boston as well as WHDH-TV in Beantown.

REBECCA WALTERS is returning to Oklahoma as the Executive Producer for Scripps’ KJRH-TV (NBC) in Tulsa. She’s been working for Spectrum News in Kentucky and is an OU alum.

General Manager News and Notes:

Where to start? Lots of good choices! As is our custom, we’ll report in order of market size.

Grimes

That takes us to Boston, where KYLE GRIMES continues his climb at Hearst as he’s been named GM for WCVB-TV (ABC). He’s been the GM for Hearst’s WGAL-TV in Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA since 2016. Kyle previously ran WPTZ/WNNE-TV, the NBC/CW affiliates in Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT. He had earlier been the news directors for those stations, and also served as ND for Hearst’s WPBF-TV (ABC) in West Palm Beach, FL. Kyle replaces BILL FINE who is retiring.

Collura

In Atlanta, another former ND, DEBORAH COLLURA. has been named GM for Meredith’s WGCL-TV (CBS). She starts tomorrow and will be reunited with her ND from her last GM gig at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, MATT KING, who joined WGCL in March. This memo from Meredith’s Local Media Group President PATRICK McCREERY (himself a former ND) tells the story including much of Deb’s background. She replaces LYLE BANKS who’s left the station after about 2 1/2 years as GM.

Elmore

We told you above that current news director ROB ELMORE was returning to Raleigh-Durham as GM for ABC owned WTVD-TV. Rob was ND there for 17 years before a transfer took him to another o-and-o, KABC-TV in Los Angeles five years ago. He’s also been a news director in Rochester, NY and worked in Nashville and Watertown, NY. At WTVD, he replaces CAROLINE FOY WELCH who is retiring.

Hanson

Finally, another Meredith station made a GM change this week, as (this is a recording) another former news director, COREY HANSON, moves to Mobile as GM for WPMI-TV WALA-TV (FOX). This news release (which also covers Deborah Collura’s move to Atlanta) has more. Corey’s been the station manager for sister Meredith station, KPTV in Portland, OR, where she earlier served as news director. She’s also worked for two other Portland stations. Corey replaces GARY YODER who has left the station.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 31, 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 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
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
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

May 24, 2020

Thursday, May 28, 2020 Update #3!

Greetings:

Rare is the day when we send out THREE updates, but each story seems to be more interesting than the last, as yet another former ND gets a top ten GM job.

Collura

This time it’s DEBORAH COLLURA, who’s headed to Meredith’s WGCL-TV (CBS) in Atlanta. This memo from Meredith’s Local Media Group President PATRICK McCREERY (himself a former ND) tells the story.

Deborah most recently was GM for Tegna’s WCNC-TV in Charlotte, a job she left late last year after five years. She spent much of her career with Graham Media (former Post-Newsweek Stations) as the above memo explains.

At WGCL, she replaces LYLE BANKS who spent just over two years as GM there.

Hopefully this will put a ‘lid’ on today’s news, as a press office might say. But we’ll have a busy newsletter this weekend!

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Thursday, May 28, 2020 Update #2!

Greetings:

This UPDATE involves a CURRENT news director who’s headed to the general manager’s office.

 Elmore

ROB ELMORE, who’s been the VP/News for KABC-TV (ABC, obviously!) for the past five years, is returning to  Raleigh-Durham as GM for sister ABC station WTVD-TV. Details here.

Before moving to KABC, Rob spent 17 years as the ND for WTVD. Rob also worked as an ND for WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY, worked for another Rochester station, as well as in Nashville and Watertown, NY, where he began his career as a reporter.

At WTVD, he replaces CAROLINE FOY WELCH who is retiring after eight years as GM.

Rob’s promotion is the SECOND ABC o-and-o news director to be moved to the GM’s office in the last two weeks, following last week’s promotion of MICHAEL CARR to GM of Fresno’s KFSN-TV after eight years as ND there.

Congratulations to Rob and a tip of the hat to the ABC owned stations division for promoting NDs to the top job, including KABC’s CHERYL FAIR whose promotion cleared the way for Rob to move to California.

Who knows what the rest of the week will bring?

regards,

gevers

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Thursday, May 28, 2020 Update:

Greetings:

A two time news director turned general manager lands a top ten general manager job today at a legendary station.

Grimes

KYLE GRIMES will be the next GM for Hearst’s WCVB-TV (ABC) in Boston. Here’s the good news from the station’s website.

Kyle been the GM for Hearst’s WGAL-TV (NBC) in Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA, since 2016 Before that, he ran WPTZ/WNNE-TV, Hearst’s NBC/CW affiliates in Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT. He had earlier been the ND for those stations, and also served as ND for the company’s WPBF-TV (ABC) in West Palm Beach, FL.

He’s a Hearst lifer, having started his career at KSBW-TV (NBC) in Monterrey/Salinas, CA before moving to KCRA-TV (NBC) in Sacramento.

At WCVB, he replaces BILL FINE, who is retiring.

Congrats to Kyle.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Normally in this space on this weekend we salute the winner of the Indianapolis 500. Not today, of course. But we hope to be able to do that in August when the race has been re-scheduled. #missingthe500!

In our normal business, news of TWO new news directors with ONE new opening, that created by our favorite reason, an ND getting promoted to GM. Thus, our count of open news director jobs stands at 26.

You’ll also note our list of open news management jobs has gotten a bit shorter, which is likely due to the uncertain economy moving forward.

Once again, we have a lot of GM changes…those are below, along with a few Names in the News items.

Have a safe and healthy week and we’ll see you here next week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Nazarenus

WGAL-TV, Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA…we’re a little late in reporting that ERIC NAZARENUS has been promoted to news director for this Hearst owned NBC affiliate. He’s been at the station for 21 years, the last 17 as Assistant News Director. He’s also worked for two stations in Baltimore in assignment manager roles. At WGAL, he replaces MICHELLE CHISM who left the station in February after 2 1/2 years as ND.

KSWO-TV, Lawton, OK…another promotion finds SHARICKA BRACKENS moving from the AND job to the big office. Here’s the staff memo. She’s spent most of her career here, beginning as an intern and working up to Assistant ND, the job she’s held for the past three years. Sharicka replaces JAMES WARNER who left in November for an Assistant ND job at WOFL-TV (FOX) in Orlando. Gray Television owns KSWO and operates KAUZ-TV (CBS) under an SSA.

New News Director Opening:

Carr

KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA…congratulations to MICHAEL CARR who’s being promoted to general manager for this ABC o-and-o. He’s been the ND here since 2012, was the EP before that, and has also served as a producer and weekend assignment editor. Michael’s also worked in Sacramento and San Francisco. (Our UPDATE earlier this week inaccurately said he’d been promoted to ND, which he already was, obviously.)

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 5/17/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/12/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (relisted 4/26/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 4/12/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 3/29/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/12/20)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 5/17/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (EP of Lifestyle Content, new listing this week)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, listing revised 3/29/20)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (relisted 5/3/10)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (PM EP, listing revised 3/29/20)
KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 5/3/10)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 5/10/20:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
E.W. Scripps @ WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (News Manager Apprentice)

Listed 4/19/20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)
KOLR/KOLZ-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Director)

Names in the News (and other items):

LAURA HARTOG has been promoted to executive producer for WEWS-TV (Scripps/ABC) in Cleveland. She’s been a producer at the station. Laura has also worked in Altoona, PA, Panama City, FL, and Pensacola, FL.

Levy

GRENDEL LEVY returns to a newsroom as the new Assistant News Director for WHOI-TV in Peoria, IL. She had been working as a special projects producer in her hometown of New Orleans since leaving the ND job at WOWK-TV in Charleston, WV. Grendel has also been a news director in Boise, and has previously worked in Baton Rouge, and Biloxi.

General Manager News and Notes:

Bilte

Cox Media Group wasted little time in replacing GREG BILTE as GM for KIRO-TV (CBS) in Seattle. Greg announced his retirement this week, as of the end of June, ending a 41 year career in our business. He’s been GM of this Cox Media Group owned CBS affiliate since 2016. Before that, Greg ran Cox’s KOKI-TV in Tulsa. He’s worked for the company for 25 years, beginning in sales at KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco.

Nevin

Three days later, Cox named PAT NEVIN to replace him. It’s a return to Washington state for Pat, who’s been the GM for Nexstar’s KOIN-TV (CBS) in Portland, OR for almost four years. Beyond that, he’s been a GM in Phoenix, San Diego, and Memphis and earlier worked in Spokane. You can learn more about Pat and his background by checking out his Linkedin page.

Pruitt

Nexstar named CHRIS PRUITT to be the next GM for KIAH-TV (CW) in Houston. He’s been a GM for Nexstar’s operations in Waco, TX. More here.

And Nexstar also promoted MARCI DANIELS to run its Lansing, MI, CBS affiliate, WLNS-TV. She’s been the GM at WETM-TV in Elmira, NY.

We told you above that MICHAEL CARR has been promoted to GM from ND at ABC’s KFSN-TV in Fresno. He’s been the ND there for the past eight years. Michael replaces DAN ADAMS who…after more than ten years as GM….is taking a new job as VP of finance and business planning for Disney’s television station division.

Oswald

Finally, SHAWN OSWALD is the new GM for Hearst’s KETV (ABC) in Omaha. He’s been running the company’s KHBS/KHOG-TV (CBS/CW) in Fayetteville/Ft. Smith, AR. Shawn’s no stranger to Omaha…he worked there as an account executive earlier in his career. Check out this news release to learn that he’s not the first member fo his family to run a TV station in Omaha.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 24, 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

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 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KOAT-TV 3801 Carlisle Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
KFSN-TV 1777 G Street Fresno CA 93706
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
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
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KFDM-TV 2955 I-10 East Beaumont, TX 77702
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
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
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

May 17, 2020

Monday, May 18, 2020 UPDATE:

Our run of more GM changes than ND changes continues today, with news from THREE stations. But one of those moves does create a news director opening, so we’ll start there.

Carr

Congratulations to MICHAEL CARR, who’s being promoted to news director general manager for ABC owned KFSN-TV in Fresno. He’s been the ND there since 2012 and is a veteran of the station, starting as the weekend assignment editor, then advancing to producer and executive producer. He’s also worked in Sacramento and San Francisco.

Bilte

From Seattle, news that KIRO-TV general manager GREG BILTE will retire at the end of June. He’s been GM of this Cox Media Group owned CBS affiliate since 2016. Before that, Greg ran Cox’s KOKI-TV in Tulsa. He’s worked for the company for 25 years, beginning in sales at KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco.

Daniels

And Nexstar today named MARCI DANIELS as GM of WLNS-TV (CBS) in Lansing, MI. She’s been the GM for Nexstar’s WETM-TV in Elmira, NY. It’s a return to Michigan for her, as she has both her bachelor’s degree and MBA from Michigan schools. More in this news release.

Regretfully, we made a few mistakes in last night’s newsletter.

The new GM for Sacramento’s KCRA-TV (Hearst/NBC) is ARIEL ROBLIN, not ROBIN as we reported. And PAT BALDWIN, the new GM for WHBF-TV in Rock Island, spent 22 years at KTUL-TV in Tulsa, not KJRH-TV.

Apologies to them, and to you.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

What we lack in news director moves this week (can you say none?) we more than make up for in GM news, with SEVEN stations naming new GMs this week, while the longtime GM of a Boston station is retiring after 15 years on the job.

All those stories in our GM section below.

With no ND changes, our list of stations with an ND opening remains at 27.

We also have an obituary for a man whose career started in a Chicago mailroom and went on to remarkable heights.

RTDNA named more than 750 regional EDWARD R. MURROW award winners, and there’s a new EP to tell you about at a San Diego station.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Directors:

To the best of my knowledge, there were no news directors hired this week.

New News Director Opening:

The promotion did NOT create a news director opening. but check out the GM section below to read about KELLY BOAN’s promotion to Station Manager for Meredith’s WHNS-TV (FOX) in Greenville, SC.

Otherwise, they are no new openings.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/12/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (relisted 4/26/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 4/12/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 3/29/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/12/20)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WFSB-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (AM EP, listed 3/15/20)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted this week)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, listing revised 3/29/20)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (relisted 5/3/10)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (PM EP, listing revised 3/29/20)
KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 5/3/10)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 5/10/20:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
E.W. Scripps @ WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (News Manager Apprentice)

Listed 4/19/20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)
KOLR/KOLZ-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Director)

Obituary:

Allen

JACK ALLEN, whose career started in the mailroom at Chicago’s WLS-TV, and rose to executive positions at network owned stations in many major markets, died May 3rd at the age of 89. In addition to his large market experience, he helped launch several cable networks, including SNC. Take a moment to read an interesting obituary about an amazing career. Jack is survived by ten children: his wife passed in 2016.

Names in the News (and other items):

RTDNA announced more than 750 EDWARD R. MURROW regional award winners this week. Because I like you, I prepared this list of all the winners just for you.*

*RTDNA prepared the list, of course. I was just trying to see if you were paying attention.

Biltucci

CAMERAN BILTUCCI has been promoted to executive producer for NBC owned KNSD-TV in San Diego, She had been the 11:00 producer. Cameran is in her second tour of duty here, having started her career there in 2010. Two years later, she moved across the street to KGTV for 4 1/2 years before returning to KNSD in December, 2016.

General Manager News and Notes:

Fine

BILL FINE, who’s run Hearst’s WCVB-TV (ABC) in Boston for the past 15 years, will retire later this year. He worked at WCVB three times during this career, starting with an eleven years run in a variety of sales roles. Bill moved to Hearst’s WBAL-TV as GSM, back to WCVB as GSM, then back to Baltimore for a seven year run as GM at WBAL. His final stint at WCVB began in 2005. Not bad for a career that began as a sports director at WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY!

Roblin

And Hearst wasted little time in filling ELLIOTT TROSHINSKY’s job as GM at KCRA/KQCA-TV (NBC) in Sacramento, CA. We told you last week he was retiring. Hearst is promoting ARIEL ROBLIN to that post. She’s spent the last nine years as GM for the company’s KETV in Omaha (ABC). Her background is primarily in sales, as you will learn when you read the story posted to the KCRA website.

Hearst wasn’t the only group announcing GM moves this week.

Holub

Boan

Meredith promoted JEFF HOLUB general manager of WHNS-TV (FOX) in Greenville, SC. He’s been the station manager for sister Meredith station WGCL-TV (CBS) in Atlanta. And the station named KELLY BOAN as station manager. She’s been the ND there for 12 years and will continue to serve in that role. It’s all explained here!

Baldwin

Nexstar named PAT BALDWIN as GM of WHBF-TV (CBS) in Rock Island, IL, where he will replace the retiring MARSHALL PORTER. Pat spent 22 years as GM for Scripps’ (formerly Albritton’s) KJRH-TV (NBC) KTUL-TV in Tulsa, OK, a job he left at the end of last year. More here.

And Gray Television named new general managers in FOUR markets. Congrats to JAMA KILLINGSWORTH, KERRI BLANCO, TIM WALKER, and JACQUE HARMS. Click here to learn more about them and the stations they will run.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 17, 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

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 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KOAT-TV 3801 Carlisle Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
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
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
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KFDM-TV 2955 I-10 East Beaumont, TX 77702
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
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
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station