Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

September 29, 2019

Thursday, October, 3, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A former news director turned several time general manager is out as Nexstar makes a change in (until the Tribune acquisition) one of its biggest markets.

Higgins

SKIP VALET resigned today as general manager of the company’s WFLA-TV (NBC) in Tampa and was immediately replaced by veteran GM MARK HIGGINS.

Details (though no mention of Skip) in this news release.

Higgins has been running Nexstar’s WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC. He’s been a GM in multiple markets, as his Linkedin page details.

Valet

Skip had been the GM at WFLA since early 2018. He’d spent two previous years as a GM in Norfolk. But he worked most of his career at Post-Newsweek (now Graham Media) stations. He was GM for WKMG-TV in Orlando, where he earlier had been ND. And he was the ND for KPRC-TV in Houston and WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, where (full disclosure:) I hired him as a production assistant) in 1982.

We’ll have all the week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Monday, September 30, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Here’s an interesting court case to follow from Charlotte.

Julie S.

Former WSOC-TV news director JULIE SZULCZEWSKI has filed a federal lawsuit against Cox Media and her former station, Cox’s ABC station in Charlotte.

Here’s the details in a story from The Charlotte Observer.

She was ND at WSOC from 2011 until 2018, had been the managing editor there from 2007-2010 when she left to be the ND for Hubbard’s KOB-TV in Albuquerque. Julie had also worked for Cox’s WFTV in Orlando, as well as in Miami, St. Louis, and Ft. Myers.

We’ll continue to follow this story and keep you posted.

One brief correction from yesterday’s full newsletter. Due to an editing error, we accidentally used RHONDA LaVELLE’s maiden name in a brief item. Apologies, Rhonda!

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

After a few slow weeks, we have lots of tidbits to tell you about this week.

There’s ONE new news director, as a veteran ND returns to his former market.

There’s TWO new openings, including one in a desirable top 15 market.

Our list of stations with open news director jobs grows to 27. TWO of those 27 jobs are featured in Paid Help Wanted ads below.

Also this week, we have the entire list of National Emmy Winners, including TWO Tegna stations, the only local stations to be honored. Lots of news managers on the move, and also…for the first time in weeks…a variety of GM moves, including a former ND turned GM who’s looking for a new ND at her new station. (Hint: its one of those two paid ads.) And a new role for a former president of NBC News.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Director:

Csanyi-Salcedo

KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX…ZOLTAN CSANYI-SALCEDO returns to the Rio Grande Valley as the ND for this Manship owned ABC affiliate. Zoltan has been ND at KYTX-TV in Tyler, TX, for just nine months…but before that he spent four years as ND for KGBT-TV in Harlingen (same market). He’s also been an ND for Telemundo in Dallas, and three times in El Paso, (twice at the Univsiion station and once at the NBC affiliate). He’s also worked for ESPN. At KRGV, he replaces JENNY MARTINEZ who is retiring.

New News Director Openings:

Hill

KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA…we told you on Thursday that ERICA HILL will leave this Nexstar owned (as of last week) FOX affiliate to move to Los Angeles. Erica kindly sent me the memo she sent to her staff with the details behind her decision. She’s been ND here for the last six years and, in all, worked at the station three times. She’s also worked in Chicago, Boise and for the now-defunct Northwest Cable News.

KYTX-TV, Tyler TX…we told you above that ZOLTAN CSANYI-SALCEDO has left this Tegna owned CBS affiliate to return to the Harlingen market as ND for KRGV-TV.

Also, while they are not new openings, please note the paid help wanted ads just below for news director openings at KSHB-TV in Kansas City and WFRV-TV in Green Bay, WI.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

KshbLogo

News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:

Are you a talented and innovative news leader ready to take an aggressive station to the next level in a competitive news market?

If so, we are searching for a bold and fearless News Director at KSHB, the Scripps NBC station in Kansas City. The right candidate will be someone who understands deep impact enterprise content and can help teach and develop our talented group of journalists into strong emotional storytellers.

We seek someone who can foster a positive, innovative and hard charging newsroom into a digital now mindset. We are looking for a candidate who can effectively plan a news strategy for a continuous measurement world, while still being able to coordinate breaking news, weather and large event coverage.

You must be a digital powerhouse, leveraging the web, OTT, and all social platforms to make sure that local audiences are seeing, talking about and sharing stories generated by our newsroom. You must be a risk taker and someone ready to adapt, change and think out of the box.

If this sounds like you, we would like for you to apply by clicking here.

WfrvLogo

News Director, WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI:

It’s football season, so let me throw this at you:

#NexstarNation is looking for a NEW coach (read News Director) to lead our team at WFRV in Green Bay.

Must have a winning record on the field, be an all-star at developing talent, and know how to create a playbook to “own” the big story.

Think leader, game-changer – someone who has a passion for the game and the players.

The coach (read News Director) must be strategic, know how to run the ball down the field on broadcast, while playing just as hard on our digital and social media platforms. And you probably guessed, our coverage of the Green Bay Packers is a priority. Must have plays for unique storytelling and programming.

To be considered, you must have more than five years of experience on the field as a successful coach (read news manager.)

Apply here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 9/1/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/8/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 9/8/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 9/8/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (relisted 8/11/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (listed 9/15/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 9/8/19)
KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 8/11/19)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, listed 8/18/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 8/18/19)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, new listing this week)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 8/18/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listing modified 9/15/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted this week)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/15/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 9/8/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/17/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 9/15/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (8/17/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 8/17/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 9/1/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, relisted 8/17/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (listed 9/15/19)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/15/19:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Editorial Director)

Relisted 8/25/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)

Names in the News (and other items):

Tegna’s KING-TV in Seattle and WXIA-TV in Atlanta were among those organizations honored with National Emmy Awards this week. HBO, CNN, and CBS were the biggest winners. The entire list is here.

Capus

STEVE CAPUS, who spent eight years as President of NBC News and another four years as the Executive Editor for CBS News, will serve as an advisor to the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). That’s JOHN LANSING, who’s headed off to become CEO of NPR in mid-October.. Here’s the note John sent out about Capus and his new role.

Rates

SCOTT RATES, who left the ND job at KAEF-TV in Eureka earlier this summer, is now working as the Assistant News Director and Anchor for KHSL-TV in Chico, CA. Scott spent three years as ND for KAEF and has also worked in Orlando and San Francisco.

Two news manager moves at Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC) in Detroit. RONNIE LOVE is the new morning executive producer, And YVE JONES has been named Real Time Manager. ND RHONDA LaVELLE tells me that real time manager is, in her words, ‘almost like a managing editor’. Ronnie’s been working as a producer at WXYZ and Yve’s a former ND at WAPT-TV in Jackson, MS.

Also at Scripps stations, LATOYA STEVENS joins WMAR-TV (ABC) in Baltimore as the new PM Executive Producer. And DAVID MCDONALD is the new Content Manager at WCPO-TV (also ABC) in Cincinnati.

Reynolds

SHAWN REYNOLDS has been named Group Director of News and Content for Waypoint Media, which owns 16 TV stations and four radio stations. Shawn’s a former ND for WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, and is currently producing newscasts for KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. Here’s the news release with more details.

KIMBERLYN CHATMAN moves across town to become the morning EP for Tegna’s WWL-TV in New Orleans. She’s spent the last 14 years as a producer for WVUE-TV in New Orleans, and earlier worked in San Diego.

General Manager News and Notes:

Oslund

KERRY OSLUND joins Scripps as its Vice President Of Strategy And Business Development. Kerry most recently had held the same title for Tribune Broadcasting. He’s a longtime newsman, having worked as a news director in Grand Rapids, MI, and Portland, OR and in a corporate role for Schurz Broadcasting, Tegna/Gannett, and Lee Enterprises. Learn more about his new job here.

Choal

Scripps also appointed KATHLEEN CHOAL to be general manager of its Kansas City NBC affiliate, KSHB-TV. She’s been the GM for KSBY-TV, Scripps’ NBC affiliate in San Luis Obispo, CA. She’s a former news director in Tucson, and has worked in Houston, Minneapolis, Denver and Las Vegas. Here’s the news release with more.

We have a number of other general manager appointments to share:

Nexstar named JOHN TREVINO as general manager of its newly acquired Dallas station, KDAF-TV. He’s worked in a number of Texas markets.

MICHAEL NURSE will run Sinclair’s WKEF/WRGT-TV in Dayton. He’s spent the last six years as GM for WKBW-TV in Buffalo.

And DALE WOODS is the new GM for Block Communications WDRB-TV in Louisville. He’s a former GM for WHO-TV in Des Moines and WSMV-TV in Nashville, a job he left in January.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 29, 2019:

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

KTTV 1999 South Bundy Drive Los Angeles CA 90025
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WOFL-TV 35 Skyline Dr, Lake Mary, FL 32746
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112 (see ad above!)
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301 (see ad above!)
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd E, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station

September 22, 2019

Thursday, September 26, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The ‘dean’ of Seattle news directors announced her resignation today after six plus years as ND and additional time in three different stints at the station.

Hill

ERICA HILL-RODRIGUEZ will leave Nexstar’s KCPQ-TV in Seattle at the end of the November book. She explained WHERE she is going and WHY she is moving in this post on social media.

Her departure comes just one week after Nexstar took over ownership of this FOX affiliate as part of its acquisition of Tribune Broadcasting.

Erica was the Assistant ND at KCPQ before she was promoted. She’s also worked in Chicago, Boise, and had earlier worked for Northwest Cable News in Seattle.

After a few slow weeks, we have a lot more movement to tell you about in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

Another slow week on the news director movement front, with just ONE new opening and ONE ND job filled.

Our list of stations with open news director jobs stands at 25.

And there’s just ONE item in Names in the News, and the only item in our GM section involves a new general manager at a FOX o-and-o.

A reminder…we always appreciate hearing about ND hires or openings we may have missed, or items about news managers on the move. Please send ’em along!

Newly Named News Director:

Adams

KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK…SHAWNDA ADAMS has been promoted to ND for this Hearst owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND here for the past five years. Earlier in her career, Shawnda worked as an EP for KPRC-TV in Houston and WKMG-TV in Orlando. She also worked as a producer in Orlando and Tulsa. Shawnda replaces REBECCA GAYLORD who left the station at the end of August and last week took the ND job at KBZK/KXLF-TV in Butte/Bozeman, MT.

New News Director Openings:

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…KELLY PETERSON is stepping down as ND for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate due to a family illness. She’s been the ND here for about nine months and earlier had worked as an EP there. She’s also worked in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Grand Forks, ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no new ads this week.

But you’d like to advertise your news manager opening, just email me the copy (250 word limit) and a jpeg of your station’s logo.

Ads run for two weeks and cost $300. We email the newsletter to about 1,500 people: between 1,500-1,800 people see the identical content on our website.

Happy to answer any questions you may have at rick@rickgevers.com or by phone at 317-635-7912.