Rick Gevers & Associates

August 4, 2019

Friday, August 9, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The ‘nationwide search’ for a new news director for Tegna’s WFAA-TV in Dallas ended up…with someone already in the newsroom.

LESLIE McCARDEL has been promoted to Executive News Director for this ABC affiliate. The full story is in the station’s news release.

Leslie’s been the director of content and strategy at WFAA since 2016 when she returned after a brief hiatus that’s explained in the news release. She first joined the station in 2006.

She’s also worked for sister Tegna station KHOU-TV in Houston and at KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, CA.

Leslie replaces CAROLYN MUNGO who was promoted to station manager at WFAA after seven years as ND.

I’ll be on the floor at NABJ today and hope to see many of you there.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Wednesday, August 7, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

It’s our favorite kind of UPDATE…where we get to report the promotion of a news director to general manager.

Granato

So we’re happy to tell you that WENDY GRANATO has been bumped up to general manager for KTRK-TV in Houston, the ABC owned station there. More in this story.

She replaces HENRY FLORSHEIM, himself a former news director, who announced his retirement in April after 22 years at the station.

Wendy’s been the ND here since 2014 and has worked at the station for 17 years. Before her promotion to news director, she was the EP of special projects.

Wendy started on air in Lafayette, LA, and then moved to Houston to work for KNWS-TV, a now defunct 24 hour news channel. She later became ND there.

More on this in our full newsletter this weekend. And I hope to see many of you at the NABJ conference, where I arrive tomorrow.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

I hope to see many of you at NABJ this weekend in South Florida. I’ll be on the floor Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.

We can talk about (but why would we?) the TWO newly named news directors in this week’s report, or the FOUR new ND openings.

We have paid help wanted ads for THREE of the 31 opening in our list, TWO of the FOUR new openings are among those advertised.

We have details on a former network o-and-o news director and GM joining the corporate staff at Nexstar. There’s also a new assistant ND at a New York City station, and a former North Caroline ND has written a book.

And there’s ONE obituary, for a former WTOL-TV news director (obviously not me!)

All that and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Wilson

WITI-TV, Milwaukee, WI…JIM WILSON has been upped to ND for this Tribune owned (but may be Nexstar by the time you read this) FOX affiliate. Details here. He’s a 30 year veteran of the station, starting as a photojournalist, moving to chief photographer and, in 2017, assistant news director. He’s been the interim ND since JOHN LaPORTE left in June after eight years to become ND for KIRO-TV in Seattle.

Gors

KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN…MICHELE GORS returns to a newsroom as she’ll take over this Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate. Michele tells me she’s from northern Iowa so it’s a return to familiar territory. She’s a former ND in Wichita, Memphis and Cedar Rapids, and spent seven years as GM for Wichita’s PBS station, KPTS-TV, a job she left in 2015. (You may remember last year Michele was named ND at another Quincy station, WAOW-TV in Wausau, WI, but a family matter prevented the move then.) At KTTC, she’ll replace NOEL SEDERSTROM who is retiring after more than 11 years as ND.

New News Director Openings: 

Gaylord

KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK…REBECCA GAYLORD is leaving this Hearst owned ABC affiliate at the end of August. General Manager BRENT HENSLEY shared the news in this email. She’s been there six years and earlier worked for another Hearst station, KOAT-TV, in Albuquerque as the Assistant ND. She previously had been a morning EP in Denver and worked in Dallas and St. Louis. Rebecca overcame breast cancer as detailed in this 2017 story.

Gardner

KGAN-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA…BECKY LUTGEN GARDNER is leaving this Sinclair Broadcast Group owned CBS affiliate but will stay through the transition. She’s been the news director here for almost six years, putting an end to a six news directors in seven years streak that had preceded her time there. Becky earlier had been the ND for another Cedar Rapids station.

Kimble

WJFW-TV, Rhinelander, WI…LANE KIMBLE is leaving this Rockfleet Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate to be the Assistant News director for KYTV in Springfield, MO. Lane’s been ND here since November 2017 and had earlier worked there as a reporter and anchor from 2011-2013. In between, he worked as a reporter in Milwaukee. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid help-wanted ad below.

Wilhelm

WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY… After just four months on the job, ADAM WILHELM has left this Quincy Media station. Adam had been working in Orlando before moving to WBNG, and had previously worked for stations in Atlanta, Miami, West Palm Beach, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Louisville. You can learn more about the opening at this CBS affiliate in the paid help-wanted ad below.

There’s also an ad for the ND job at WCMH-TV in Columbus, as well as one for a faculty/newsroom position at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WJFW-TV, Rhindeland, RI:

WJFW, the NBC affiliate for north central Wisconsin, wants to find a news director with energy and vision to lead its newsroom.

Newswatch 12 promises best-in-class training and opportunities to entry-level video storytellers.

The next news director will need to enjoy recruiting, hiring, training, teaching, and managing young journalists.

This position might be the successful applicant’s first news directing opportunity. Newswatch 12 provides support for strong journalists who want to gain top-level managerial experience. The successful applicant could also be someone with wide experience who wants to return to small-market television news in a peaceful, beautiful part of the upper Midwest.

Visitors come here year-round to experience the Northwoods. You could live that experience every day.

You should prefer to lead by example. You will lead every aspect of modern newsroom activity working alongside young reporters. You will be a department head reporting to the General Manager.

If you’re the person in your newsroom right now who makes your colleagues think they’re lucky to have you around, we want to talk with you. Leadership in smaller-market newsrooms demands effective communication, inspiration and feedback skills. It’s likely you already demonstrate those capabilities.

We want to make our community better by making our news product better every day. If you want to lead that effort, please apply.

Send a cover letter and resume to John Quarderer, News Advisor jquarderer@wjfw.com

https://www.wjfw.com/careers.html

News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:

WBNG-TV in Binghamton, NY seeks a News Director to help guide our news department to new heights of journalistic and ratings success. This is an exciting opportunity to join a great team in one of New York’s most beautiful places to live.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 4 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Binghamton, NY, we want to hear from you.

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

Bob Krummenacker
General Manager
WBNG-TV
560 Columbia Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790
rkrummenacker@wbng.com

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

WBNG is part of Quincy Media, a family owned company with television stations in 9 states.

Throughout Quincy, positions are available for candidates with all levels of experience and the advancement you are seeking. Visit www.quincymediacareers.com for links to all stations and opportunities.

WBNG-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer

News Director, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH:

WCMH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, one of the great cities in America, DMA #34, seeks a News Director to lead and supervise all aspects regarding the creation, execution and distribution of news, weather, sports programming and special projects, on all platforms, including our primary TV station, dedicated websites, apps and social media sites.

The News Director stays abreast of changes to the industry that affects both media consumers and journalists and has the ability to devise plans to collect and distribute relevant, meaningful content to audiences regardless of platform.

Manages all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
Plans and manages staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Assigns projects to staff and verifies that deadlines are being met.
Ensures growth and achievement of viewer rating goals and online engagement metrics.
Determines programming and evaluation of equipment needs to produce quality programming.
Responds to coverage questions.
Works with other senior station leaders or other departments in a collaborative way to establish and reach station goals.
Performs other duties as assigned
Reports directly to the station’s VP / General Manager

If you’re up for the challenge, apply by clicking here .

Assistant Professional Practice Professor/KOMU Digital Editor, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO:

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of reporting and editing experience in a newsroom; some newsroom management experience is preferred.

This faculty member will manage the content and presentation of KOMU.com and teach students to create, curate and publish quality digital content for the website and various apps. This individual also will teach students and manage KOMU’s social media channels.

Knowledge of the latest trends and techniques in in interactive news presentation is a must.

The job includes a minimum of 30 hours per week at KOMU-TV, the School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate television station, and supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers. The job also includes classroom teaching and service to the Journalism School and the University.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019 with an immediate start date.

Please visit here and search job opening id #30809 to access the online application system.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that successful candidate will share this commitment.

MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/14/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 7/14/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 7/14/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 7/14/19)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (new listing this week)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 7/21/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 7/21/19)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 7/28/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)

Other News Management Openings:

New Listings this Week:

WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Digital Content EP)

Listed 7/28/19:

WBRE-TV, Wilkes/Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP)

Relisted 7/28/19:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/21/19:

E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)

Listed 7/7/19:

KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/30/19

KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/23/19:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/16/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)

Obituary:

McLoughlin

LAMONT McLOUGHLIN, who was the news director for Toledo’s WTOL-TV (CBS) in 1970, died last month at the age of 87. Unfortunately, you won’t learn much about him from this one sentence obituary (though there’s good information in the comments section) Lamont spent much of his career working for PBS stations in Toledo, Milwaukee, and New Orleans.

Names in the News (and other items):

Tully

Nexstar adds to its corporate staff as SUSAN TULLY joins the company as Senior Vice President of Local Content Development. It’s a new job for the company, as you can read in the news release. Many of you know Susan, who spent 28 years working for four different NBC stations, the last four as GM for WVIT-TV in Hartford/New Haven. Susan was ND for KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth for 14 years, and also worked in Philadelphia and San Diego.

Rodriguez

ALEXA RODRIGUEZ, an executive producer for Telemundo’s WNJU-TV in New York, has been promoted to assistant news director there. Media Moves has the full story. She’s also worked (for 20 years) at the Univision station in New York.

Former WITN-TV (Washington, NC) news director GENE HUNTER wrote his memoirs by writing eight hours a day for 30 days. The result is “Life’s A Hoot – Memoirs of a TV News Journalist.”

General Manager News and Notes:

JERRY BREHM has been promoted to general manager (from director of sales) at Nexstar’s WTEN/WXXA-TV in Albany, NY.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 4, 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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202 (see ad above!)
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73131
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
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 (see ad above!)
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790 (see ad above!)
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

July 28, 2019

Friday, August 2, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A longtime newtork o-and-o news director turned network o-and-o general manager has a new job on the corporate staff of one of America’s biggest broadcast companies.

Tully

SUSAN TULLY has been named Senior VP of Local Content Development for Nexstar Broadcasting. This news release will tell you that it’s a newly created position and explains the duties.

Susan spent 28 years working for NBC, most of that time as VP/News for the company’s KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth, before become GM for NBC’s WVIT-TV in Hartford/New Haven. We told you last April that Susan was leaving that job after four years, a decision she explained via this email to her staff.

Her new job will be based at Nexstar’s HQ in Irving, TX, so she gets to stay in Texas.

She also worked in news management roles for NBC owned stations in Philadelphia and San Diego.

Congratulations to Susan.

We’ll have details on this story and all the weeks news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

TWO is the magic number in this week’s report.

TWO newly named news directors.

TWO new news director openings.

And TWO paid help wanted ads (among THREE ads this week) for ND openings.

There’s also a new ad for a faculty job at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

All those changes leave 30 stations with ND openings, by count. And we have updated last week’s story about an ND opening in Duluth.

Just ONE item in Names in the News, and that’s the upcoming retirement of a two-time ND who has spent much of the later part of his career in Oklahoma.

And there’s some large market movement in our General Manager section…a change at a network o-and-o in Philadelphia, a former ND (and current GM) moves to a network owned station in Orlando, and two Nexstar GMs get bumped up to corporate jobs.

All that and more follows this ad from our friends at the Devlin Design Group.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Estes

WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC…TONYA ESTES joins this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate as its next news director. She’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL, for the past two years, and has also worked for two other WPB stations, and in Miami (two stations), Seattle, Charlotte, and Greensboro, NC. Tonya replaces KYLE BRINKMAN who left in May to become ND at sister-Nexstar station WSPA-TV in Spartanburg/Greenville, SC.

Bradley

WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL…VICKI BRADLEY becomes the ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the memo from GM MATT BROWN. She joined the station five months ago as the morning executive producer. Vicki’s a former news director in Tyler, TX, and has worked for two stations in Greensboro-High Point, as well as in Wilmington, NC, and for the Weather Channel. At WTXL, she replaces DAVID LEE who left in June after more than five years as ND.

New News Director Openings: 

Stanfield

KZBK/KXLF-TV, Bozeman and Butte, MT…these Scripps owned CBS affiliates have an opening for a new news director. KEVIN STANFIELD has been both the news director and anchor there: he is staying on as the anchor but is giving up the ND part of the job. Kevin has worked here since January, 2018, after seven years as an anchor in Bismarck, ND.

Rates

KAEF-TV, Eureka, CA…this Sinclair Broadcasting owned ABC is looking for a news director to replace SCOTT RATES who was both ND and anchor there. Sinclair’s West Coast Group Manager JEFF PARSONS tells me they are looking for an ND only, but might reconsider if the right person came along. Scott has been there for three years, previously worked as the Assistant ND for sister station KRCR-TV in Redding, and has worked as a reporter in San Francisco and Orlando.

Steve G.

Also, we now have more details about the opening at WDIO-TV in Duluth, which we shared with you last week. We didn’t know much about STEVE GOODSPEED, who it turns out had been there for 27 years before station management told him last month that his services were no longer needed. The weekly newspaper in Cloquet, MN, The Pine Journal (circulation, 5,111) caught up with Steve.

Please note: There’s a paid ad below for Steve’s former job at WDIO, as well as an ad for the opening at WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH:

WCMH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, one of the great cities in America, DMA #34, seeks a News Director to lead and supervise all aspects regarding the creation, execution and distribution of news, weather, sports programming and special projects, on all platforms, including our primary TV station, dedicated websites, apps and social media sites.

The News Director stays abreast of changes to the industry that affects both media consumers and journalists and has the ability to devise plans to collect and distribute relevant, meaningful content to audiences regardless of platform.

Manages all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
Plans and manages staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Assigns projects to staff and verifies that deadlines are being met.
Ensures growth and achievement of viewer rating goals and online engagement metrics.
Determines programming and evaluation of equipment needs to produce quality programming.
Responds to coverage questions.
Works with other senior station leaders or other departments in a collaborative way to establish and reach station goals.
Performs other duties as assigned
Reports directly to the station’s VP / General Manager

If you’re up for the challenge, apply by clicking here .

Assistant Professional Practice Professor/KOMU Digital Editor, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO:

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of reporting and editing experience in a newsroom; some newsroom management experience is preferred.

This faculty member will manage the content and presentation of KOMU.com and teach students to create, curate and publish quality digital content for the website and various apps. This individual also will teach students and manage KOMU’s social media channels.

Knowledge of the latest trends and techniques in in interactive news presentation is a must.

The job includes a minimum of 30 hours per week at KOMU-TV, the School of Journalism’s NBC-affiliate television station, and supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers. The job also includes classroom teaching and service to the Journalism School and the University.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2019 with an immediate start date.

Please visit here and search job opening id #30809 to access the online application system.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that successful candidate will share this commitment.

MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:

WDIO-TV is seeking a News Director ready to take a powerful market leader to new heights. This leader oversees all news, weather and sports content and delivery channels and is responsible for directing and managing the news department — seeing that the station’s vision and community mission is understood by the entire news organization.

WDIO-TV, News Channel 10/13 is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, WDIO-TV is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.

When you work for WDIO-TV, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community. If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!

To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/14/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 7/14/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 7/14/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 7/14/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 7/21/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 7/21/19)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, new listing this week)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)

Other News Management Openings:

New Listings this Week:

WBRE-TV, Wilkes/Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP)

Relisted this week:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/21/19:

E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)

Listed 7/14/19:

Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development)

Listed 7/7/19:

KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/30/19

KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/23/19:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/16/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/27/19:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

Perry

Longtime newsman BILL PERRY is retiring. He’s a former news director in Knoxville and Ft. Myers, and has worked in Dallas, Louisville, Ada, OK, and Oklahoma City. He’s currently the VP of Content Production for OETA (Oklahoma Educational Television Authority), a statewide PBS network in Oklahoma. Learn more about his duties there and the health issue that’s a factor in his decision by reading this email he sent me. Friends can wish him well via an email to: BPerry@oeta.tv

General Manager News and Notes:

Kennedy

BRIEN KENNEDY (and that is the correct spelling ion his first name), who’s been the general manager for CBS o-and-o KYW-TV in Philadelphia, has left the station after four years. During that time, as you’ll learn in this story from the Philadelphia Business Journal, he employed three different news directors. Before KYW, Brien was general manager for CBS owned stations in Minneapolis (WCCO-TV) and Miami (WFOR-TV).

McClain

We told you earlier this week that former (three time) news director MIKE McCLAIN is headed to Orlando as the GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV. More in this story from the Orlando Sentinel. Mike’s been the GM for Fox’s WJYZ/WMYT-TV in Charlotte for the past year, but previously has been the ND for Fox owned stations WTVT-TV in Tampa, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and WBRC-TV in Birmingham.

Nexstar has upped two of its current general mangers to newly created positions of Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. Moving up are MATT ROSENFELD, currently the GM for KGPE/KSEE-TV in Fresno, and TRACI WILKINSON who’s been running Nexstar’s CW affiliate in Phoenix, KSAW-TV. This news release fills in the details.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 28, 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

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202 (see ad above!)
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811 (see ad above!)
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

July 21, 2019

Monday, July 22, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

We always like to report when a news director (or former news director) heads to the general manager’s office, and that’s the case in today’s UPDATE.

McClain

MIKE McCLAIN, who began his career as a news photographer, and worked his way up to news director for three network owned stations, is the new GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando. More details in this story from the Orlando Sentinel.

We told you in yesterday’s newsletter that ALLYSON MEYERS had resigned after six years at WOFL to deal with a family matter.

Mike has been the GM for Fox’s Charlotte duopoly, WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV, since last November. But he came from news, having been the ND for THREE Fox owned stations, WTVT-TV in Tampa, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and WBRC-TV in Birmingham.

Congratulations to Mike. We’ll hopefully have more on this story and all the week’s ‘news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

A busy week to tell you about with FIVE newly named news directors with THREE new openings. Of note: FOUR of those FIVE new news directors were either promoted within their current station or their current company.

TWO of our 30 open ND jobs are featured among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads below.

We have too many obituaries, THREE in all, TWO of former network correspondents who turned to education.

We have several GMs on the move and just one item…but it’s a worth read…in our Names in the News segment.

It’s a busy week…grab your favorite beverage and dig in!

Newly Named News Directors: 

WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL..our Monday update told you that DAVE

Ciliberti

CILIBERTI would be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. It’s a move within Nexstar AND a return to Tampa for Dave, who spent 4 1/2 years at the company’s WCMH-TV (NBC), where GM KEN FREEDMAN shared the news with the staff. Dave spent 17 years at WFTS-TV in Tampa in a number of jobs, worked for two New York City stations and began his career as a photojournalist, working in Houston and Washington. At WFLA, he replaces RYAN MINNAUGH who left the station last month after a year as ND.

Denize B.A.

KVDA-TV, San Antonio, TX…DENISE BATTLE-ALONSO has been promoted to news director for this Telemundo owned station. She’s been the Assistant ND for Telemundo’s WNJU-TV in New York City. She joined WNJU in 2014 as an executive producer and was bumped up to assistant news director three years later. She also worked for the Univision station in New York as well as in Puerto Rico and El Paso. Media Moves has more.

St. Peter

WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…KEITH ST. PETER will join this Nexstar operated NBC/CBS team next month as its next news director. Keith has been Managing Editor at WHIO-TV in Dayton after almost three years. He previously served as an EP for WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, FL and also worked as a producer and assignment editor at WTEV-TV in Jacksonville. Keith replaces ROD JACKSON who was promoted in May to ND for Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV.

Baxter

WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…congratulations to ANNA BAXTER who has been promoted to ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director there, and has worked her way up to the top job (with a brief sojourn to WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH) after starting there as an intern. More in her not-yet updated station bio. Anna replaces DAN FABRIZIO. We told you last week that Dan was off to sister Gray station WAVE-TV in Louisville after eight years here.

Rodriguez

KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA…another promotion from Assistant ND to News Director here, as SUZANNE RODRIGUEZ is moving into the big office. She’s been the AND there for almost two years after 18 years at cross-town competitor KGET-TV where she was the Assignment Editor for six years and a producer before that. At KERO, she replaces NANCY BAUER who was promoted to sister-Scripps station KTNV (ABC) in Las Vegas after two years as ND for this ABC affiliate.

And…because we strive for accuracy and context, I want to repeat a correction in case you missed it in our Monday UPDATE. BILL SHORY spent six years as ND for WAVE-TV in Louisville, not six months as I mistakenly told you last week. Apologies to Bill.

New News Director Opening: 

WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH…we told you above that DAVE CILBERTI was moving within Nexstar to become ND for the company’s Tampa station, WFLA-TV. Dave spent 4 1/2 years as ND for this NBC affiliate.

Haldeman

KXXV-TV, Waco, TX…CHARLIE HALDEMAN has decided to resign as ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here are two emails for you in one simple click: the note from GM ADAM CHASE as well as Charlie’s to the staff. He’s been there for three years and earlier had been an ND for almost six years at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA, and spent almost five years as ND for KXII-TV in Sherman, TX. He also worked as an anchor/reporter in Bryan, TX, and began his career in radio.

WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate is search for a new news director to replace STEVE GOODSPEED, who I believe left the station last month. In addition to Duluth, WDIO covers parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Also, please note another ad below for the open ND job at WAFF-TV in Huntsville.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:

WDIO-TV is seeking a News Director ready to take a powerful market leader to new heights. This leader oversees all news, weather and sports content and delivery channels and is responsible for directing and managing the news department — seeing that the station’s vision and community mission is understood by the entire news organization.

WDIO-TV, News Channel 10/13 is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, WDIO-TV is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.

When you work for WDIO-TV, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community. If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!

To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:

Senior VP, Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TV:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is seeking an accomplished news manager to lead local content initiatives across the group and complement our dynamic Corporate Content team.

The position of Senior Vice-President, Local Content Development will work with our growing group of stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach with our digital and broadcast news products inclusive of web and mobile content initiatives, our social media engagement as well as our expanding OTT products.

A strong strategic thinker and inspiring leader with amazing editorial acumen will work closely with the Operations team to build on Nexstar’s approach to “Local” while working with our Senior Management on projects, brand development and market evaluations creating a clear vision for the future and a focus on quality. Our growth leads to endless opportunities how we create and distribute content both in-market and regionally.

Content drives “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives to grow ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets. Nexstar has a dynamic group dedicated to the quality of our local product. Successful candidate will understand the focus of “local” in local television and how to be successful at it with a clear passion for the industry.

Minimum 8 years of News/Content Management experience. If you are looking for a job that doesn’t involve travel, this is not the job for you.

Please access the link below and provide us your resume information as well as your career successes and leadership abilities. Why is this opportunity the right one for you? The position will be based in Irving, Texas and reports directly to the EVP, Station Operations & Content Development.

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

News Director, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL:

Work, live and play in the region that U.S. News & World Report calls the “Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2019”.

WAFF is Huntsville, Alabama’s #1 news station and dominates the digital footprint in North Alabama. Ranked at #79, the Huntsville, Alabama market is on pace to become the state’s most populous city by 2025 and is identified as among the Top 25 most-educated cities in America. Embrace space within “the rocket city” – home to NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Space Camp, Redstone Arsenal.

WAFF is seeking a fiercely competitive news director who will champion a team to grow audiences on all screens while delivering compelling, relevant content that impacts lives.

Required talents:

1. Grasp and manage both On Air and Digital platforms
2. Visionary leadership that attracts passionate followers
3. Recruiting, Coaching, Training and Mentoring expertise.
4. Strategy, Goal-setting, Planning and Content mastery for all platforms.
5. Flawless verbal and written communication
6. Integrity, creativity, passion, compassion, positive energy, active listener, engaging personality.
7. Time management skills, can-do attitude, strong work ethic.
8. Relentless in preparing budgets, hitting budgets and meeting deadlines.
9. Mastery of the latest technological advancements in news gathering, production, libel and privacy laws, journalistic ethics, and maintaining professional guidelines and standards of news broadcasts.
10. Resolute producer of content for website and digital platforms.

WAFF’s finger is on the pulse of one of our nation’s most progressive and most emerging cities. Welcome to our winning team!

Please apply online here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 7/14/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted this week)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, new listing this week)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)

Other News Management Openings:

New Listings this Week:

E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)

Listed 7/14/19:

Nexstar Broadcasting, Dallas TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development, see ad above)

Listed 7/7/19:

KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/30/19

KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/23/19:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/16/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/27/19:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/19/19:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)

Obituaries:

Griffith

Legendary Cleveland newsman FRED GRIFFITH died this week at the age of 90. While he was best known as the host of the Morning Exchange on WEWS-TV, you’ll learn in this obituary that he also spent some time as news director for that ABC affiliate. And you’ll also find out that ABC tried to hire him: when he declined, the network turned to DAVID HARTMAN. Fred also worked at WKYC-TV (NBC) in Cleveland.

Furber

LINCOLN FURBER, a former news director for WETA-TV, the public broadcast station in Washington, died Tuesday at his home in South Port Island, ME. He was 87. What a career he had! Lincoln worked in very large markets, as a correspondent for the (then) five CBS owned stations, In 1967, he joined American University in Washington as a journalism professor.

Burke

And another former network correspondent turned educator died on Tuesday, also at his home. CHARLES BURKE was 82 when he died in St. Augustine, FL. Charles began in radio and then joined ABC News as a correspondent who covered the war in Vietnam among other assignments. He got his Master’s degree from Temple University, a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1981 while teaching there He then taught at the University of Florida and retired after 18 years.

Names in the News (and other items):

Breazeale

Just one item this week. JIM BOB BREAZEALE, the Assistant ND for KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, has gone public with details about his cancer fight. It’s a cautionary tale for all. He’s also been an executive producer in Austin. Jim Bob was a longtime sports talk radio host in San Antonio.

General Manager News and Notes:

Meyers

ALLYSON MEYERS, who’s been the General Manager for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando for more than six years, resigned this week. She said a family matter was requiring her to return to South Florida. She’s a former general sales manager at the Fox owned station in Philadelphia and served two years as station manager for WSFL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami.

Baylog

Tegna has named DAN BAYLOG general manager of its Grand Rapids, MI, ABC affiliate, WZZM-TV. He’s been with Tegna since 2014 in research jobs, first at WKYC-TV in Cleveland before moving to WVEC-TV in Norfolk in 2016. He replaces JANET MASON who announced her retirement in May after 22 years at the station…which followed 17 years at Tegna’s KARE-TV in Minneapolis, where she finished her time there as VP/News.

ROBERT COOK will be the next GM for Sinclair’s WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh. He’s worked for this Fox affiliate since 2015 in sales positions.

ANNE DOLAN heads to Florida where she’ll oversee Lockwood Broadcasting’s WPGX-TV in Panama City, FL. and WDFX-TV in Dothan, AL. Anne had been the general sales manager of WRLH-TV in Richmond, Va.

Finally, another correction from last week, in case you missed it in our Monday update. KARI JACOBS was the GM for WVEC-TV in Norfolk, not WAVY-TV, as well told you in our report that she will be the new GM for Tegna’s WTSP-TV in Tampa.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 21, 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

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801 (see ad above!)
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811 (see ad above!)
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

July 14, 2019

Monday, July 16, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

One of the worst kept secrets in television is now public, and it involves a Nexstar news director moving to a bigger Nexstar station.

Ciliberti

DAVE CILIBERTI is leaving WCMH-TV (NBC) in Columbus, OH, to take over sister Nexstar NBC station WFLA-TV in Tampa. WCMH General Manager KEN FREEDMAN told his staff via this email.

It’s a return to Tampa for Dave, who spent 17 years at WFTS-TV (ABC) there in a variety of roles. He left WFTS in 2001 for an almost four year stint as ND for WTEN/WXXA-TV in Albany NY.

He’s also worked for two New York City stations, and began his career as a photojournalist, working in Washington, DC, and as the chief photographer for KRIV-TV in Houston.

In Tampa, he replaces RYAN MINNAUGH who left the station suddenly last month after about a year as ND there.

Turning to the corrections department, last night’s newsletter was not our best work. Two corrections:

KARI JACOBS is leaving WVEC-TV in Norfolk, not WAVY-TV, to become GM for WTSP-TV in Tampa.

And BILL SHORY spent six years as ND for Louisville’s WAVE-TV, not six months as we erroneously reported.

Apologies to all. We’ll try and do better next time.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

For the second consecutive week, we have TWO new news directors to introduce you to, with ONE vacancy, that created by one of the two new NDs.

That leaves our count of open ND jobs at 31.

There are THREE ads, including ONE for a corporate job, ONE for a news director opening, and ONE for a large market EP position…something for everyone!

We have an obituary for a long ago ND and anchor in Washington state, two managers on the move, and a new job for a longtime ND that involves drones.

And we’ll tell you about TWO general managers on the move: ONE to a new GM job in a larger market, and ONE returning home for a sales/station manager assignment.

All that and more below!

Newly Named News Directors: 

Fabrizio

WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY…this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate has named DAN FABRIZIO as news director. It’s an inter-Gray move for Dan, who’s spent the last eight years as ND for WSAZ-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV. He’s also been an ND in Charleston, SC, and Providence, and worked as a reporter in Miami and Columbus, OH. It’s all detailed in this email from GM KEN SELVAGGI to the staff. Dan replaces BILL SHORY who left at the end of June after six years as ND.

Neal

WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY…BRIAN NEAL joins this NBC affiliate owned by Scripps as its next news director. He’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, NC, for the past eight years. Brian’s also worked in Greensboro-High Point, NC, San Francisco, Sacramento and Syracuse. At WLEX, he replaces longtime ND BRUCE CARTER who retired last December after 20 years as ND.

New News Director Opening: 

WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…we told you above that DAN FABRIZIO is leaving to become ND for Gray’s WAVE-TV in Louisville.

Also, please note the ad below for the open ND job at WAFF-TVin Huntsville.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Senior VP, Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TV:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is seeking an accomplished news manager to lead local content initiatives across the group and complement our dynamic Corporate Content team.

The position of Senior Vice-President, Local Content Development will work with our growing group of stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach with our digital and broadcast news products inclusive of web and mobile content initiatives, our social media engagement as well as our expanding OTT products.

A strong strategic thinker and inspiring leader with amazing editorial acumen will work closely with the Operations team to build on Nexstar’s approach to “Local” while working with our Senior Management on projects, brand development and market evaluations creating a clear vision for the future and a focus on quality. Our growth leads to endless opportunities how we create and distribute content both in-market and regionally.

Content drives “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives to grow ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets. Nexstar has a dynamic group dedicated to the quality of our local product. Successful candidate will understand the focus of “local” in local television and how to be successful at it with a clear passion for the industry.

Minimum 8 years of News/Content Management experience. If you are looking for a job that doesn’t involve travel, this is not the job for you.

Please access the link below and provide us your resume information as well as your career successes and leadership abilities. Why is this opportunity the right one for you? The position will be based in Irving, Texas and reports directly to the EVP, Station Operations & Content Development.

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

News Director, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL:

Work, live and play in the region that U.S. News & World Report calls the “Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2019”.

WAFF is Huntsville, Alabama’s #1 news station and dominates the digital footprint in North Alabama. Ranked at #79, the Huntsville, Alabama market is on pace to become the state’s most populous city by 2025 and is identified as among the Top 25 most-educated cities in America. Embrace space within “the rocket city” – home to NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Space Camp, Redstone Arsenal.

WAFF is seeking a fiercely competitive news director who will champion a team to grow audiences on all screens while delivering compelling, relevant content that impacts lives.

Required talents:

1. Grasp and manage both On Air and Digital platforms
2. Visionary leadership that attracts passionate followers
3. Recruiting, Coaching, Training and Mentoring expertise.
4. Strategy, Goal-setting, Planning and Content mastery for all platforms.
5. Flawless verbal and written communication
6. Integrity, creativity, passion, compassion, positive energy, active listener, engaging personality.
7. Time management skills, can-do attitude, strong work ethic.
8. Relentless in preparing budgets, hitting budgets and meeting deadlines.
9. Mastery of the latest technological advancements in news gathering, production, libel and privacy laws, journalistic ethics, and maintaining professional guidelines and standards of news broadcasts.
10. Resolute producer of content for website and digital platforms.

WAFF’s finger is on the pulse of one of our nation’s most progressive and most emerging cities. Welcome to our winning team!

Please apply online here.

Executive Producer, Special Projects, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV, the Graham Media Group owned/NBC affiliate in Houston, TX is searching for an Executive Producer to oversee our award winning investigative and special projects team.

We have a dedicated group of experienced reporters, producers, photographers and editors focused on creating compelling, promotable investigative and enterprise content. It’s the best team in town and you’ll be the leader.

Our ideal EP is someone who is aggressive, competitive and wants to win every story and every newscast. Our ideal candidate is a leader who identifies important investigative stories with broad appeal to our very diverse audience. You’ll need experience supervising investigative journalists. IRE credentials are a plus.

We’re seeking an EP who can showcase stories, knows how to leverage web and social media to help drive ratings and gets the importance of engaging storytelling through graphics, standups and live shots.

Our EP’s are given all the resources available to be successful thus they hold a lot of responsibility in the execution of the role and management of the team. You’ll be responsible for overseeing and executing the station’s year-round promotable calendar, you’ll need to work daily with Creative Services to make sure your efforts are properly marketed. In this position, you’ll also be a key player in breaking news, working with your team to incorporate investigative research and elements into TV and online coverage.

Do you have what it takes to be our next Executive Producer? Email your resume and work samples to Aaron Wische, Assistant News Director at awische@kprc.com

And you can learn more and apply by clicking here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/12/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 5/19/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted this week)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19, see ad above!)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted this week)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 5/19/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
KARK-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/16/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted this week)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)

Other News Management Openings:

Relisted this week:

Nexstar Broadcasting, Dallas TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development, see ad above)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV(Digital Content Executive Producer)

Listed 7/7/19:

KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/30/19

KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/23/19:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/16/19:

Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/27/19:

WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Mgr.)

Listed 5/19/19:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)

Obituary:

Close

T. J. CLOSE, a longtime news director and anchor for KIMA-TV in Yakima, WA, died last Sunday, July 7th, after a long battle with prostrate cancer. He was 80. T.J. spent 30 years at KIMA and previously served as ND for sister station KEPR-TV. If you read this obituary, you’ll get a sense of this sense of humor by a trick he played on his first date with his future wife.

Names in the News (and other items):

Stroud

Congratulations to MARCUS STROUD who’s been promoted to Assistant News Director at Nexstar’s WIAT-TV in Birmingham, AL, after four years as the News Operations Manager.  WIAT is a CBS affiliate. He began as a photojournalist, working in Greensboro/Winston-Salem and Birmingham and serving as chief photographer in Montgomery.

JENNIFER SMITH has been promoted from EP to Assistant ND for Scripps’s WLEX-TV in Lexington, KY.

MIKA JOHNSON is the new PM Content Manager for Scripps’ WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers. She’s worked in San Antonio for the past eleven years, spending the last nine at KSAT-TV there as a producer. She’s also worked in Bryan and Beaumont, TX.

Woelful

STACEY WOELFEL, who spent 24 years as news director for KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate, has an additional title now. He’s the Director of Aerial Journalism for the Reynolds Journalism at Missouri. Stacey’s been the initial Director of Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism at Missouri, moving to that job from his KOMU role. More here.

General Manager News and Notes:

Jacobs

Tegna is promoting KARI JACOBS, the General Manager of its Norfolk station, WAVY-TV, (NBC)  WVEC-TV (ABC) to become GM of WTSP-TV, its CBS affiliate in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Kari joined WAVY in 2004 as local sales manager, became director of sales in 2011, and became the general manager there in 2011.

Watt

STEVE WATT, who’s been the GM for Scripps’ KSHB-TV (NBC) in Kansas City since April 2017, is returning to Nashville as Director of Sales and Station Manager for Meredith’s WSMV-TV (NBC) there. Here’s the note he sent to his staff at KSHB. Before moving to Kansas City two years ago, Steve served as GM for WKRN-TV in Nashville. Earlier in his career he worked as a reporter in Des Moines and the Quad Cities.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 14, 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

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFLA-TV 200 S Parker St, Tampa, FL 33606
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WSAZ-TV 645 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801 (see ad above!)
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
KERO-TV 321 21st Street Bakersfield, CA 93301
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station