Rick Gevers & Associates

January 6, 2019

Greetings:

I hope your holidays were great.

They were probably pretty good for the TWO people who got news director jobs. And there are NO new openings to my knowledge.

That means our list of open news director jobs stands at 29.

One of those ND appointments filled a vacancy created when her predecessor was promoted to GM. We’ll fill in the details.

A former Dallas and Seattle news director takes a corporate job with Sinclair. There’s a new Assistant ND in Los Angeles, and two former NDs are retiring from their jobs, one still in TV and one long removed.

And we have an obituary for a former Denver and North Carolina news director who’d moved to a career in financial planning.

Also, please join me in thanking both Stephen Arnold Music and Stringr for renewing their commitments to supporting this newsletter. Check out their ads below to learn more about them.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Moore

WFTS-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL…our updates earlier this week brought you the news of SARAH MOORE’s promotion to news director for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND here for the past 3 1/2 years. More in this news release. Sarah’s also worked for stations in Indianapolis (WTHR-TV) and Nashville (WTVF-TV).

Brown

She replaces MATT BROWN who’s being promoted to general manager of new sister-station WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. (Scripps acquired WTXL which was one of the stations spun off as part of the Gray-Raycom deal.) He started as WFTS as ND in October, 2014, has been a news director in Tulsa and Sherman, TX, and has worked in Kansas City, Austin, TX, and Wichita.

Miller

KRCG-TV, Jefferson City/Columbia, MO…MARIA MILLER is promoted within Sinclair to be the next ND for this CBS affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND for the company’s WJAC-TV in Johnstown, PA and began her career as a reporter and anchor.

New News Director Opening: 

I’m not aware of any new openings this week. If you are, please share that news with me!

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

WIVB News 4, the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, New York is looking for an executive producer with the skills, instinct and talent to lead the market’s number one news team. The perfect candidate must be innovative, a motivator and a multi-platform thinker (television and digital). They must also be passionate about winning breaking news and weather every day of the week. Oversee daily story selection and be a strong conversational writer and copy editor. The ideal candidate must also be able to think outside the box, plan and build big story coverage. Excellent people and organizational skills are also a must. Most of all, the successful candidate must have the instincts and drive to win.

Daily Responsibilities:

Manage newsroom and field crews
Own breaking news and weather coverage
Understand and execute our brand
Copy edit newscasts. Make them conversational
Develop and build strong producers
Set coverage expectations for the team
Build a multi-platform strategy for the team. Television and digital
Work well with internal and external partners to build content sharing opportunities
Build planning calendar for big story and promotable coverage
Be a newsroom leader
Critique and review producers
Fill-in produce when needed

If interested, please apply online by clicking here.

“EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability”

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 11/18/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 12/30/18)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 12/23/18)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 12/30/18)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (listed 12/23/18)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted 12/16/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted this week)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, listed 11/11/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 11/18/18)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (AM EP, listed 12/23/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 12/23/18)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 12/9/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 12/2/18)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 12/30/18, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 11/25/18)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (TWO openings, listed 12/30/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 12/9/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/30/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 11/18/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 12/9/18:

WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Re-listed 11/11/18:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)

Obituary:

 Cepnick

GARY CURTIS (real name: GARY CEPNICK) died this week. He was a news director in the 80’s at KMGH-TV in Denver and for at least two stations in North Carolina before moving to a career in financial planning. Here’s his bio from that career. And there’s this anecdote from one of his former employees:

Also the only news director I know of who, back in the day, forbade food and drink in the newsroom — but permitted smoking. (He was, of course, a big smoker himself, at least at the time. And this was North Carolina, after all.)

Names in the News (and other items):

Ginther

We told you earlier this week about MARK GINTHER’s new job. The veteran news director starts tomorrow as Director of News and Operations. Sinclair Senior VP/News SCOTT LIVINGSTON sent this note to the company’s NDs. Mark most recently as an ND for KXAS-TV in Dallas, has been an ND in Seattle and Des Moines, an assistant ND for another Dallas station, and began in Minneapolis in radio before moving to TV.

Chen

There’s a new Assistant ND at KABC-TV in Los Angeles. PAM CHEN has been promoted from executive producer, as ND ROB ELMORE explains in this note to the staff. Pam’s a 14+ year veteran of this ABC o-and-o, and has also worked for another Los Angeles station and in San Diego.

Two one-time news directors are retiring from different jobs.

Tom Mc.

The end of the year brought the end of 70 year old TOM McCLANAHAN’s 47 year career as an anchor in Terre Haute. He worked for two stations and served as ND for one in the early 2000s. The local newspaper paid him appropriate tribute in this lengthy and interesting profile.

And former WSEE-TV (Erie, PA) news director PIERRE BELLICINI retired after almost 20 years as director of communications for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. You’ll see how that institution has grown during his time there in this article (second item).

General Manager News and Notes:

We noted above MATT BROWN’s appointment as GM for WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. That move came as Scripps’ acquired the station as one of the spin-offs from the Gray-Raycom deal.

Also as a result of that spin-off, ADAM CHASE was named GM of the other stations Scripps acquired, KXXV/KRHD-TV in Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX. He’s been the GM for the company’s KERO-TV in Bakersfield.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 6, 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
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. , 6th Fl. Arlington, VA 22209
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Boulevard, # 7007, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr, Omaha, NE 68127
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way Jackson, MS 39209
WEVV-TV 477 Carpenter Street Evansville, IN 47708
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
KDLT-TV 3600 S. Westport Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57106
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr. New Bern, NC 28560
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901

**: Spanish language station

December 30, 2018

January 4, 2019 UPDATE:

As we suggested yesterday, the open news director job at Scripps’ WFTS-TV in Tampa wasn’t open for long.

Moore

The station announced today that SARAH MOORE will be its new news director. She’s been the Assistant ND here for the past 3 1/2 years.

More in this news release.

Sarah’s also worked in Indianapolis and Nashville.

She’ll replace MATT BROWN who’s left the station after 4 1/2 years as ND . Our update yesterday told you he’s headed for Scripps’ newly acquired WTXL-TV in Tallahassee where he’ll be the general manager.

Enjoy this weekend’s NFL playoff games…and we’ll see you later with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

January 3, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A handful of station acquisitions by Scripps (related to the Gray-Raycom deal) finds a Florida news director becoming a Florida general manager.

Brown

MATT BROWN, who’s been the ND for Scripps’ WFTS-TV (ABC) in Tampa since October, 2014, becomes GM of Scripps’ news acquired WTXL-TV (also ABC) in Tallahassee. You’ll find details of his move buried in this news release which also covers the three stations Scripps added to its portfolio.

Scripps also named ADAM CHASE GM of the other stations, KXXV/KRHD-TV in Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX. He’s been the GM for the company’s KERO-TV in Bakersfield.

Back to Matt: he’s also been a news director in Tulsa and Corpus Christi Sherman, TX (corrected 1-3-19), and has worked in Kansas City, Austin, TX, and Wichita.

And put your resumes down…it’s likely his replacement in Tampa will be named soon, perhaps as quickly as tomorrow.

We’re only two business days into the new year, and this is our second UPDATE. We’ll see if that streak continues.

And we’ll see you Sunday with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

January 2, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The New Year brings a new job for a veteran news director.

Ginther

MARK GINTHER is joining Sinclair Broadcasting as Director of News and Operations.

Mark tells me he will oversee the day to day content and also help the company’s investigative teams. He’ll be based at Sinclair headquarters in Baltimore.

Mark most recently was VP/News for NBC’s KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft.Worth, a job he left in August after three years. He spent seven years as ND for KING-TV in Seattle, and three years running the newsroom at WHO-TV in Des Moines. Mark was the Assistant ND for WFAA-TV in Dallas and spent the early part of his career in Minneapolis, beginning in radio before moving to television.

I hope you had a great holiday and we’ll see you this weekend with more details on this story and all the week’s news.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

No surprise that the holiday week meant few changes in the world of news management changes.

Just ONE new opening and ONE newly named news director. That means our list of open ND jobs edges up to 30.

We have a paid ad for an EP job in New York State, and details about how YOU can sign up for a highly regarded management training program.

Our only obituary is for a one-time Wisconsin news director and anchor who spent 30+ years in the state senate and continued his public service into his 90’s.

We’ll also fill you in on a Montana anchor (and one-time news director) who stepping away from the daily grind.

And…if you had questions after our report on GARY WORDLAW’s move to the Black Television News Channel…we’ve found an article that should help answer many of them.

Read on…but not before accepting our best wishes for a great 2019. We’ll be back then!

“Kneeland will exceed your expectations. Guaranteed.”

Start the New Year right.

Applications are due Friday, January 11 for The Kneeland Project’s next session, which will be held February 27 – March 2, 2019 in Austin, Texas.

Thanks to Kneeland’s generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for selected participants.The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as hotel and several meals.

In a recent survey of Kneeland Fellows, 100% reported they still regularly use lessons learned at Kneeland, believe that time spent at Kneeland improved their career and said they have recommended Kneeland to a friend or colleague.

You’ll join this session’s faculty and other outstanding news managers to explore the exciting challenges that face our industry, and you’ll leave the program with a solid plan to guide your leadership decisions starting day one. This isn’t theoretical information that you will put on a shelf and neglect. Every participant will walk away with concrete action items to implement immediately that will make a difference in their newsroom…and their life.
It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. Journalists return to their stations refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges newsrooms now face.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Simon

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX…Houston news blogger MIKE McGUFF reports that STEVE SIMON is returning to this Tribune owned CW affiliate as its news director. Steve once worked at the station (then KHWB-TV) as an anchor/reporter. He’s also worked in Dallas, Miami, Columbus, OH, Huntsville, AL, and Albany, GA.

New News Director Opening: 

Korff

WEVV-TV, Evansville, IN…WARREN KORFF has apparently left this CBS affiliate after almost three years as news director. Warren, a long-time Evansville newsman, was hired to restart news at the Bayou City Broadcasting owned operation. Previous owners had cancelled news there many years ago.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

WIVB News 4, the CBS affiliate in Buffalo, New York is looking for an executive producer with the skills, instinct and talent to lead the market’s number one news team. The perfect candidate must be innovative, a motivator and a multi-platform thinker (television and digital). They must also be passionate about winning breaking news and weather every day of the week. Oversee daily story selection and be a strong conversational writer and copy editor. The ideal candidate must also be able to think outside the box, plan and build big story coverage. Excellent people and organizational skills are also a must. Most of all, the successful candidate must have the instincts and drive to win.

Daily Responsibilities:

Manage newsroom and field crews
Own breaking news and weather coverage
Understand and execute our brand
Copy edit newscasts. Make them conversational
Develop and build strong producers
Set coverage expectations for the team
Build a multi-platform strategy for the team. Television and digital
Work well with internal and external partners to build content sharing opportunities
Build planning calendar for big story and promotable coverage
Be a newsroom leader
Critique and review producers
Fill-in produce when needed

If interested, please apply online by clicking here.

“EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability”

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 11/18/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (new opening this week)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 12/23/18)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (listed 12/23/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted 12/16/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 11/4/18)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, listed 11/11/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 11/18/18)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (AM EP, listed 12/23/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 12/23/18)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 12/9/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 12/2/18)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (new opening this week, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 11/25/18)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (TWO openings, new listing this week)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 12/9/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, listed 10/28/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 11/18/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 12/9/18:

WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Re-listed 11/11/18:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)

Obituary:

Chilsen

WALTER JOHN CHILSEN, the first news director for WSAW-TV in Wausau, WI, died Christmas Day at the age of 95. This detailed obituary tells of his 34 years as a Wisconsin state senator. He later served on the board of the town of Weston, WI, until stepping down. At age 94!

Names in the News (and other items):

Our report last week on GARY WORDLAW’s new job as VP/Programming and News Director for the Black Television News Channel raised a few questions, like…exactly what IS the BTNC. This article answers many of them.

Kohn

One time KXLF-TV (Butte, MT) news director JAY KOHN is cutting back as the main anchor at KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT.  Jay worked at KXLF before becoming the anchor at sister station KTVQ in 1998. But he’s not retiring completely…this article says he’ll continue at the station as ‘anchor emeritus’.

General Manager News and Notes:

Not surprisingly, to the best of my knowledge there were no GM changes during this holiday period. If you know of something I missed, please email me: rick@rickgevers.com

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 30, 2018:

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
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. , 6th Fl. Arlington, VA 22209
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Boulevard, # 7007, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr, Omaha, NE 68127
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way Jackson, MS 39209
WEVV-TV 477 Carpenter Street Evansville, IN 47708
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
KDLT-TV 3600 S. Westport Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57106
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr. New Bern, NC 28560
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV, 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901

**: Spanish language station

December 23, 2018

Greetings:

Consider this early delivery of this week’s edition my holiday gift to you.

Is there any limit to my largess? (Don’t answer that.)

And it’s a very full early newsletter, with lots of new news directors and FOUR new openings. My count of open ND jobs stands at 29.

Lots of items in Names in the News as well. There’s a handful of news managers on the move, RTDNA wants YOUR help with a brief survey, and we’ll share interesting articles on lessons that might be learned from a radical change to our business which is 50 years old and an interview with the head of Nexstar who’s preaching local as the key to success.

We have ONE obituary of a North Dakota general manager and details about SUSANA SCHULER’s move to a GM job in Birmingham,

I plan on publishing next week as well, though I’m guessing it will be fairly slow.

Until then, no matter which holiday you celebrate, I hope it’s terrific and send you best wishes for a safe, health and prosperous 2019.

Newly Named News Directors: 

News 12 Networks, New York, NY…this memo from Altice Executive Vice President MIKE SCHREIBER will fill you in on lots of changes at this cable news network, with promotions for news directors RANDAL STANLEY and MANOJ SHAMDASANI while JIM WHITEMAN gets promoted to news director for News 12 Long Island.

Gin

KITV, Honolulu, HI…we told you in an UPDATE earlier this week that JANICE GIN is going as far west as you can for her first news director job at this ABC affiliate operated by Lilly Broadcasting. More from the station’s website. Janice is a 20 year veteran of the San Francisco market, most recently as Assistant ND for KRON-TV. She’s worked in Phoenix, Sacramento, and Greensboro. Janice is active in RTDNA and AAJA. She replaces MIKE DARRAH who left this week to become the Assistant ND for KTNV in Las Vegas after 2+ years as ND here.

Hamblen

KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO…a promotion here for LISSA HAMBLEN who becomes ND for this Mission Broadcasting owned but operated by Nexstar CBS affiliate. GM LEO HENNING told the staff.  She first joined the station in 1987 as a creative services producer, left for a while, but returned as a news producer, rising to executive producer and assistant ND in 2000. Lissa replaces CHUCK MAULDEN who departed last month to become Director of Content for KOTV in Tulsa after 5+ years as ND.

Takahashi

WJTV/WHLT-TV, Jackson/Hattiesburg, MS…TAI TAKAHASHI returns to the news director chair. He’ll run the newsroom at this Nexstar owned CBS operation. More from his new GM, JEFF GUY. Tai had been the Assistant News Director for KGW-TV in Portland until September, and has been and ND in Decatur, IL, and Lexington, KY. He’s also worked in Seattle, Atlanta, Jacksonville, FL, Wichita and Topeka. He replaces CHRIS TURNER who left last month after less than a year as ND.

Spadea

WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA…JOE SPADEA heads south to become the next ND for this White Knight Broadcasting owned but Nexstar operated NBC/FOX duopoly. We have the staff email from GM ERIC THOMAS.  It was a short time on the beach for Joe, who left KMTV (Scripps/CBS) in Omaha last month after six years as news director. Joe’s been an ND in Oklahoma City and has worked in Los Angeles, Boston, Providence, and Lancaster, PA.

Wordlaw

He’ll replace GARY WORDLAW as ND there. We reported Gary’s departure earlier this month and promised details on his next stop soon. Soon is now. He will be the first VP/Programming and News Director for the Black Television News Channel. Gary sent me this email with more details. Many of you know Gary who’s been an ND in Washington and Baltimore, and a general manager in Seattle, New Orleans, Syracuse, and Tallahassee and has worked in Chattanooga.

Good

KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA…JOSH GOOD will be the next news director for this Bayou City Broadcasting owned NBC/FOX operation. My records show he’ll replace DWAYNE FATHERREE who was promoted to ND just about a year ago, when he replaced someone who’d been in the job a year. Josh has been working in Knoxville and earlier spent time in Lexington, KY, and Fort Wayne, IN.

New News Director Openings: 

Patti M.

WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN…our Thursday UPDATE also shared the sad news that PATTI McGETTIGAN is taking a medical retirement from the Cox owned (for now) FOX affiliate. The company’s VP/News, MIKE DREADEN, spread the word with this email. Patti’s also been a news director for WISH-TV in Indianapolis and WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, where she worked twice (before and after my time as ND there). She also worked in Pittsburgh. Send Patti a kind email by clicking here: patti.mcgettigan@gmail.com

Moravchik

WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…JULIE MORAVCHIK is leaving this Scripps owned NBC affiliate to become the Assistant News Director for Spectrum’s new 24 hour state wide cable channel based in Milwaukee. Julie’s been ND here for 2 1/2 years, earlier was a news director in Jefferson City/Columbia, MO, Grand Forks, ND, and in Duluth, and has also worked in Minneapolis.

Brovold

KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD…JESSICA BROVOLD left this Red River Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate in July according to her Linkedin page and is now working as a marketing manager for a health care company. She spent just over a year as news director here.

KAAL-TV, Austin, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate has an opening for a new news director on its website. My records (granted, not ALWAYS accurate) show that DAVID SPRINGER had been news director here since July, 2012.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 11/18/18)
WBTS-TV, Boston, IL (listed 10/28/18)
New England Cable News (listed 10/28/18)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (new listing this week)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 10/28/18)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted 12/16/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 11/4/18)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, listed 11/11/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 11/18/18)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (AM EP, new listing this week)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (new opening this week)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 12/9/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 12/2/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 11/25/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 12/9/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, listed 10/28/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 10/14/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 11/18/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 12/9/18:

WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Re-listed 11/11/18:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)

Obituary:

Out best wishes to the staff at KVLY-TV in Fargo, ND, after the death of the station’s general manager, JIM WAREHAM. He was 67 years old when he passed December 14th. More in this story from the station’s website.

Names in the News (and other items):

KGW-TV in Portland, OR, promoted EP JOHN TIERNEY to assistant news director. John’s been the EP here since 2014 and has worked at another Portland station and in Eugene.

Two management moves at Scripps stations. JULIAN JOHNSON moves within the company from WFTS-TV in Tampa, where he was an EP, to WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers where he will be the Managing Editor. Also at WFTX, DOMINGO RAMOS has been promoted to AM Content Manager from producer.

CHRIS PAYNE returns to WRIC-TV in Richmond as Assistant News Director. He began there as a video editor, later went on to stations in Memphis and Charlottesville and most recently has been an EP for Spectrum’s cable channel in Raleigh.

RTDNA is looking for your help to make sure the annual conference is as relevant as it can be. It will only take a few minutes.

• If you’re a news professional, this survey is for you.
• And click here if you’re a vendor or supplier to stations.

Sook

Variety profiles PERRY SOOK, head of Nexstar, which is likely about to become the largest group owner in the country. And he’s preaching local as the way to success.

The Knight-Ridder Lab wonders if there are lessons to be learned from AL PRIMO’s original Eyewitness News which debuted 50 years ago last month in New York.

General Manager News and Notes:

Schuler

Our Tuesday update first brought you the news of SUSANA SCHULER’s appointment as general manager for Hearst’s WVTM-TV in Birmingham. Susana most recently was executive vice president of content & operations for Raycom where she worked for 12 years before leaving last month. She previously has been VP/News for Nexstar, a news director in Terre Haute, and worked in Dallas and Harrisburg, PA.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 23, 2018:

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
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. , 6th Fl. Arlington, VA 22209
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Boulevard, # 7007, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr, Omaha, NE 68127
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way Jackson, MS 39209
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
KDLT-TV 3600 S. Westport Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57106
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr. New Bern, NC 28560
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV, 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901

**: Spanish language station

December 16, 2018

Friday, December 21, 2018 UPDATE:

Two longtime newswomen are making news.

    Gin

JANICE GIN is headed to the islands as she takes her first news director’s job at KITV (ABC) in Honolulu. Here’s the story from the station’s website.

She’s spent the last 20+ years in the San Francisco market, most recently as the Assistant ND for KRON-TV for the past five years. Janice spent 13 years at KTVU-TV as the associate news director and also worked at KGO-TV. She’s worked in Phoenix, Sacramento, and Greensboro. Janice is active in RTDNA and AAJA.

She’s replacing MIKE DARRAH who’s leaving for a job on the mainland after 2+ years as ND.

Patti M.

And news director PATTI McGETTIGAN is leaving Cox’s WHBQ-TV in Memphis on a medical retirement. She’s battled breast cancer for years and survived a heart attack this fall.  Cox’s VP/News MIKE DREADEN shared the news in this email.

Patti’s been the news director for this FOX affiliate for four years. She’s a former news director in Indianapolis (WISH-TV) and Grand Rapids (WOOD-TV), where she worked twice (before and after my time as ND there.) She also worked in Pittsburgh and Columbus, OH.

Your kind note would reach her at: patti.mcgettigan@gmail.com

Congrats to Janice, best wishes to Patti for a full recovery, and we’ll be back this weekend with a full newsletter…lots of other changes to share with you.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 UPDATE:

A longtime news executive makes the move into the general manager’s chair.

Schuler

SUSANA SCHULER stays in Alabama but moves 90 miles north to become general manager for Hearst’s WVTM-TV in Birmingham. That’s the NBC affiliate there. All the details in this news release.

She’ll replace veteran broadcaster HANK PRICE who is retiring.

Many of you know Susana, who spent the last 12 years at Raycom before leaving the company last month prior to its merger with Gray TV. Her last job at Raycom was as executive vice president of content & operations.

She’s a former VP/News for Nexstar, was a news director in Terre Haute, and also worked in Dallas and Harrisburg, PA.

Congrats to Susana, best holidays wishes to all, and we’ll see you this weekend with a full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Another busy week!

We have SIX new news directors to introduce you to. Of note, FOUR of the six were promoted either within a station o5 within their parent company. And we have TWO new ND openings…one in a top 20 market.

That drops our count of open ND jobs to 28.

We have lots of interesting items in Names in the News for your perusal, one GM change, and TWO obituaries, including one for a longtime Texas newsman.

Take a break from filling out holiday cards or shopping and read on!

Newly Named News Directors: 

Waggoner

WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN…we told you in one of two updates on Thursday that MATT WAGGONER would be the next ND for this Tribune owned (for now) CBS/FOX duopoly. More in this memo from GM JAIME AITKEN and in this news release. Matt’s currently the Assistant ND for Tribune’s KCPQ-TV in Seattle: he joined the station as a producer in 2012 after working in Portland, OR, and Phoenix. He’ll replace KERRI CAVANAUGH who resigned in October to become a consultant for Magid.

KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT…TODD REED has been promoted to ND for this Nexstar owned ABC/CW duopoly. GM RICHARD DOUTRE’ JONES issued this statement. Todd replaces GEORGE SEVERSON who became Director of Local Programming & Creative Services after almost six years as ND.

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…another Nexstar station filled its opening with an internal promotion. KELLY PETERSON replaces KEVIN OSGOOD who left in September to become the executive director of the Door County (WI) Maritime Museum. Kelly’s been an EP for this CBS affiliate. She’s also worked in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Grand Forks, ND.

Vogel

KHSL/KNVN-TV, Chico, CA…AARON VOGEL started in September as the new ND for this Heartland Media owned CBS/NBC operation. He earlier had been an ND in Decatur, IL, and has worked in Jackson, MS, Knoxville and Savannah. He replaces SCOTT HOWARD who left in January after seven years as news director in his second run at the staton.

Barber

WTWO-TV, Terre Haute, IN…REX BARBER gets the nod as ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND for Nexstar’s WJHL-TV in Johnson City, TN, where he began as an assignment editor in 2013. He had previously worked as a newspaper journalist. In Terre Haute, he replaces the late DEANA REECE who died suddenly last August.

Atwood

KMVT-TV, Twin Falls, ID…we’re tardy in reporting that KADE ATWOOD is the new ND for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. He’s actually been on the job since August. This news release tells you about his background and an unusual hobby he enjoys.

New News Director Openings: 

Anne W.

KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…ANNE WITTENBORG announced her resignation this week after more than three years as ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. Anne told me she’s looking for a new challenge though she’s unsure what it will be, but she’s excited about the future. She’ll be there a few more months to help the transition. Anne’s worked there for the last ten years in her second stint at the station.

Carter

WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY…BRUCE CARTER retired Friday from this Cordillera owned NBC affiliate after 20 years as its news director…and 40 years in our business. All you need to know about Bruce and his career are in this item from the station’s website. He began as a photographer in Bowling Green, KY, moved to Louisville where he eventually became Assistant ND at WAVE-TV, then to Roanoke as ND at WSLS-TV before landing in Lexington.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 11/18/18)
WBTS-TV, Boston, IL (listed 10/28/18)
New England Cable News (listed 10/28/18)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 10/14/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 11/11/18)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 10/21/18)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 10/28/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted this week)
WFAA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 10/14/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, relisted 11/25/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 11/4/18)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, listed 11/11/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 11/18/18)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 10/14/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (PM EP, listed 12/9/18)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 12/9/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 12/2/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listing revised 12/2/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, listing modified 10/21/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 11/25/18)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 10/14/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 12/9/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted 10/14/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, listed 10/28/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 10/14/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 10/21/18)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 11/18/18)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 10/21/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 12/9/18:

WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Re-listed 11/11/18:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)

Listed 10/21/18:

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (AM Content Manager)

Listed 10/14/18:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Sorry to report that CARLOS ROSALES, who held a number of jobs including Assistant News Director and Assignment editor during a long career at KVIA-TV in El Paso, TX, died Saturday of a heart attack. In addition to his time in El Paso, this story from the station’s website says he worked in Dallas and Albuquerque. There’s a GoFund me page to help the family cover his funeral expenses.

Our sympathy to SARAH GARZA, Manager, Consumer Investigative Center for NBC in Dallas, on the death of her mother, BEATRICE GARZA. Mrs. Garza was 90 years old and lived in San Antonio. Funeral services were held Friday. In addition to her daughter, she’s survived by Sarah’s husband, MARK GINTHER.

Names in the News (and other items):

Congratulations to a number of local stations which were among 16 winners of Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards. All the details are here.

Salazar

KMEX-TV in Los Angeles has a new assistant news director. SANDRA SALAZAR joins this Univision station after holding the same job as Telemundo’s KVEA-TV.

Old friend LANI BASSETT has retired from WJXT-TV in Jacksonville after 44 years at the Graham Media independent. As you would imagine, she held a number of jobs during that time, including as a producer/director. Lani follows her husband, former ‘JXT Assistant ND MAL REDDINGTON into retirement. Together, they spent 84 years at the station, and it was my great fortune to work with both of them for about two of those years.

Mokhtari

Best wishes to KNBC-TV (Los Angeles) news director TODD MOKHTARI who’s on the mend after partial knee replacement surgery on one knee. Todd tells me his recovery is going well but he’ll be off the job for a few weeks. That time off will go more quickly for him if you send him a get well note, giving him something to read while he recovers: tdmokhtari@yahoo.com.

Schulze

The second former Chicago news director in a week has left The Chicago Sun-Times. This time it’s JENNIFER SCHULZE, a former news director for WGN-TV, who served as executive producer-new media. As ROBERT FEDER tells us (second item), the reason for her departure was different than that of CAROL FOWLER’s which we told you about last week.

Von Essen

The first winner of a new scholarship in international journalism at the University of Missouri in the name of longtime newswoman JEANEE VON ESSEN has been announced. The winner of the award is junior CLAIRE HASSLER. Jeanee’s husband, longtime NBC NewsChannel executive BOB HORNER endowed the award in his late wife’s memory. Learn more about the scholarship…and how you can help it grow…by clicking here.

Bloomberg News looks into age discrimination lawsuits against TV stations, pegged to the recent suit filed against WSMV-TV in Nashville by longtime anchor DEMITRIA KALODIMOS.

In this time of station ownership consolidations, there are a still a few small companies owning stations. The Indianapolis Business Journal looks at one such operation, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, part of a two-station group.

General Manager News and Notes:

TAMMY BLUMHAGEN has been promoted to GM for Nexstar’s North Dakota operations. She has been Director of Sales.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 16, 2018:

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
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. , 6th Fl. Arlington, VA 22209
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Boulevard, # 7007, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 E Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr, Omaha, NE 68127
KOLR-TV 2650 E Division St, Springfield, MO 65803
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way Jackson, MS 39209
WVLA/WGMB-TV 10000 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, LA 70810
WJTV 1820 TV Road Jackson MS 39204
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr. New Bern, NC 28560
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV, 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901

**: Spanish language station