October 14, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018 UPDATE:
There’s a second news director opening in Indianapolis to report.

Hostetter
KATHY HOSTETTER, who’s been the ND for Dispatch’s WTHR-TV, is leaving that NBC affiliate to become ND for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, the CBS o-and-o in the Steel City.
Kathy’s been ND here for about 5 1/2 years, coming from WAVE-TV in Louisville. She’s also been an ND in Norfolk and Ft. Wayne, and has worked in San Jose/San Francisco and Grand Rapids, MI.
Her departure creates the second ND opening in the market, as KERRI CAVANAUGH left WTTV-WXIN-TV (Tribune’s CBS/FOX duopoly) last week for a consulting job with Magid.
I hope to have more on this story in our full newsletter later this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
There’s a new news director in a top 35 market.

Clark
CASEY CLARK will move west to become the ND for Meredith’s KCTV in Kansas City. That’s the CBS affiliate there. Here’s the note to the staff from GM CHUCK PODUSKA.
Casey has spent the last 2+ years as ND for Hubbard’s WHEC-TV (NBC) in Rochester, NY. His resume is long and varied, and includes major market stops in Philadelphia, and Baltimore among others. It’s all on his Linkedin page.
At KCTV, he replaces SCOTT LEVY who left the station in August after two years as ND.
As you know, it’s been a busy week. We’ll recap it all (and more) in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 UPDATE #2:
A rare second UPDATE in less than an hour brings news of the promotion of a longtime news director to a general manager’s job, always something we like to see in this corner.

McClain
MIKE McCLAIN, who’s been the ND for FOX’s WAGA-TV in Atlanta for eight years has been named GM of the company’s WJZY-WMYT-TV in Charlotte. Full details in this news release.
Mike earlier spent two years as ND for FOX’s WTVT-TV in Tampa and six years as ND for another FOX owned station, WBRC-TV in Birmingham.
That’s where he began his career as a news photographer before working his way up the ranks.
He replaces KIERAN CLARKE who has left the station.
Congrats, Mike!
More in our full newsletter later this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Two items, including an obituary for a longtime news director, in today’s UPDATE.

Carter
CHUCK CARTER returns to WTNH-TV in New Haven/Hartford (Nexstar/ABC) as ND. It’s his third tour of duty at the station. He’d been the Assistant ND at WTNH until June, when he returned to Philadelphia as Executive Producer for Fox’s WTXF-TV. The move reunites him with GM RICH GRAZIANO. They’ve worked together at both WTIC-TV in Hartford and WPIX-TV in New York.
Here’s the news release.
Chuck’s complete work history is on his Linkedin page. He replaces KEITH CONNORS who left in July to become ND for WFSB-TV, the Meredith owned CBS affiliate in Hartford.

Bradley
And details are sketchy at this writing, but I’m sorry to report the death this morning of retired news director DON BRADLEY (real name: DON BURIAN). Don’s a former news director in Hartford, Ft. Wayne, Waco, and Victoria, TX, and worked in Memphis, St. Louis, and Louisville.
With I get more information, I will add it here and include it in the full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It’s another week of relatively few changes among the news director ranks.
We have just TWO newly named NDs…and for one, it’s a rare instance where she is replacing…drum roll please…herself!
No new openings as best as I know, so our list of open ND positions drops to 30.
We do have a few interesting items in Names in the News, a late obituary for a former Denver, Hartford, and Indianapolis GM, and the retirement of a former ND who’s been anchor for one Wisconsin station for more than 24 years.
All that and more…below.
Newly Named News Directors:

Lyons
WGN-TV, Chicago, IL…we told you on Tuesday that JENNIFER LYONS was returning to this Tribune owned station, replacing herself. Jennifer left in August for a job outside of television, but decided her heart was in news. Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER has the full story, including the memo GM PAUL RENNIE sent to his staff.
Editor’s note: When we first reported this, I commented that it had happened before but couldn’t remember a specific incident. A loyal reader reminded me that BRAD REMINGTON left KTVI-TV in St. Louis for the ND job at KATU-TV in Portland, OR, in 2001 before returning to KTVI…thus replacing himself…four days later.
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI…DIANE IRVING will be the first news director for this startup cable news operation. She’s spent the last 23 years working for Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV in a variety of roles, including Assistant News Director, and, most recently, Broadcast Director.
New News Director Openings:
Once again there are no new openings this week (to my knowledge) but we do have another new Paid Help Wanted ad for the ND job at WATE-TV in Knoxville.. That’s just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN:
Knoxville ABC Affiliate WATE, a Nexstar Station, is seeking a News Director. Station produces 7 hours of local news and programming daily M-F and 10.5 hours on the weekends in addition to a multitude of special events and remote broadcasts annually in addition to continuous local news and weather through an extensive digital presence.
Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee, which provides tremendous opportunities for recruiting, partnerships and issue-oriented news content. Our robust community proximity to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains provide excellent quality of life.
Successful candidate will be an experienced journalist, possess excellent leadership skills, have a demonstrated ability to hire well and train, motivate and inspire news staff. Must have 3 years’ experience as a News Director or Assistant News Director, experience overseeing successful remote productions, excellent writing skills and the ability to work cohesively with other departments throughout the station. A comprehensive understanding of traditional and digital platforms is a must.
Manages all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
* Plans and manages staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
* Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
* Works with other senior station leaders to establish and reach station goals.
Requirements & Skills:
* Experience guiding, directing and motivating subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
* Ability to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills.
* Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
Apply online by clicking here. No phone calls please.
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled
News Director, WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN:
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the preeminent news duopolies in the country.
Tribune Media’s WXIN/WTTV is looking for a News Director to lead a dynamic newsroom producing 90 hours of local coverage each week and delivering high-impact content across multiple platforms to our FOX and CBS audiences.
As Indiana’s capital and the Midwest’s second-largest city, Indianapolis is a vibrant media market and bustling government, business, education and sports center. FOX59/CBS4 is on the leading edge of content execution, with a state-of-the-art facility and a drive to try new things. Our next News Director will have the experience to coach, motivate and lead a large newsroom, and the passion and vision to drive audience ratings and the online success of these legacy stations.
To learn more about this position and apply, click here.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 9/23/18)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 9/3/18)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/26/18)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (listed 10/7/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 9/3/18)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/9/18)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/30/18)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (relisted 9/9/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (listed 8/19/18)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted this week)
WFAA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (new listing this week)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, listed 9/9/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 9/9/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 9/16/18)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, listed 10/7/18)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/19/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 9/23/18)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (PM EP, new listing 8/26/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (TWO openings, AM & PM, listed 8/26/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (released 9/9/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, relisted 8/19/18)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 9/23/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, listing revised 9/9/18)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (new listing this week)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted this week)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted this week)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
Listed 10/14/18:
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Content Manager)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)
Listed 10/7/18:
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (Assignment/Planning Manager)
Listed 9/3/18:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
Listed 8/26/18:
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (Digital Content Manager)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 8/19/18:
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Director of National News Content)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Senior Digital Producer)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Editor)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (Digital Content Manager)
Obituary:

Bacon
We’re late in reporting the death last March of ROD BACON, who served as GM of stations in Denver, New Haven and Indianapolis. He also worked in many other markets in a variety of jobs, as you’ll learn in this detailed obituary.
Also, in reporting the death of BLAKE KELLOGG last week, we erred in reporting the station for which he had been an ND and anchor. It was WKOW-TV in Madison, WI, not WISC-TV. Apologies.
Names in the News (and other items):

Johnston
KATHLEEN JOHNSTON has joined Indiana Univeristy as a visiting professor of practice. She’s worked for CBS News, CNN, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis as well at two Indianapolis newspapers, primarily as an investigative producer and reporter. The move reunites her with former colleague GERRY LANOSGA: they worked together first at an Indianapolis newspaper before moving to television together. They will develop the IU Media School’s investigative reporting curriculum.

Milbourn
TOM MILBOURN, who’s anchored for WLUK-TV in Green Bay for 24 years is retiring next month. He’s worked in Green Bay for more than 30 years, and previously served as an anchor and news director in Madison, WI, Lansing, MI, and Champaign, IL.
General Manager News and Notes:

Wright
MIKE WRIGHT, who was GM of both KWTX-TV in Bryan, TX, and KBTX-TV in Waco, has left those Gray Television stations. Details from the local newspaper, where you will learn the he once anchored the station’s morning show while also serving as national sales manager.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 14, 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
KXAS-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76155
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KDKA-TV 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd., #100 Pittsburgh, PA 15222
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Pl, Indianapolis, IN 46278 (see ad above!)
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917 (see ad above!)
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria Tulsa, OK 74105
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street. Green Bay, WI 54301
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV, 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute, IN 47808
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
**: Spanish language station