Rick Gevers & Associates

October 7, 2018

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

I’m sure this has happened before, but I can’t remember an exact instance to share with you.

The new news director at Chicago’s WGN-TV is JENNIFER LYONS, who replaces…herself as news director for this Tribune owned station.

That’s right…Jennifer, who left her job in August after four years as ND and 25 at the station…will return on Thursday. The details are in this story by Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER. GM PAUL RENNIE‘s note to the staff is included.

Jennifer left to become VP/Communications and External Relations for Catholic Extension, which supports and strengthens poor mission dioceses nationwide. Feder quotes her as saying she will continue to support the organization’s mission, but she quickly knew her heart was in news.

She’s also worked in Des Moines and Davenport, IA.

We’ll have more on this and all the week’s new in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

It’s an unfortunate week when we have more obituaries (FIVE) than news director movements (ONE).

That one change is a new news director in Las Vegas, and causes our list of open ND jobs to drop to 31. And we have a new paid ad for ONE of those jobs.

Those five obituaries are below, and included a current Missouri assignment editor, three retired news people, two of them former news directors, and the wife of a longtime news director.

There are TWO items about General Managers, one about a San Francisco GM who’s retiring and the other one getting a promotion.

And our only item in Names in the News involves a former ND and GM who’s moving to print.

All those stories and more below!

Newly Named News Directors: 

Wheatley

KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…STEPHANIE WHEATLEY has been promoted to ND for this Sinclair Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND and replaces MARK NEERMAN who left to become ND for KPIX-TV in San Francisco earlier this summer. Stephanie earlier worked at KVVU-TV in Las Vegas, beginning as a tape editor and working her way up to EP. She took a short break from the business before joining KSNV in 2015.

New News Director Openings: 

There are no new openings this week (to my knowledge) but we do have a new Paid Help Wanted ad for the ND job at WTTV/WXIN-TV here in Indianapolis. That’s just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

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)
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (new listing this week)
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 (listed 7/29/18)
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)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, new listing this week)
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)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 9/3/18:

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)

Obituaries:

Sadly, five obituaries this week.

Libby

KAREN LIBBY, who spent 22 years as the assignment manager at KOLR-TV in Springfield, MO, lost her battle against cancer last Sunday (September 30th). Remarkably, she was at work on the Friday before. She had earlier worked as a radio reporter in Springfield. The station remembered her in this online story.

LARRY RAGAN, who served as news director for WIAT-TV in Birmingham from 2001-2006, also died last Sunday. He was 67. Larry also worked for WBRC-TV in Birmingham and authored several books.

Kellogg

Former news director BLAKE KELLOGG, who was both ND and anchor at WKOW-TV in Madison for nine years in the 60’s, died Wednesday at the age of 87. He also spent two years as ND for KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA, before returning to Wisconsin where he served as Press Secretary for Governor PATRICK LUCEY. This obituary details his many other activities.

DAVID DRURY, a fixture in Toledo television for many years, died Friday, September 28th, from complications of a stroke he suffered five years ago. He was 89. After leaving television, he worked for Bowling Green State University in public relations. More here.

Finally, JOAN SOLOMON, wife of longtime newsman JAY SOLOMON, died last Sunday at the age of 75 of a split aortic embolism. Sadly, she died while on a trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Jay to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Jay was a radio news director in Columbus when he moved to TV at WBNS-TV. He also worked in San Antonio and as a news director for WJKS-TV in Jacksonville, FL.

Names in the News (and other items):

Prather

Longtime broadcaster JIM PRATHER moves to the print side as he becomes full-time executive director of programming for The Las Vegas Review Journal. Jim’s been serving as a consultant to the newspaper since leaving KTNV-TV in Las Vegas last year after 14 years as GM. He’d also been the GM at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee where he had earlier served as news director.

General Manager News and Notes:

GREGG KELLEY is retiring at the end of October as GM of Fox’s KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco. He’s run a number of Fox owned stations, including Washington and Boston.

McKernan

JIM McKERNAN is being promoted to regional vice president of Quincy Media Inc., effective January 1. He’ll continue as GM of the company’s Waterloo, IA, station, KWWL-TV, where he’s been for more than six years. He’s a former GM in Omaha and Bristol, VA.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 7, 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
WGN-TV, 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, IL 60618
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
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

September 30, 2018

Greetings:

Enjoyed seeing many old friends and meeting a few new ones in Baltimore this week. Sorry the weather wasn’t better, but the crab cakes were good.

As you might expect, a slow week for news director and news manager changes. There are TWO new ND openings…and just ONE new news director named. The number of open ND jobs is 32. And we have a paid ad for ONE of those jobs.

TWO obituaries this week, one for a ground breaking Oklahoma newswoman.

TWO new GMs as well, and, in Names in the News, a new chair for RTDNA who is also ground breaking and results of the election for the Board of Directors. And details about a new job for a Los Angeles ND (who keeps his old one, too) and more.

Finally, a slight turn from our normal content.

Russ M.

1,300 people turned out in Indianapolis Saturday night to honor RUSSELL MITTEMEIER, the winner of the 2018 Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. (Full disclosure: my wife, KAREN BURNS, is the executive director.) Details about Russ and the prize (which includes a $250,000 unrestricted award) can be found here.

And actor HARRISON FORD was on hand to be honored as well for his work on behalf of animal welfare. If you can spare three minutes, you might enjoy the opening for the evening’s program featuring Ford.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Carreno

KBLR-TV, Las Vegas, NV…MARIALCY CARREÑO will be the next news director for this Telemundo affiliate. Media Moves has the details. She’s been the Assistant ND for Telemundo’s Dallas station, and has worked in San Jose and Fresno. She replaces XOCHITL SANDOVAL who left the station in August after four years as ND.

New News Director Openings: 

Cavanaugh

WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN…we first told you Wednesday that KERRI CAVANAUGH was leaving this Tribune owned CBS/FOX duopoly to become a Senior Consultant with Magid. Click here for the memo from General Manager JAMIE AITKEN and the note Kerri sent. Kerri’s spent five years at the station: during her time WTTV acquired the CBS affiliation and put a news department together in a few months. She’a former ND in Grand Rapids and has worked in Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

Foster

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN…JAMIE FOSTER has left this Nexstar owned station. He’s been the ND at this ABC affiliate since September, 2006. I believe he’s also worked in Washington, Richmond, and South Florida.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS:

Small market News Directors, are you tired of chasing #1 with little to no resources? Are you ready to work for a dominant station and experience what winning BIG feels like? Mid-Market middle managers, are you ready for your first News Director gig with a serious news station?

WTVA, the Heartland Media owned NBC and ABC affiliate in Tupelo-Columbus, MS (133), will take your career to a big market experience fast. Heartland Media is a company that believes in and invests in live, local news (more than 9 hours of live coverage each weekday). WTVA has received 4 Emmys in the last 3 years!

Does your current employer invest in your career with training and consulting as if you were a network O & O? Heartland does, and you could soon be working with Magid consultants who partner with us to evolve our winning strategy. We may be market 133, but we play like the big leagues. You must be energetic, positive, passionate, competitive, possess strong motivational skills and exceed in recruiting and training across generations.

We live in a cultural hotbed for internationally recognized music, art, and literature. Elvis was born here. BB King played in the joints. Tennesse Williams, Faulkner, Grisham. 90 minutes from Memphis, 4 hours from Nashville; near competitive SEC universities (Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State). The cost of living is low, and your generous compensation plan will give you more bang for your buck.

Click here to learn more and apply.

EOE

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)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 9/3/18)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/9/18)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (new listing this week)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (relisted 9/9/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (listed 8/19/18)
WALB-TV, Albany, GA (listed 8/5/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
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)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19)
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)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

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)

Obituaries:

Baumann

TOM BAUMANN died two weeks ago (September 14th). He was 60 and had been working for the past nine plus years as a freelance producer for ESPN. But he had worked as a producer and news manager in local newsrooms in Tampa, Charlotte, Lexington, and for the Fox News Channel. More details in this obituary.

PAM HENRY, a pioneer in Oklahoma television in more ways than one, died Tuesday of complications from emergency surgery. She was the first female TV reporter in Oklahoma City and was the last National Poster Child for the March of Dimes. Pam went on to be a news director for OETA, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

Names in the News (and other items):

Shepherd

Members of RTDNA elected the organizations’s first leader of African descent at the conference last week in Baltimore. TERENCE SHEPHERD will be Chair-Elect for the next year, and Chair the year after. He’s the ND at WLRN Public Media in Miami. In addition, members chose new directors for the board, including WKMG-TV ND ALISON McGINLEY whose campaign included an ad in these pages earlier this month. All the details here.

Ball

KTLA-TV (Los Angeles/Tribune) VP/News JASON BALL gets a career boost (and hopefully a pay raise!) as he becomes VP/Content Development for parent company Tribune Broadcasting. He’ll remain ND for KTLA. Jason’s also worked for several other Los Angeles stations as well as in Miami and Memphis. He’s been at KTLA since 2008.

Balta

HUGO BALTA is leaving ESPN for the second time. Since 2016, he’s been Senior Director of Hispanic Initiatives at ESPN Deportes. This is his second time working at ESPN and he’s also in his second term as President of NAHJ. Where is he going and what is he doing? Media Moves explains it all here. Hugo’s a past ND at the Telemundo station in New York and a former managing editor at WCBS-TV there.

MICHAEL BEAN stays within Tegna as he moves to WWL-TV in New Orleans as Assistant ND from WFAA-TV in Dallas where he was an executive producer. He’s also worked in Charlotte, Norfolk, and Greenville/Spartanburg, SC.

General Manager News and Notes:

Evans

Longtime news director BILL EVANS is adding to his resume as he adds additional duties as publisher of the Paducah Sun. That’s in addition to his job as General Manager for WPSD-TV in Paducah, where he was a longtime news manager. Both are owned by the Paxson Media Group which issued a news release. Bill’s worked in a number of TV markets as you’ll learn on his Linkedin page.

ROBERT SIMONE provides you can go home again. He’s the new GM for WWLP-TV in Springfield, MA, the Nexstar station in the city where he went to high school! He’s spent the last six years as GM for the company’s WLNS-TV in Lansing, and has held GM jobs in Philadelphia. Denver, and Tucson.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

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

Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WGN-TV, 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, IL 60618
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
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917
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 (see ad above!)
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

September 24, 2018

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 UPDATE:

We have the first news director opening here in Indianapolis today in more than two years.

Cavanaugh

KERRI CAVANAUGH is leaving Tribune’s FOX/CBS duopoly (WXIN/WTTV) after more than five years as ND to become a Senior Consultant for Magid. The move allows her to move to Florida to be closer to family there.

We have the staff emails from both Kerri and General Manager JAMIE AITKEN. You can read them with one easy click here.

(An Alabama alum, she is SUCH a fan she even quoted BEAR BRYANT in her email!)

Kerri joined WXIN (WTTV did not do news until January, 2015 when it gained the CBS affiliation) in 2013. She had previously been ND for Tribune’s WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids and had earlier worked for stations in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

I’m writing this at the Indianapolis Airport awaiting my flight to Baltimore, where I hope to see many of you at the EIJ/RTDNA convention.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

I hope to see many of you in Baltimore at the EIJ (sorry, I still call it the RTDNA) convention. I’ll be there from Wednesday afternoon until early Friday morning…a short trip but a commitment here requires a quick return.

In this week’s report, there are THREE newly named news directors and just ONE new opening. So, our count of open ND jobs drops to 31.

Our ONE paid help wanted ad this week is for one of those ND openings.

In our Names in the News section, an Alabama newspaper reports on layoffs at Raycom Media, but provides few details. We’ll link to the story. A handful of news managers are on the move in our Names in the News section. Plus we have details on a new GM for a CBS duopoly and a longtime GM retires in Portland, OR.

Read on for more, and see you in Baltimore!

Newly Named News Directors: 

KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ…we told you Thursday that MARK CASEY was returning to television as the next news director for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. He’s a market veteran, having spent 17 years at KPNX-TV (NBC), 13 as ND and four as station manager before taking the Tegna buyout in 2016. He then served as Director of Public Information for the Maricopa County (Phoenix) Sheriff’s Department. Lots of ways to learn more:

Here’s the memo from KNXV General Manager ANITA HELT.
Here’s the news release from the station.
And here’s Mark’s Linkedin page, detailing his background.

Kline

The man he replaces at KNXV made news of his own his week. CHRIS KLINE was named President and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association earlier this week. Here’s the news release on his hire. Chris spent eleven years at KNXV, the last 3 1/2 as news director.

Kaplar

WOWT-TV, Omaha, NE…DAVE KAPLAR will be the next ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. Here’s how General Manager ANDREW STEWART told his staff. Dave most recently was the Assistant ND for WEWS-TV in Cleveland. He’s a former ND in Altoona, PA, and Portland, ME, and has worked in Boston, Dallas, and Denver. At WOWT, Dave replaces AMY ADAMS who left the station in July after 11 years as ND and 26 years in all.

WABG/WXVT/WNBD/WABG-DT, Greenville, MS…MARK RIGSBY has been on the job since May as news director for this cluster of stations owned by Cala Broadcast Partners. Mark most recently was an EP for Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson. He’s been a ND in Bluefield, WV, worked as an EP for WJTV in Jackson, and has worked in Cedar Rapids, IA, Charleston/Huntington, WV, Clarksburg, WV, and Wilmington, NC. Mark replaces GAVIN MALISKA who left the stations in March.

New News Director Openings: 

Stewart

KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK…WARREN STEWART has left this Scripps owned NBC affiliate after about a year and a half as news director. He was the interim ND there before the promotion, on assignment from Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland where he was an EP. Warren’s also worked in New Orleans and Orlando.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS:

Small market News Directors, are you tired of chasing #1 with little to no resources? Are you ready to work for a dominant station and experience what winning BIG feels like? Mid-Market middle managers, are you ready for your first News Director gig with a serious news station?

WTVA, the Heartland Media owned NBC and ABC affiliate in Tupelo-Columbus, MS (133), will take your career to a big market experience fast. Heartland Media is a company that believes in and invests in live, local news (more than 9 hours of live coverage each weekday). WTVA has received 4 Emmys in the last 3 years!

Does your current employer invest in your career with training and consulting as if you were a network O & O? Heartland does, and you could soon be working with Magid consultants who partner with us to evolve our winning strategy. We may be market 133, but we play like the big leagues. You must be energetic, positive, passionate, competitive, possess strong motivational skills and exceed in recruiting and training across generations.

We live in a cultural hotbed for internationally recognized music, art, and literature. Elvis was born here. BB King played in the joints. Tennesse Williams, Faulkner, Grisham. 90 minutes from Memphis, 4 hours from Nashville; near competitive SEC universities (Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State). The cost of living is low, and your generous compensation plan will give you more bang for your buck.

Click here to learn more and apply.

EOE

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/12/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted this week)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 9/3/18)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/26/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 9/3/18)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/9/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 9/3/18)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (relisted 9/9/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (listed 8/19/18)
WALB-TV, Albany, GA (listed 8/5/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
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)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/19/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted this week)
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 this week)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, listing revised 9/9/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

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)

Names in the News (and other items):

The Montgomery Advertiser, located in Raycom Media’s home town, reported last week that the company had told ‘some employees’ that they won’t have a job once the merger with Gray Television was complete. No names were revealed. Gray does not have a large corporate staff so it’s logical to assume that some of the cuts would come from those on the Raycom corporate team.

JODIE HEISNER has been promoted at Scripps’ WXYZ-TV in Detroit to Assistant ND. She’s been the Executive Producer of Special Projects there since January, 2017. She’s also worked in Phoenix and Lansing.

ERIK VAN SANT moves from one Meredith station to another as he joins WGCL-TV (CBS) in Atlanta as its new morning executive producer. He’s spent the last four years in the same role for the company’s KPHO-TV (CBS) in Phoenix. Eric’s also worked in Seattle.

Parker

JIM PARKER starts tomorrow at Tribune’s WXIN/WTTV (Fox/CBS) in Indianapolis as Digital Director. News Director KERRI CAVANAUGH announced his hire to the staff. He most recently was an ND in Sioux City, a position he left in February. Jim’s been an ND in Cedar Rapids, Rockford, IL, and Binghamton, NY, and worked in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Portland, OR, and Toledo, where I hired him as a producer for his first TV job.

Boughton

KEVIN BOUGHTON moves from on-air to management as he becomes the new Senior Executive Producer for Quincy’s WKOW-TV in Madison, WI. He’s been the weekend anchor/reporter at KGUN-TV in Tucson. He’s worked on air in Omaha, Topeka, and Minot, ND, and as a writer in San Francisco.

General Manager News and Notes:

Draper

The new General Manager at the CBS owned duopoly in Sacramento, KOVR/KMAX-TV will be JUSTIN DRAPER, who moves north from Los Angeles. More here. Justin’s been the Controller at KCBS/KCAL-TV since 2000. He’s made the rounds of the CBS owned stations, serving as controller at WBZ/WSBK-TV in Boston, WBBM-TV in Chicago, and WCCO-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He first joined CBS in 1995 as the assistant controller at WCCO.

Wilson

DJ WILSON, who’s been the General Manager for Tegna’s KGW-TV in Portland, OR, for more than eleven years is retiring. She was honored by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters as Broadcaster of the Year in February. This article describes that honor and details her extensive career in our industry.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 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
WGN-TV, 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, IL 60618
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
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KBLR-TV 5000 West OakeySuite B2 Las Vegas, NV 89102 **
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
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 (see ad above!)
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

September 16, 2018

Thursday, September 20, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A surprise, at least to me, this afternoon with the naming of a new news director in Phoenix.

Casey

MARK CASEY, who spent 13 years as news director for Gannett/Tegna’s KPNX-TV in Phoenix (and another four years as Station Manager for that NBC affiliate) today was named news director for Scripps’ KNXV-TV.

General Manager ANITA HELT sent this memo to the staff, while the station issued this news release.

Several months after leaving KPNX, Mark joined the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as Director of Public Information. According to his Linkedin page, he left that position in February. That same Linkedin page details his extensive television background, which includes ND stops in (by my count) six markets, including Phoenix.

Kline

Mark replaces CHRIS KLINE, who was named the new President and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association earlier this week.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Best wishes to all our colleagues in the path of Florence.

Perhaps because of so much effort in covering that storm by so many people, not a lot of activity to report to you this week.

There are TWO new news directors and TWO new openings. Our count of open ND jobs increases slightly to 33.

ONE of those openings is featured in ONE of our TWO paid help wanted ads. And we have ONE ad for an RTDNA candidate.

We have ONE obituary, ONE news manager move, TWO former NDs out with new books, and NO GM news that I could confirm before publication.

Read on for more details!

Paid Political Ad

I’m Allison McGinley, news director of WKMG-TV in Orlando.

Protecting our First Amendment rights is so much more than battling Fake News: it’s about empowering our newsrooms, mentoring inspired students, and protecting our communities.

You see, I believe that protecting our industry and our rights under the First Amendment isn’t enough. We have to think bigger so YOU can be heard.

That is why I am the right candidate for RTDNA’s Region 13 Director and I am asking for your VOTE.

With information coming at us from all directions these days, are we EMPOWERING our newsrooms to stop and discuss important ethical issues?

And as an industry, we will not fail if we take care of those who follow in our footsteps. In my 24 years in this industry, I have had a number of people who have championed me, and I am the product of their lessons and their encouragement. MENTORING is how our voices will continue to be heard loud and clear.

But it’s not just about us — the journalists — being heard loud and clear. It’s about us being heard because we are the voice for the voiceless. The people who do not have the megaphone we possess, the cameras, the airwaves or the knowledge of how to access the truth. We cannot PROTECT our communities if we do not fight to retain our rights.

For more information about how I plan to be of service to YOU, check out my website at www.amcginley.com.

Newly Named News Directors: 

KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX…MELISSA HENDRIX-BEACH is being promoted to news director for this NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director and replaces MICHAEL THOMPSON who is returning to KLTV in Tyler, TX, as executive producer.  Here’s his farewell email to the staff.  KWES is currently owned by Raycom Media but is being sold to Tegna as part of the Raycom-Gray transaction.

WVII/WFVX-TV, Bangor, ME…SARAH FARLEY is being promoted to news director at this Rockfleet Broadcasting owned ABC/FOX duopoly. She’s been the Assistant News Director there since 2016 but has worked in Maine most of her life, as you’ll learn here. Sarah replaces another longtime Maine newsperson, CRAIG COLSON. We told you a few weeks ago that Craig was retiring for health reasons.

New News Director Openings: 

Busiek

KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA…we reported Thursday DAVE BUSIEK’s pending retirement after 29 YEARS as news director for this Hearst owned CBS affiliate, which covered his retirement here. Dave worked at KCCI for 39 years, beginning as a reporter/anchor. He spent most of his professional career in Des Moines, beginning at WHO-AM radio. He also spent a term as chair of RTDNA. Dave’s only other career stop was in Columbia, MO, where we attended the University of Missouri together.

Raffaele

WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS…MICHAEL RAFFAELE is leaving this Heartland Media operation after almost two years as ND. Michael says he has a new job which will be announced soon. He’s also worked in West Palm Beach, Allentown, and Johnstown, PA, in addition to several radio and print positions. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS:

Small market News Directors, are you tired of chasing #1 with little to no resources? Are you ready to work for a dominant station and experience what winning BIG feels like? Mid-Market middle managers, are you ready for your first News Director gig with a serious news station?

WTVA, the Heartland Media owned NBC and ABC affiliate in Tupelo-Columbus, MS (133), will take your career to a big market experience fast. Heartland Media is a company that believes in and invests in live, local news (more than 9 hours of live coverage each weekday). WTVA has received 4 Emmys in the last 3 years!

Does your current employer invest in your career with training and consulting as if you were a network O & O? Heartland does, and you could soon be working with Magid consultants who partner with us to evolve our winning strategy. We may be market 133, but we play like the big leagues. You must be energetic, positive, passionate, competitive, possess strong motivational skills and exceed in recruiting and training across generations.

We live in a cultural hotbed for internationally recognized music, art, and literature. Elvis was born here. BB King played in the joints. Tennesse Williams, Faulkner, Grisham. 90 minutes from Memphis, 4 hours from Nashville; near competitive SEC universities (Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State). The cost of living is low, and your generous compensation plan will give you more bang for your buck.

Click here to learn more and apply.

EOE

Morning Executive Producer, WFTV, Orlando, FL:

WFTV in Orlando has an immediate opportunity for a morning Executive Producer who will oversee the station’s strategy and execution of four hours of news on all platforms.

This is a chance to work in one of America’s best news markets at a station with all the tools to do the job. This position will have oversight of a team of producers, reporters, photographers, and digital staff. The successful candidate will also ensure that there is collaborative and effective news coverage and marketing across all platforms.

Previous success as an Executive Producer, and experience improving performance from metrics is a must. The successful candidate must be creative, able to work with a research-based framework. At least 3 years’ experience as an Executive Producer required.

To apply click here or email News Director MATT PARCELL: matt.parcell@wftv.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/12/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/15/18)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 9/3/18)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/26/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 9/3/18)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/9/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 9/3/18)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (relisted 9/9/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (listed 8/19/18)
WALB-TV, Albany, GA (listed 8/5/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, listed 9/9/18)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 8/26/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 9/9/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted this week)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19, see ad above!)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/19/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listing modified 7/15/18)
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 (listed 7/15/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, listing revised 9/9/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 7/22/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

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:

GLENN MAXHAM, a long-ago news director and anchor for KBJR-TV in Duluth, MN, died Monday of natural causes at the age of 88. He worked for several other stations, as well as the PBS station there, and spent much of his life advocating for the environment, especially Lake Superior. Learn more about an interesting life here.

Names in the News (and other items):

WPMT-TV in Harrisburg, PA, has promoted SARAH BROJACK to Senior Producer. It’s part of the station’s expansion of its morning newscast to six hours. Sarah has been a producer at this FOX affiliate since 2017, and previously worked at WCTI-TV in New Bern, NC.

Lord

Longtime newsman and general manager BILL LORD has NOT (as he told me via email) been completely wasting his retirement years on the beach. He’s written 50 Years after Vietnam about the lessons he learned as an infantry sergeant. Click here to read more about the book and a link to where you can buy it. In addition to his time as a network correspondent, Bill was an ND in Los Angeles, Washington, Seattle, and Nashville.

Dugle

Another former news director has written a book. DAWN DUGLE is the author of “The BRAVO! Way: Building a Southern Restaurant Dynasty.” This article tells you about Dawn’s current career, how the book came about and also tells you where you can buy it. Dawn returned to Mississippi after leaving TV, where she worked as an ND in Ft. Smith, AR, and in newsrooms in Tampa, Milwaukee, Austin, TX, and Jackson, MS.

General Manager News and Notes:

Nothing to report this week.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 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
WGN-TV, 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, IL 60618
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 **
KNXV-TV 515 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
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
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KBLR-TV 5000 West OakeySuite B2 Las Vegas, NV 89102 **
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
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
WOWT-TV 3501 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131
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 (see ad above!)
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
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701

**: Spanish language station