August 19, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018 UPDATE #2
Greetings:
We’re near the end of the busiest month I can remember in large market news director movement.
Kline
The latest: the resignation of CHRIS KLINE, the news director for the last 4+ years at Scripps’ KNXV-TV in Phoenix (the ABC affiliate in market # 11). General Manager ANITA HELT details the backstory of his departure in this memo to staff.
Before his promotion to ND in 2015, Chris had already worked at KNXV for eight years, beginning as a reporter, then moving to web producer, to executive producer, and to Director of New Media.
He also worked as a convergence journalist for Phoenix newspaper and for CNN’s Crossfire in Washington.
We’ll combine all this week’s action in our full newsletter sometime Sunday, after I attend Saturday night’s IndyCar Race at Gateway Motor Speedway outside St. Louis. (Look for me when you watch it on NBCSN at 8:00 Eastern!)
regards,
Rick Gevers
Friday, August 24, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Another top 25 news director vacancy has been filled.
Simons
Congratulations to YVONNE SIMONS who returns to the ND chair at Sinclair’s KATU-TV in Portland, OR. Yvonne has spent the last four years as the Assistant ND for KOVR/KMAX-TV, the CBS owned duopoly in Sacramento.
Earlier in an interesting career, Yvonne was the ND for KBOI-TV in Boise, ID. I say ‘interesting career’ because she spent many years in on-air positions before moving into management. You can learn more by checking out her Linkedin page.
At KATU, she replaces KYANN LEWIS who left this ABC affiliate in May after 3+ years as ND.
You already know it’s been a busy week…we’ll recap it all in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Tuesday, August 21st, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Still another management move in a large market to tell you about, today at Tegna’s KARE-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Boslow
STUART BOSLOW has been named Director of Content for this NBC affiliate. He’s currently the Assistant ND for Tegna’s sister NBC affiliate, KSDK-TV in St. Louis. Stuart’s also worked in Dallas, San Antonio, Jacksonville, FL and Reno.
In addition, longtime KARE newswoman STACEY NOGY (currently the acting ND and assistant ND there) has been promoted to News Content Director, and LAUREN OLSEN has been named Digital Content Director.
This management structure is similar to once announced last week at Tegna’s Cleveland station, WKYC-TV, and is explained in this staff memo from KARE General Manager JOHN REMES.
JANE HELMKE had been the news director at KARE before leaving in February after 6 1/2 years as ND and 35 years at the station.
This is just the latest in a very busy month of news management changes, and, no, I have no idea what’s coming next.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, August 20th, 2018 UPDATE #2:
ANOTHER news director change today for a CBS o-and-o.
ANNE LINABERGER has parted ways with KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh after more than eight years as ND. The local newspaper has more in this story.
Anne’s a 19 year KDKA veteran, worked for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh for seven years, and WTAE Radio for three years before that. She began her career in Bridgeport, VA.
The change at KDKA marks the SECOND move at a CBS o-and-o today, the THIRD in the last four business days, and the EIGHTH in the last TEN months among the company’s 14 stations that produce news.
By my count, THREE left for new jobs, there was ONE promotion, ONE retirement, and THREE involuntary separations.
Stay tuned…
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, August 20th, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
The flurry of news director hiring that we told you about in the latest newsletter continued today with the naming of a new news director in the eighth biggest market.
Neerman
MARK NEERMAN will be the next VP/News for KPIX-TV, the CBS owned station in San Francisco. He’s been the ND at KSNV-TV in Las Vegas for the past 3+ years, where also served as a regional ND for station owner Sinclair Broadcasting.
As you’ll read in this memo Mark sent to his staff in Las Vegas, it’s a return to the Bay Area. Earlier in his career he was the Assistant News Director for NBC o-and-o KNTV. He’s also been the ND for another Vegas station, as well as in Louisville and Richmond, and has worked in Portland, OR, Miami, and Columbia, MO.
He’s replacing DAN ROSENHEIM who’s retiring after 18 years as ND at KPIX (and the four years before that as ND at KRON-TV).
Congrats to Mark, and best wishes to Dan for a long and happy retirement.
Who knows what the rest of the week will bring?
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Lots of busy General Managers (or corporate types) this week as there are FIVE newly named news directors to share, with just ONE new opening. Our list of open ND jobs slips to 27.
Of note: FOUR of those FIVE new NDs were promotions within their current companies.
ONE of those 27 openings is among our THREE paid help wanted ads this week.
We’ll update what little new information we have on the sudden death of an Indiana news director. And we have TWO items in Names in the News and TWO GM hires.
TWO notes, if you will allow me.
We’re pleased to welcome a new advertiser this week: Stringr. Don’t know Stringr? COO BRIAN McNEILL described it this way:
Stringr enables major media companies to source, edit and publish videos under tight deadlines. Stringr has the only nationwide network of videographers who respond to custom video requests in real-time.
Click on the ad just below for much more information.
And we’ve modified our listing of non-news director jobs. As the industry changes, so have many management titles. Since it was tough (or just inaccurate) to list them as Assistant ND, EP, or Managing Editor, I’ve created a new category for “Other News Management Openings”, and will list them chronologically, and then by market size with the specific job title. As we do with other management jobs, we’ll post them for two months and then remove them unless the company wants to renew the free listing.
Newly Named News Directors:
Passman
KTVT/KTXA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…we shared the news earlier this week that LAURIE PASSMAN has been promoted to ND for this CBS o-and-o. She’s been the Assistant ND there since August, 2015, and has twice served as acting ND. Here’s the news release and here’s the view from Dallas TV writer ED BARK. Laurie’s a former ND in Albuquerque and has also worked for two stations in Phoenix. She succeeds ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR who was promoted to station manager here.
McGarvy
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH…you learned in our Friday UPDATE that another acting ND, in this case SEAN McGARVY, was promoted to ND for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. Sean’s been the interim since JEFF HARRIS left to be ND at WBBM-TV, the CBS o-and-o in Chicago last month after almost four years. Before taking the interim job here, Sean had been the Assistant ND at Scripps’ KMGH-TV in Denver. He’s also worked for another Denver station, held several jobs in Washington, DC, and worked in Indianapolis, Des Moines, and Columbia, MO.
Mott
WTEN/WXXA-TV, Albany, NY…still another promotion here finds RYAN MOTT upped to the top job for this Nexstar duopoly. He’s been the executive producer here since August, 2010 and previously worked a producer in Rochester, NY. Ryan replaces DAN SALAMONE who was promoted to one of the Directors Of Local Content Development for Nexstar in May after about 18 months as ND.
Watson
WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH….congratulations to MEL WATSON who gets her first ND job at this Gray Television owned ABC affiliate. The local newspaper has more. She most recently was the Senior EP for WOIO-TV in Cleveland for the past two years, and spent 17 years at WEWS-TV in Cleveland. She’s also worked in Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne. At WTVG, she replaces BRIAN TRAURING who left in June after 16 years for a corporate ND role at Lilly Broadcasting, which once owned WTVG.
Keller
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA…RON KELLER gets promoted within News Press & Gazette to become ND for this CBS affiliate. Ron’s been the Assistant ND for NPG’s Santa Barbara operation. His proud boss there, JIM LEMON, shared Ron’s varied background with me:
Ron started as a reporter in Columbus, GA and Huntsville, AL. He worked on the Assignment Desk at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. He was then a producer in Ft. Meyers, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and at WSB-TV in Atlanta. He was Promotions Manager at KUTV in Salt Lake and WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Then he was Creative Services Director at KREM-TV in Spokane. After that he taught high school journalism in Phoenix, which is where he was when I hired him here to KEYT/KCOY/KKFX.
Ron replaces DEB MONROE at KION: she stepped down last month to take a break and do some traveling with her husband.
New News Director Opening:
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX…this Tegna owned CBS affiliate has a news director opening. My records show the most recent news director here was VICKI BRADLEY who joined the station in April, 2017.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Senior Digital Producer, WTTG-TV, Washington, DC:
Fox 5 WTTG News, Washington DC the #1 News Station and most hours of local news is looking for a Sr. Digital Producer to supervise daily news coverage across all digital platforms.
Responsible for overseeing all daily editorial decisions and presentation of content on web, mobile, and social platforms. Assist Web Producers with creating and publishing text stories, video, photos, streaming of newscasts, breaking news and live news events whenever necessary. Ensure efficient delivery of breaking news content across all digital platforms in real-time. Facilitate gathering of compelling, timely digital content using information from various sources and contacts. Oversee the station’s social media strategy, including promotion of overall brand and talent. Develop and maintain special coverage sections and platform-specific content, both for planned events and breaking news. Maintain digital editorial calendar.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: BA/BS Degree in Journalism, Mass Communications, or related field with emphasis on digital publishing. 5+ years’ experience developing and publishing news content for digital platforms. Superior writing skills and news judgment. Advanced knowledge of content management systems, social media platforms, live streaming, digital analytics tools and emerging digital technologies. Working knowledge of HTML, video editing and photo editing software. Experience publishing and maintaining podcasts a plus. Ability to handle multiple demands and competing priorities simultaneously in a strict, deadline-oriented environment. Ability to work under pressure as a cohesive member of a team. Must work effectively and courteously with all other departments.
Click here to apply.
Planning Editor, WTTG-TV, Washington, DC:
Fox 5 WTTG News, Washington DC the #1 News Station and most hours of local news is looking for a Planning Editor to plan segments, news coverage and produce content for all newscasts.
Work closely with executive producers, producers, reporters and anchors to ensure that segments and stories are enterprise and accommodated in newscasts. Daily duties include researching story ideas, booking guests, conducting interviews, and producing stories, segments and producing up the screen for all newscasts. Understand the logistics of the assignment desk and the needs of a newscast through a producer’s eyes. Work with web site in developing stories, segments and projects to work in conjunction with newscasts. Responsible for gathering story info from various news sources and determining the newsworthiness. Make decisions on stories to cover that will be timely, news worthy and break news on our broadcast and digital platforms. Have the ability to alter segments as newsbreaks and changes. Keep news staff apprised of breaking news and changes in assignments. Communicate with affiliates to ensure continuity in coverage. Coordinate coverage of special events.
College degree in broadcast journalism or other related field.
Previous assignment desk and/or producing experience preferred. Must be well organized and able to manage multiple projects. Must demonstrate outstanding news judgment and good news writing skills. Must be able to deal effectively with people, and work well in a fast-paced environment. Working knowledge of newsroom computers and the Internet.
Overtime, holidays and varied hours required.
To apply, click here.
News Director, KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA:
This won’t be your average News Director job posting.
Sure, we could talk about the “Spokane Surprise” and all of the cool things our gorgeous, growing area has to offer. Or we might highlight the state-of-the-art facility in the heart of downtown that inspires awe from our visitors. We could even mention that we’re part of a privately owned broadcasting company that doesn’t believe in the corporate top-down approach.
But why bore you with those details? Let’s get to the good stuff!
KHQ is on the leading edge of the content revolution, from technology to workflows to employee engagement. We also blow the competition out of the water when it comes to ratings. This gives us the license to try even more cool things. When was the last time you talked about staffing eGaming marathons on your local sports channel? How often have you game-planned customized OTT channels? When was the last time you approved a purchase order for the station’s own line of coffee?
Despite all of these unusual things, we are deeply committed to powerful storytelling. And we’re still about basic blocking and tackling. We need a strong leader who practices “relaxed intensity” (this is a real thing). We need a pied piper who can motivate and inspire generations X, Y and Z. And we need a skilled journalist who can deploy our robust staff in a way that ensures we keep our lead on all platforms virtually every hour of every day.
If this seems like “you,” please get in touch: newsdirector@khq.com
No phone calls please. EOE, women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/12/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/15/18)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 7/1/18)
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC (relisted this week)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 7/1/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 6/24/18)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 7/1/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (new listing this week)
WALB-TV, Albandy, GA (listed 8/5/18)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 6/8/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 7/1/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 7/8/18)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (Senior EP, listed 7/1/18)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (2 jobs, Special Projects & PM EP, listing revised 7/15/18)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/1/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listing modified 7/15/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/1/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, relisted this week)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 7/15/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 7/8/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (THREE EP openings, listed 7/8/18)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/1/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted this week)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 7/22/18)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 7/1/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
Listed this week:
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Director of National News Content)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Senior Digital Producer, see ad above!)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Editor, see ad above!)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Mgr. of Investigative and Enterprise Content)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Mgr./Investigative and Enterprise Content)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (Digital Content Manager)
Obituary:
Reece
We shared with you earlier this week the sad news of the sudden passing of DEANA REECE, the news director for Nexstar’s WTWO-TV in Terre Haute. She was 59.
Deana had been ND here for more than four years. She previously spent four years as an ND for WICS/WICD-TV in Central Illinois and, before that, was an ND at KVAL-TV in Eugene, OR, for seven years. She’s also worked in Rochester, NY and Columbia, MO, where she was graduated from the University of Missouri.
This very brief obituary indicates that services are pending in Harrisonville, MO, a small town about 40 miles south of Kansas City. I’d suggest you continue to check that site for later updates.
Our sympathy to Deana’s family, friends, and co-workers at WTWO.
Names in the News (and other items):
There are new executive producers to report at TWO Raycom Media stations.
CRANDALL SIMS has been promoted to Executive Producer for WBTV, Raycom’s CBS affiliate in Charlotte. She moves up from her producing position. She’s also worked in Columbia, SC, and Myrtle Beach.
And JANNA SMITHSON joins Raycom’s WMC-TV in Memphis as AM Executive Producer. Smithson comes from WKRN-TV in Nashville where she has worked as producer for the last five years. Janna’s also worked in two small Illinois markets.
General Manager News and Notes:
After a few dry weeks in this category, we have TWO items:
Kelly
Longtime Birmingham News Director (and, more recently a GM in Roanoke) GARRY KELLY heads to Augusta, GA, where he starts tomorrow as the GM for WFXG-TV. That’s a FOX affiliate currently owned by Raycom but will be sold as part of the pending deal with Gray TV. Garry’s also been an ND in Huntsville, AL, and has worked in Nashville, Denver, and Detroit.
Wyatt
ANDREW WYATT…whose departure from WFXG created the opening that Garry Kelly is filling..will be the next GM for WDVM-TV (once WHAG-TV) the Nexstar owned independent station in Hagerstown, MD. Andrew spent more than five years in Augusta and more than seven years as a general manger in Yuma, AZ.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 19, 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
KPIX-TV 5855 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
WWMT-TV 590 W Maple St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201 (see ad above)
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
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
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
Sinclair has rebranded the long-time Washington (DC) 24 hour news channel. Formerly known as NewsChannel 8, it’s now WJLA 24/7 News. More