June 24, 2018
Monday, June 25, 2018 UPDATE #2:
Greetings:
One of the largest market news director openings on our list has been filled today.

Harris
JEFF HARRIS is headed to Chicago as news director for CBS’s WBBM-TV. Jeff is currently the ND for Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland, a position he’s held since late 2014 . Before returning to his hometown of Cleveland, Jeff was the ND at Scripps’ KMGH-TV in Denver for six years.
Jeff worked at WEWS earlier in his career as a producer before leaving for his first stint at KMGH. He left Denver for four years at KPIX-TV in San Francisco before returning to KMGH as ND.
In Chicago, he replaces JEFF KIERNAN who left in March to return to Milwaukee as Senior Director of Local Content for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV. Jeff spent almost nine years as ND in Cleveland.
A busy day, with TWO updates. Who knows what the rest of the week will bring!
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Monday, June 25, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Another day, another broadcasting mega-deal, as Gray Television is combining with Raycom Media.
The result, as detailed in this news release:
- 142 full-power television stations serving 92 markets, the third largest portfolio of stations and markets in the country.
Raycom’s current CEO, PAT LaPLATNEY will become Gray’s President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, while HILTON HOWELL, currently the top man at Gray, will become Co-CEO and Executive Chairman.
There are NINE markets where both companies own stations. The news release (linked above) explains that they will sell stations in those markets, rather than request a waiver. And there’s a handy-dandy chart explaining which stations will be sold.
Raycom is employee owned, while Gray is publicly traded. In early trading, Gray’s stock is up about than 10 percent.
I’m sure you’ll see much more coverage of this deal in the hours and days ahead.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A busy week of news director changes, and we have some interesting news items for you, as well.
FOUR new news directors…one in Los Angeles. And there are TWO new openings, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 30.
And our ONE paid help wanted ad is for a news director’s job in a very attractive place to live.
There’s obituary for a long time Tennessee news director and anchor who also served in the Tennessee legislature…twice. And there are some interesting articles in our Names in the News (and other stuff) section.
All that and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:

Lee
Spectrum News, Los Angeles, CA…this not-yet-launched cable news channel named CATER LEE VP of News. She’s spent the last seven years as Vice President of Programming for Scripps, but has worked at several Los Angeles stations, both on-air and as a news manager. You can learn more about her background via her Linkedin page.

Norred
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA…KAY NORRED moves to this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate as news director. She’s been the ND at another Nexstar operation, WRBL-TV in Columbus, GA, for almost three years. Kay’s been an ND for WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, VA and has also worked in Tampa, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and Pensacola, FL. At WFXR she replaces ROB TOMPKINS who left the station in March after 2 1/2 years as ND.

Plyler
WDTV, Bridgeport, WV…ADAM PLYLER is the new news director for this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. More in this news release from his proud alma mater. He’s been working as a producer for WSAZ-TV in Huntington-Charleston and has worked at WOWK-TV there. NATE SMAIL has been the ND and anchor at WDTV, and his bio is still on the website. Perhaps he’s just going to anchor. (I emailed him and got no response.)

Silberstein
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY…MARK SILBERSTEIN starts Monday (June 25) as the next news director for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. Mark most recently has been the senior producer at WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw, but has worked in a number of places during his career: Linkedin tells the story. BOB ROCKSTROH was the ND here before being transferred to Nexstar’s WFFF-TV in Burlington, VT.
New News Director Openings:

Bennallack
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH…DAVID BENNALLACK is retiring after 30 years with Cox Media, the last eleven as ND for this CBS affiliate. He also oversees the company’s radio stations in Dayton. More in this news release. Dave started with Cox at the company’s flagship, WSB-TV in Atlanta before moving to El Paso, TX, to launch a news department for KFOX-TV.
WRBL-TV, Columbus, GA…we noted above KAY NORRED’s promotion to ND for sister-Nexstar station WFXR-TV in Roanoke, VA.
And be sure to check out the Paid Help Wanted ad below for the News Director opening in Portland, OR.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, KATU-TV, Portland, OR:
Do you want to live in one of the most desirable cities in the country? (US News 2018 Ranking – #2 Most Desired Place to Live)
Welcome to Portland, Oregon and KATU TV.
Portland has a quality of life like none other. Always awarded with top cultural rankings (most vibrant music scenes, “greenest” cities, best food truck cities, best breweries and more), Portland is also home to great professional sports (NBA and Major League Soccer) as well as outstanding arts (opera and ballet companies). It’s also home to phenomenal outdoor adventures. From cycling and hiking to the mountains and the beaches, Portland has it all in a vibrant and diverse community. You’ll love living here!
KATU TV is looking for a highly competitive and aggressive news manager to oversee content and strategy for all local news platforms in this great market. You will need a full understanding of what content works best on each platform and how to develop it. You would join a tremendous team of award-wining and respected journalists in this highly competitive market.
To find out more about the job and to apply, click here!
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WABC-TV, New York, NY (listed 6/8/18)
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/28/18)
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC (listed 6/17/18)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 4/22/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (new listing this week)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (new listing this week)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 4/22/18)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 6/8/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 4/22/18)
WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Dayside EP, listed 5/28/18)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (PM EP, listed 5/28/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 5/28/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted 4/29/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/13/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, listed 6/17/18)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (AM EP, listed 5/13/18)
WRGB-TV, Albany, NY (relisted 5/20/18)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (Nightside EP, relisted 5/13/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 6/3/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, listing revised 4/29/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 6/3/18)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 5/28/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
Obituary:

White
RAY WHITE, a longtime anchor and news director in Chattanooga, died June 16th at the age of 80. He actually worked at WDEF-TV three times, in the 60’s, 70,s and 80’s. Ray also served two non consecutive terms in the Tennessee House. I learned a lot about him in this column from WRCB-TV anchor DAVID CARROLL.
Names in the News (and other items):
Congratulations to KCRA-TV in Sacramento and WREX-TV in Rockford, IL, which won National Edward R. Murrow awards for overall excellence. The complete list of all the winners can be found here.

Busiek
KCCI-TV News Director DAVE BUSIEK has been inducted into the Iowa Broadcasting Hall of Fame. And no wonder…he’s been at the Hearst owned CBS affiliate for almost 40 years, and news director for about 30. Dave is a past RTDNA chair, as well.
550,000 FEET of news film. That’s what’s being digitized at a Pennsylvania company, all from KATV in Little Rock. The finished product will be available at the Pryor Center in Fayetteville. Wouldn’t it be great if every station could find a way (and a donor, most likely) to save that history? More from the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Cincinnati Magazine takes a lengthy look at the challenges facing the E. W. Scripps company, which says it’s banking on old-fashioned journalism to find success in a new age for media. It an interesting read.
General Manager News and Notes:
I’m not aware of any general manager moves this week.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 24 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
WBBM-TV 22 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
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 **
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd Denver, CO 80203
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 (see ad above!)
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford, CT 06110
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY 12204
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
WTVG-TV 4247 Dorr St. Toledo, OH 43607
WTOC-TV 11 The News Place Savannah, GA 31405
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KAPP/KVEW-TV PO Box 1749. Yakima, WA 98907
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Hwy, Oak Hill, WV 25901
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701
**: Spanish language station