June 16, 2019
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Lots of quick items for you today.
Minnaugh
First, RYAN MINNAUGH has left his job as news director for Nexstar’s WFLA-TV in Tampa. He’d been there just over one year following a 2 1/2 year stint as ND for WTKR-TV in Norfolk. There, he worked with WFLA GM SKIP VALET who recruited him to Tampa. Ryan also worked in Cleveland, Denver and Indianapolis and for CNBC.
Howell
JAY HOWELL has been named GM for KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. Here’s the note from PETER DUNN to the staff. Remarkably, it’s the THIRD CBS o-and-o GM job in less than two years for Jay, who first joined the company in August, 2017 to run KOVR-KMAX-TV in Sacramento. Last year he was dispatched to KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh (his father was a longtime GM for WPXI-TV there.
Sadly, we also have two obituaries.
Godfrey
ED GODFREY died this morning. Most of you didn’t know him, but during a long career he served as an EP in Miami and as a news director in Louisville, Portland, OR, and Atlanta. Ed also spent a year as President of (then) RTNDA. You may remember we told you recently that he fell in a Louisville grocery store. Funeral arrangements are pending. We’ll update this site when we have them.
Arguello
And even fewer of you knew JOHN ARGUELLO, who worked at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids when I was the ND there from 1993-1995. He died Saturday at the age of 61. As this well deserved tribute will tell you, he started in the mailroom at age 18 and worked his way up to photographer, then investigative producer and later the assignment desk.
Early in my tenure there, an anchor told me “John Arguello is the smartest man in the newsroom.” I asked why, and he said John was currently reading two books on Russian history.
That’s two more than most of us have read. And the anchor was right.
RIP Ed and John. I hope to have more on both these men in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, June 17, 2019 UDPATE:
Greetings:
THREE news director changes in top 25 markets today, along with an obituary for a former big market GM who also ran CNBC.
First, several changes at Cox owned stations.
Turnbull
MISTI TURNBULL is joining the corporate staff at Cox Media, and thus leaving her job as news director of the company’s ABC affiliate in Atlanta, WSB-TV. She’s a 20 year veteran of WSB, having started there as a producer in 1999, then rising through the ranks before being named news director in 2015. She’s also worked in Colorado Springs, Norfolk, and Denver.
Nadell
She’ll be replaced as news director at WSB by SUZANNE NADEL, currently the ND for Cox’s Pittsburgh NBC affiliate, WPXI-TV. It’s a return to WSB for Suzanne, who served as an EP there before being promoted to ND for Cox’s Tulsa station, KOKI-TV in 2013. he moved to WPXI in 2016. Earlier she worked in Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Myers and Johnson City, TN.
Trabandt
Suzanne is being replaced at WPXI by Managing Editor SCOTT TRABANDT. Scott’s been the managing editor here since 2016. He previously worked as a producer and EP for WRC-TV in Washington, and also worked in Charlotte (at Cox’s WSOC-TV) and in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Not all the news is from Cox stations.
Wilson
There’s an ND change at Meredith’s Phoenix duopoly, KTVK/KPHO-TV. DAN WILSON has left this duopoly (KTVK is an independent, KPHO is the CBS affiliate) immediately. JAMIE IOOS is serving as the interim ND there. Dan spent 3 1/2 years as ND here, previously was an ND in West Palm Beach, and has worked for another Phoenix station and in Las Vegas.
Bolster
Finally (in what may be our longest update ever) BILL BOLSTER died last week after a year-long battle with cancer. Bill was a general manager at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA, then went on to success as GM for KSDK-TV (St. Louis) and WNBC-TV, the NBC flagship o-and-o in New York. He later ran CNBC. This lengthy obituary comes from his former station, KWWL.
More later this weekend!
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It was nice to see some of you both at IRE in Houston this week and the Great Lakes EMMY Awards in Cleveland Saturday night.
Just curious. Has that event ended yet? Asking for a friend.
On to less snarky comments…we have THREE new news directors to tell you about, with TWO new openings. That brings our count of open ND jobs to 30.
ONE of those 30 openings is among our FIVE paid help wanted ads this week, including THREE new ads for jobs in Denver, Birmingham, and Waterloo, IA.
In names in the news, a new job for a former Seattle Assistant ND, a new Washington bureau chief for Nexstar, and we’ll tell you about a news director whose station hosted a blood drive, and why that was important to him.
We also have an obituary for a man who had a huge impact on television in Philadelphia.
Details about TWO new General Managers for Gray TV are below, as well.
The Kneeland Project Accepting Applications Now
Only a few days left to apply!
Applications are due this (next) Friday, June 21 for The Kneeland Project’s next session, which will be held September 11-14 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 19 other outstanding news director colleagues 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 the day you return to your newsroom.
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 station…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.
Remember – apply before Friday, June 21.
Newly Named News Directors:
Saiers
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA…this Tegna owned NBC duopoly has hired PETER SAIERS to replace CHERYL CARSON as news director. Details from KING’s website. He most recently has been freelancing as an EP for KGO-TV (ABC) in San Francisco after a long career working for KPIX-TV (CBS) in San Francisco. Cheryl left in January and later took a job as news director for Sinclair’s WJLA-TV (ABC) in Washington.
Koles
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY…STEVE KOLES is the new news director for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. Steve most recently worked as ND for WBNS-TV in Columbus, OH, a job he left in March after eight months. Before that he spent seven years as ND for WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids, MI. He’s also worked in Providence, Tulsa, Baltimore, and Norfolk. At WROC, Steve replaces JIM TORTORA who left in March after three years as ND.
Onofre
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…STACI-LYN ONOFRE has been hired as the next ND for News Press and Gazette’s KRDO-TV (ABC) in Colorado Springs. Staci-Lyn is currently the Asst. ND for WSTM-WTVH-TV, the Sinclair owned duopoly in Syracuse. She replaces MIKE RAUSCH who left to explore his entrepreneur side. after 2 1/2 years at KRDO.
New News Director Openings:
Malave
KCSO-TV, Sacramento, CA…STEVE MALAVE has left this Telemundo station, just three months after an ownership change. The complete details are in this story from Media Moves. Steve’s been the ND here since October, 2017. He’d spent some time consulting the station before getting the ND job. Steve had been an EP for KXTV, the Tegna owned ABC affiliate in Sacramento. He’s also worked in Tampa and New York and at Mundo Fox.
Green
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA…ANGELA GREEN has left this Lockwood Broadcast Group FOX affiliate after about 18 months as news director. Angela posted on Facebook that she’s taking a month off before starting her next new adventure, but did not say what that was. She’s been an anchor/reporter for WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC. She’s also worked in Montgomery and Birmingham and spent five years as a Communications Manager for an electric cooperative.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Investigative Producer, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO:
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3. Collaborate with other media in Colorado and nationally. In addition to the statewide PBS network, we produce national pieces for PBS NewsHour and collaborate with Denver market-leader KUSA and other Tegna stations.
To learn more and apply, click here.
Digital Content Manager, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:
Very professional.
No drama.
#1.
Sound like a good place to work? You should apply for the Digital Content Manager position at WBRC-Fox6 News in Birmingham, AL. We’re the No. 1 Fox affiliate in the country, and the No. 1 station in the 43rd largest market. Our new DCM will be driven by urgency and ingenuity, will be a leader and a teacher, will motivate and hold the team accountable. The right candidate for this newsroom management opportunity must be a great and willing writer, have tremendous news judgement and be ready to work with our marketing and sales teams across all our digital platforms.
The WBRC Digital Content Manager will lead a team of five full-time digital content producers, plus two part-time producers. Our new DCM must have proven motivation, delegation and people management skills.
Want to know more about WBRC & Birmingham? Check this out.
Executive Producer, KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA:
KWWL is seeking an assertive news producer who is ready to take that next step toward being a top newsroom manager.
You’ll help guide our news staff and manage our multi-platform news products. Excellent news judgement is needed for this fast- paced environment and multi-city market.
The successful candidate must be able to identify great stories, create urgency and showcase stories in a memorable way. You’ll partner with the rest of the newsroom management team to coach our staff to excellence on live reports, daily weather, severe weather, breaking news and the big story.
Producers who love showcasing should definitely apply for this job. We have the latest technology alongside a renovated studio and station, now we need you to make it your playground.
Applicants must have 3 to 5 years producing experience with the goal of a career in news management.
The Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Dubuque-Iowa City market is a great place to live, by the way.
Do you like living near a college campus? We have those. Into boating, biking, snowshoeing? Maybe brew pubs are your thing? Our area has a great quality of life, and we’re located within easy driving distance from Minneapolis, Chicago and Des Moines.
KWWL is proud to be a Quincy station. Learn why our family-owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best media companies to work for at: www.quincymediacareers.com.
To apply for the Executive Producer position, e-mail your resume to:
Allison Gibson, News Director: agibson@kwwl.com
KWWL Television, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
News Director, KRCR-TV, Chico/Redding, CA:
If you love the outdoors, seek a low cost of living and enjoy the good life where community impact makes a difference, we want to talk with you about leading our news operation at KRCR in Chico/Redding, California.
Mark your mark with a creative, digital-first, innovative approach at the number one news operation in Northern California. We need a leader with a proven track record of developing appealing content across platforms while coaching a team to achieve at the highest levels.
KRCR is a legacy station build around a strong team and a long-standing commitment to serving the people of the Redding/Chico market. You would lead all multi-platform efforts in a news operation with a strong history of attracting and retaining the best in Northern California.
The job is open immediately. Apply by clicking here:
Assistant News Director, KRNV-TV, Reno, NV:
“The Biggest Little City” is more than a name! It’s a way of life in a news town that never stops. You’ll love the food, fun and amazing outdoors; mountains, lakes, trails, skiing, rafting and more.
We’re looking for help in leading a dynamic content center, that weaves together social, digital and broadcast news operations. You’ll help build a culture of creativity, innovation, teamwork and accountability.
You’ll need to own Breaking News, Investigative Reporting, and Original Reporting. You’ll also make editorial, production, and resource decisions daily, while helping drive the long-term plan.
Must have previous television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Candidate must make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments. Get the full job description and apply here.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace!
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/5/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/12/19)
WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 5/5/19)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 4/21/19)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 5/5/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 4/21/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 5/19/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 5/12/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, TX (listed 6/9/19, see ad above!)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 5/5/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, new listing this week)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (2 openings, listed 5/5/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 4/21/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 5/12/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 5/19/19)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, relisted 5/5/19)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 5/5/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, 5/5/19)
KARK-TV, Little Rock, AR (new listing this week)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 5/12/19)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (Dayside EP, listed 5/5/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (new listing this week)
WLNS-TV, Lansing MI (listed 6/2/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, listing modified 5/5/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, new listing this week)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (relisted 3/31/19)
Other News Management Openings:
New listing this week:
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr., new listing this week, see ad above!)
Listed 5/27/19:
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Mgr.)
Listed 5/19/19:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM Content Manager)
Listed 4/21/19:
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer)
Listed 3/31/19:
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Obituary:
Klein
A Philadelphia television legend died this week. LEW KLEIN was 91, and during his career touched the lives of many people in widely different areas of television. Spend a few moments to read this obituary to learn about a very interesting life.
Names in the News (and other items):
Walker
RUSS WALKER is leaving KING/KONG-TV (Tegna/NBC) in Seattle to become the new executive editor of PA Post, the non-profit, non-partisan statewide news organization launched in September 2018 by WITF Public Media. He’s been at KING since 2011, first as online managing editor and later as EP for the investigative unit before becoming AND three years ago. He’s also worked for Politico and the Washington Post, among others.
Kauffman
DON KAUFMAN will be the next Executive Producer for Nexstar’s Washington Bureau. He previously worked for WJLA-TV in Washington and spent 14 years at KUTV/KMYU-TV in Salt Lake City serving in various roles from the assignment desk to Assistant News Director.
DEAN TRAVINSKI will take I-40 from Dallas to Little Rock to become the new Assistant News Director for KARK/KLRT-TV (Nexstar). Travinski has served as executive producer for KXAS-TV in Dallas for the last five years. He was an EP in Kansas City at KCTV before that…and has also worked for another Dallas station, and in Oklahoma City and Waco.
Platzer
Some stations sponsor blood drives. It’d be nice if more would. And this story tells you how important blood drives are for people like WJAC-TV (Johnstown, PA) News Director JIM PLATZER.
General Manager News and Notes:
Gray Television has named new general managers in Bowling Green, KY (TIM COLES) and Twin Falls, ID (KATHY SILK).
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 16, 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
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KCSO-TV 500 Media Place Sacramento, CA 95815 **
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KULX-TV 314 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WAVE-TV 725 S Floyd St. Louisville, KY 40203
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WFXG-TV 3933 Washington Rd, Augusta, GA 30907
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
KERO-TV 321 21st Street Bakersfield, CA 93301
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001 (see ad above!)
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WGFL-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KPAX-TV 2204 Regent St, Missoula, MT 59801
**: Spanish language station
We’re early this week because it’s a big day for your editor. A native St. Louisian, and life long St. Louis Blues fan, I’m lucky enough to be able to go to tonight’s game six of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, which could end tonight with a Blues win.
News Director, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX:
