Rick Gevers & Associates

March 24, 2019

March 29, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

We’re always pleased when a news director ascends to the GM chair, and that’s our report today.

Mokhtari

TODD MOKHTARI heads down I-5 to become GM of the NBC stations in San Diego, KNSD/KUAN-TV (NBC/Telemundo).

Todd’s an NBC veteran, having spent the last seven years as ND for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, where he had earlier been the Managing Editor. He also spent time as the Assistant ND at NBC’s KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco.

Todd’s non-NBC stops included ND jobs at KCPQ-TV and KIRO-TV in Seattle. He began his career in Sacramento.

At KSND, he replaces DICK KELLEY who is retiring.

More on all this week’s developments in our full newsletter later this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Is your bracket destroyed yet? 🙂

We have just ONE new news director to introduce to you this weekend, but he’s no rookie…having been an ND in Los Angeles and Chicago. Read on to learn about his move to market 154.

And we have TWO new ND openings to report. That brings out count of open ND jobs to 28.

Just below you’ll see the new ad from a frequent advertiser, Weather Metrics. Please check out their booth at NAB, along with the booth for longtime advertiser Devlin Design Group. The booth addresses are in their ads.

Just ONE GM item this week, and several stories in Names in the News, including details about a longtime AP exec leaving the company and headed to the open road!

All that and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Director: 

Hume

KAAL-TV, Rochester/Austin, MN…CRAIG HUME is headed north to be ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the station’s news release. Many of you know Craig, who’s career as taken him from ND jobs in Los Angeles to Chicago to Orlando, and many other stops. His career is outlined in his Linkedin page. My records (not always accurate) list DAVID SPRINGER as ND here from 2012 until last December.

New News Director Openings: 

Levy

WOWK-TV, Charleston-Huntington, WV…GRENDEL LEVY has left this Nexstar Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the ND here for just about a year. Grendel spent six years at KIVI-TV in Boise, the last four as ND for that Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. She’s also worked in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi. Her replacement will be the fourth ND here in less than three years.

Saxton

WECT-TV, Wilmington, NC…SCOTT SAXTON will leave this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate when his contract expires in May. Scott tells me he and his wife have bought the local franchise for Soccer Shots, which he describes as Soccer Shots, a soccer education program for children. Here’s the note from his GM. Scott’s been there almost ten years. He spent much of his earlier career at WSAZ-TV in Huntington, WV, beginning as a reporter and working his way up to ND.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/19)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 3/17/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 3/3/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 3/3/19)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 3/10/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 3/10/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (new listing this week)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (relisted this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/24/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 3/10/19)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, listed 3/10/19)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/3/19)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 3/10/19)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 3/3/19)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted 3/10/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 3/24/19)
WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI (new listing this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed 3/17/19:

WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/10/19:

KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WKRG, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/3/19:

Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO (Chief Content Officer)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV Digital Executive Producer)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital Executive Producer)

Relisted 2/10/17:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

RTDNA executive director DAN SHELLEY penned this nice response defending our business to a letter to the editor to a column written by a local blogger that was printed (corrected 3/25/19) in the Joplin Globe (Dan’s from Southwest Missouri).

Vann

We told you that longtime GM and former ND LES VANN was stepping down as GM for Meredith’s WHNS-TV, the FOX affiliate in Greenville, SC, to concentrate on his battle with Parkinson’s. More details in this note that Les sent me, which includes his email address for anyone wanting to wish him well. Les has been at WHNS for two years, and his been a GM in eight stations and spent 17 years as an anchor and ND in Springfield, IL.

Young

Congratulations to longtime Associated Press Regional Television Executive BOB YOUNG who left the AP on Friday after 33 years. Bob told me he bought an RV and he and his wife Diane will be traveling the country. Before the AP, Bob was an ND in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Jackson, MS, and an anchor/reporter in Wilmington, NC, and Chattanooga.

Apologies for an error last week…we reported that VICKI BRADLEY was joining WTXL-TV in Tallahassee as its new Assistant ND. In fact, Vicki is the new morning EP at that Scripps owned ABC affiliate.

General Manager News and Notes:

JENNIFER HANSEN has been named General Manager of Sinclair’s WRLH-TV in Richmond, VA. That’s the FOX and MyTV network affiliate.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 24, 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

News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
WSPA-TV 250 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25301
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
WECT-TV 322 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28412
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
WJMN-TV 3165 Wright Street, Suite 101 Marquette, MI 49855

**: Spanish language station

March 17, 2019

Monday, March 18, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Sorry to tell you that a longtime general manager (and former news director) is stepping down for health reasons.

Vann

LES VANN, who’s spent the last years two years as GM of Meredith’s WHNS-TV (FOX) in Greenville, SC, told his staff this afternoon that he is leaving to concentrate on his battle against Parkinson’s. More in this email that Les sent me earlier today, which includes his email address for anyone wishing to send him a note.

In addition to WHNS, Les has held, by my count, GM jobs at eight other stations and spent 17 years in Champaign, Springfield, IL, as a news director and anchor.

That emailed note Les sent me did include one bright note…he’s being inducted into the Illinois State University Television Hall of Fame late this spring. That’s his alma mater.

One other note: about three dozen of you were nice enough to email me pointing out that in yesterday’s story about former Ft. Wayne ND DICK FLOREA‘s induction to the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, a typo turned ‘inducted’ into ‘indicted’.

He was not indicted.

Journalism is not a crime in Indiana.

At least not yet.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Is your bracket finished yet? 🙂

Our weekly list of news director and news management changes includes TWO new news directors and THREE new openings. See if you can find the common thread among the new openings. (To be honest, we’re making it pretty easy for you.)

The number of stations looking for a news director remains at 27. Check out the listing for ONE of those jobs, featured among our THREE paid help wants ads.

Sadly, THREE obituaries this week, including one for a former news director who just left his last post in September.

We’ll tell you about a big honor for a longtime industry maintstay. That’s among the items in Names in the News. There are several news managers on the moves, and we have not one, not two, but FOUR stories about former news directors.

Read on!

Newly Named News Directors: 

Varner

KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…KIRK VARNER will be the next news director for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. Details in this news release. Kirk’s currently the ND for Nexstar’s WSPA-TV in South Carolina (more on that below) and has been an ND in several markets, held management jobs for cable news operations and once served as ND for ESPN. He replaces ANNE WITTENBORG who announced last December she would be leaving the station after ten years and three as ND.

Shill

WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI…KRISTEN SHILL is being promoted and will replace DAN SCHILLINGER as the ND for this Quincy owned ABC affiliate. She’s currently the Assistant ND there as you’ll learn in this memo from GM DAVE BOOTH. She’s held a wide number of jobs during her career there. We told you last week that Dan is retiring but will still do some work for Quincy.

New News Director Openings: 

Careful readers will note a common thread in our THREE openings this week.

WSPA-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville, SC… we told you above that KIRK VARNER is headed north to be ND at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. WSPA is a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar.

Tortora

WROC-TV, Rochester, NY…JIM TORTORA is apparently leaving as the job is posted. He’s been there for more than three years, and is a longtime upstate New York news manager who also spent three years as VP/News and Station Manager for WGGB-TV in Springfield, MA. WROC is a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar.

WJMN-TV, Marquette, MI…another apparent departure as this job is posted as well. My records show that CYNTHIA THOMPSON has been ND here for more than five years. Let’s say it together: WJMN is a CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar.

Also, please note the ad below for the news director job at KIRO-TV in Seattle, WA.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA:

KIRO-TV in Seattle seeks a dynamic leader with solid news judgment to oversee all aspects of daily news and digital content. The News Director will be responsible for leading an experienced news team of 115+ in the execution of top quality newscasts while growing audience ratings and our digital products. This station broadcasts 5.5 hours of local news each day.

As a part of Cox Media Group, KIRO 7 News is dedicated to straightforward breaking news coverage and informing the community in Western Washington. Our team at Cox Media Group is creating innovative ways to deliver news and information, tell entertaining stories and hold the powerful accountable.

The News Director will provide strategic and tactical direction for day-to-day news coverage, breaking news, special projects, investigative reporting, special event coverage for all distribution channels, including creating content for OTT channels.
You will supervise executive producers, producers, and managing editor in carrying out the organization’s policies and goals, and you’ll work collaboratively to integrate digital platform into everything we create. You’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop a diverse staff, to include identifying, recruiting and retaining top talent from a wide variety of sources.

Click here and apply to join our team, and help us build the future of media together.

Executive Producer, WJAR-TV, Providence, RI:

WJAR, Southern New England’s News Leader, and one of America’s most successful NBC stations, has a rare opening for an energetic and creative Executive Producer.

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the production of relevant, compelling newscasts with high production value.

Strong news judgment, communication, and leadership skills are a must.

Rhode Island is a small state, but we play big, often competing with Boston on big stories. If you are looking to dive into management, or move to a bigger market, you can’t ask for a better shop.

Our team is experienced, hard-working, and driven to stay on top. We’ve been #1 for 70 years – we’re looking for someone to help keep us there.

As an added bonus, you’ll get to enjoy a spectacular restaurant scene, oceanfront views, and some of the best beaches in America. (P.S. We hear the football team that’s 20 minutes from our front door is pretty good, too!)

To learn more or apply, please click on this link:

Newscast Producer (Weekend), KNTV, San Jose, CA:

KNTV is looking for a highly motivated Weekend Newscast Producer with outstanding news judgment and digital skills, a sense of good production value, and the ability to pitch great stories for a highly competitive, high pressure newsroom.

The Producer will be responsible for producing a newscasts in conjunction with the Executive Producer, Assignment Editors, Reporters, Anchors, Writers and other Producers. They will desktop edit, write and produce news content for broadcast, digital and web platforms. Successful candidates will be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories in the show.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Basic Qualifications:

* A degree in Broadcasting, Journalism or related field
* A minimum of 3 years’ experience producing in a broadcast or cable news environment in a middle-to-major news market.

Desired Characteristics:

* Strong news writing skills and the ability to write, edit, produce and gather content under heavy deadline pressure, without compromising accuracy or credibility
* Must be a team player and work well with Reporters, Assignment Editors, Writers and other Producers
* Must be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories
* Passion to develop and present story ideas
* Invested and engaged in the local community and authentically understands and represents the local viewer
* Knowledge and understanding of various media platforms, including broadcast, web and mobile
* Strong computer skills, with basic understanding of multi-media file formats
* A pioneering spirit with the desire the learn emerging technologies

Click here to apply.

.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/19)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (new listing this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 3/3/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 3/3/19)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 3/10/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 3/10/19)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/13/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/19)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 1/6/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/24/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 3/10/19)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, listed 3/10/19)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/3/19)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 3/10/19, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 3/3/19)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted 3/10/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

New listings this week:

WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/10/19:

KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WRKG, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/3/19:

Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO (Chief Content Officer)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV Digital Executive Producer)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital Executive Producer)

Relisted 2/10/17:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Hirsch

STEW HIRSCH died March 8th after what this obituary calls a brief illness. He was just 53 years old. Stew most recently was the ND for WFFT-TV in Ft. Wayne. His career took him around several stations in Ohio and other parts of the country, and also to jobs outside our business. More in his Linkedin page.

Carlson

DENNIS CARLSON, a longtime Montana news anchor and news director, died last Friday at the age of 58. He lost a battle with pancreatic cancer. More in this tribute posted by KTVH-TV in Helena.

Finally, JEFF LYLE died at the age of 56 of a stroke. He was the GM of a company called SSN Media Gateway. The firm serves as a major broadcast and master control service outsourcer for TV stations around the country.

Names in the News (and other items):

Connell

Congratulations to SANDRA CONNELL, well known in our industry. She’s being honored with Dallas-For Worth Alliance for Women in Media Silver Award of Excellence. You know (or at least should) that Sandra is the President of Talent Dynamics, now in its 22nd year after a long career with Audience Research & Development. Sandra will be given the award at a gala next month in Dallas.

WXIX-TV in Cincinnati has a new executive producer. NICK HELTON, who’s been a producer for this Gray TV owned FOX affiliate, gets bumped up. He’s also worked for another Cincinnati station.

Bradley

VICKI BRADLEY is the new Assistant ND Morning EP (corrected 3/17/19) for WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. That’s the Scripps owned ABC affiliate in Florida’s capital city. She’s a former ND in Tyler, TX, and has worked for two stations in the Greensboro-High Point market, as well as in Wilmington, NC, and for the Weather Channel.

BRIT STACK joins WJHL-TV in the Tri-Cities market (covering parts of Virginia and Tennessee) as the Assistant ND. Most recently she was the Senior Producer for WCYB-TV, the NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities. She’s also worked in New Orleans and Alexandria, LA, and in Harlingen, TX.

Several items about former news directors in the news:

Adams

KAREN ADAMS, once a news director in Charlotte but perhaps better known as a longtime anchorfor WPRI-TV in Providence, has donated one million dollars to her endowment at the University of Rhode Island. It’s aimed at helping female students in the media school there.

Chard

DEBI CHARD has retired just one month short of her 43rd anniversary with WCSC-TV in Charleston, SC. She served the station primarily as an anchor, but besides anchoring, she has been the medical reporter, a managing editor, an assignment editor, a producer and even news director for a time.

Florea

Longtime Ft. Wayne anchor and news director DICK FLOREA is one of five people being inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. He retired in 2001 after 35 years at WJKG-TV (now WISE-TV).

Renick

And the Miami Herald dug deep into the archives for a long look at the long career of groundbreaking Miami ND and anchor RALPH RENNICK. He spent 35 years as anchor and ND for WTVJ-TV before hanging it up in 1985. He then launched a short lived run for governor of Florida which ended after a few months.

General Manager News and Notes:

Kravetz

Longtime Boston newsman CHARLIE KRAVETZ abruptly left his post as GM of WBUR-FM this week. He’s a former GM of New England Cable News and spent 12 years as a news manager for WCVB-TV there.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 17, 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

News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121 (see ad above!)
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
WSPA-TV 250 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
WJMN-TV 3165 Wright Street, Suite 101 Marquette, MI 49855

**: Spanish language station

March 10, 2019

Thursday, March 14, 2019 UPDATE #2:

Greetings:

As promised, our second UPDATE of the day brings happier news…and updates a story we first told you about yesterday.

Varner

KIRK VARNER heads north to become the next news director for Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP-TV (ABC) in Minneapolis. Here’s the news release distributed moments ago by the station.

We told you yesterday that Kirk was leaving his current job as ND for WSPA/WYCW-TV, Nexstar’s duopoly in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market. He’s been there 3 1/2 years.

He’s been an ND in a number of other markets and held executive jobs with several cable operations and you’ll learn in his detailed Linkedin page.

Anne W.

At KSTP, he replaces ANNE WITTENBORG who announced last December she would leave in a few months. Her next destination is unknown but she told me then she was looking for a new challenge and excited about the future. Anne worked here twice, in this stint for ten years, the last three as ND.

More in our full newsletter later this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Thursday, March 14, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

I’m sorry to report the passing of a multi time news director who died last week.

Hirsch

STEW HIRSCH was just 53 years old when he died last Friday in a Ft. Wayne hospital after what this obituary called a short illness.

His most recent news director job was at WFFT-TV, the FOX affiliate in Ft. Wayne. He left there last September and worked briefly as a salesman for a local Honda dealer.

Stew had held a variety of jobs both in and out of the business…you can learn more on his Linkedin page.

He’s survived by four children, his mother, and a sister. A celebration of his life will be held this Sunday in a suburb of Columbus, OH, where Stew had worked in three different newsrooms. (Details in the obituary above.)

Our sympathy to his family, friends, and former co-workers.

We anticipate another UPDATE this afternoon with much happier news.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A veteran news director announces his departure but says his new gig won’t be ready to announce for a few days.

Varner

KIRK VARNER has announced that he is stepping down as news director of Nexstar’s WSPA/WYCW-TV in the multi-hyphenated Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson market.

Kirk has been with the stations since August, 2015, after a four and half year stint as ND for WKRC-TV in Cincinnati.

He told the staff that he was very happy at WSPA, but an opportunity had come along that he couldn’t pass up, adding that he couldn’t give out the particulars on his new job quite yet, but expected to be able to announce the details “within a few days.”

Kirk’s also been a news director in Hartford/New Haven, CT and Buffalo, NY, as well as at ESPN in the network’s first decade. He was also Time Warner Cable’s VP of Local News and the force behind the launch of ten 24-hour local news channels for the cable operator in the late 90s including Bay News 9, Central Florida News 13, and News 8 Austin.

Kirk has promised to share his new job with me when he can, and we’ll let you know what it is when he does.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

The hits just keep on coming (as radio DJ’s use to scream…dating myself here, I know) this week as we have THREE new news directors, including ONE in the number one market. And we have TWO new ND openings to tell you about.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to 27. ONE of those jobs…in a pretty great place to live, by all accounts, is featured among our FOUR paid help wants ads.

In names in the news, just ONE move but we have FOUR other stories, including a New York state news manager updating his battle against MS, and tips on what to tell unhappy viewers when they call you comparing about severe weather interruptions.

And there’s ONE store about a GM turned corporate executive who’s retiring at the end of the month.

Read on!

Newly Named News Directors: 

WPIX-TV, New York, NY…VICKIE BURNS has been named ND for this Tribune owned (for now) CW affiliate. Vickie’s done some consulting work for Tribune since running newsrooms at NBC owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. She replaces AMY WALDMAN who spent eleven years there, the last four as ND. GM BART FEDER praised her passion for the station and for the kind of journalism that makes a difference in announcing the change.

WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL…another ND hire at another Tribune station leaves PAUL CARON in charge at this CBS affiliate. Details here. He’s been the Assistant ND here since 2017 and came her from WGCL-TV in Atlanta where he was managing editor. Paul spent almost 30 years at CNN, including some time as a reporter in Miami. He replaces DENISE VICKERS who left to become a GM at WFXG-TV in Albany, GA.

KREX-TV, Grand Junction, CO…JOHN KIRBY is the new news director for this Nexstar/CBS station. John has what you could easily call a non-traditional background for a news director. He replaces GEOFF ROTH who left earlier this year after 18 months as ND and moved to KMTV in Omaha as news director there.

New News Director Openings: 

Elwood

KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA…we told you earlier this week that news director DEAN ELWOOD is leaving this Tegna owned CBS station after spending his entire 23 + year career there.  General Manager ALBERTO MIER Y TERAN told the staff via this email. Dean’s been the ND since 2008 and, as you can imagine, has held many other jobs during his time there.

Schillinger

WQOW-TV, Eau Claire, WI…DAN SCHILLINGER is retiring after a long career, the last five years of which were spent at this Quincy owned station. He filled in some of the details in this email to me earlier this week, including his plans to continue to do some work for Quincy on a part-time basis. Congratulations, Dan!

Also, please note the ad just below for the open news director job at KIRO-TV in Seattle, WA, the CBS affiliate there.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA:

KIRO-TV in Seattle seeks a dynamic leader with solid news judgment to oversee all aspects of daily news and digital content. The News Director will be responsible for leading an experienced news team of 115+ in the execution of top quality newscasts while growing audience ratings and our digital products. This station broadcasts 5.5 hours of local news each day.

As a part of Cox Media Group, KIRO 7 News is dedicated to straightforward breaking news coverage and informing the community in Western Washington. Our team at Cox Media Group is creating innovative ways to deliver news and information, tell entertaining stories and hold the powerful accountable.

The News Director will provide strategic and tactical direction for day-to-day news coverage, breaking news, special projects, investigative reporting, special event coverage for all distribution channels, including creating content for OTT channels.
You will supervise executive producers, producers, and managing editor in carrying out the organization’s policies and goals, and you’ll work collaboratively to integrate digital platform into everything we create. You’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop a diverse staff, to include identifying, recruiting and retaining top talent from a wide variety of sources.

Click here and apply to join our team, and help us build the future of media together.

Executive Producer, WJAR-TV, Providence, RI:

WJAR, Southern New England’s News Leader, and one of America’s most successful NBC stations, has a rare opening for an energetic and creative Executive Producer.

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the production of relevant, compelling newscasts with high production value.

Strong news judgment, communication, and leadership skills are a must.

Rhode Island is a small state, but we play big, often competing with Boston on big stories. If you are looking to dive into management, or move to a bigger market, you can’t ask for a better shop.

Our team is experienced, hard-working, and driven to stay on top. We’ve been #1 for 70 years – we’re looking for someone to help keep us there.

As an added bonus, you’ll get to enjoy a spectacular restaurant scene, oceanfront views, and some of the best beaches in America. (P.S. We hear the football team that’s 20 minutes from our front door is pretty good, too!)

To learn more or apply, please click on this link:

Newscast Producer (Weekend), KNTV, San Jose, CA:

KNTV is looking for a highly motivated Weekend Newscast Producer with outstanding news judgment and digital skills, a sense of good production value, and the ability to pitch great stories for a highly competitive, high pressure newsroom.

The Producer will be responsible for producing a newscasts in conjunction with the Executive Producer, Assignment Editors, Reporters, Anchors, Writers and other Producers. They will desktop edit, write and produce news content for broadcast, digital and web platforms. Successful candidates will be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories in the show.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Basic Qualifications:

* A degree in Broadcasting, Journalism or related field
* A minimum of 3 years’ experience producing in a broadcast or cable news environment in a middle-to-major news market.

Desired Characteristics:

* Strong news writing skills and the ability to write, edit, produce and gather content under heavy deadline pressure, without compromising accuracy or credibility
* Must be a team player and work well with Reporters, Assignment Editors, Writers and other Producers
* Must be active on social media and understand how to leverage those platforms for all stories
* Passion to develop and present story ideas
* Invested and engaged in the local community and authentically understands and represents the local viewer
* Knowledge and understanding of various media platforms, including broadcast, web and mobile
* Strong computer skills, with basic understanding of multi-media file formats
* A pioneering spirit with the desire the learn emerging technologies

Click here to apply.

Chief Content Officer, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver CO:

Rocky Mountain Public Media located in Denver, Colorado, home to Rocky Mountain PBS and KUVO Radio, is the largest statewide, member-supported, multi-media network in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain Public Media’s mission is to strengthen the civic fabric of the state by engaging audiences across platforms with high-quality, trusted content. To further this mission and to help this public institution transition into the Digital Age, Rocky Mountain Public Media seeks a full-time Chief Content Officer to lead its duPont-Columbia Award-winning team.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Content Officer works directly with the CEO and other organizational and community leaders to create relevant content engagement for Rocky Mountain Public Media’s current and future members. The Chief Content Officer oversees the Content team, including Television, Radio, Digital, and Programming. In addition, the Chief Content Officer works alongside the Development and Marketing team to ensure content is ultimately member-supported and that audience engagement and responsiveness is a pervasive value governing the work.

For more information, or to apply now, please visit this website.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/19)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (new listing this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 3/3/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 3/3/19)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/6/19)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/13/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/19)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 1/6/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/24/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted this week)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 3/3/19)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 3/3/19)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/30/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

New listings this week:

KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WRKG, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 3/3/19:

Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO (Chief Content Officer) See Ad Above!
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV Digital Executive Producer)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital Executive Producer)

Relisted 2/10/17:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

Bonfils

DARCY BONFILS has joined WNYT-TV in Albany, NY, as its assistant news director. She’s worked in New York City, most recently as an EP for Spectrum NY1. She’s also worked at WABC-TV, WGCL-TV in Atlanta, and at the Weather Channel.

It’s Multiple Sclerosis Month and DAVE LONGLEY, chief meteorologist turned assistant news director at WSYR-TV in Syracuse, gave viewers of that ABC station an update on his battle against the disease.

KABC-TV in Los Angeles is celebrating its 50th anniversary as Eyewitness News. That celebration took a long trip down memory lane with this story.

VINCE SADUSKY, now in charge of Univsion, shared his plans for that company. You may remember him from his time with LIN Media and Media General…and Telemundo before that.

Finally, are you tired of dealing with unhappy viewers because you’re covering their favorite shows with live tornado warning coverage? Forbes Magazines gives you some material for those conversations.

General Manager News and Notes:

Richards

DON RICHARDS, whose last job in our business was as a group Vice President for Raycom Media, has announced his retirement at the end of the month. He ran stations in several markets for several owners before ascending to the executive position with Raycom.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 10, 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

News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121 (see ad above!)
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WQOW-TV 5545 WI-93 Trunk, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KMBT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901

**: Spanish language station

March 3, 2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 UPDATE:

Another day, still another departure of a large market news director. But today it’s Tribune, not Tegna, and it’s the number one market.

Burns

VICKIE BURNS has been named news director for Tribune’s WPIX-TV (CW) in New York City. According to her Linkedin page, she worked as a consultant for Tribune from 2013-2015.

Vickie’s run newsrooms for NBC owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. Her last of those jobs was at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. When she left in 2012, she said she wanted to live east of the Mississippi.

Waldman

At WPIX, she replaces AMY WALDMAN, an eleven year veteran of ‘PIX 11, as the station is branded. She was promoted to news director in 2015 after a one year stint as Senior Executive Producer. She’s also worked at Court TV, CNBC, and Fox News Channel, as well as in Buffalo and Erie, PA. Her last day at the station will be March 15th.

Feder

Also, of note…Tribune’s SVP of News BART FEDER is now serving as GM of WPIX, after the departure of CHRIS WAYLAND. He left last month to become VP/Station Manager of the NBC operations in Boston.

The way things are going, it’s possible you’ll hear from me again before our full newsletter this weekend. (No, I don’t know of anything, but it’s been a steady stream of changes.)

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, March 4, 2019 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another day, another departure of a Tegna news director in a top 30 market.

Elwood

Today’s it’s DEAN ELWOOD, the VP/News for Tegna’s KFMB-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Diego. Here’s the memo from General Manager ALBERTO MIER Y TERAN.

Dean’s been the ND since 2008, and also oversees the KFMB radio stations. If I’m not mistaken, he’s spent his entire career here. His bio from the station’s website has more.

More on this story in our full newsletter later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Another busy week with FOUR newly named news directors, and TWO new openings. Our count of stations looking for an ND stands at 27.

ONE of those open positions is one of THREE paid help wanted ads.

LOTS of interesting items (well, I think they’re interesting, why else would I include them) in Names in the News, including a few news managers on the move, items about TWO former news directors and the books they’re written, a profile of a former ND turned ESPN talent recruiter, turned theatre board president, and details about the retirement of a former Kentucky news director.

And we have TWO new general mangers to tell you about.

All that and more below!

Newly Named News Directors: 

Rosetti

WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN…JEFF ROSETTI moves up to ND for this Dispatch Broadcast Group owned NBC affiliate. Here’s the news release. He’s been the Assistant ND since 2011 and replaces KATHY HOSTETTER who left last year to become ND for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Jeff’s worked for CNN, and for local stations in Washington, Tampa, Raleigh, and Jacksonville, FL.

Jacob

WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN…DENISE ECK is out and MITCH JACOB is in at this Meredith owned NBC affiliate. We have the news release on this switch, too. Mitch was most recently the ND for Sinclair’s WJLA-TV in Washington: he left there in November to ‘take a break’ from daily news. He’s also been an ND in Phoenix, Columbus, OH, Toledo, Wichita, and Harlingen, TX. Denise was ND here for almost two years.

Sullivan

KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX…AMY SULLIVAN will be the next news director for this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate. She is currently ND for KVII-TV in Amarillo, TX, also a Sinclair station. Amy’s also worked in Tulsa, Wichita, and Alexandria, LA. At KGBT, she replaces ZOLTAN CSANYI-SALCEDO who left earlier this year to become news director for KYTX-TV, the Tegna owned CBS affiliate in Tyler, TX.

Greg S.

KRNV-TV, Reno, NV…GREG SCHIEFERSTEIN started Friday as the news director for this owned by Cunningham but operated by Sinclair NBC-FOX duopoly. Here’s the email from GM AMIE CHAPMAN. Greg most recently was the ND for KPVI-TV in Pocatello, ID, a job he left last year. He’s also been an ND in Peoria, Augusta, GA, and Missoula, MT, and has worked in Seattle, Toledo, and Rockford, IL. He replaces SCOTT FITZGERALD who left in November after two years to become ND for KJRH-TV in Tulsa.

New News Director Openings: 

Lupenski

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO…this Tegna owned NBC affiliate is looking for its third news director in four years after Friday’s resignation of TIFFANI LUPENSKI. GM ALICIA ELSNER sent this email to the staff Friday afternoon. Tiffani spent less than a year and a half there, is a former ND in San Diego and Portland, OR, held management jobs in Seattle and Denver. She began her career on-air, working in Lake Charles, LA, and Birmingham. Tiffani also worked for CNN and for radio stations in Atlanta and San Antonio.

KVII-TV, Amarillo, TX…AMY SULLIVAN is leaving to become ND for KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, as noted above.

Also, please note the ad for the open news director job at WFFT-TV in Ft. Wayne, the Fox affiliate there. That’s just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Chief Content Officer, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver CO:

Rocky Mountain Public Media located in Denver, Colorado, home to Rocky Mountain PBS and KUVO Radio, is the largest statewide, member-supported, multi-media network in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain Public Media’s mission is to strengthen the civic fabric of the state by engaging audiences across platforms with high-quality, trusted content. To further this mission and to help this public institution transition into the Digital Age, Rocky Mountain Public Media seeks a full-time Chief Content Officer to lead its duPont-Columbia Award-winning team.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Content Officer works directly with the CEO and other organizational and community leaders to create relevant content engagement for Rocky Mountain Public Media’s current and future members. The Chief Content Officer oversees the Content team, including Television, Radio, Digital, and Programming. In addition, the Chief Content Officer works alongside the Development and Marketing team to ensure content is ultimately member-supported and that audience engagement and responsiveness is a pervasive value governing the work.

For more information, or to apply now, please visit this website.

News Director, WFFT-TV, Fort Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with newsroom management and leadership experience, then we are interested in speaking with you. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitive and accomplished newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. This is a unique opportunity to take an award-winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All-American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to: Newsdirector@wfft.com

WFFT is an equal opportunity employer.

Executive Producer, Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC:

Want to live in one of the fastest growing cities in the country? Want to be part of a great team and work in a brand new, beautiful newsroom?

Spectrum News in Charlotte has an immediate opening for a creative Executive Producer with solid showcasing skills . We’re looking for someone with several years of line experience who wants to help us use our gorgeous new news studios to their fullest. If you are passionate about producing accurate, timely, and interesting newscasts we want to talk with you.

Spectrum Networks is a series of 27 hyper-local news and 9 regional sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc. We are in markets ranging from the 160s to the top ten so we are a company you can grow with.

To learn more about this opportunity and to apply, please click here.

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 2/10/19)
KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (relisted 2/3/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 2/3/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (new listing this week)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 2/3/19)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 1/20/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 12/30/18)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/6/19)
KDLT-TV, Sioux Falls, SD (listed 1/13/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 1/20/19)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, relisted 1/6/19)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (Dayside EP, relisted 1/13/19)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 1/20/19)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (listed 2/24/19, see ad above!)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, relisted 2/10/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, listed 1/6/19)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 2/10/19)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted this week)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 2/17/19)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, relisted 1/27/19)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (new listing this week)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (TWO openings, listed 12/30/18)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (PM EP, listed 1/27/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/30/18)

MANAGING EDITOR:

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

Listed this week:

Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO (Chief Content Officer) See Ad Above!
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Executive Producer)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV Digital Executive Producer)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital Executive Producer)

Relisted 2/10/17:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (National Executive Producer)
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

Gratias

KNBC-TV has filled its morning executive producer opening by luring VALERIE GRATIAS from cross-town rival KTLA-TV. She’s been the AM EP for the last two years and worked there as a producer for four years before that. Valerie has also worked as a writer/producer for KABC-TV in Los Angeles and has worked in Monterey, CA, and Augusta, GA.

Levy

SCOTT LEVY is headed back to a newsroom as the Assistant News Director for WSYX/WTTE-TV in Columbus, OH. That’s the Sinclair owned ABC/FOX duopoly. News Director JAMIE JUSTICE sent this email to her staff. Scott’s a former ND in Kansas City, Buffalo, Altoona, PA, and Elmira, NY.

WHAS-TV’s (Louisville/Tegna/ABC) General Manager CHRISTY MORENO and news director JULIE WOLFE were profiled in this story from a Louisville weekly.

Here are two stories about former news directors turned authors.

Washingtonian Magazine interviews BILL LORD about what it calls his ‘poignant memoir’ about his service in Vietnam. Bill’s a former ND in Washington, Los Angeles, Seattle and Nashville.

And former Toledo news director LOU HEBERT has written Hidden History of Toledo about the city where he’s worked several times at several stations. The local newspaper talked with Lou about the book.

Jaffe

AL JAFFE, a former news director who may be better known for his long stint as a talent recruiter for ESPN, hasn’t written a book (as far as I know) but is keeping busy in retirement. Al was just named president of Board of Trustees of the Ivoryton Playhouse. You can learn more in this profile.

Finally, congratulations to former Lexington, KY, (WLEX-TV) news director JIM ALLISON who is retiring as Assistant Vice President of Communications of Georgetown College. Click here to learn what he did there to earn the nickname “The Voice of Georgetown College.”

General Manager News and Notes:

Gray Television has named new general managers at two of its stations. ERIC KREBS will run WWNY-TV  in Watertown, NY, while ED WOLOSZYN has been tapped to lead KEYC-TV in Mankato, MN.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 3, 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

News 12 New Jersey 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison, NJ 08837
News 12 The Bronx 930 Soundview Avenue Bronx, NY 10473
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KING-TV 1501 1st Ave. South, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98134
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave W Saint Paul, MN 55114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WHBQ-TV 485 S. Highland. Memphis, TN 38111
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KARK-TV 1401 West Capitol Avenue, # 104 Little Rock, AR 72201
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive. Portland, ME 04103
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KMBT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501

**: Spanish language station