Rick Gevers & Associates

April 21, 2024

Greetings:

Only a handful of ND changes this week, but TWO of them were in top ten markets.

Those TWO openings and ONE newly named ND mean our list of openings grows slightly to 37. TWO of those stations are advertising their opportunities in paid help want ads.

The other big news of the week was Graham Media’s hire of SEAN McLAUGHLIN as VP/News. We have new details on that surprise move in Names in the News.

No obituaries and no GM changes this week.

In Names in the News, a new executive director for SPJ, and developments in TWO legal cases we’ve reported on previously.

Finally, Investigative Reporters and Editors has launched a membership drive, offering a rare discount for any new or renewed memberships. Click on the graphic just below for details. Longtime readers know of my affinity for the organization and I’d love to see more broadcasters at this year’s conference in June in Anaheim.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the Board of Directors for IRE.

Newly Named News Directors:

KULX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT…AMY ALVAREZ moves within Telemundo to take over here. She’s been the EP at Telemundo’s San Antonio station, KVDA-TV, for the last five years and has also worked in Houston and Dallas. My records show that PEDRO ANDRADE had been the ND here since last August.

SciLine Crash Course:

Science essentials for news editors

Tuesday, April 23 (2-3 p.m. EDT) – Zoom

SciLine is offering a free, one-hour, Zoom-based science “crash course”—designed specifically for editors. Former longtime Washington Post science reporter Rick Weiss and Ph.D. neuroscientist Dr. Tori Espensen will together lay out key do’s, don’ts, and pitfalls to watch for when editing a news story that includes scientific information or sources with a 15-minute Q&A to follow.

Among the topics to be covered:

How even a small dose of science can strengthen almost any story and add to your outlet’s credibility;
Different kinds of studies and what each can—and cannot—reveal;
Flags to watch for as you assess the accuracy of your reporters’ science-based stories; and
Practical tips for identifying credible scientist-sources and guiding reporters to ask the right questions.

New News Director Openings:

Graves

WLS-TV, Chicago, IL…you learned in ONE of our THREE Updates this week that JENNIFER GRAVES is retiring in June after a remarkable 22+ year run as VP/News for this ABC o-and-o. We have Jennifer’s note to the staff, GM John Idler’s station memo, and the news release from the station’s website. She started at WLS as an EP in 1992, and was upped to Assistant ND in 1998. She’s also worked in Atlanta, St. Louis, and Columbia. MO.

Burgess

WFTX-TV, Boston, MA…the staff at this Cox Media Group owned FOX affiliate were told Tuesday that news director SARAH BURGESS has resigned. NEW this edition: General Manager TODD BROWN followed up with this staff note. Sarah’s been the ND since 2018, first joining the station on the investigative team before being named managing editor.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID:

Live in the closest metropolitan destination to Yellowstone National Park
Lead a team of journalists in the market’s #1 multi-platform newsroom.
Work for a family-owned company with terrific employee-focused benefits
Outdoor enthusiasts love the proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, relaxing natural hot springs, and fly fishing on the Snake River

NPG of Idaho, including the legacy stations for the Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID/Jackson, WY DMA and the dominant news leader in Eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming, has an exciting opportunity for someone to lead our news team as News Director. A year-round tourist destination and a quality-of-life few cities can match. We are family owned by News Press & Gazette, a diversified company committed to its people and successful news organizations.

The News Director will oversee and provide strategic direction to the station’s news operation consisting of broadcast and digital platforms. We are looking for a strong newsroom leader who considers recruiting, coaching in a pro-active and productive newsroom a priority.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary coach, and an effective communicator with a passion for the news business, with the ability to maximize resources, develop/manage department budget and make contributions as a member of the stations management team.

We provide a benefit package that includes Health, Dental, Vision, FSA, HSA, Company-paid Life & AD&D. Supplemental Life and Disability insurances are available, 401(k) with employer match, PTO, Employee Assistance Program, and Tuition Reimbursement, and other additional benefits.

Learn more and apply by clicking here!

News Director, KXNews, Bismarck, ND:

Calling all news managers looking to grow their skillset in a city with plenty of outdoor adventures. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has a News Director opening at KX News in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Our market covers half the state of North Dakota. KX News has studios in Bismarck and Minot.

The right candidate will be a strong mentor who understands the importance of local enterprise stories. We’re searching for a decisive decision maker with a track record of leading newsroom teams.

Learn more here!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 4/7/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 4/14/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 4/21/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 2/25/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/21/24)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 4/14/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 3/24/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relished 4/14/24)
KWEX-TV, Midland, TX (listed 4/7/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 4/21/24)
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA (Philadelphia market, listed 4/7/24)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 3/15/24)
WDCA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 3/15/24)
KAZT-TV, Phoenix, AZ, (2 openings, EP & DIgital EP. listed 4/7/24)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 3/15/24)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 4/14/24)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/3/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/24/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 3/15/24)
KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 4/7/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (Digital EP, listing modified 4/21/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 4/14/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 2/25/24)
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 3/15/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 3/15/24)
WTNH-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 3/3/24)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 4/7/24)
WSPA/WYCW-TV, Spartanburg, SC (listed 4/14/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 4/7/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 2/25/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 3/15/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listing revised 4/7/24)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (PM EP, listed 4/7/24)
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM (Nightside EP, listed 4/21/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 3/15/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 3/10/24)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Digital EP, relisted 4/21/24)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 2/25/24)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX (listed 3/3/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, listed 2/25/24)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 4/14/24)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital EP, relisted 4/21/24)
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WI (listed 4/7/24)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/24)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 3/17/24)
WJYZ-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 3/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 4/21/24:

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (Digital Director)

Listed 3/17/24:

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Director of Special Projects)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)

Relisted 3/17/24:

WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)

Listed 3/10/24:

KXXV/KRHD-TV. Waco/Bryan, TX

Listed 3/3/24:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (News Operations Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Assignment Desk Manager)

Obituaries:

No obituaries this week.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Sean M.

As we first told you in our second Wednesday UPDATE, SEAN McLAUGHLIN is joining Graham Media as Vice President of News. New this edition: the company’s news release. Sean just finished ten years in a similar role for Scripps. He’s also been an ND in Minneapolis, St. Louis, two stations in Tulsa, and in Springfield IL. Graham has not had a corporate VP/News in more than ten years.

Quick hits:

Gray Television has renewed its 30 minute daily program InvestigativeTV+ for a second season.

SPJ has named CAROLINE HENDRIE as its new executive director.

WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY, and Murray State University have settled a lawsuit the station filed in an open records dispute.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision finding that DirectTV and Dish did not discriminate against Circle City Broadcasting and its WISH-TV in Indianapolis in a retransmission dispute. Owner DeJUAN McCOY claimed racial discrimination. The station (and its sister station, WNDY-TV) have been off both satellite services during the dispute. More from the Indianapolis Business Journal.

General Manager News and Notes:

No changes this week to the best of my knowledge. Please let me know if you know of something I’ve missed.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 21, 2024:

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 Bronx/Brooklyn, 930 Soundview Ave. Bronx, NY 10473
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
WLS-TV 190 N State St. Chicago, IL, 60601
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Dr. Dedham, MA 02026
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
WZTV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37228
KUTV 299 South Main Street, #150 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit Kansas City, MO 64108
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WBMA-TV 800 Concourse Pkwy Ste 200. Hoover, AL 35244
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WHAS-TV 520 W. Chestnut St. Louisville, KY 40202
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WTOC-TV 1511 Chatham Center Dr. Savannah, GA 31405
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th St. Springdale, AR 72762
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504A
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501 (see ad above!)
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761
KIFI-TV 1915 N. Yellowstone Hwy. Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (see ad above!)
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire Quincy, IL 62301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station