Rick Gevers & Associates

October 18, 2026

Greetings:

It’s a busy news week, with THREE new news directors, including ONE in a top 20 market.

For the second consecutive week, I’m not aware of any new openings, so our list of open ND jobs drops to 24.

But LOTS of news. Lots.

• Northwestern/Medill have a new report on the State of Local News.
• We have a response from Nexstar to the jury award to two former news managers.
• Tegna…quiet for a while…has a flurry of new executive moves, though no word on any developments on the Nexstar acquisition.
• A woman charged with shooting…TWICE…into a California TV station.
• A fire at a different California station disrupts the morning news.
• There’s an obituary for a former ND who later turned to academia.
• And a former news manager, GM and consultant is not doing well.

And there’s much more, but you’ll have to read on to find it!

Newly Named News Directors:

Roldan

WLTV, Miami, FL…LIZ ROLDAN returns to Miami and this Univision station where she began as an intern. Now she’s the ND. Details in this news release . Liz has been the ND at Nexstar’s KIAH-TV (CW) in Houston since January, 2025, and has also been an ND at KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston and WFOR-TV (CBS) in Miami. She also worked for 13 years at WTVJ-TV (NBC) there. Liz replaces YOLANDA ZUGASTI who left in August just shy of three years as ND.

Townley

KNOE-TV, Monroe, LA…JENNIFER TOWNLEY will be the next ND for this Gray media owned CBS/ABC operation. Her somewhat sparse linkedin page tells us that she’s been working for Scripps’ KJRH-TV in Tulsa, apparently has a producer. She earlier worked at KOKI-TV in Tulsa. At KNOE, she replaces KRISTIN HODGES who left in July after just over three years as ND.

Baker

KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA…BRETT BAKER returns to Gray Media as ND for this NBC affiliate. He shared the news on his Linkedin page. Brett worked for Straight Arrow News, earlier worked at KOLN/KGIN-TV in Lincoln, NE, for more than 12 years at KSAT-TV in San Antonio, and as a broadcaster for more than eight years in the Air Force. He replaces LAWTON DODD who left last month after less than seven months as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Again, I am not aware of any news openings this week. If I’ve missed something, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 10/4/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/4/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (Digital Content EP, listed 10/4/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Relisted 10/18/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)

Relisted 10/11/26:

KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 10/11/26:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital Media Manager)

Listed 9/27/26:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KING-TV, Seattle, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
WOI/KCWI-TV, Des Moines, IA (Story Desk Manager)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Obituary:

Nachlinger

HARVIE NACHLINGER died last Monday. He’s a former news director for WCJB-TV in Gainesville, FL, where he ran the newsroom from 1998-2002. This obituary from WCJB is the only story I could find on his passing, though I did find this 2017 profile from the University of South Carolina where he was teaching at the time.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Northwestern/Medill released its annual STATE OF LOCAL NEWS report. It is lengthy but worth your time. If you have a short attention span, you can click here and go directly to the section on television news.

Tuesday’s UPDATE told you about a $4,000,000jury award to two former news managers for Nexstar’s WOOD-TV (NBC) in Grand Rapids. STANTON TANG and AMY FOX sued for defamation and invasion of privacy after they were fired three years ago over a staff memo about coverage of Gay Pride events. More details from The Grand Rapids Press.

If you can trust a search of the WOOD-TV website, it appears the station has NEVER run a story about the case.

NEW THIS EDITION: Nexstar’s EVP/Chief Communications Officer GARY WEITMAN responded to my inquiry with this statement:

We thank the Court and the members of the jury for their time and attention to this case. We are pleased that the jury found in Nexstar’s favor on the central defamation claim. However, we strongly disagree with other aspects of the verdict, which we believe are inconsistent with the facts and the governing law. We will pursue all legal options, including an appeal.

Full disclosure: I was the ND at WOOD-TV from March, 1993 to January, 1995, obviously long before these events.

Shustrin

KRDO-TV, the News Press and Gazette ABC Affiliate in Colorado Springs has filled its vacant Assistant News Director job with JARRETT SHUSTRIN. He’s worked in New York and St. Louis. Shameless self promotion alert: KRDO news director STACI-LYN ONOFRE told me the station got ‘a lot of strong candidates’ from its ad on this newsletter.

Two stories involving California stations.

A woman has been arrested and accused of firing shots…on two different occasions…into the studios for Sinclair’s KBAK/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield.

And a fire at KESQ-TV in Palm Springs started just after the morning newscast began last Thursday.

Sinclair and New Media are launching The National Press. It’s described as a subscription digital news brand that will showcase reporting from local newsrooms in over 60 markets to a national audience.

Marrs

Sorry to share that longtime broadcaster CRAIG MARRS is having a rough time. Learn more from this Facebook post. Craig’s been a news manager, a GM in multiple markets, and spent ten years as a consultant for Magid.

General Manager News and Notes:

After a long period of little news from Tegna, a flurry of announcements this week, though none pointing to a resolution of the pending sale to Nexstar.

However, the company did promote THREE GMs to new roles as Regional General Managers. JOAN BARRETT, KATE MORRIS and BRAD RAMSEY are moving up and each will be replaced at their current stations.

And Tegna named FOUR sales veterans to new VP roles. Several are currently GM’s as you’ll find out in this news release.

One of those GM who’s being promoted, KRISTIE GONZALEZ, is being replaced as GM for WXIA-TV in Atlanta and WMAZ-TV in Macon, GA, by TIM THOMAS.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 18, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KYW-TV 1555 Hamilton Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
WHSV-TV 50 North Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

October 11, 2026

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

$4,000,000.

Tang

That’s the award a West Michigan jury gave to former WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) news director STANTON TANG and its former assistant news director, AMY FOX. The pair sued station owner Nexstar for defamation and invasion of privacy after they were fired three years ago over a staff memo about coverage of Gay Pride events. Fox was awarded almost $2.4 million dollars, while Tang was awarded close to $1.7 million.

The local newspaper recaps the case…and the verdict…in this story.

I searched the station’s website. I could not find any coverage of the verdict, nor is there a story on the Nexstar news release page.

In fact, I could not find ANY stories on the WOOD-TV website on the case which has been going on for several years.

Nexstar’s EVP/Chief Communications Officer GARY WEITMAN did respond to my inquiry with the statement:

We thank the Court and the members of the jury for their time and attention to this case. We are pleased that the jury found in Nexstar’s favor on the central defamation claim.  However, we strongly disagree with other aspects of the verdict, which we believe are inconsistent with the facts and the governing law. We will pursue all legal options, including an appeal.

Full disclosure: I was the ND at WOOD-TV from March, 1993 to January, 1995.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

There are TWO new news directors in this week’s report, including ONE at a network owned station in a top ten market.

Ironically, both the new news directors are moving within their same state AND staying with their same company.

As I am not aware of any new openings, our list of open ND jobs drops to 27.

Also this week:

• A change at the top of NBC’s local media operations.
• And a longtime ABC employee, a former ND turned GM, is retiring.
• Two obituaries, ONE for a former owner of multiple TV stations (and LOTS of other businesses, many in sports), and the other for the mother of a longtime news executive.
• HANK PRICE says CNN has a reprieve…for now.
• And will Skydance hang on to its owned CBS stations or sell them to reduce debt load?

That and more below…

Newly Named News Directors:

Dan R.

KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA…DAN RASMUSSEN moves with ABC and within California to become the next VP/News for this ABC o-and-o. He’s been the Assistant ND for ABC’s KABC-TV in Los Angeles for the last 5 1/2 years and worked there for 13. We have the memos from KGO GM DAVID WURTZEL and KABC ND PAM CHEN. Dan replaces TRACEY WATKOWSKI who left in June after 14 years.

Klein

KCEN-TV, Temple/Waco, TX…RANDY KLEIN moves within Tegna and Texas to become the next news director for this NBC affiliate. He’s currently the story desk manager and digital director for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston, where he was worked for more than a decade, part of that time in a regional digital role. At KCEN, he replaces JIM HICE who left in February after 12 years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

I am not aware of any news openings this week. If I’ve missed something, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 10/4/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/4/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (Digital Content EP, listed 10/4/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Relisted 10/11/26:

KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 10/11/26:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital Media Manager)

Listed 9/27/26:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KING-TV, Seattle, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
WOI/KCWI-TV, Des Moines, IA (Story Desk Manager)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Obituaries:

Gillett

GEORGE GILLETT, Jr., owned lots of things. The Vail ski resort. The Montreal Canadiens hockey team. The Harlem Globetrotters. And TV stations. Lots of them, over the years. He died in late September at the age of 87 of complications of Alzheimers. The New York Times obituary has some details, while his Wikipedia page goes into much more detail about his broadcast holdings.

Young

JACQUELINE ‘JACKIE’ YOUNG, mother of longtime broadcaster KERRY OSLUND, died Tuesday. She was 87. Many of you know Kerry, who is currently VP New Business Development for Scripps, and has worked for Tribune, Schurz, Gannett, and served as ND in several markets. His mother’s obituary is interesting: she was a pioneer in infant water safety. You can send a kind note to Kerry by clicking here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Lots of questions remain following the close of the Skydance-Paramount-Warner Bros. deal.

Among them: HANK PRICE looks at what he calls CNN’s reprieve with the news that MARK THOMPSON will stay on to run the cable network.

And TIM HANLON wonders if the new company will continue to own its portfolio of CBS local stations.

General Manager News and Notes:

Staab

After 15 years with NBC, and a long career at ABC, VALARI STAAB will retire at the end of the year as President of the NBC’s local media operations. She’ll be replaced by CHRIS WAYLAND, currently the GM for NBC’s Boston properties. He’s a former GM in New York and an executive with Sunbeam Televison, which owns WSVN-TV (FOX) in Miami and WHDH-TV (independent) in Boston. At ABC, Valari earlier ran WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham…which leads us to…

Elmore

The current GM for WTVD-TV, ROB ELMORE, who will retire as the general manager of WTVD next month. Rob’s been the boss there since early 2020, moving back to WTVD from Los Angeles, where he was ND for KABC-TV for five years after 16 years as ND at WTVD. Here’s the note Rob sent his staff earlier this week. He’s also been an ND in Rochester, NY and began his career as a reporter.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 11, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KYW-TV 1555 Hamilton Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
WHSV-TV 50 North Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

October 4, 2026

Greetings:

Our always unofficial list of open news director jobs edges up to 29 this week with the addition of THREE new openings, with TWO jobs filled.

ONE of those new openings is in a top FIVE market with ONE of the filled jobs in a top 20 market.

Also, please check out BARRY NASH‘s column this week (click on the ad just below). He discusses the difficult task facing KNBC-TV in Los Angeles when its chopper crashed a few weeks ago. Good lessons to be learned if you ever find yourself in the position of reporting the sudden death(s) of staff. (I experienced that in 1988 when my evening co-anchor in Toledo died suddenly.)

It’s not easy.

Also this week:

• We have an obituary for a long ago CBS executive who later worked for Blair.
• The former CEO of Tegna has a new job, and, like his jobs before Tegna, is not in TV.
• Scripps has a new head of news.
• And Sinclair’s St. Louis station rebrands after losing its ABC affiliation.

Read on for more!

Newly Named News Directors:

Kay

KCRA/KQCA-TV, Sacramento, CA…KRISTIN KAY moves within Hearst and across the country to take the ND job at this Hearst owned NBC affiliate. She’s a California native who’s been the ND for Hearst’s WGAL-TV (NBC) in Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA, for the past three years. This news release details her extensive career history. At KCRA, she replaces DEREK SCHNELL who was promoted to VP/News for Hearst after 7+ years as news director here.

Madden

WQRF/WTVO-TV, Rockford, IL…JOHN MADDEN returns to Nexstar as ND here. He most recently was the AND for Scripps’ KERO-TV in Bakersfield before his job was eliminated last month. (John earlier worked for Nexstar in Grand Junction, CO). He replaces COVENTRY ADRIAN who is leaving after 4 1/2 years as ND. Nexstar owns WQRF, a FOX affiliate, and operates WTVO (ABC) which is owned by Mission Broadcasting.

New News Director Openings:

Gerrow

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA...after 46 years in news, all in Philadelphia, KATHY GERROW will retire as VP/ND of this CBS o-and-o when her contract expires in January. Here’s the staff memo from VP/GM KELLY FRANK. Kathy began her career at KYW, took a slight (well, 30 year) detour to WCAU-TV and then returned to KYW a little more than four years ago as news director.

WGAL-TV, Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA…as noted above, KRISTIN KAY is leaving this Hearst station to become ND for the company’s KCRA-TV in Sacramento. Both are NBC affiliates.

Church

WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg, VA…CHELSEA CHURCH is leaving this Gray Media owned operation. She joined the station after graduating from college in 2018, held a variety of positions before becoming news director last year. More details about Chelsea and her background in her still-online station biography.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 10/4/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/4/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (Digital Content EP, listed 10/4/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/27/26:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KING-TV, Seattle, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
WOI/KCWI-TV, Des Moines, IA (Story Desk Manager)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Obituary:

Rosenfield

Former CBS executive JAMES ROSENFIELD died September 26th at the age of 97. He began with CBS in 1965 in sales and rose through the ranks during some of the network’s good years. After leaving CBS in 1985, he became Chairman and CEO of John Blair Communications, the rep firm before later starting his own consulting firm. More details in this obituary from The Hollywood Reporter.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

McGarvy

You learned in our Monday UPDATE that Scripps named SEAN McGARVY as its Head of News. Details in this news release. Sean’s been the senior director of digital news operations, and earlier was senior director of local news strategy. He’s also been the ND for Scripps’ WEWS-TV (ABC) in Cleveland and worked in Denver (two stations), Indianapolis, Washington, Des Moines, and Columbia, MO. Sean replaces JEFF KIERNAN who is retiring.

KDNL-TV, the former ABC affiliate in St. Louis, is rebranding as STL30 (its channel number) in a move the headline on this news release says is reinforcing its commitment to the community. Sarcasm alert: they might have more of a commitment to the community if, say, the station produced and aired local news which it has not done in years.

General Manager News and Notes:

Steib

MICHAEL STEIB, who had not worked in television before becoming President and CEO of Tegna, has a new job, also not in television. He’ll be the President and CEO of Angi, described here as a leading digital home services marketplace.The company began as Angie’s List. Fun fact: earlier offices for the company were just a few blocks from our world headquarters here in Indianapolis.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 4, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KYW-TV 1555 Hamilton Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
WHSV-TV 50 North Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

September 27, 2026

Monday, September 28, 2026 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A big promotion at Scripps, and we’re fixing an editing error in the email version of last night’s full newsletter.

McGarvy

Congratulations to SEAN McGARVY, who’s been named Head of News for Scripps. More details in the news release. He’s been the senior director of digital news operations, and earlier was senior director of local news strategy. He’s also been the news director for Scripps’ WEWS-TV (ABC) in Cleveland and worked in Denver (two stations), Indianapolis, Washington, Des Moines, and Columbia, MO. His Linkedin profile has more. In this new role, Sean replaces the retiring JEFF KIERNAN.

Buckley

In last night’s emailed edition, we promised…and failed to provide…the link to the memo from Scripps’s Regional VP JOE POSS on the change at WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee. Here’s that memo announcing that editorial director (similar to assistant ND) NICOLE BUCKLEY has been promoted to ND there. She’s an eleven year veteran of the station who’s held several different jobs. Learn more about Nicole and her background in her station profile. Nicole replaces TIM VETSCHER who stepped down earlier this year.

We’ll see you Sunday with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

THREE new news directors, TWO new openings and the count of open ND jobs (please, no wagering) drops to 27.

We told you about TWO of those new NDs in a Tuesday UPDATE.

• Thanks for those of you who provided details about the passing of former ND and GM MIKE CREW. Details below.
• We also have an obit for a former Philadelphia ND who seems to have had a heckuva career spanning newspapers, local news, AND network.
• Several news management jobs have been filled.
• A longtime Scripps GM gets a promotion.
• And HANK PRICE has a nominee for the broadcaster with the toughest job in America.

All that and more as you read on!

Newly Named News Directors:

Williams

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…JESSIE WILLIAMS joins this ABC affiliate as ND. She’ll also supervise NDs at Scripps stations in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. Here’s the memo from Regional VP KATHLEEN CHOAL. Jessie is currently Senior Director of News for Scripps’ KTNV-TV (ABC) in Las Vegas. At KMGH, she replaces MEGAN (JURGEMEYER) McRAE who left way back in February.

Buckley

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI…in another Scripps move you learned about in our Tuesday UPDATE, NICOLE BUCKLEY has been promoted from Editorial Director to ND for this NBC affiliate. (I’m told that editorial director is similar to Assistant ND.) New this edition: the staff memo from Regional VP JOE POSS. More on Nicole from her station bio. She replaces TIM VETSCHER who is stepping down after 5+ years as ND.

Beard

KOKI/KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK…LEISHA BEARD achieved her goal of working closer to home (Joplin, MO) as she is now the news director for this Sinclair owned duopoly. When Leisha left her job as ND for KTXL-TV (FOX/Nexstar) in Sacramento last month after 2+ years there, we told you she wanted to be closer to family. And now she is. She’s also been an ND in Harrisburg, PA, and worked for 17 years in Joplin, 12 as ND.

New News Director Openings:

KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…this ABC affiliate is looking for a Senior Director of News to replace JESSIE WILLIAMS. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because we reported a few paragraphs above that she’s headed to Denver as ND for KMGH-TV. She’ll also supervise NDs at Scripps stations in Colorado Springs and Grand Junction.

Dodd

KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA…LAWTON DODD has left this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate after just seven months as news director. He’s also had short stints as an ND in Peoria, and Eugene, OR, but spent 22 years as ND for Hearst’s KSBW-TV in Monterey, CA. His entire career, with jobs both in TV and out of the newsroom, is explained in his Linkedin page.

Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no better place to advertise it. Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 9/13/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 9/7/26)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/13/26)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 9/13/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 9/13/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital EP, listed 8/30/26)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/13/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 8/30/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 9/13/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 8/30/26)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 9/27/26:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KING-TV, Seattle, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
WOI/KCWI-TV, Des Moines, IA (Story Desk Manager)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)

Relisted 9/20/26:

KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)

Listed 9/13/26:

KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)

Listed 8/16/26:

WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 8/9/26:

Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)

Listed 8/9/26:

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)

Listed 8/2/26:

WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)

Listed 7/26/26:

E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)

Obituaries:

Crew

Former GM and ND MIKE CREW died last month after a long illness. Thanks for those of you who responded to my request for details last week. A loyal reader talked with Mike’s widow and sent me these details. Mike was GM for News 24 in Houston from 2000-2003, a joint venture of Time Warner and Belo. He also held news director jobs in Orlando, Syracuse, Jacksonville, FL, and worked in several large markets.

Warwick

NED WARWICK, a one-time ND for Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV (ABC), died Monday, September 14, at the age of 81. This obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer details a very interesting career. In addition to working for WPVI, he served as news director for WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, worked for several Philadelphia newspapers, and spent five years as ABC’s director of news operations for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

At Univision’s WGBO-TV in Chicago, CHRISTIAN VALTER RODRÍGUEZ has been promoted to executive producer. He’d been a producer there.

RUSSELL HAYTHORN has been promoted from executive reporter to Assistant ND at KMGH-TV in Denver.

CHRIS FORD has joined Cox Media’s WFTV (ABC) in Orlando as EP of Special Projects. He’s a former ND in Rochester, NY, and has held a number of other jobs in many markets around the country.

You think your job is tough. (It probably is!) But HANK PRICE thinks he’s found someone with the toughest job in America. Here’s his column.

General Manager News and Notes:

ANITA HELT has been promoted to Vice President of Local Media for Scripps, overseeing stations in Arizona, Texas, California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana. She first joined the company in 2011 as GM for KNXV-TV (ABC) in Phoenix. She’d earlier been a GM for KXTV in Sacramento and had worked as VP Marketing and Programming for KPNX-TV in Phoenix.

In her post above, Anita tells us that JOHN COOK will replace her as regional GM for stations in Phoenix, Tucson, Corpus Christi, and Waco, TX.

And in San Diego, MARIANGELA PRETTO has been promoted to KBNT-TV, the Entravision owned Univision affiliate there.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 27, 2026:

It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

KGO-TV 900 Front St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301 **
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89102
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49544
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOLD-TV 7831 N. Business Park Dr. Tucson AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station