Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

May 19, 2014

Friday, May 23, 2014 UPDATE:

Jordan

A veteran news director announced his retirement today after 45 years in our business.

BOB JORDAN, who’s currently the ND for KIRO-TV in Seattle, surprised his staff this morning by telling them he’s retiring at the end of June. Bob’s been ND for this Cox-owned CBS affiliate since August, 2012, but his long career has included ND stops at another Seattle station, Orlando (three times), Los Angeles, Tampa, and Minneapolis, and a General Manager assignment in West Palm Beach. Bob’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren live in Seattle.

Bob took to Twitter to spread the news.

Congrats to Bob. We’ll hope to expand on this story in our full newsletter which may be delayed until later this weekend.

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

Funeral servies have been set for former KBTX-ND MIKE GEORGE, whose death we reported to you earlier this week.

Visitation:

Today, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Hillier Funeral Home, Bryan TX

Funeral:

Saturday, 10:00 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Bryan

Mike, who retired last year from KBTX in Bryan, TX, was found dead in his home earlier this week. He was 51. Foul play is not suspected.

He is survived by three children and his wife of eleven months.

Mike also worked in Austin, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, where he was the ND at what was then KVBC-TV (now KSNV-TV).

The local newspaper carried this story. You can find a full obituary here, which includes memorial information.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, and former colleagues at KBTX.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 UPDATE:

Arrangements have now been set for former KBTX-TV News Director MIKE GEORGE, whose passing we reported in the UPDATE below.

Visitation:

Friday, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Hillier Funeral Home, Bryan TX

Funeral:

Saturday, 10:00 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Bryan

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Monday, May 19, 2014 UPDATE:

George

I’m sorry to report the death of former news director MIKE GEORGE.

Mike, who retired last year from KBTX-TV in Bryan, TX, was found dead in his home yesterday at the age of 51. Foul play is not suspected. An autopsy will be conducted.

He is survived by three children and his wife of eleven months.

Mike worked at KBTX on two occasions, most recently for more than five years as ND before retiring last year. He also worked in Austin, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, where he was the ND at what was then KVBC-TV (now KSNV-TV).

His former station, KBTX, posted this story on its website.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, and former colleagues at KBTX.

Greetings:

We’re a little late with this week’s report (blame a busy sports day here in Indy!) but we’ll try and make up for our tardiness with lots of news.

Included in that news: THREE new ND openings, TWO newly named NDs, and a list of 26 stations that are looking for a new ND.

We have paid ads for TWO of those openings, as well as a new ad for an Operations Manager in Louisville.

You’ll learn about a new corporate ND in our Names in the News segment, along with updates on a number of news managers on the move.

All this and more below.

New News Director Openings:

Hobson

New England Cable News, Boston, MA…we’re about two weeks late in reporting that NANETTE HOBSON, who’s been ND here since February, 2012, has left this Comcast owned operation. She spent nine years as the ND for WNCN-TV in Raleigh (where she was known as NANETTE WILSON.) Nanette spent 20 years (in two different stints) at WRC-TV in Washington, DC, rising to Assistant ND. She’s also worked for two stations in Baltimore and one in Norfolk, VA. More in this article from the Boston Herald, which also reports that Assistant ND BOB KEATING left the station at the same time.

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI…KENT HARRELL is leaving this CBS affiliate, owned by Nexstar, to return to Illinois as ND for WICS/WICD-TV in Springfield/Champaign, IL. More on that below. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below.

Shaw

KVRR-TV, Fargo, ND…JIM SHAW, who’s been the only ND this FOX affiliate has ever known, stepped down on Friday to concentrate on his health. He’s been fighting an illness since last September. Before starting the news department at KVRR in 1999, he spent 21 years working for WDAY-TV in Fargo. The local newspaper, the Forum of Fargo-Morehead, offers this nice profile of a veteran newsman.

Also, it’s not a new opening, but I wanted to call your attention to the opening at KPRC-TV in Houston which the station is advertising below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Harrell

WICS/WICD-TV, Springfield/Champaign, IL…as noted above, KENT HARRELL will be the next ND for this Sinclair owned operation. He’s been the ND for WFRV-TV in Green Bay since September, 2012. But before that he spent five years as an ND in Rockford, IL. Kent’s also been an ND in Corpus Christi and for Bay News 9 in Tampa. He’s also worked in Dallas and Memphis. He replaces KATIE McMANUS-FAYE who is leaving to return to the Southeast to be closer to friends and family.

WAKA-TV, Montgomery, AL…JACK PAGANO has been named ND for this Bahahel owned CBS affiliate. Jack’s a former news director at WWAY-TV in Wilmington, NC. He’s been a Senior Strategist and Television Mentor/Trainer in Afghanistan for the past 6 years since retiring from the Army. Jack replaces ROB MARTIN who’s returning to Birmingham as ND for WIAT-TV, the CBS affiliate there.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV seeks an innovative “hands on” News Director. Successful candidate will lead, manage, hire, train, supervise and motivate News department personnel. They should be experienced in preparing operating budgets and to be involved in the news department capital planning. Candidate must have excellent news judgment, passion for breaking news and strong organization and leadership skills.

Candidate is responsible for all editorial content on all platforms (web, social and mobile), and keeping the content aligned with the KPRC brand.

Also required is a proven ability to grow audiences through story selection and marketing; converting audience research into attainable and measurable results.

Qualifications include five years experience in news department management, preferably News Director in a top 25 market. Strong Journalist with proven management skills. and thorough knowledge of national and international news issues demonstrating sound news judgment.

Degree in Communications/Journalism preferred.

To apply, contact Jerry Martin, VP & General Manager via email: jmartin@kprc.com

or via mail:

Jerry Martin
Vice President/General Manager
KPRC-TV
8181 Southwest Freeway
Houston TX 77074

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, matriculation or political affiliation. Any offer of employment is conditioned on successful completion of a pre-employEOE/DRUG-FREEment physical exam and drug screen, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks.

News Director, WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI:

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is searching for a forward thinking and aggressive journalist for the position of News Director at WFRV-TV, CBS affiliate, in Green Bay, WI.

The successful candidate will be a hands on news manager who has a proven track record for coaching and developing talent, solid journalism skills, owning the big news story and weather philosophy, and a passion for breaking news.

Our coverage of the Green Bay Packers is a priority so a vision for unique coverage, storytelling and programming is a must.

To be considered you must have a minimum of 5 years of experience as a news manager and more than 10 years of experience in a news operation. Prior experience with on-line and social media is required. A degree in journalism is preferred.

Apply on line at: http://nexstar.hirecentric.com/pages/careers

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

News Operations Manager, WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY:

WAVE 3 News, the NBC affiliate in Louisville, Kentucky, has an immediate opening for a News Operations Manager. There are two primary components to this position: 1) guiding the news staff through implementation and maintenance of all equipment and technical workflows, and 2) supervising studio production and all team members involved. To meet our standard of excellence in both of those areas, the successful candidate must have both outstanding technical skills, and exemplary people skills.

The News Operations Manager will work closely with all departments, with special focus on our Engineering/IT department & the Assignment Desk. Familiarity with the news production process, logistics, non-linear edit systems, ENG, SNG newsgathering, and mobile platforms are critical. Previous supervisory experience is a must. Field experience as a photographer or reporter would be helpful. Directing experience would also be a plus.

If you want to be a part of an award winning aggressive newsroom that makes a difference in its community, then apply online and upload your resume and references at https://careers-raycommedia.icims.com

No phone calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 4/12/14)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 4/5/14)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/5/14)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listing revised 4/12/14)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 4/19/14)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 4/5/14)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 4/12/14)
WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL (listed 5/2/11)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WLS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 4/19/14)
KTVU-TV, San Francisco/Oakland, CA (listed 4/25/14)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 4/12/14)
WFLA-TV, Tampa. FL (relisted 4/5/14)
KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 3/30/14)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (Morning EP, listed 3/30/14)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 4/5/14)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted this week)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 4/12/14)
WTEV/WAWS, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 5/11/14)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 4/5/14)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 4/5/14)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (Morning EP, relisted 3/22/14)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (AM EP, listing modified 4/25/14)
WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT (listed 4/12/14)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listed 4/25/14)
WKBN-TV, Youngstown, OH (Dayside EP, listing revised 3/7/14)
WCIV-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 3/22/14)
KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK (listed 5/2/14)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 3/30/14)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (relisted this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital ME, relisted this week)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/5/14)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (new listing this week, see ad above!)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

McCreery

News Director turned General Manager PATRICK McCREERY returns to news as VP of News and Marketing for Meredith. He’s worked for the company since 2002, and has been GM of KPTV/KPDX-TV in Portland, OR, since October, 2008. Patrick spent the four years before that as ND for that FOX affiliate. He’ll work from Phoenix, where he first joined Meredith at KPHO-TV. Patrick, who’s also worked in San Francisco and Toledo, tells me his wife is from Phoenix and they’re happy to go back. (See GM Notes below for news of his replacement.)

ALLISON DUFF joins WJCL/WGTS-TV in Savannah has an executive producer. She’s been working as the Senior Weekend Producer for KDVR-TV in Denver. It’s a return to the Southeast for Allison, who worked in Huntsville earlier in her career.

WCHS/WVAH-TV in Charleston, WV, has bumped CHRIS SWOPE up to Assistant ND. He’s been the EP there since 2012. Chris previously was the Operations Manager at WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, and has also worked in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Greenville, SC, Charleston, SC, and Wilmington, NC.

HARVEY NAGLER, VP of CBS Radio News, has been named the John Hogan Award winner by RTDNA. He’ll be honored at the convention in Nashville this September.

GM NOTES:

DOMINIC MANCUSO will replace BILL APPLEGATE as GM of Raycom’s Cleveland duopoly, WOIO/WUAB-TV. He’s been the GM of the Sinclair stations in Nashville.

And ANDY DELAPORTE has been promoted to VP/GM for KPTV/KPDX-TV in Portland, OR, replacing the above-mentioned PATRICK McCREERY. He’s been the sales manager for this Meredith duopoly.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, May 18, 2014.

WXTV 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd., 6th Floor, Teaneck NJ 07666 *
KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
WGN-TV 2501 Bradley Place Chicago IL 60618
KTVT-TV 5233 Bridge St. Ft. Worth TX 76103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth TX 76155 *
New England Cable News, 160 Wells Avenue Newton, MA 02459
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston MA 02134
KPRC-TV 8181 SW Freeway Houston TX 77074 (see ad above!)
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave. Cleveland OH 44115
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr. Charlotte NC 28217
KVDA-TV 6234 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78216 *
WHP-TV 3300 North 6th Street Harrisburg PA 17110
WHAS-TV 520 W. Chestnut St. Louisville KY 40203
WSET-TV 2320 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg VA 24501
WFRV-TV 1181 E. Mason St. Green Bay WI 54301 (see ad above!)
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines IA 50266
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane WA 99201
KTLM-TV 3900 N. 10th St., 7th Floor McAllen TX 78501
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WCBD-TV 210 W. Coleman Blvd. Charleston SC 29464
KOLO-TV 4850 Ampere Dr. Reno NV 89502
KVRR-TV 4015 9th Ave S Fargo ND 58103
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette LA 70506
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

May 12, 2014

Greetings:

It is, perhaps, fitting that in a week that ends with Mother’s Day, THREE veteran newswomen took big new jobs. They either landed one of the THREE new ND jobs, or created one of the THREE new openings, all THREE of those openings in top ten markets!

Our list of open ND jobs remains at 25.

We have a paid ad for ONE of those 25 jobs, one of THREE ads in this week’s report.

In Names in the News, RTDNA names a Paul White Award winner, a new Digital EP for a Washington, DC, station, and some other movement of news managers.

And our friends at Devlin Design Group have a new ad..click on it to see the set design that garnered them the Set of the Year Award for the third straight year.

All this week’s news begins below!

New News Director Openings:

Caputo

WGN-TV, Chicago, IL…GREG CAPUTO announced his retirement this week, effective in June. He’s been the ND for this Tribune owned CW affiliate since 2003. Greg has the Chicago hat trick: he also spent three years as ND for WBBM-TV and was the first ND for WFLD-TV when that Fox o-and-o began news in 1986. He also served as ND for Tribune’s Boston station, WLVI-TV, spent three years as Corporate Director of News for Malrite Communications, which owned stations in Cleveland and Cincinnati at the time. (Our email earlier this week incorrectly listed him as President of Maltrite.) Greg’s also worked in South Bend and Pittsburgh.

Roark

KTVT-TV, Dallas, TX…Congratulations to ADRIENNE ROARK, who’s trading her News Director hat for the General Manager’s job at KOIN-TV in Portland, OR. Adrienne’s been the ND for this CBS o-and-o for the past 4+ years. She’s also been an ND at another CBS o-and-o, WFOR-TV in Miami, and has worked in Orlando, New Orleans, Columbus (twice), Cleveland and for a second station in Miami. She’ll be busy when she gets to KOIN-TV: that LIN Media owned CBS affiliate has been without both a GM and ND for several months. BRAD NEUHOFF left the station in February after 2+ years as ND.

Collura

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX…More congratulations to DEBORAH COLLURA, who’s also headed to the corner office as GM for WCNC-TV in Charlotte. Ironically, this Gannett owned NBC affiliate has also been without a GM and ND for several months. (CORRIE HARDING left the station for a job with NBC in New York earlier this year.) Deb is currently VP/News for Post-Newsweek in addition to her duties at the NBC affiliate. She first joined the company as ND of WDIV-TV in Detroit in 1997 and moved to Houston in 2011. Deb’s also been an ND in Miami and Minneapolis, and also worked in Sacramento, Albany, St. Louis, and Rockford, IL.

Newly Named News Directors:

Hundley

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI…JANET HUNDLEY returns to the ND office as she’ll head the news efforts for this Journal owned NBC affiliate. She’s spent the last twelve years as the Assistant News Director for WLS-TV, the ABC o-and-o in Chicago. (ROBERT FEDER has more.) Janet’s a 26 year veteran of the ABC stations, having previously served as ND for WTVG-TV in Toledo (when the company owned that station) and as a operations manager, producer, and photojournalist for WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham. She also worked as a bureau reporter for WRAL-TV in Raleigh. In Milwaukee, she replaces BILL BERRA who left earlier this year to return to Tampa as ND for WFLA-TV in Tampa.

Moreland

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA…veteran news director SHANE MORELAND has been named ND for this Quincy owned NBC affiliate. Shane most recently was GM of WVNS-TV in Bluefield/Beckley, WV. But his background is news: he spent the four years before that as ND for WCTI-TV in Greenville/New Bern/Washington, NC. He previously has been an ND in Norfolk and Roanoke, VA, and has also worked in Miami, Pittsburgh, and West Palm Beach. The move reunites him with GM JIM McKERNAN. They first met when McKernan was the interim GM at WCTI. Shane replaces DAN SCHILLINGER who returns to his native Wisconsin as ND for sister Quincy station WQOW-TV in Eau Claire.

Shultz

WNCT-TV, Greenville/New Bern, Washington, NC…STEPHANIE SHULTZ gets her first ND job at her second TV station. She’s currently the Executive Producer for sister Media General station WSLS-TV in Roanoke. Stephanie first joined WSLS as an associate producer during college ten years ago, and worked her way up to EP. At WNCT, she replaces INGRID JOHANNSEN who left the station in March after 16 months as ND for this CBS affiliate.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Morning Executive Producer WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY:

WAVE 3 News, the NBC affiliate for Louisville, KY, has an opening for Executive Producer of our Sunrise newscast.

Our station has all the tools, a great look, and top-notch talent. We’re looking for an EP who can guide the Sunrise team of anchors, reporters, broadcast producers, digital producers, and production crew to create a morning newscast that fulfills our brand promise of “Expect More. Right Now.”

The Sunrise EP will supervise all news operations during the overnight and morning hours, with a particular emphasis on coaching producers and planning content in advance. This person will also fill in occasionally in other management roles or as a newscast producer.

Applicants should have a four year degree, and at least five years experience producing newscasts – with at least two of those years on a morning newscast. Supervisory experience is preferred.

If qualified and interested in applying for this position, please click here.

No phone calls please. EOE-M/F/D/V

News Director, WOI-TV, W. Des Moines, IA:

WOI-TV, a Nexstar Broadcasting station in Des Moines, Iowa, is looking for a “hands on” News Director. If you are looking to advance your career and have a true passion for news this is a wonderful opportunity.
The successful candidate will possess:

3+ years as a News Director
Strong skills in covering local news that matters
Understand and embrace digital first
Sense of urgency to deliver the best and most accurate newscast in the market
Strong dedicated leader who will mentor and coach the gathering and writing of news content
Strategic thinker and organized

Des Moines is the State Capital and the largest DMA in Iowa. Des Moines was voted #1 by Forbes as “Best City for Business & Careers”, voted #1 by The Business Journal as “Best Midwest City for Young Adults”, voted #1 by Kiplinger as “Best City for Families”.

Please apply online: http://nexstar.hirecentric.com/jobs/62025.html

Executive Producer, KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK:

KTVA CBS11 News in Anchorage, Alaska, is looking for an Executive Producer.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of five years producing experience with an eye for detail and a desire motivate and inspire others.

You’ll help reporters and producers look beyond press conference podiums and get to the heart of stories that impact Alaskans. At your disposal: two microwave trucks, a sat truck, two flyway sat units and a healthy travel budget. All are needed to cover this vast state in which we live.

Beyond the flashy words and equipment it comes down to this… the person for this position is someone who can pay attention to detail while multi-tasking. The reward: producing special project programming. Those include Iditarod, Arctic Winter Games, elections and election prep programming.

Politics are the state sport of Alaska and our elections quickly get the attention of the lower 48. You could be at the helm of that coverage!

To apply and read more about this position check out http://www.gci.com/about/careers

EEO/AA Employer/Vets/Disabled/Race/Ethnicity/Gender/Age