Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

March 19, 2011

Monday, March 20, 2011 UPDATE:

We’ve removed the listing for an open ND job at WDAY-TV in Fargo, ND. The position is NOT open. My mistake, and apologies to JEFF NELSON who was, is, and continues to be the news director there.

Sunday, March 20, 2011 UPDATE:

We’ve added links to published obituaries for both PAT CASEY, whose death is reported immediately below, and for RICK FRIEDMAN, whose passing is noted in Names in the News below.

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Greetings:

I’m sorry to start off this week’s report with news of the death of PAT CASEY. Pat lost his battle with brain cancer Saturday, March 19. He was 54. Pat recently stepped down as ND for WKEF/WRGT-TV in Dayton and was a former ND in Cincinnati and Portland, ME. He also worked in Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Los Angeles.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 22, at 6:00 PM at Our Lord Christ the King Church in Cincinnati.

Friends have established The Casey Family Fund to help Pat’s wife and three children. Your generous contribution can be mailed to:

Casey Family Fund
Fifth Third Bank
2632 Erie Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45208

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Turning to our regular business, there’s a fair amount of activity in this week’s report. There are FOUR new news directors, while we have TWO new openings.

That leaves our count of open ND jobs at 30.

We have a paid ad for a GM position at an all news cable operation in Sunny Florida. That’s below.

If you’re headed to NAB, check out (and support) our advertisers from Devlin Design Group and Beat the Traffic…both will be at the conference. You can learn more about their NAB plans by clicking on their ads.

In Names in the News, several items involving NDs who’ve moved to GM jobs. One is retiring, one is moving to another GM position, and another is getting his first GM stripes. There are also some management moves and details about the death of a veteran broadcaster who’d worked in several major markets.

That’s all below, after this week’s changes.

New News Director Openings:

KLUZ-TV, Albuquerque, NM…the search is on for a new ND for this Entravision-owned Univision affiliate. Management decided not to fill the opening when ALEX BOSSCHAERTS left in December, 2008. They’ve apparently changed their minds, and the search is on.

WJHG-TV, Panama City, FL…MARK WILDMAN has left after four months as ND here. He’s a former ND in Macon and Columbus, GA. WJHG is an NBC affiliate, owned by Gray Television.

Newly Named News Directors:

Collura

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX…DEBORAH COLLURA has been promoted to VP/Managing Director of News for Post-Newsweek, and is moving from Detroit to Houston, where she’ll also be ND for this NBC affiliate. Deb first joined PNS in 1997, as ND at WDIV-TV in Detroit. She’s been VP/News for PNS since July 2004, and has served as interim ND at WDIV since 2009. She’s been an ND in Miami and Minneapolis, and also worked in Sacramento, St. Louis, and Rockford, IL. At KPRC, she replaces RICK McFARLAND who returned to his former role as Assistant ND in January after almost two years as ND.

Voet

WDIV-TV, Detroit, MI…longtime station employee KIM VOET has been promoted to ND for this NBC affiliate. Kim began at WDIV in 1997 as a producer. She was promoted to Nightside EP, EP of Special Projects, Senior Executive Producer, and then Assistant News Director. She earlier worked at WKBD-TV in Detroit, as well as in St. Louis, at two different stations in the Greensboro-Winston Salem market, and in Columbia, MO. Kim essentially replaces Deb Collura, who’s been the interim ND there since BOB ELLIS was promoted to GM of sister station WJXT-TV in Jacksonville almost two years ago.

Platzer

WJAC-TV, Johnston, PA…JIM PLATZER returns to the ND chair at the station at which he started his career. He’s the new ND for this COX Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate. Jim has been teaching at Penn State for the last two years since leaving WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC, where he’d been ND for about a year. He’s also been an ND in Decatur, IL, and Clarksburg, WV. He’s also worked in Orlando, Tampa, Mobile and Altoona, PA, after beginning his career at WJAC 20 years ago. He replaces PAM DENNIS who left in October after six years as ND.

Adams

WICU-TV, Erie, PA…LISA ADAMS has been promoted to News Director here. She first joined the station more than 30 years ago, as a director. She quickly moved in front of the camera and has held a variety of anchor positions for SJL Broadcasting NBC affiliate. She replaces JULIE EISENMAN who left the station in January after three years as ND.

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We need someone with exceptional news judgment and superior people skills. Candidates must have eight years or more of senior news management experience in affiliate television or cable news. Familiarity with social media is important.

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Bright House Networks is an EOE M/F/D/V – all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 2/12/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 3/12/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 1/30/11)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 2/18/11)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/18/11)
WSJV-TV, South Bend/Elkhart, IN (position relisted 2/25/11)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted 1/1/11)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 2/25/11)

Executive News Producer:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 3/12/11)
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 2/18/11)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/12/11)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 3/12/11)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/25/11)
WTVD-TV, Raleigh/Durham, NC (relisted 3/4/11)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 2/18/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 2/18/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Morning EP, relisted 2/18/11)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Special Projects EP, listing revised 1/14/11)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 2/6/11)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Morning EP, listed 1/28/11)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (Morning EP, relisted 1/14/11)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 2/6/11)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (relisted 1/14/11)

Special Projects Producer:

WSVN-TV, Miami, FL (listed 2/12/11)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/30/11)

Managing Editor:

KTVU-TV, Oakland/San Francisco, CA (relisted 1/14/11)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 1/14/11)

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Names in the News:

Lots of news this week about former NDs who became (or are becoming) General Managers.

Stutz

MIKE STUTZ is being promoted to General Manager of News-Press and Gazette’s KESQ-TV in Palm Desert, CA, the company’s ABC affiliate there. He’ll continue to serve as VP/News for the group. Mike’s a former ND in San Diego and Jacksonville, FL, and also worked in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Denver. It’s been a big week for Mike (and his wife ELLEN) who became grandparents for the first time, as McKENNA CLAIRE STUTZ was born to their son TIM and his wife KRISTY in Tampa. Congratulate Mike on both happy events via email: mike.stutz@npgco.com

Allen

Mike is replacing another former ND as GM of KESQ. BOB ALLEN is retiring after a long career in our business. He’s been GM at KESQ since January, 2000, and earlier served as a GM in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, IA. He was also a news director in Cedar Rapids, and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Denver as a reporter, anchor, and producer. He’ll continue to consult for NPG, and will help with the transition to a new facility.

Another former ND turned GM is on the move. JOHN CHRISTIANSON has been named GM of WTVG-TV in Toledo. He’s been the GM for WSEE-TV in Erie, PA, since 2007 when he was promoted from ND there. WSEE is owned by SJL Broadcasting which is in the process of buying WTVG from ABC.

Hill

ERICA HILL has been promoted to Assistant ND at KCPQ-TV, the Tribune owned FOX affiliate in Seattle. She’s been the Managing Editor there for the last three years. She’s also worked at WBBM-TV in Chicago.

Another management move at another Tribune owned Fox affiliate. KRISTEN HAMILTON joins WXIN-TV in Indianapolis as Content Manager next month. She’s currently the assistant ND for WMBD/WYZZ, the CBS/FOX duopoly in Peoria, IL. She’s also served as Managing Editor in Savannah, GA, and as an EP in Springfield, MO.

Friedman

Finally, I’m sorry to report the death of longtime broadcaster RICK FRIEDMAN, who died last week at the age of 64 from lung cancer. He was the original producer of Action News at WFIL-TV (now WPVI-TV) in Philadelphia, and eventually worked at three Philly stations. He later worked at stations in Los Angeles and Chicago, but spent much of his career in program development. You might enjoy this tribute to Rick, who was passionate about the Los Angeles Lakers. Be sure to read the comments following his posts.

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The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Saturday, March 19, 2011.

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

KMEX-TV 5999 Center Dr. Los Angeles CA 90045 **
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WSOC-TV 1901 North Tryon St. Charlotte NC 28206
WNCN-TV 1205 Front St. Raleigh NC 27609
WRTV 1330 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46202
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KTVX-TV 2175 W. 1700 South Salt Lake City UT 84104
KABB-TV 4335 NW Loop 410 San Antonio TX 78229
News 8 Austin 1708 Colorado St. Austin TX 78701
KLUZ-TV 2725 F. Broadbent Pwky NE Albuquerque NM 87107
KATV 401 Main St. Little Rock AR 72201
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
KOKI-TV 2625 S. Memorial Tulsa OK 74129
WKEF/WRGT-TV 45 Broadcast Plaza Dayton OH 45408
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tucson AZ 85705
KVOA-TV 209 W. Elm St. Tucson AZ 85705
WNWO-TV 300 S. Byrne Rd. Toledo OH 43615
KVEO-TV 349 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WCIV-TV 888 Albritton Blvd. Mt. Pleasant SC 29464
WSHM-TV One Monarch Place #300 Springfield MA 01144
KVAL-TV 4575 Blanton Road Eugene OR 97405
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd. Rockford IL 61105
KTKA-TV 2121 SW Chelsea Dr. Topeka KS 66614
KIMT-TV 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City IA 50401
WJHG-TV 8195 Front Beach Rd. Panama City Beach FL 32407
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St. Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks ND 52801
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KFBB-TV 3012 Highwoods Blvd. Great Falls MT 59403

** Spanish language station

March 13, 2011

March 17, 2011 UPDATE:

Two major market ND changes today, both within the Post-Newsweek Group.

Collura

DEBORAH COLLURA, Post-Newsweek’s VP/News, has been promoted to VP/Managing Director of News for Post-Newsweek and will oversee the news department for KPRC-TV, the company’s NBC affiliate in Houston. Deb’s been VP/News since July, 2004, and had been ND for PNS’s WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit from 1997 until her promotion. She’s also been an ND in Miami and Minneapolis, and has also worked in Sacramento, St. Louis, and Rockford, Illinois. At KPRC, Deb replaces RICK McFARLAND who returned to his former role as Assistant ND earlier this year.

Voet

Meanwhile, KIM VOET has been promoted to ND at WDIV. She’s first joined WDIV in 1997 as a producer. She was promoted to Nightside EP, EP of Special Projects, Senior Executive Producer, and then Assistant News Director. She earlier worked at WKBD-TV in Detroit, as well as in St. Louis, at two different stations in the Greensboro-Winston Salem market, and in Columbia, MO. Kim essentially replaces Deb Collura, who’s been the interim ND there since BOB ELLIS was promoted to GM of sister station WJXT-TV in Jacksonville almost two years ago.

We’ll have more on these changes, and details about a former ND moving into a GM’s chair, as well as some other moves in our regular weekly newsletter later this week.

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Greetings:

We’re a little delayed by travel this week, but lots going on.

There are THREE new ND openings, with TWO ‘new’ NDs to report, though both the ‘new’ NDs have had multiple ND jobs during their careers.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to 30.

Also this week, we welcome Beat the Traffic back as an advertiser. If you’re headed to NAB, plan on paying them a visit to see the latest. And we’re got a repeat of an ad for an Illinois ND opening. There are some new news management jobs open (all in top 25 markets) in our list of Other News Management Openings. And there are lots of items in Names in the News, some good, too many bad, most involving names you’ll probably recognize.

That’s all below, after this week’s changes:

New News Director Openings:

KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT…PAT LIVINGSTON has left his Newport TV owned station after just over a year as ND. He’s headed to WPBN/WTOM-TV in Traverse City, MI. More on that below.

Church

WCIV-TV, Mt. Pleasant, SC (Charleston, SC, market)…JIM CHURCH is being transferred within Albritton to become the head of technology and operations for KATV in Little Rock. His title at WCIV was VP News and Operations. Jim went to Charleston from Albritton’s WJLA-TV in Washington, where he was VP/Operations and Technology. He’s also been an ND in Tampa, Jacksonville, FL, Chattanooga, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton, PA.

Walder

WDAZ-TV, Grand Forks, ND…CASSIE WALDER is leaving to follow her boyfriend, who’s been transferred by the Air Force to the Washington, DC, area. Cassie has been at this Forum Communications owned station for ten years, has been ND since October, 2004, and also anchors. WDAZ is an ABC affiliate.

Newly Named News Directors:

Sadiwskyj

WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN…veteran news director LENA SADIWSKYJ returns to a newsroom with the title of VP/News for this Gray Communications owned station. Lena’s been an ND in Shreveport, Tucson, Orlando (two stations), and has worked in Dallas, Phoenix, Birmingham, and Columbia, MO, where she was on the faculty of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She’s also worked in Toronto and Halifax in her native Canada. Most recently she’s been been Editor in Chief for a mobile app, Taptu. At WVLT, she replaces STEVE CRABTREE who will leave this CBS affiliate after eleven years as ND.

WPBN/WTOM-TV, Traverse City, MI…as noted above, PAT LIVINGSTON will be the next ND for this Barrington Broadcasting owned NBC station. He once served as the interim ND there while he was the VP/News for station owner Barrington Broadcasting. In addition to his time as ND in Salt Lake City, Pat’s been an ND in Youngstown, Peoria, and Toledo. At WPBN/WTOM, he replaces GREG BALDWIN who left the station last month to return to Schurz Broadcating as EP for WDBJ-TV in Roanoke.

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HELP WANTED ADS:

News Director, WREX-TV, Rockford, IL

We are looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.

WREX in Rockford, IL seeks a News Director to help guide our news department to new heights of journalistic and ratings success. We produce five daily newscasts and the strongest TV web content in the market. This is an exciting opportunity to join a great team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. Reporting to the VP/GM, the News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 8 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism is preferred. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and needs, as well as sound journalistic principles, and must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence and a burning desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Rockford, IL we want to hear from you.

WREX offers a competitive traditional benefits package plus health club membership and an HDTV purchase program.

Please send your resume to:

John Chadwick
Vice-President, General Manager
WREX
P.O. Box 530
Rockford, IL 61105

or via email to: jchadwick@wrex.com

WREX Television, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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