Rick Gevers & Associates

February 12, 2010

Greetings:

It’s a relatively slow week, with just ONE new ND to share with you, and, to my knowledge,  NO new openings.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to just  14, which is as low as I can remember it in more than 14 years of tracking this information.

One of those jobs (in Hawaii, if you’re tired of the winter weather) is advertised below, as well as an opening for an EP position in Texas.

We do have an item or two in Names in the News, including our tardy report on the departure from CBS News of a longtime employee who worked closely with CBS affiliates.  We also have details about the death of a veteran Washington state newsman, and memorial information for Frank Magid, whose passing we reported last week.

All that, and more, after this week’s change:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

None that I know of!

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KMIR-TV, Palm Desert, CA…KATE GLOVER will be the next ND for this Journal Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate.  She’s a former Assignment Editor at WESH-TV in Orlando, and replaces JON FISCHER who left the station in November after just more than a year as ND here.

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

HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS/CONTENT DIRECTOR, KGMB/KHNL-TV, HONOLULU, HI

We have a unique professional challenge and great career opportunity to align with forward thinking broadcasters.  You will be responsible for directing a competitive and quality newsroom, providing news content for a statewide (island state) audience for three television stations and online platforms, while living in beautiful Hawaii. You will lead Hawaii’s largest television newsroom while providing 40+ hours of news per week for KGMB (CBS Affiliate), KHNL (NBC Affiliate) and KFVE (Independent, broadcast home of University of Hawaii sports).

Key responsibilities:

• Guide daily and long-range editorial decision-making.
• Ensure high quality standards of journalism and production consistent with goals of the stations.
• Ability and experience in developing and executing news strategy; create and coordinate special news programs which enhance the image of being the market leader; strong production skills a must.
• Fiscal Management:  Ability to prepare and implement an operations plan/budget consistent with overall company and station goals.
• Coach, mentor and provide constructive feedback/evaluation to newsroom personnel, provide ongoing critiques for newscasts on a daily basis.
• Online:  Innovate and manage content and workflow to effectively and efficiently utilize the station website and mobile platform as the leading source of new media news and information in the market.
• Ensure adherence to accepted standards of journalism and compliance to laws regarding libel/slander.

Education / Experience / Personal Skills required:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Proven track record of success as a News Director or in a senior news management position (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Excellent people skills; strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead; experience in a multi-cultural setting, preferred.
• Strategic thinker, competitive and passionate for the business of local television news

Forward Cover Letter and Resume to:

Rick Blangiardi
General Manager
KGMB/KHNL-TV
Hawaii Now
420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205
Honolulu HI 96817

or email to: rblangiardi@hawaiinewsnow.com

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WOAI-TV, SAN ANTONIO, TX

JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties and responsibilities include hands-on, take charge leader to oversee the daily execution of WOAI TV newscasts. Duties include but not limited to journalistic, presentation and format quality control of newscasts.

The Executive Producer will be responsible for carrying out the news philosophy, and the goals and objectives of the news department as it relates to on-air presentation.  The Executive Producer must have solid journalistic credentials, outstanding writing and production skills, be a superb visual storyteller, and have dynamic creativity and excellent people skills.

Must be able to lead and motivate staff members in a positive way.  The Executive Producer will also be instrumental in the development of future news product.

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as an Executive Producer or News Director is required.  College degree is preferred.

CONTACT:

Tom Bell, News Director
WOAI TV
P.O. Box 2641
San Antonio TX  78299

Or via email:  tombell@woaitv.com

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (new listing this week)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised 1/29/10)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised 1/29/10)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 2/5/10, see ad above!)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)

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

OBITUARY and MEMORIAL INFORMATION:

Thielke

Funeral services were held Saturday, February 13, 2010, for longtime KIRO-TV (Seattle) Assignment Editor BRYAN THIELKE who died earlier this week after a bout with pancreatic cancer.  He was 58.  Bryan had also worked in Salt Lake City and Denver.  His colleagues paid tribute to him in a video produced and shown to him before he died.

Family of the late Frank N. Magid has designated a charity for anyone wishing to contribute in his memory.  It’s Direct Relief International, based in Santa Barbara, CA.  A private, family funeral service was held last Tuesday in Santa Barbara, where Frank died of cancer last week at the age of 78.

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

Three television and two radio news directors have been elected to two year terms on the Board of Directors of RTDNA.  TV news directors are PEGGY PHILIP of KSHB-TV in Kansas City, ANDREW VREES from WCVB-TV in Boston, and KEVIN BENZ, the longtime news director of News 8 Austin. Radio NDs elected were KATHY WALKER of KOA-AM in Denver, and RANDY BELL from Jackson, MS.

RAMON ESCOBAR returns to Telemundo as Executive Vice President of the Spanish language broadcaster’s network news program.  He’s a former ND at NBC’s WTVJ-TV in Miami and also worked at MSNBC.

And color us among the many very sorry to see JOE DUKE leave CBS News after 12 years.  During that time he primarily worked with Newspath and the CBS affiliates.  Joe’s one of the good guys in the business, who began as a news photographer and later served as ND for WWL-TV in New Orleans and KHOU-TV in Houston.  If you want to wish Joe well on his next adventure (or on his golf game!), your email finds him at: joeduke4@gmail.com

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, February 12, 2010.

And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205  Honolulu HI 96817 (see ad above)
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

February 6, 2010

Greetings:

Frank Magid

1931-2010

We begin this week with late word of the passing of a legend in television news.

FRANK N. MAGID, founder of the consulting company that bares his name, died in Santa Barbara, CA, today (Friday, February 5) after a battle with cancer.  He was 78.

More details in this story and this obituary from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports on his death here.

Our sympathy to his wife and two sons, including Brent, who is now the CEO of the firm.

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

On to our regular business…we have  THREE new news directors to tell you about this week, and  NO new openings.

That means our list of open ND jobs is down to an extremely low 15!

We have two new help wanted ads this week, both great opportunities if you’re tired of snow!  One is for a news director’s job in Hawaii, and I’m told the station is anxious to fill this one before the incumbent leaves in May.  And the other is for an EP position in San Antonio, TX.  Check out both listings below.

Otherwise, it’s a fairly slow week, with one new news management openings and just one item of note in Names in the News.

Remember to email me your items!

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

None that I know of!

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…STEVE LANGE returns as the new VP/Content for this NBC o-and-o.  Steve was the Assistant ND here earlier in his career.  He’s a former ND for WBBM-TV in Chicago, Executive Editor at WCBS-TV in New York, and an EP at the EXTRA news magazine.  Most recently he’s run his own production company.  In addition, KEITH ESPARROS has been named Director, Content.  He has been the Assistant ND there and is a former news director at WVUE-TV in New Orleans.  The new structure comes following the retirement of longtime KNBC ND BOB LONG who left the station in September.

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…ERIC MAZE will be the next ND for this Journal Broadcasting-owned FOX affiliate.  Eric’s currently the Assistant ND for KSHB-TV in Kansas City.  He’s a former ND in Jefferson City, MO, and has also worked in Kirksville, MO.  At WFTX, he replaces FRANK VERDEL who left the station last September after seven months as ND.  Eric will be the fifth ND in seven years here.

Malyn

WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY…MATT MAYLN moves with the Newport Television group to become the next ND for this ABC station.  Matt’s currently the Assistant ND at Newport’s KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City.  He’s a former ND at KOLD-TV in Tucson, and has also been an Assistant ND in Detroit, Memphis, and Las Vegas, and has been an EP in Cleveland and Columbus.  He replaces STEVE DAWE who took a job with Rochester’s PBS station after three years as ND.

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

HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS/CONTENT DIRECTOR, KGMB/KHNL-TV, HONOLULU, HI

We have a unique professional challenge and great career opportunity to align with forward thinking broadcasters.  You will be responsible for directing a competitive and quality newsroom, providing news content for a statewide (island state) audience for three television stations and online platforms, while living in beautiful Hawaii. You will lead Hawaii’s largest television newsroom while providing 40+ hours of news per week for KGMB (CBS Affiliate), KHNL (NBC Affiliate) and KFVE (Independent, broadcast home of University of Hawaii sports).

Key responsibilities:

• Guide daily and long-range editorial decision-making.
• Ensure high quality standards of journalism and production consistent with goals of the stations.
• Ability and experience in developing and executing news strategy; create and coordinate special news programs which enhance the image of being the market leader; strong production skills a must.
• Fiscal Management:  Ability to prepare and implement an operations plan/budget consistent with overall company and station goals.
• Coach, mentor and provide constructive feedback/evaluation to newsroom personnel, provide ongoing critiques for newscasts on a daily basis.
• Online:  Innovate and manage content and workflow to effectively and efficiently utilize the station website and mobile platform as the leading source of new media news and information in the market.
• Ensure adherence to accepted standards of journalism and compliance to laws regarding libel/slander.

Education / Experience / Personal Skills required:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Proven track record of success as a News Director or in a senior news management position (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Excellent people skills; strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead; experience in a multi-cultural setting, preferred.
• Strategic thinker, competitive and passionate for the business of local television news

Forward Cover Letter and Resume to:

Rick Blangiardi
General Manager
KGMB/KHNL-TV
Hawaii Now
420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205
Honolulu HI 96817

or email to: rblangiardi@hawaiinewsnow.com

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WOAI-TV, SAN ANTONIO, TX

JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties and responsibilities include hands-on, take charge leader to oversee the daily execution of WOAI TV newscasts. Duties include but not limited to journalistic, presentation and format quality control of newscasts.

The Executive Producer will be responsible for carrying out the news philosophy, and the goals and objectives of the news department as it relates to on-air presentation.  The Executive Producer must have solid journalistic credentials, outstanding writing and production skills, be a superb visual storyteller, and have dynamic creativity and excellent people skills.

Must be able to lead and motivate staff members in a positive way.  The Executive Producer will also be instrumental in the development of future news product.

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as an Executive Producer or News Director is required.  College degree is preferred.

CONTACT:

Tom Bell, News Director
WOAI TV
P.O. Box 2641
San Antonio TX  78299

Or via email:  tombell@woaitv.com

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised 1/29/10)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised 1/29/10)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)

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

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

Ryan

Congrats to old friend SCOOBIE RYAN who is now the Associate Director of the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Telecommunications.  She also teaches a variety of courses there.  Scoobie’s worked at TV stations in Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, and Columbia, MO, where we worked together at the University of Missouri campus radio station, KCCS (now KCOU-FM).  Other old friends can re-connect at: scoobie@uky.edu

And while not really a Name in the News, thanks to those of you who responded to my shameless pandering for Super Bowl tickets in last week’s edition.  We had some opportunities but passed on the astronomical prices, and will be watching the game on TV like so many others.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, February 5, 2010.

And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205  Honolulu HI 96817 (see ad above)
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KMIR-TV   72920 Parkview Drive            Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

January 30, 2010

Greetings:

We have a modest amount of activity involving news director changes this week.  There are  FIVE new news directors and just  ONE new opening.  This flurry of activity means there are now just 18 stations with known ND openings.

But that’s not all!

You’ll get the opportunity to watch me shamelessly beg for the chance to buy Super Bowl tickets.  We have a handful of Names in the News, including a VERY close call for a veteran, well liked ND.  We also have two help wanted ads if you’re looking for a new challenge, and an ad for the Devlin Design Group where you’ll learn that are two people with the same name in a fairly small newsroom in a large market.

Before we get to this week’s changes, let me once again pander shamelessly before you in my quest to take my wife to her first Super Bowl.  Our local team is once again headed to Miami to play the Saints.  My wife and I have plane tickets.  We have a place to stay.  We lack game tickets (an important item, to be sure.)  If you have access to two ducats at (or near) face value, please email me: rick@rickgevers.com or call: 317-769-7900. Anyone who comes through will get an automatic one year extension of their subscription to this newsletter, and I can also come up with Indy 500 tickets if someone wants to see the 2010 Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Enough pandering…on to this week’s changes and all the other news:

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT…PAT LIVINGSTON fills the vacant ND chair at this Newport TV-owned ABC affiliate.  Pat’s currently the VP/News for Barrington Broadcasting, and earlier he’d been the ND for the company’s WNWO-TV in Toledo.  He’s also been an ND in Youngstown and Peoria.  At KTVX, Pat replaces TOM BELL who was promoted to the company’s San Antonio, TX, station, WOAI-TV late last year after about a year and a half as ND there.

WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL…has reached across the Scripps family as it hires JEFF BROGAN as ND.  Jeff is currently the Assistant ND for the company’s WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.  He started in Cincinnati as a producer, became Executive Producer before moving up to AND in 2008.  He’s a Cincinnati native and earlier had worked at WXIX-TV there.  At WPTV, he replaces PETER ROGHAAR who left the station last fall to become ND for WTSP-TV in Tampa, FL.

Julie S.

KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM…JULIE SZULCEWSKI will be the next news director for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate.  Julie is currently the Managing Editor for WSOC-TV in Charlotte.   She’s also worked in Orlando, Miami, St. Louis, and Ft. Myers, FL.  At KOB, she replaces JAMIE IOOS who left the station last month after about 17 months as news director.

Vincent

KQDS-TV, Duluth, MN…has named JASON VINCENT news director.  He’s currently the morning anchor at WDAY-TV in Fargo, ND.  Jason is a Minnesota native and worked in Mankato before moving to Duluth in 2006.  At KQDS, he replaces JULIE MORAVCHICK who left the station earlier this month after four years as ND.  She was the first ND in the station’s history.

KUPB-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX…this Entravision owned Spanish language station has named JOSE ANTONIO PESQUEIRA as its next news director.  He previously worked as a sports anchor here and also worked as a reporter in Lubbock.  KUPB is a Univision affiliate.

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENING:

KMTV, Omaha, NE…SCOTT PICKEN has left this CBS affiliate after just more than a year as ND for this Journal Broadcasting owned station. Scott moved to Omaha from Journal’s station in Boise, one of two Boise stations where he’s been an ND.  He also worked at Journal’s Green Bay station, and has also worked in Honolulu, Rockford, IL, and Ft. Smith, AR.

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

HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS CONTENT MANAGER, WAVE-TV, LOUISVILLE, KY

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

FACULTY OPENING, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of television newsroom experience. Some newsroom management experience is preferred.  Duties include a minimum of 30 hours per week in the KOMU-TV (NBC-affiliate) newsroom supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers.  Duties also include classroom teaching and service to the journalism school and the university.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010 with a start date as soon as possible. Applications must include an academic CV or professional resume, video of recent television stories or television newscasts produced by the candidate, the names of three references in the field of television journalism, and a cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in teaching and in students. This cover letter must also include an analysis of the television news profession’s transition from solely broadcast to broadcast and digital/internet news platforms.

Applications may be sent electronically (preferred) to: hardte@missouri.edu

or by mail to:

Elizabeth Hardt
Staff Assistant to the Dean
Missouri School of Journalism
120 Neff Hall
Columbia MO 65211

If sending the application electronically, please send as a Word or PDF attachment with candidate’s last name as title. Please reference position number 100005.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that the successful candidate will share this commitment. MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised this week)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (relisted 12/18/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)

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

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

NAMES in the NEWS:

CHRIS PASSON has been named Director of Content for KPTV/KPDX in Portland, OR.  He has been the nightside EP there.  That move creats one of two EP openings for this Fox affiliate, as noted above.

JOSE SUAREZ returns to the NBC/Universal family as Director of Digital Platforms for the Telemundo Station Group.  Earlier he’d been the Director of Digital for NBC’s WTVJ-TV in Miami.  Most recently he served a short stint as ND for WSFL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale.  He’s also been an ND in Toledo.

Former News Director WALTER CHRISTOPHERSEN has written A Temporary European about his experience working in Europe on a newsmagazine that aired on PBS.  Earlier in his career, Walt was an ND at WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC, and later at WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH.  He’s also worked for Radio Free Europe and CNN International in Atlanta.

Finally, we’re pleased to report that veteran newsman PAUL STEUBER is on the mend after a very close call.  Many of you know Paul, who most recently was an ND in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, but has worked in a number of markets like Miami, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids.  Seems Paul went in to the hospital for a routine procedure, was released, and almost bled to death at home.  His rehab’s been tough but he proudly told me he went up 18 steps one foot over the other (instead of one at a time) earlier this week.  When you email him your good wishes – rpaulstu@aol.com – have him tell you the whole story.  It’s a well written, entertaining (yet somewhat scary) read.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, January 29, 2010.

And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV,  5233 Bridge St.                        Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.         Louisville KY 40203 (see ad above)
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
WFTX-TV   621 SW Pine Island Rd.          Cape Coral FL 33991
KGMB-TV 1534 Kapiolani Blvd. Honolulu HI< 96814
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WHAM-TV   4225 W. Henrietta               Rochester NY 14623
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KMIR-TV   72920 Parkview Drive            Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

*** (Spanish language)

January 23, 2010

Greetings:

Welcome to the latest edition of your free weekly newsletter covering news director and news manager moves.

We have THREE new news directors to tell you about, while there are  TWO new openings.

By my admittedly unofficial and inexact count, there are  21 stations with open news director positions.

One of those stations is running a paid ad this week with more details about its opening.  (If you love horse racing, you’d love this job!).  And we also have a paid ad for a faculty position at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

I received a lot of feedback from an UPDATE last week on the changes ahead for the RTDNA convention.  Chairman STACEY WOELFEL responded and the situation is better than I may have believed, at least if you like a RTDNA convention that’s held in different cities each year.  Read his response below.

Also this week, we have one new EP listing to share with you, an obituary for a veteran news director who died this week, along with a few moves among news managers.  And happy birthday wishes to one former ND who held his large market ND job for 35 years!

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

Boling

KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA…NEAL BOLING has been named Executive News Director of Content and Promotion, and JANA GRAY has been promoted to News Director for this Cowles-owned NBC affiliate.  Neal has been the ND for WJHL-TV in Johnson City, TN, and previously worked as an EP in Tampa.  Jana has been an EP at KHQ.  Neal and Jana replace JONATHAN MITCHELL who left the station in December to become ND for NBC’s KNTV in San Francisco/San Jose, CA.

Dugle

KHBS/KHOG, Ft. Smith/Fayetteville, AR…has named DAWN DUGLE as the next ND for this Hearst-owned ABC station.  Dawn’s currently the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WAPT-TV in Jackson, MS.  She’s also worked in Austin, TX, and Tampa…and worked for one year in Kwajalein-the Republic of Marshal Islands, creating and producing a weekly news magazine for the island community.  At KHBS/KHOG, she replaces MIKE COURINGTON who left the station last fall after more than six years as ND.

WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV…MARK RIGSBY will be the next ND for this Quincy Newspapers-owned NBC affiliate.  Mark’s been the Assistant ND for KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, IA.  He’s also worked in Charleston/Huntington, WV, Clarksburg, WV, and Wilmington, NC.  At WVVA, he replaces GREG CARTER who remains with the station as an anchor and Content Manager.  Greg had been the ND/Anchor for almost six years.

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

KGMB-TV, Honolulu, HI…CHRIS ARCHER is leaving this Raycom-owned CBS affiliate to follow his wife, CANDACE HIRLEMAN to California, where she’s been named News Promotion Manager for KABC-TV in Los Angeles.  Chris has been ND here since May, 2006.  He plans to stay at the station until May to help recruit and train his successor.

WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN…as reported above, NEAL BOLING is headed to Spokane as Executive News Director of Content and Promotion for KHQ-TV.  He’s been ND for this Media General owned CBS affiliate for just over two years.

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HELP WANTED ADS:

NEWS CONTENT MANAGER, WAVE-TV, LOUISVILLE, KY

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FACULTY OPENING, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a journalist with extensive newsroom experience and a talent for teaching at the university level.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of television newsroom experience. Some newsroom management experience is preferred.  Duties include a minimum of 30 hours per week in the KOMU-TV (NBC-affiliate) newsroom supervising the work of student reporters, anchors, newscast producers and videographers.  Duties also include classroom teaching and service to the journalism school and the university.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Hiring is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010 with a start date as soon as possible. Applications must include an academic CV or professional resume, video of recent television stories or television newscasts produced by the candidate, the names of three references in the field of television journalism, and a cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in teaching and in students. This cover letter must also include an analysis of the television news profession’s transition from solely broadcast to broadcast and digital/internet news platforms.

Applications may be sent electronically (preferred) to: hardte@missouri.edu

or by mail to:

Elizabeth Hardt
Staff Assistant to the Dean
Missouri School of Journalism
120 Neff Hall
Columbia MO 65211

If sending the application electronically, please send as a Word or PDF attachment with candidate’s last name as title. Please reference position number 100005.

The University of Missouri is committed to cultural diversity and it is expected that the successful candidate will share this commitment. MU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ADA institution and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.

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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 9/25/09)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, new listing this week)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (relisted 12/18/09)

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT:

KPTV/KPDX-TV, Portland, OR (listed 11/21/09)

MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

The Weather  Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)

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OBITUARY:

Chipman

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Saturday, January 23, 2010) in Boise, ID, for longtime news director BRINK CHIPMAN who died earlier this week after a bout with colon cancer.  Brink was 66, and had been an ND in Salt Lake City, Tucson, and Boise.  One of his former stations, KSL-TV in Salt Lake City aired this obituary.  The Salt Lake Tribune reported on his passing here.  Brink is survived by his wife and two sons.

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RTDNA Convention update:

Woelfel

RTDNA Chairman STACEY WOELFEL offers this view on our report last week on the organization’s convention plans.  We told you in an UPDATE last week that 2010 was the last year of RTDNA’s concurrent conference with NAB, and plans in 2011 are to hold a joint conference with SPJ.  Stacey clarifies the situation:

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NAMES in the NEWS:

WBIR-TV (Knoxville, TN) News Director BILL SHORY stood his ground recently at a news conference where University of Tennessee football coach LANE KIFFIN was going to explain his early departure.  Shory objected to Kiffin’s plan to do part of the news conference off-camera.  Video of the situation can be found in this commentary from RTDNA Chairman STACEY WOELFEL.

AMY WENTWORTH returns to California as Dayside EP for KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco, CA.  Amy’s been working in Buffalo for family reasons, but earlier in her career worked at several California stations, including KCRA-TV in Sacramento when KTVU ND ED CHAPUIS was the ND there.  She’s also worked in Tampa, Milwaukee, and Las Vegas.

Congratulations to MATT CAMPBELL who’s been promoted to Executive Producer at WZZM-TV, the Gannett-owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI.  Matt has been a producer here.

Giles

Finally, birthday wishes to longtime WISH-TV (Indianapolis) News Director LEE GILES, who turned 73 today (Friday, January 22nd).  Lee’s only wish today was probably for warmer weather so he could get back out on the golf course.  Your birthday wish would wind through cyberspace and land in his mailbox if you send it to:  leegiles8@gmail.com

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, January 22, 2010.

And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WGBO-TV  541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV   5233 Bridge St.                 Fort Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV   20777 W. 10 Mile Road           Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV   1710 Arden Way                         Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
KTVX-TV   2175 W. 1700 South              Salt Lake City UT 84104
WPTV,     1100 Banyan Blvd.,              W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
KOB-TV    4 Broadcast Plaza SW            Albuquerque NM 87104
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St.                      Louisville KY 40203 (see ad above)
WTEN-TV   341 Northern Blvd.              Albany, NY 12204
WFTX-TV   621 SW Pine Island Rd.          Cape Coral FL 33991
KGMB-TV 1534 Kapiolani Blvd Honolulu HI 96814
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
WHAM-TV   4225 W. Henrietta               Rochester NY 14623
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KQDS-TV, 2001 London Rd. Duluth MN 55812
KMIR-TV   72920 Parkview Drive            Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV   120 W. Delmar Blvd.             Laredo TX 78045

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