Rick Gevers & Associates

January 31, 2021

Friday, February 5, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Big news today from Minneapolis (and Seattle) as a former Minneapolis news director returns to the Twin Cities as a general manager.

Dallman

BILL DALLMAN. currently the ND for Sinclair’s KOMO-TV (ABC) in Seattle, will be the next GM for Tegna’s KARE-TV (NBC). It’s a return both to Minneapolis and Tegna for Bill, who earlier had been the ND for FOX o-and-o KMSP-TV and once had worked for Tegna (then Gannett) stations in Grand Rapids, MI (ND at WZZM-TV) and Sacramento (EP at KXTV).

Here’s the release.
Bill’s been ND at KOMO for almost three years. He’s also run news departments in Los Angeles and Denver and was the VP/News for FOX Sports 1. The move is the Minneapolis ‘hat trick’ for Bill (appropriate given his love of hockey) as he earlier worked at KSTP-TV as a producer.

He replaces JOHN REMES who retired at the end of 2020 after 24 years as GM.

One other note. WTMJ-TV (Scripps/NBC) in Milwaukee has promoted TIM VETSCHER to news director, replacing JEFF KIERNAN who was promoted to ND for Scripps’ WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Tim’s been the editorial director at ‘TMJ4 since 2019.

Much more on Bill’s new job and Tim’s promotion in our ‘super’ (will the NFL sue me for that?) newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A longtime, old-school California newsman, said to be the model for the Lou Grant character on the Mary Tyler Moore show, has died.

PETE NOYES, who worked at most (if not all) of the Los Angeles TV stations, died Monday night at his home at the age of 90. If my information is correct, he also served as a news director for KOVR-TV in Sacramento and KFMB-TV in San Diego.

Pete Noyes

There were many well deserved tributes to him.

Here’s one from one of the stations where he worked, KNBC-TV. And here’s another from The Los Angeles Daily News.

A simple google search would lead you to many more.

Pete also wrote two books, Who Killed the Big News? and The Real L.A. Confidential.

He is survived by his wife and his son Jack, an assignment editor at KNBC.

More on Pete’s life and his career in our full newsletter this weekend, hopefully completed before kickoff!

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

The recent rash of news director changes has slowed this week, with just ONE new opening to share and NO newly hired NDs.

TWO of this week’s 17 ND openings are among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads.

Only ONE item in Names in the News: an update on the probe into misconduct by CBS stations division execs PETER DUNN and DAVID FRIEND. That’s below.

And we have news of the retirement of a longtime Illinois General Manager.

Read on for all that and more.

Newly Named News Directors:

For the second consecutive week, there were no new news directors announced this week. If I’ve missed something, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

New News Director Openings:

Burch

KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX…JAMIE BURCH is leaving this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate as he is moving within Texas to become the Assistant News Director at KXXV-TV in Waco. That’s the Scripps owned ABC station there. Jamie was ND here for almost six years. He’s a former ND in Panama City, FL, and has also worked in Dallas, Atlanta, and Mobile.

Diaz

Two updates on the news director opening at KTXL-TV (FOX/Nexstar) in Sacramento.

We told you last week that MONIKA DIAZ had left the station. That’s not true…yet. Monika kindly advises that she will be there until late February.

You can learn more about this opportunity in a new Paid Help Wanted Ad below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA:

Nexstar Inc. seeks an experienced & driven broadcast professional to serve as News Director for KTXL-TV/FOX40 in California’s capital city of Sacramento.

Fox 40 produces the most local news in the market plus executes on multiple special projects and a statewide weekly political show. You will lead and supervise all aspects of news, weather, sports and digital content and be a key part of the leadership team in this competitive Top 20 market.

Sacramento has it all when it comes to a top quality of life in Northern California.

We are looking for someone who has passion for the industry, is a proven leader, can lead a growing television station and has the desire to win the right way. You must also have a strong sense of collaboration.

To learn more and apply, just click here!

News Director, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA:

And the Oscar goes to…

3-2-1 – the shot goes up…

The press conference is LIVE.

Dream of living in the middle of EVERYTHING? Red carpets, the big game, the even bigger breaking news?

You never know what’s going to happen…

But there are a couple of things you can count on:

The sun is always shining and KTLA is always ALL OVER IT in Los Angeles.

Nexstar Inc. has an immediate opening for a Superstar News Director at our #1 station in LA- KTLA.

KTLA is a historic news powerhouse producing more than 86 hours of live and local news each week. Lead and supervise all aspects of news, weather, sports, and local OTT content… And be a key part of the leadership team of the #1 station in the #2 market in the country.

Los Angeles is the quintessential media town – where television is part of the entertainment culture. You will find unmatched access to sports, music, entertainment, and art. Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing, or surfing, Los Angeles has it all.

We are looking for someone who has passion for the industry, the desire to create new product, and the mindset to grow winning teams.

If you are ready, apply here:

Assistant News Director, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:

WSLS-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Roanoke, VA seeks a strategic thinking and assertive Assistant News Director. The ideal candidate must be a proven newsroom leader who knows how to win breaking news and weather coverage on all platforms, a self-starter. They will oversee production of all newscasts and work closely with anchors, reporters and producers on day-to-day and special project coverage.

TOP REASONS TO JOIN WSLS:

Growth, experience, and training. At WSLS, we will work with you to help you reach your full potential through ongoing career development programs. We are also committed to ongoing training throughout your career and to hiring from within – across the GMG family of companies.
Our culture and benefits package. Our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative and recognize and reward achievement. Graham Media offers a generous benefits package that includes 401K and healthcare on day one!

You will live and work in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, plus you`re only a short drive to major metropolitan areas as well as beaches.

Are you ready to join the team? We encourage you to submit your resume for consideration.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to: Margaret Ashburn, WSLS 10 News Director: mashburn@wsls.com

Learn more here!

No phone calls please

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 1/17/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WPTV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 1/3/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 1/24/21)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 1/24/21, see ad above!)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 1/10/21)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 1/24/21)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-America/News Nation, Chicago, IL (listed 1/3/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP Special Projects, listed 1/10/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP, listed 1/10/21)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, relisted this week)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM Content Mgr., listing revised 1/17/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted 1/10/21)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 1/24/21)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 1/3/21)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 1/10/21)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 1/18/21)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 12/13/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, relisted 1/10/21)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (listed 1/17/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 12/20/20)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (new listing this week)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, listed 1/3/21)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 12/13/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 1/10/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York

Names in the News:

Gray

The Los Angeles Times reports that CBS has hired KEISHA-ANN GRAY from the firm of Proskauer Rose to investigate claims of misconduct made against stations division president PETER DUNN and DAVID FRIEND, who oversees the news departments at the CBS owned stations. Gray is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York. Here’s her bio.

General Manager News and Notes:

DeSantis

Longtime (and I do mean longtime) WEEK-TV General Manager MARK DeSANTIS is retiring. More here. He’s run this Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate in Peoria, IL, for 23 years. Mark worked for Tegna stations in Washington and Minneapolis and also served as VP/Marketing for the Clemensen Sheehan Rovitto & Co. consulting firm. Quincy’s Regional VP JIM McKERNAN will assume the GM role here

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 31, 2021:

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

KTLA-TV 5800 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (see ad above!)
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820 (see ad above!)
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave.Fresno, CA 93727
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
KTLM-TV 200 S 10th St. Fl 2 McAllen, TX 78501 **
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack Abilene, TX 79602
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

January 24, 2021

Tuesday, January 26. 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Quick reaction from CBS to the reports from Sunday’s Los Angeles Times about issues in the CBS station group that we first told you about in Sunday’s newsletter.

 Friend

  Dunn

Both the President of the station’s division, PETER DUNN, and DAVID FRIEND, who’s the Senior VP/News for the local stations, have been placed on administrative leave. Here’s the memo from the President and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group, GEORGE CHEEKS. And here’s the latest from the LA Times, which first broke the story. (A reminder that a subscription may be required.)

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are both headed to the Super Bowl. Read on to see how ONE of our TWO obituaries has a unique tie to the Chiefs.

In this week’s report, we have TWO new openings, both in California and both at Nexstar stations. And there are NO new NDs to tell you about.

That means we have 16 stations in our listing of stations looking for a new ND.

ONE of those 16 openings is among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads. And that job is in the number TWO market.

In Names in the News, several interesting articles, including a two-part series from The Los Angeles Times that investigates serious charges against the CBS owned stations group. And there’s some news managers on the move, as if so often the case. 🙂

We have TWO obituaries this week and NO news about general managers.

There’s much more below, including this ad from STRINGR who will be supporting this newsletter for this next year. We thank them for their support and encourage you to click on their ad to learn more about them.

Newly Named News Directors:

To my knowledge, there were no new news directors announced this week. If I’ve missed something, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com

New News Director Openings:

Ball

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA…our UPDATE earlier this week brought the news that JASON BALL is leaving this Nexstar owned CW affiliate after more than 12 years. His station bio has more on his background. Learn more about this opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

To keep Jason’s 12 year run as an Los Angeles ND in perspective:

During that time:

KCBS-TV has had FIVE news directors.
KTTV (FOX) has had FIVE news directors.
KNBC-TV has had FIVE news directors.
KABC-TV has had THREE news directors.

Diaz

KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA…MONIKA DIAZ has left is leaving this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate in late February after a little more than three years as news director and more than six years at the station. She joined KTXL in 2014 as managing editor, was later promoted to Assistant ND before ascending to the corner office. Monika’s a former reporter in Dallas, San Jose, and for another Sacramento station.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA:

And the Oscar goes to…

3-2-1 – the shot goes up…

The press conference is LIVE.

Dream of living in the middle of EVERYTHING? Red carpets, the big game, the even bigger breaking news?

You never know what’s going to happen…

But there are a couple of things you can count on:

The sun is always shining and KTLA is always ALL OVER IT in Los Angeles.

Nexstar Inc. has an immediate opening for a Superstar News Director at our #1 station in LA- KTLA.

KTLA is a historic news powerhouse producing more than 86 hours of live and local news each week. Lead and supervise all aspects of news, weather, sports, and local OTT content… And be a key part of the leadership team of the #1 station in the #2 market in the country.

Los Angeles is the quintessential media town – where television is part of the entertainment culture. You will find unmatched access to sports, music, entertainment, and art. Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing, or surfing, Los Angeles has it all.

We are looking for someone who has passion for the industry, the desire to create new product, and the mindset to grow winning teams.

If you are ready, apply here:

Assistant News Director, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:

WSLS-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Roanoke, VA seeks a strategic thinking and assertive Assistant News Director. The ideal candidate must be a proven newsroom leader who knows how to win breaking news and weather coverage on all platforms, a self-starter. They will oversee production of all newscasts and work closely with anchors, reporters and producers on day-to-day and special project coverage.

TOP REASONS TO JOIN WSLS:

Growth, experience, and training. At WSLS, we will work with you to help you reach your full potential through ongoing career development programs. We are also committed to ongoing training throughout your career and to hiring from within – across the GMG family of companies.
Our culture and benefits package. Our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative and recognize and reward achievement. Graham Media offers a generous benefits package that includes 401K and healthcare on day one!

You will live and work in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, plus you`re only a short drive to major metropolitan areas as well as beaches.

Are you ready to join the team? We encourage you to submit your resume for consideration.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to: Margaret Ashburn, WSLS 10 News Director: mashburn@wsls.com

Learn more here!

No phone calls please

Broadcast Instructor, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS:

Oversee a student newscast in a vibrant southern college town. Teach writing/reporting courses, enjoy SEC sports, and be a part of an award-winning team. MSU features a brand-new digital media center with a new television studio and control room.

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching courses related to the production of news in both broadcast and digital forms. Chief among these will be the broadcast capstone course, which mimics an active newsroom for one full day per week culminating in a live newscast.

A Master’s degree with coursework related to communication is preferred but a bachelor’s degree will be considered if there is substantial professional experience in the broadcast industry.

If interested, apply asap by clicking here. Review of applications will begin in early February.

Mississippi State University, with enrollment growth each of the last six years, features a nationally and internationally diverse student body. Restaurants, shopping along with the fun festivals, sporting action, and friendly residents make Starkville: Mississippi’s College Town!

The Department of Communication: www.comm.msstate.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Listed 1/10/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York

Obituaries:

Suhonen

We’re sorry to report the sudden death of longtime newsman ALAN SUHONEN, who died January 14th at the age of 67. He’s a former general manager of Network News Service (NNS), the news cooperative formed by CBS, ABC, and Fox, and also worked CBS Newspath, Belo, and in Peoria. More on his life and career in this obituary.

Mack

A man who served as the Kansas City Chief’s’ public address announcer for the teams’ first 15 years…and also as a news director and anchor for KCMO-TV (now KCTV there)…has died. HAROLD MACK (legal name: HAROLD GROVE) passed January 14th at the age of 96. More in this obituary which includes links to some early KCTV broadcasts.

Names in the News:

We have some articles that you might find interesting.

The Los Angeles Times published a two part series looking into the management of the CBS owned stations division. Both part one and part two are likely to raise your eyebrows, as they feature serious allegations from former CBS o-and-o general managers and news directors. Note: The Times offers only a few free articles so a subscription may be required.

Variety magazine reports the pandemic may have increased the appetite for local news consumption among younger viewers.

Ackermann

And veteran newsman STEVEN ACKERMANN has four questions your newsroom should be asking on a national story, from his perspective as the news director of KOMU-TV, the nation’s only teaching laboratory inside a commercial network-affiliated TV station.

BRITTANY FURROW will assume a new role as Managing Editor for WSLS-TV in Roanoke on February 15th. She is currently the special projects-planning producer for this Graham Media owned NBC affiliate after starting at the station as a producer six years ago.

KBMT-TV in Beaumont has promoted LAUREN HENSLEY to Assistant News Director. She’s been an anchor/reporter for this Tegna owned NBC affiliate since October, 2018, and previously worked in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

At KFSM-TV in Ft. Smith, AR, ANDREW ALTENBERN is the new Assistant News Director. He’s worked in Denver, Kansas City, and Waterloo, IA.

General Manager News and Notes:

I’m not aware of any new GM’s this week.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 24, 2021:

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

KTLA-TV 5800 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (see ad above!
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave.Fresno, CA 93727
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
KTLM-TV 200 S 10th St. Fl 2 McAllen, TX 78501 **
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

January 17, 2021

Monday, January 18th, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

News today of the resignation of a news director in Los Angeles.

    Ball

JASON BALL is leaving Nexstar’s KTLA-TV after the February rating period. He’s been the VP/News for the station for more than 12 years, and earlier worked for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

Jason began his career in Memphis and later moved to WPLG-TV (ABC) in Miami. His Linkedin page has the details.

We’ll have more on this story…and all the week’s news…in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Another busy newsletter, especially with many items in Names in the News.

We have TWO news news directors (both first-time NDs) and THREE new openings, TWO at Spanish language stations, leaving 14 open news director jobs.

There are FIVE Paid Help Wanted ads, including a new one for a Broadcast Instructor position at a Mississippi University.

We have ONE obituary for a long-ago ND in New York State, and a link to the video of the funeral service for longtime broadcaster STEVE MINIUM who died earlier this year.

In the afore-mentioned Names in the News segment, a new national newscast debuts tomorrow morning, a new DC bureau chief for CBS, layoffs at Univision, a new digital exec at Hearst, THREE new news managers at Scripps stations, what sounds like a fun new job for a former Los Angeles Assistant ND, a look at how a Honolulu GM quit his job and became mayor of Honolulu, and the retirement of a well known…and well liked…longtime broadcast educator.

And there’s a new GM in Baltimore.

Read on for details and check out this new ad from Stephen Arnold Music, who has agree to continue supporting this newsletter for another year. Thanks to them!

Newly Named News Directors:

Ashburn

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA…this Graham Media NBC affiliate has named MARGARET (KREGER) ASHBURN to succeed the retiring RICK MOLL as news director. She’s been the Assistant ND here for the last two years. Margaret’s a Roanoke native and has also worked in Atlanta, Greensboro, and Augusta, Ga. Rick is retiring after six years at WSLS and 30 as an ND.

Barnes

WCBI-TV, Columbus, MS…JOEY BARNES was promoted to ND here in November. He’d been the Assistant ND and anchor for this Morris Media owned CBS affiliate. He began as an intern, worked his way to an on-air position and then left the business for a while. Upon returning, he worked in Davenport, IA, then back to WCBI, then to Jackson, MS, before coming back to WCBI in 2013. He replaces ROBERT DAVIDSON who retired last September after eight years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Turpin

KMPH/KFRE-TV, Fresno, CA…JIM TURPIN has left this Sinclair owned FOX/CW operation after almost eleven years as news director. He’s also been a news director in Memphis, Norfolk, and Wichita, and held corporate responsibilities in several of those jobs.

KTLM-TV, Harlingen, TX McALLEN, TX….this Telemundo owned station is looking for a new news director to replace MIGUELANGEL LOPEZ. We told you last week that he’s off to Orlando to become VP/News for WTMO-TV, the Telemundo station there.

KNVO-TV, McAllen, TX…ANGEL COVARRUBIAS has left the Entravsion owned Univision station after 4+ years as news director. The position has some regional responsibilities as several other stations air newscasts that are primarily produced here.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Broadcast Instructor, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS:

Oversee a student newscast in a vibrant southern college town. Teach writing/reporting courses, enjoy SEC sports, and be a part of an award-winning team. MSU features a brand-new digital media center with a new television studio and control room.

The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching courses related to the production of news in both broadcast and digital forms. Chief among these will be the broadcast capstone course, which mimics an active newsroom for one full day per week culminating in a live newscast.

A Master’s degree with coursework related to communication is preferred but a bachelor’s degree will be considered if there is substantial professional experience in the broadcast industry.

If interested, apply asap by clicking here. Review of applications will begin in early February.

Mississippi State University, with enrollment growth each of the last six years, features a nationally and internationally diverse student body. Restaurants, shopping along with the fun festivals, sporting action, and friendly residents make Starkville: Mississippi’s College Town!

The Department of Communication: www.comm.msstate.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

Senior Director of News, Spectrum News, New York:

Spectrum Networks is aggressively seeking a bold, innovative team leader to join our Upstate New York team.

We are looking for a leader that will oversee our News management and content across our properties in Upstate New York.

At Spectrum Networks—we aren’t looking for a traditional news “boss.” We want someone who truly embraces our character-driven storytelling style. We’re looking for a leader that is interested in leading our content teams to deliver compelling, unique stories that resonate in our communities. We’re looking for a leader that understands the important role that storytelling plays—across all platforms.

If you are a manager that is looking to get away from house fire and car crash coverage and back to why you likely became a journalist—let’s talk. Send Mike.Bothwell@charter.com with a resume and any questions you may have.

Upstate NY experience preferred.

Click here to apply and learn more.

EP, Investigative and Special Projects, KPRC-TV, Houston,TX:

Are you sitting in your newsroom right now wondering why your bosses won’t support your Investigative Unit? Wondering why you can’t get stories approved? Wondering what happened to the days when the Investigative Unit was the centerpiece of a station’s success? Wonder no more.

KPRC 2 is on the search for an Executive Producer to oversee our award winning investigative and special projects team. KPRC 2 has a dedicated group of experienced reporters, producers, photographers and editors focused on creating compelling, promotable investigative and enterprise content.

It’s the best team in town and you’ll be the leader. Houston is a diverse, growing city with a non-stop appetite for enterprise and investigative journalism. The ideal candidate is someone who is aggressive, competitive and wants to win every story and every newscast.

Learn more and apply by clicking here.

Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston,TX:

KPRC 2 is on the hunt for a leader, coach, creative thinker, innovator and top-notch journalist to join our team as a newscast Executive Producer.

Our next EP will come to work every day, with the passion and drive to be the #1 news organization in Houston on all platforms.

Houston is a diverse, growing city with a non-stop appetite for breaking news, enterprise and investigative journalism. It’s a market prone to year-round severe weather events and winning weather coverage is a top priority.

You’ll help lead the editorial direction of the newsroom, focusing on stories that interest and engage our very diverse audience. The ideal EP is someone who’s obsessed with understanding and serving our target audience, understands how to showcase big stories with memorable live shots, has impeccable news judgement and can motivate and lead veteran reporters and young producers while maintaining their cool under pressure.

Check out our posting and apply today!

Assistant News Director, WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:

WBRZ, the only truly local TV station serving Louisiana’s capital city, seeks a bold leader to join the team as Assistant News Director.

Top leadership roles at this family-owned station are not available often. With the original local owners, this legacy station is positioning itself to own the future of not just news, but local broadcasting.

The Assistant News Director will manage day-to-day newsroom operations, mentor and coach budding journalists along with helping to create and implement big ideas. This evolving newsroom doesn’t lose sight of the job: News. We do the news – period.

Our investigative reporting prowess leaves a mark in the community. Local owners demand quality, hard-hitting journalism. It’s delivered 8 hours a day on TV or on online, where it’s usually reported first.

WBRZ, in Baton Rouge, is in the shadows of LSU’s Tiger Stadium football cathedral; The city is home to a rowdy, satirical Mardi Gras parade, an unmatched St. Patrick’s Day parade, renowned Southern University’s Human Jukebox and features lush city parks for outdoor enthusiasts.

Knowledge of Louisiana helpful; TV newsroom management experience required.

Email resume and a brief explanation of your news philosophy to Trey Schmaltz: trey@wbrz.com

Pre-employment drug screening required.
EOE. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

More News Management Openings:

Listed 1/17/21:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York (see ad above!)

Obituaries:

Friends of the late STEVE MINIUM can now check out a video recording of his funeral service which was held just over a week ago (January 12, 2021). The recording has been added to the memorial page his family created after Steve died earlier this year at the age of 70.

Herrick

JOHN HERRICK, a Marine veteran who served as news director for WENY-TV in Elmira, NY, died January 5th at the age of 83. He also worked for WETM-TV in Elmira, served two terms on the Elmira City Council, and owned a popular pizza place there. More details about his life and career in this obituary.

Names in the News:

Minnaugh

Another national newscast starts tomorrow morning, as Sinclair debuts The National Desk, which will air on 68 CW and My Network affiliates across the country. Former Tampa and Norfolk ND RYAN MINNAUGH is the executive producer. More details in this news release from the company, which says the program will “will provide audiences with commentary-free news coverage from both a local and national perspective.”

Univision laid off a number of people earlier this week, as detailed here by Media Moves.

Phillips

At Hearst, EMILY PHILLIPS has been promoted to senior director and managing editor for Hearst Television’s central digital content teams. Emily will be tasked with developing new storytelling formats. She first joined the company in 2017. Before that, she worked for Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. Emily began her career as a newspaper reporter in Georgia and Wisconsin.

Ciprian-Matthews

At CBS News, INGRID CIPRIAN-MATTHEWS has been named Washington Bureau Chief. She’s been the Vice President of Strategic Professional Development, the latest in a long run of executive jobs that she has held at CBS. She first joined the network in 1993 as a producer for live segments on the morning news, and earlier had worked for CNN and as a reporter for a Spanish language program on NPR.

Reese

From Los Angeles to Key West: Former KTTV (Fox/Los Angeles) Assistant news director DAVID REESE’s Linkedin page shows him as the new President and GM for WKEY-FM in Key West. More about WKEY here. David also worked for KNBC -TV and KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, and also spent almost four years as news director for KMIR-TV in Palm Desert, CA.

Blangiardi

Longtime Honolulu General Manager RICK BLANGIARDI is settling into new new job: Mayor of Honolulu. We told you a few weeks ago that Rick was elected after spending many years as GM for stations in Honolulu. He was also GM for stations in Seattle and San Francisco. Variety looks at how he became mayor of Hawaii’s largest city.

New news managers at three Scripps stations:

Glaszcz

At WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee, RACHAEL GLASZCZ has been upped to Executive Producer. She’s worked there twice, and most recently was Special Projects Producer. Rachael’s also worked in Columbus, OH, Kansas City and Topeka.

GUSTAVO AGUIRRE is the new EP for Scripps’ KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, TX, coming from a producer job in El Paso, while ALEXA DENAGALL has been named the Assistant ND for WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. She’s been an EP in Macon, GA, and a producer in Mobile.

Silcock

Finally, best wishes to longtime educator BILL SILCOCK on his retirement. Bill spent almost 20 years of a long career at Arizona State University, where he retired as Assistant Dean. “Dr. Bill” also taught at Missouri (where he earned his doctorate), and at Brigham Young. ASU posted this interesting and well deserved tribute to its website.

General Manager News and Notes:

Robbins

Sinclair’s WBFF-TV (FOX) in Baltimore has named BILLY ROBBINS as its next general manager. He’s been the station manager there for the last two years following a long career in sales at the station. He’s a 17 year veteran of the station. More in this news release.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 17, 2021:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
KMPH/KFRE-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave.Fresno, CA 93727
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
KTLM-TV 200 S 10th St. Fl 2 McAllen, TX 78501 **
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Road McAllen TX 78501 **
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi TX 78411
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

January 10, 2021

Greetings:

It’s the busiest newsletter we’ve had in quite a while.

SIX newly named news directors.

TWO new openings.

FIVE paid help wanted ads.

And only 13 open news director jobs.

There are TWO obituaries, and, in Names in the News, details about a major health challenge facing the wife of a former Indianapolis news director.

But there’s happier news in Names in the News, as well…so check that out.

And TWO former NDs turned GM’s are leaving their jobs. The one in the number one market says he wants to do other things on his ‘to do’ list, while the one from market 139 is retiring. Details on both are below.

Lots to read this week so get going!

Newly Named News Directors:

Kiernan

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI…our Tuesday UPDATE brought you first word that JEFF KIERNAN was headed to this Scripps ABC affiliate as its next ND. Here’s the note from WXYZ GM MIKE MURRI. Jeff’s currently Directof of Content for sister Scripps station WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee. For more on Jeff, click here. In Detroit, he replaces RHONDA LaVELLE who left in November after 4 1/2 years as news director.

Lopez

WTMO-TV, Orlando, FL…MIGUELANGEL LOPEZ has been named VP/News for the Telemundo affiliate. He’s been the VP/News for KTLM-TV in Harlingen, TX, where he has worked since 2014. Miguelangel has also worked in Miami. More details in this story from Media Moves. He replaces ROBERTO VIZCON who left the station last June.

Towne

KXTV, Sacramento, CA…this Tegna owned ABC affiliate has named NIA TOWNE as its next news director. She’ll report to Director of Content JILL MANUEL. Nia has been the news director for Tegna’s KIII-TV (also ABC) in Corpus Christi, TX, for about the last 18 months. She’s also worked in Harrisburg, PA, as a managing editor, as well as Syracuse, and Medford, OR.

Peterson

WXLV-TV, Winston-Salem, NC…JAKE PETERSON moves from one Sinclair station to another as he will oversee the startup of a news operation for this ABC affiliate. The station (which had its own news department until 2002) has been airing newscasts produced by other entities, most recently Spectrum News. Jake’s been the ND for Sinclair’s WGFL-TV in Gainesville, FL, since 2019, and previously worked in Tampa, Kansas City, and Pensacola.

Nevalga

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO…JEIMMIE (pronoucned Jay-mee) NEVALGA has been promoted to news director for this University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate. She first joined the station in 2011 after having worked in Chicago and Milwaukee. At KOMU, she replaces RANDY REEVES who remains on the staff. Veteran newsman STEVE ACKERMANN has been serving as news director in the interim.

Adelson

WGFL-TV, Gainesville, FL…congratulations to AARON ADELSON who gets his first ND job at this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate. He replaces JAKE PETERSON who, as noted above, is headed to WXLV-TV in Winston-Salem. Aaron’s been a reporter for KARE-TV in Minneapolis and has also worked in Asheville, NC, Lexington, KY, and Sioux City IA.

And while moving is never easy, Aaron’s move was complicated when his U-Haul truck and car, along with ALL of his belongings, was stolen from a motel in Macon, GA. The truck was later recovered, empty. Aaron tells me he’s grateful for help from friends and colleagues who helped him get back on his feet, including a now closed Go Fund Me page.

New News Director Opening:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI…as reported above, JEFF KIERNAN is moving to sister Scripps station WXYZ-TV in Detroit after almost three years as Director of Content here.

KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX…in another move reported above, NIA TOWNE is moving to sister Tegna station KXTV (ABC) in Sacramento as news director, reporting to Director of Content JILL MANUEL. Nia’s been the ND here since May 2019.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Senior Director of News, Spectrum News, New York:

Spectrum Networks is aggressively seeking a bold, innovative team leader to join our Upstate New York team.

We are looking for a leader that will oversee our News management and content across our properties in Upstate New York.

At Spectrum Networks—we aren’t looking for a traditional news “boss.” We want someone who truly embraces our character-driven storytelling style. We’re looking for a leader that is interested in leading our content teams to deliver compelling, unique stories that resonate in our communities. We’re looking for a leader that understands the important role that storytelling plays—across all platforms.

If you are a manager that is looking to get away from house fire and car crash coverage and back to why you likely became a journalist—let’s talk. Send Mike.Bothwell@charter.com with a resume and any questions you may have.

Upstate NY experience preferred.

Click here to apply and learn more.

EP, Investigative and Special Projects, KPRC-TV, Houston,TX:

Are you sitting in your newsroom right now wondering why your bosses won’t support your Investigative Unit? Wondering why you can’t get stories approved? Wondering what happened to the days when the Investigative Unit was the centerpiece of a station’s success? Wonder no more.

KPRC 2 is on the search for an Executive Producer to oversee our award winning investigative and special projects team. KPRC 2 has a dedicated group of experienced reporters, producers, photographers and editors focused on creating compelling, promotable investigative and enterprise content.

It’s the best team in town and you’ll be the leader. Houston is a diverse, growing city with a non-stop appetite for enterprise and investigative journalism. The ideal candidate is someone who is aggressive, competitive and wants to win every story and every newscast.

Learn more and apply by clicking here.

Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston,TX:

KPRC 2 is on the hunt for a leader, coach, creative thinker, innovator and top-notch journalist to join our team as a newscast Executive Producer.

Our next EP will come to work every day, with the passion and drive to be the #1 news organization in Houston on all platforms.

Houston is a diverse, growing city with a non-stop appetite for breaking news, enterprise and investigative journalism. It’s a market prone to year-round severe weather events and winning weather coverage is a top priority.

You’ll help lead the editorial direction of the newsroom, focusing on stories that interest and engage our very diverse audience. The ideal EP is someone who’s obsessed with understanding and serving our target audience, understands how to showcase big stories with memorable live shots, has impeccable news judgement and can motivate and lead veteran reporters and young producers while maintaining their cool under pressure.

Check out our posting and apply today!

Assistant News Director, WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:

WBRZ, the only truly local TV station serving Louisiana’s capital city, seeks a bold leader to join the team as Assistant News Director.

Top leadership roles at this family-owned station are not available often. With the original local owners, this legacy station is positioning itself to own the future of not just news, but local broadcasting.

The Assistant News Director will manage day-to-day newsroom operations, mentor and coach budding journalists along with helping to create and implement big ideas. This evolving newsroom doesn’t lose sight of the job: News. We do the news – period.

Our investigative reporting prowess leaves a mark in the community. Local owners demand quality, hard-hitting journalism. It’s delivered 8 hours a day on TV or on online, where it’s usually reported first.

WBRZ, in Baton Rouge, is in the shadows of LSU’s Tiger Stadium football cathedral; The city is home to a rowdy, satirical Mardi Gras parade, an unmatched St. Patrick’s Day parade, renowned Southern University’s Human Jukebox and features lush city parks for outdoor enthusiasts.

Knowledge of Louisiana helpful; TV newsroom management experience required.

Email resume and a brief explanation of your news philosophy to Trey Schmaltz: trey@wbrz.com

Pre-employment drug screening required.
EOE. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Morning Executive Producer, KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE:

Channel 8 News in Lincoln, Nebraska is looking for an Executive News Producer to lead the morning team.

It’s a high quality of life combined with a low cost of living all surrounded by the satisfaction of a unique job challenge. We’re looking for someone who thrives on breaking news, can get content out on multiple platforms with lighting speed and has an entrepreneurial spirit with an investigative drive.

If you question everything and don’t pitch story ideas that come from the headlines, we should talk. You need to have 2 year of line producing or reporting/anchoring experience. Send your resume and news philosophy to: jhardy@klkntv.com.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WPTV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 1/3/21)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted this week, see ad above!)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/13/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-America/News Nation, Chicago, IL (listed 1/3/21)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP Special Projects, new listing, see ad above!)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (Morning Content Manager), listed 1/3/21)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 1/3/21)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 12/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/3/21)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted this week)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 12/13/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, relisted this week)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 12/20/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 12/20/20)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, listed 1/3/21, see ad above!)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 12/13/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed this week:

Spectrum News: Senior Director of News, New York (see ad above!)

Listed 11/15/20:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Minium

A small funeral service was held yesterday (Saturday, 1/9/21) for STEVE MINIUM, a longtime broadcaster whose death at the age of 70 we shared with you earlier this week. Steve lost a fight with cancer. His family created this website where friends can post memories and read stories from others. There’s also information about memorial contributions.

Walt C.

WALT CHRISTOPHERSEN, who was a news director in Columbus, OH, and Greenville, NC, died last Monday at the age of 92. He also worked in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Diego. This obituary from The Los Angeles Times details quite a life, including time in Europe as a foreign correspondent and details his work as an author.

Names in the News:

Mouelo

ERNESTO MOURELO has been named Vice President, Digital News, for Hearst Television. Details here in a news release. Ernesto’s been the Senior Director, Digital Content for Hearst and worked for Hearst’s WLWT-TV (NBC) in Cincinnati before moving to New York. He’s also worked for KVEA-TV (Telemundo) in Los Angeles and KNSD-TV (NBC) in San Diego.

BOBBIE NICKEL has been promoted to morning executive producer for Fox’s KCPQ-TV in Seattle. She’s in her second stint at the station and has also worked for MSNBC and HLN.

Mihalic

JENNIFER MIHALIC has been promoted to Assistant ND for Hearst’s WYFF-TV in Greenville, SC. She’s been a producer and executive producer for WYFF. Remarkably. she is only the second person to hold that job in the station’s history, and replaces LEE BROWN who retired last year after 44 years. By that standard, she’s a relative newcomer with 18 years on the job! Details from the station’s website.

Picken

Former News Director (Honolulu, Omaha, Cedar Rapids, Boise and Rockford) SCOTT PICKEN has found life after television news as a State Farm insurance agent. He’s working from an office in Wilson, NC and has made State Farm’s Honor Club in his first year. Scott’s happy to share his experience with honors who are considering a move: pick.picken.xaxd@statefarm.com

Finally, our thoughts and prayers to old friend BOB CAMPBELL and his wife MARLENE as she recovers from surgery to remove a lemon sized brain tumor. The operation last month was in Seattle, near their home in Bellingham, WA. Bob tells me Marlene (they met while he was the ND for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis and she was a sales manager there) is home now but needs constant attention and care. You can send your best wishes to Bob via email by clicking here.

Here’s a picture from a happier time: A 2012 lunch we shared with Bob and Marlene while passing through Bellingham.

Marlene and Bob Campbell (March, 2012)

General Manager News and Notes:

Feder

BART FEDER is leaving his post as GM for (now owned by Nexstar)’s WPIX-TV in New York later this month. Here’s the note he sent to this staff. Bart’s been the GM there for almost two years, moving into the role while still serving as the head of news for (previous owner) Tribune. His Linkedin page describes his varied career in both local and network news.

Jensch

DAVID JENSCH, a former ND turned GM for Quincy’s KBJR-TV in Duluth, MN, will retire later this summer. As of tomorrow, he’ll be the Senior Management advisor for the station. TODD WENTWORTH will replace David as GM. More details here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 10, 2021:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace, Doral FL 33172
WTMJ-TV 720 E Capitol Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Drive Corpus Christi Texas 78411
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor