Rick Gevers & Associates

September 20, 2020

Greetings:

I need to start this week by thanking those of you who sent kind notes after last week’s newsletter, where we shared the news of the establishment of the Rick Gevers-Karen Burns Diversity Fund for College Journalists at IRE.

And Karen and I would particularly like to thank those of you who sent donations to IRE to help grow the fund, which provides on campus training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and on other campuses for the benefit of student journalists of color.

More details from the IRE website. And if you’d like to join us, visit the IRE website for a secure donation option.

Thanks again, and on to this week’s news.

Just ONE new news director named this week, with, to my knowledge, NO new openings. But we can tell you about the new job for an ND whose departure we shared last week, and we finally have a name for a Mississippi ND job.

With that change, our list of ND openings drops to 27. TWO of those open ND jobs are among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads this week. One of those is for a top five market, network owned, VP of News position. And there’s an ad for a faculty position on the east coast.

There are THREE new GMs, including a former ND turned GM who’s moving to a top 15 market.  And we’ll tell you about the retirement of a longtime Minneapolis GM.

And Names in the News has details about TWO retirements, one previously unreported that involves someone whose name you likely know. And the other looks at the tribute paid a retiring ND who left after 16 years in charge.

Newly Named News Directors:

Dodd

KVAL-TV, Eugene, OR…this Sinclair/CBS affiliate has tabbed veteran news director LAWTON DODD as its next news director. Lawton spent 22 years as ND for KSBW-TV in Salinas-Monterey before leaving the job in February, saying he was going to take some time off. Lawton’s also worked in Norfolk, Wichita, and Columbia, MO. He replaces BERT RUDMAN who left after the May book after three years as ND.

Barnd

And we have an update on a newnews director whose name we did not know when we reported that job has been filled. JEFF BARND is the new ND at WABG/WXVT/WNBD/WABG-DT in Greenville, MS. That Cala Broadcasting operation is affiliated with all FOUR major networks. Jeff’s been an anchor in Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, worked as a National Correspondent for Sinclair in Washington D.C., and most recently was news director for Arlington Public News in Arlington, VA.

New News Director Openings:

To my knowledge, there are no new news director openings this week.

But we do have an update on an opening we first reported last week. We told you that RON KELLER had left KION-TV in Salinas/Monterey, CA. What we did not know then…and can share now…is that Ron’s headed to KVVU-TV (Meredith/FOX) in Las Vegas as executive producer.

KION is advertising for Ron’s replacement below, and we have a new ad this week from WCAU-TV in Philadelphia for its VP of News opening.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

 Vice President of News, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA:

Given the events happening in our world, local news is more vital than ever. It informs our community and helps people when other avenues for assistance are blocked. Which means the person leading a local newsroom must have vision, integrity, and an innovative spirit.

That’s who we’re looking for at NBC 10/Telemundo 62 in Philadelphia to become the stations’ next Vice President of News.

This NBC Owned Television Station seeks a dynamic and experienced news leader to guide its newsroom as it serves the tri-state area. Whether it’s breaking news at the top or an investigative piece diving deep into a local issue, this person will elevate the entire team to create compelling content and impactful engagement across linear and digital platforms.

We need someone who values storytelling and understands that Investigative, Weather, Breaking News, and Consumer stories help define our brand promise to our viewers, users and employees.

And, it doesn’t hurt that the station is located in the state-of-the-art Comcast Technology Center which features the most dynamic digital technology in the industry.

If you’re passionate about local journalism, have experience running a forward-thinking newsroom and leading a team of dedicated journalists – consider applying to be our next Vice President of News at the link below.

Apply here!

News Director, KION-TV, Monterey/Salinas, CA:

KION News Channel 5, located in beautiful Monterey County, California, is seeking an extraordinary journalist to lead a growing news team. In addition, to CBS we produce news daily on CW and Telemundo.

Our News Director will be a visionary coach who understands how to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have proven skillset to maximize content and customer engagement on digital and social media platforms. Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback.

The successful candidate will be called upon to provide strategic direction for daily news coverage as well as working closely with the General Manager on long-range planning, special news coverage and station projects.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:
Previous experience
Creative approaches to building and innovating news brand
Digital and social strategies
Effective use of social media in a broadcast environment
Previous experience managing financial, technical and people resources

KION was acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company in December 2013, and has recently made significant capital investments to build a strong local news organization.

Candidate must pass a drug test and background check. A valid driver’s license is required.

Please apply online by submitting brief cover letter that includes resume, and source of referral. Just click here.

Faculty Position, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA:

Considering a mid-career change? Why not move from newsroom to classroom in one of the best small university journalism programs in the country? We have sharp students and the tools to teach them. We just need you.

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington and Lee University seeks a versatile colleague for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant or associate professor with teaching and scholarly or creative interests in digital storytelling and/or journalism.

Visit here for full details.

Our department is committed to preparing our students for global communications by creating an educational environment that values diverse people and their ideas.

Learn more about our department here .

Our new colleague will be expected to teach undergraduate courses for both journalism and strategic communication majors to prepare them to communicate with a variety of audiences.

Likely courses will include Introduction to News Writing and Introduction to Digital Journalism, as well as specialty courses in the candidate’s areas of expertise. Experience with audio, video, or data analysis and visualization is preferred.

Candidates should have substantial professional experience in journalism and/or public relations, including expertise with audio and video. A Ph.D. in mass communications or a related field and teaching at the college level are desirable. Candidates with a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications and significant professional experience are also welcome to apply.

The application deadline is October 1, 2020. The appointment begins July 1, 2021.

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/13/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/6/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (new listing this week)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised 8/30/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 9/13/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 9/13/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (new listing this week)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (listed 9/6/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 8/23/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (new listing this week)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 9/6/20

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)

Relisted 9/6/20

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Names in the News (and other items):

Two retirements to share, one ‘new’ news and the other a followup on something we first told you about a few months ago.

Woelfel

Longtime Missouri professor STACEY WOELFEL has announced his retirement, effective next August 31. He’s been at Missouri for 35 years, most of them as ND for KOMU-TV, and, most recently, as head of the documentary program. Here’s his complete bio from the Missouri website. Click here to read a note Stacey sent me, looking back at his career at his alma mater, as well as to what lies ahead.

Linn

TED LINN, longtime news director for Nexstar’s WANE-TV in Ft. Wayne, left the station September 13th after 16 years as ND for this CBS affiliate. We told you in June that Ted was retiring this month around the time of his 66th birthday. The station paid him proper tribute on his final day with this story on its website. Be sure to check the snazzy (and perhaps stylish at the time!) sport coat in the print ad the station dug up from Ted’s first job.

General Manager News and Notes:

Morris

Another former news director takes her second GM job, this time in a top 15 market. KATE MORRIS will be the next GM for Tegna’s KPNX-TV (NBC) in Phoenix at the a week from tomorrow (Monday, 9/28). She’s currently the GM for Tegna’s KTVB-TV in Boise, a job to which she was promoted from ND in 2018. Learn more about Kate and her new job in this news release, where you will also learn that Tegna’s RICHARD DYER has been promoted to Senior VP with additional responsibilities. He’ll remain GM for WUSA-TV (CBS) in Washington.

Remes

Meanwhile, a longtime Tegna General Manager will retire at the end of this year, after a 24 year run at one of the company’s NBC affiliates. JOHN REMES will leave KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St,. Paul. More details in this story from the Star-Tribune in Minneapolis.

Nexstar named TWO new GMs’s this week:

TINA MARIE CASTANO will run the company’s operations in Elmira, NY. She’s been the GM for WLNE-TV (Standard Media/ABC) in Providence, RI.

And, following Nexstar’s acquisition of FOX affiliate WDKY-TV in Lexington, KY, the company named MONTE COSTES as its GM.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 20, 2020:

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
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (see ad above!)
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WISN-TV 759 N. 19th St. Milwaukee, WI 53233
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 N Shelby Oaks Dr. #101, Memphis, TN 38133
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL 61611
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

September 13, 2020

Greetings:

I hope you’ll allow me a personal note before we turn to our normal business.

Earlier this afternoon, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) announced the establishment of the Rick Gevers-Karen Burns Diversity Fund for College Journalists.

This endowed fund will provide on campus IRE training at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and on other campuses for the benefit of student journalists of color.

More details from the IRE website.

Karen and I added this to our wills in 2016, but recent events convinced us the need was too important to wait for what (I hope) will be a long time. It’s our belief this will benefit young journalists for generations.

While we established the fund, anyone is welcome to contribute. If you think this is important, please visit the IRE website for a secure donation option.

Thanks for the interruption…and now on to this week’s news.

We have THREE newly opened news director jobs this week. As, as far as I know, there were NO news directors hired in a short week. However, we did remove one station from our list of open ND jobs. We explain below.

So, our count of open ND jobs stands at 28. TWO of those open ND jobs are among our FOUR Paid Help Wanted ads this week.

TWO obituaries this week, both of former news directors.

There are TWO new GMs, one is a promotion to GM from News Director within Hearst.

And in Names in the News, new leaders for RTDNA and we’ll tell you about several news managers on the move.

Newly Named News Directors:

As far as I know, no news directors were hired in this holiday-shortened week.

But please note we have removed KTVA-TV in Anchorage, AK, from our list of open ND jobs. The station was recently acquired by Gray Television, which owns KTUU-TV. TRACI SABO, the ND at KTUU, will oversee KTVA as well. JOHN TRACY, who worked for both stations over his long career in Anchorage, penned this interesting analysis of the developments for The Anchorage Daily News.

New News Director Openings:

Hart

WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI…nothing but good news here as BEN HART has been promoted to GM for sister Hearst station WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA. Here’s the news release from the station. He’s spent most of his career with Hearst, joining WAPT-TV in Jackson, MS, as a producer in 2002. Ben advanced to producer jobs at Hearst stations in New Orleans and Sacramento, returning to Jackson as assistant ND before moving to ND there. In 2017, he moved to Milwaukee as ND.

Eure

KXXV-TV, Waco, TX…JOSH EURE has left this Scripps owned station after one year as news director. He’s had a number of jobs at both local stations and networks during his career, including EP jobs in a number of major markets. Complete details on those jobs can be found by clicking his Linkedin page. KXXV is an ABC affiliate.

Keller

KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA…RON KELLER has left this News Press & Gazette operation after just over two years as news director. He’d earlier been the AND at NPG’s station in Santa Barbara, and has worked at a variety of stations in a wide range of roles. You can learn more about this opening in the paid help wanted ad just below.

Updating an item from last week, regarding the ND opening at WEEK-TV in Peoria. LON LUCAS is staying on as ND for a while but will eventually leave, as he wants to be closer to his family. Check out the stations’s ad below for that opening.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KION-TV, Monterey/Salinas, CA:

KION News Channel 5, located in beautiful Monterey County, California, is seeking an extraordinary journalist to lead a growing news team. In addition, to CBS we produce news daily on CW and Telemundo.

Our News Director will be a visionary coach who understands how to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have proven skillset to maximize content and customer engagement on digital and social media platforms. Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback.

The successful candidate will be called upon to provide strategic direction for daily news coverage as well as working closely with the General Manager on long-range planning, special news coverage and station projects.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:
Previous experience
Creative approaches to building and innovating news brand
Digital and social strategies
Effective use of social media in a broadcast environment
Previous experience managing financial, technical and people resources

KION was acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company in December 2013, and has recently made significant capital investments to build a strong local news organization.

Candidate must pass a drug test and background check. A valid driver’s license is required.

Please apply online by submitting brief cover letter that includes resume, and source of referral. Just click here.

Faculty Position, Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA:

Considering a mid-career change? Why not move from newsroom to classroom in one of the best small university journalism programs in the country? We have sharp students and the tools to teach them. We just need you.

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington and Lee University seeks a versatile colleague for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant or associate professor with teaching and scholarly or creative interests in digital storytelling and/or journalism.

Visit here for full details.

Our department is committed to preparing our students for global communications by creating an educational environment that values diverse people and their ideas.

Learn more about our department here .

Our new colleague will be expected to teach undergraduate courses for both journalism and strategic communication majors to prepare them to communicate with a variety of audiences.

Likely courses will include Introduction to News Writing and Introduction to Digital Journalism, as well as specialty courses in the candidate’s areas of expertise. Experience with audio, video, or data analysis and visualization is preferred.

Candidates should have substantial professional experience in journalism and/or public relations, including expertise with audio and video. A Ph.D. in mass communications or a related field and teaching at the college level are desirable. Candidates with a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications and significant professional experience are also welcome to apply.

The application deadline is October 1, 2020. The appointment begins July 1, 2021.

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

News Director, WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL:

WEEK, Quincy Media’s successful station in Peoria, Illinois is seeking a veteran, dynamic leader for its news operation. Owning both the NBC and ABC affiliates in the market, WEEK serves Central Illinois with two separate award-winning news operations.

We need someone able to provide outstanding leadership to train, coach and inspire our journalists to create and deliver great stories in a multi-platform environment. Our next news director must know the importance of delivering on the brand promise and forging a strong connection with our viewers and users to grow ratings.

Responsibilities:

Foster a performance culture with an emphasis on winning, excellence and innovation.
Communicate the vision and strategy to newsroom and provide the daily direction on major stories, weather events and breaking news.
Ensure ethical, balanced presentation through compliance with Quincy Media policy, FCC policy, federal and state laws, industry standards and our brand promise.
Strong recruiter and team builder
Prepare and execute annual newsroom financial plan.

Qualifications:

Broad understanding of newsroom operations and equipment.
Advanced oral and written communication skills.
Proven leadership which empowers others. Ability to resolve conflict quickly and directly.
3-5 years’ experience in newsroom management.
Strategic thinking – can identify market opportunities and capitalize on them.
Demonstrated team builder

WEEK is proud to be a Quincy Media station. Learn why our family owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best companies to work for in our industry by visiting: www.careersatquincy.com. Send your resume to:

mdesantis@week.com

Mark DeSantis
VP/General Manager
WEEK-TV
2907 Springfield Rd.
East Peoria, Illinois 61611

Executive Producer, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer.

This is a great opportunity to be part of not only putting a quality product on the air, but creating a great work environment for employees. The Executive Producer directs and supervises all aspects of station’s news programs, including development and execution of show content and program format. This position works closely with Producers, Reporters and Assignment Editors in developing and maintaining high quality newscasts. The Executive Producer oversees story selection, pre-production and Producer rundowns. The incumbent proofs and edits scripts on a daily basis. In addition, the Executive Producer helps reporters craft their stories and oversees brand management and content for the show. Prior experience as EP required.

WGCL-TV is a CBS affiliate in the # 10 television market in the United States. The station delivers over 32 hours of weekly news product. WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group.

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile, tablets and video – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (new listing this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/6/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised 8/30/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20, see ad above!)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, new listing this week)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 8/23/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (listed 9/6/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this Week:

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)

Relisted this week:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager, see ad above!)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Obituaries:

Whiteaker

Longtime broadcaster and former news director BRUCE WHITEAKER died unexpectedly in his sleep last Saturday, September 5th. He was 71 and suffered from charcot foot, a complication of diabetes. Here’s the obituary and here’s a link to a GoFundMe page which hopes to raise enough money to endow a scholarship at Bruce’s church. Bruce was an ND in Austin, TX, Memphis, and Saginaw, MI, if memory serves, and also worked for the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

Schreiner

RAYMOND SCHREINER, whose obituary says he is most remembered for his year as news director of then WXEX-TV (now WRIC-TV) in Richmond, VA in 1964-65, died September 3rd at the age of 98. His obituary fills in the years since his lone news director  stint in the 60’s.

Names in the News (and other items):

Stahlman

There’s a new chair and a new chair elect for RTDNA. ANDREA STAHLMAN, ND for Hearst’s WLKY-TV in Louisville, takes over as chair. And ALLISON McGINLEY, ND for Graham Media’s WKMG-TV in Orlando, will eventually succeed Andrea, as she’s been elected chair-elect. LOREN TOBIA was re-elected treasurer. In addition, new board members were chosen as you’ll read here.

Ostrowsky

STEPHEN OSTROSKY is headed south to become managing editor for Hearst’s WESH-TV (NBC) in Orlando. He’s been the Assistant ND for WHAS-TV, Tegna’s ABC affiliate in Louisville for the past two years. Stephen had earlier been the EP and a producer for WVEC-TV in Norfolk, and began his career at KTHV-TV in Little Rock as an associate producer. He was later promoted to 10:00 producer there.

Two management hires at Nexstar stations:

At WFLA-TV (NBC) in Tampa, BRIAN CALLAHAN will be the new executive producer. He most recently helped launch Spectrum News in Southern California, a job he left in July, 2019. Brian worked at WRC-TV in Washington for 12 years as a producer and EP, and produced newscasts in Charlotte and Syracuse.

MICHAEL “MACE” MACIEJEWSKI joins WNCN-TV (NBC) in Raleigh as assistant news director. Until February, he’d spent the last five years as the AND for WFTV (ABC) in Orlando. He’s been an EP in Charlotte, and a producer in Philadelphia, Boston, and Buffalo.

General Manager News and Notes:

Keeler

TOM KEELER leaves Morgan-Murphy’s WISC-TV (CBS) in Madison, WI, and heads west to become the next GM for Nexstar’s Portland, OR, duopoly, KOIN/KRCW-TV (CBS/CW). It’s a return to Portland for him, as he served as Local Sales Manager for KRCW-TV (then KWPB-TV) from 1999-2003. Tom’s been GM for WISC for the last five years and earlier was the GM for KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX. He replaces PAT NEVIN who returned to Seattle as GM for KIRO-TV (Cox Media Group/CBS).

And careful readers noted above the appointment of BEN HART as GM for Hearst’s WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA. Add Ben to the list of news directors becoming GMs! He replaces TIM MORRISSEY, another former ND turned GM, whose retirement we reported last week.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 13, 2020:

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
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WISN-TV 759 N. 19th St. Milwaukee, WI 53233
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 N Shelby Oaks Dr. #101, Memphis, TN 38133
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL 61611 (see ad above!)
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

September 6, 2020

Greetings:

We’re early this week to give you plenty of time to read a newsletter chock full of news.

There are THREE newly named News Directors, TWO as the result of promotions. And there are THREE new openings in medium and smaller markets.

As such, our count of open ND jobs stands at 26. TWO of those open ND jobs are among our EIGHT Paid Help Wanted ads this week.

A veteran broadcaster who held several ND jobs, several GM positions, as well as a corporate gig is retiring later this year. That’s in our GM section, also with news of a new GM at a station which covers parts of SIX states and another new GM who went from morning meteorologist to ND to GM at the same place.

And in Names in the News, a new job for a veteran digital EP, new jobs for TWO former news directors, and details on a health scare for a man who taught at both Kansas and Missouri.

Finally, thanks to those of you who helped my friend and former employee LINDA WHITE with a survey for her Ph.D. mentioned here last week. She was pleased with the response, but as with any research project, she could use more. One note: the survey is for current news directors only. Thanks to those of you who asked.

Just click on the graphic below. Linda (and I) appreciate your help.

Newly Named News Directors:

Morales

WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA…NAOMI MORALES moves across Pennsylvania to take her first news director job at this Tegna FOX affiliate. The release is here. She’s been the EP at NBC’s WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, where she’s worked for eleven years. Naomi’s also worked in Tampa and Miami. She replaces MATT MCCONICO who left the station January after 4+ years as ND.

WALA-TV, Mobile, AL…RANDY MERROW, a 29 year veteran of this Meredith owned FOX affiliate, has been promoted to news director here. Here’s the note from GM COREY HANSON. Randy’s been the Assistant ND here for more than 20 years. He started at the station as a senior producer. He succeeds SCOTT FLANAGAN who was promoted to ND for Meredith’s sister station, KCTV (CBS) in Kansas City earlier this summer. Scott was ND here for six years.

Roberson

WRGB-TV, Albany, NY…another promotion moves PERNA ROBERSON to the ND job at this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. Here’s part of a note from Sinclair’s SCOTT LIVINGSTON. Perna’s been the Assistant ND here for the past two years, and has also worked in Birmingham, Atlanta, Little Rock, and Jackson, MS, where she began as a photographer/reporter. She replaces CHRIS GEGG who left earlier his year (after three years as ND) for the same job at WVEC-TV in Norfolk.

New News Director Openings:

Lovell

WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN…LISA LOVELL’s last day at this Tegna owned ABC/CW affiliate will be Friday, September 11th. Lisa told me she couldn’t discuss her next move but will let me know when she can, and I’ll pass that along then. She’s been at the station for 16 years, first as EP and as ND for the last 7 1/2. She’s also been an ND in Binghamton, NY, and previously worked in Scranton, PA.

Norred

WFRX-TV, Roanoke, VA…KAY NORRED has left this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate after just more than two years as news director. She previously was the ND at another Nexstar operation, WRBL-TV in Columbus, GA, for almost three years. Kay’s been an ND for WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, VA and has also worked in Tampa, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and Pensacola, FL.

Lucas

WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL…this Quincy Media owned NBC and ABC operation is looking for a new news director to replace LON LUCAS who wants to be closer to family. Lon has been ND here for about 2 1/2 years and will stay while the search for his replacement continues. He earlier was an Executive Producer in Las Vegas, and has also worked in Toledo, Cincinnati, and Baton Rouge. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

And a reminder that there’s one more ad for a news director position…that for KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. That’s below, as well.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL:

WEEK, Quincy Media’s successful station in Peoria, Illinois is seeking a veteran, dynamic leader for its news operation. Owning both the NBC and ABC affiliates in the market, WEEK serves Central Illinois with two separate award-winning news operations.

We need someone able to provide outstanding leadership to train, coach and inspire our journalists to create and deliver great stories in a multi-platform environment. Our next news director must know the importance of delivering on the brand promise and forging a strong connection with our viewers and users to grow ratings.

Responsibilities:

Foster a performance culture with an emphasis on winning, excellence and innovation.
Communicate the vision and strategy to newsroom and provide the daily direction on major stories, weather events and breaking news.
Ensure ethical, balanced presentation through compliance with Quincy Media policy, FCC policy, federal and state laws, industry standards and our brand promise.
Strong recruiter and team builder
Prepare and execute annual newsroom financial plan.

Qualifications:

Broad understanding of newsroom operations and equipment.
Advanced oral and written communication skills.
Proven leadership which empowers others. Ability to resolve conflict quickly and directly.
3-5 years’ experience in newsroom management.
Strategic thinking – can identify market opportunities and capitalize on them.
Demonstrated team builder

WEEK is proud to be a Quincy Media station. Learn why our family owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best companies to work for in our industry by visiting: www.careersatquincy.com. Send your resume to:

mdesantis@week.com

Mark DeSantis
VP/General Manager
WEEK-TV
2907 Springfield Rd.
East Peoria, Illinois 61611

Executive Producer, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer.

This is a great opportunity to be part of not only putting a quality product on the air, but creating a great work environment for employees. The Executive Producer directs and supervises all aspects of station’s news programs, including development and execution of show content and program format. This position works closely with Producers, Reporters and Assignment Editors in developing and maintaining high quality newscasts. The Executive Producer oversees story selection, pre-production and Producer rundowns. The incumbent proofs and edits scripts on a daily basis. In addition, the Executive Producer helps reporters craft their stories and oversees brand management and content for the show. Prior experience as EP required.

WGCL-TV is a CBS affiliate in the # 10 television market in the United States. The station delivers over 32 hours of weekly news product. WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group.

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile, tablets and video – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

News Director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO:

Are you interested in a rare opportunity to help shape the television journalists of the future? Want to create and produce great television news with bright young journalists so excited about the future they’re willing to pay for the chance to work at your station?

Then consider the news director position at KOMU Channel 8 in Columbia, MO, an NBC affiliate where students at the world’s greatest school of journalism learn to report and produce the news under the watchful eye of a great faculty.

The job is a challenging one. You’ll report to two bosses – the journalism dean and the station manager. And commercial and ratings demands are just as great here as they are at any network affiliate. And management of student learning is as important as supervising good journalism. This is not a “victory lap” kind of job.

Still, the job is special. The students are the best in the country. The facilities are first class, and the faculty editors who help teach the students are terrific.

The benefits are many:

Faculty status.
At least four weeks vacation per year free from KOMU and faculty duties.
Better-than-average health care benefits.
Regular and often intense interaction with leaders of the television journalism profession, seeking our graduates and our research into best practices of local television news.
Professional status and recognition far above the 137th DMA rank of KOMU.

If you want to work in the spotlight at a locally owned TV station that will help determine the future of television journalism, please visit here to access the online application system.

We are an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Assistant News Director, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

The Assistant News Director is one of the most critical positions in the newsroom. The successful candidate need to understand, embrace and implement newsroom long term and short term strategy. This position provides leadership in the newsroom. The Assistant News Director plays a critical role in story development with reporters and reviews scripts for accuracy, legal issues, content, value, relevance, grammar and overall direction. This role is actively involved in recruiting newsroom personnel and oversees hiring for certain job categories. The Assistant News Director serves as the primary point of contact in the newsroom when the News Director is unavailable. This position actively engages in putting content on the web and directs the newsroom to support a multi-platform environment.

CBS46 (WGCL-TV) is the largest of Meredith’s 17 owned or operated television stations broadcasting station, broadcasting 35+ hours of local news weekly as well as top prime and high profile sports programming. Employees enjoy a great work environment and flexible benefits. The station is located in Midtown Atlanta- a great place to work, shop, or live.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

AM Executive Producer, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH seeks a creative, ambitious newsroom leader to transform our morning show and guide a talented team on and off the air. The EP will help craft impactful content that is highly engaging and memorable. If you are a visionary that looks beyond the norm and takes risks, we want you on our team!

Other skills and tasks:

· – Work with the digital and desk teams to identify and assign content appropriately for each platform
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling in crafting great newscasts
· – Oversee multiple newscasts to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Regularly critique newscasts with the staff, both as a team and with individual producers
· Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Work collaboratively with other managers and perform tasks as required by News Director and Digital Director
– Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content

Qualifications:

· – 3+ years newsroom leadership experience preferred as an EP, assistant news director, or news director
· – Experience successfully leading teams through content transformation
· – Strong understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
· – Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, photojournalism, editing, and content management systems a plus
· – Organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time-sensitive deadlines
· – BA/BS in journalism, communications or related a plus

Click here to apply:

Executive Producer of Innovation, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH is looking for a motivated, innovative leader to oversee the creation and management of engaging, compelling content for all platforms. The Executive Producer of Innovation will be part of the newsroom leadership team and will work collaboratively with all dayparts as well as sales and marketing on projects. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other media as we look to meet our audience where they are and elevate our brand. The ideal candidate will identify engaging content opportunities within the newsroom and understand where that content best aligns with emerging product goals and our brand.

The EP of Innovation Will:
· – Manage multiple cross-platforms projects for emerging media such as podcasts, episodics and more
· – Oversee the transformation of early and late evening newscasts, as well as content on all platforms
· – Utilize analytics and data to track success and shape strategy
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling
· – Be a newsroom leader and a bold voice in editorial discussions
· – Challenge the norm
· – Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media to enhance content across platforms
· – Oversee multiple media projects to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Perform other tasks as required by station leadership

Click here to apply:

Assistant News Director, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate already has some management experience, knowledge of newscast production, and an appreciation of the hard work your MMJ’s and photographers provide.

This is your opportunity to take the next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Digital Content Manager, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a Digital Content Manager at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate will lead a team of six digital producers and reporters and oversee the content and development of our web and social media platforms while coordinating the efforts of the news, sales and creative services departments.

A minimum of two years producing digital content and management is required.

This is your opportunity to take your next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (new listing this week)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20, see ad above!)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised 8/30/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 8/23/20)
WHTM-TV Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 8/23/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (new listing this week)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this Week:

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)

Relisted this week:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager, see ad above!)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Names in the News (and other items):

Tavss

JEFF TAVSS is the new Digital Executive Producer for Scripps’ KSTU-TV (FOX) in Salt Lake City. He most recently was the Executive Producer of Digital Media and Special Projects for WPLG-TV (ABC) in Miami, where he began his career as a sports producer. Jeff’s also worked for two other Miami stations and helped NBC Sports’ Olympic team with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Pederson

According to his Linkedin page, ANDY PEDERSON has landed as the 6:00 producer for Nexstar’s WKRN-TV (ABC) in Nashville. We told you in March that he’d left Lockwood’s Charlottesville operation, WCAV-TV, after three months as news director. Andy previously spent 2 1/2 years as ND for KTVE/KARD-TV, in Monroe, LA. He began his career as a photojournalist.

Mecham

Former news director JOHN MECHAM has a new job: This from Linkedin:

I can happily announce I am the new Communications Director for the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies! I started this week. I can work remotely from Seattle for now but will end up back in the DC area probably around the first of the year. We are excited to make the move and start this new adventure!

He’s a former ND in Altoona, Boise, and also worked at stations in Tucson, Seattle, Miami, Pittsburgh and Waterloo, IA.

Nelson

Longtime educator and former news director DICK NELSON is back home and on the mend after falling during a vertigo attack a few weeks ago. That fall sent him to the hospital several days for treatment of a cut on his head that took seven staples to fix. And all the happened in the middle of a move from his home to a condo. Dick taught for many years at both Kansas and Missouri, where he was the ND for KOMU-TV. He was a news director in several other markets and worked in Oklahoma City as well. Friends can cheer up up by sending him an email.

General Manager News and Notes:

Morrissey

One-time news director turned long-time general manager TIM MORRISSEY will retire later this year from his job as GM for WJCL-TV, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Savannah, GA. He’s been GM there since 2014. Tim began his career with Hearst’s WISN-TV (also ABC) in Milwaukee, rising from production assistant to news director. He’s also served as VP of News for the NY Times Broadcast Group, was a GM in Charlotte, Oklahoma City, and Ft. Smith, AR, and news director in Baltimore, Wilkes-Barre, and also worked in New Orleans.

Ossenfort

KELO/KCLO-TV, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, SD…MARI OSSENFORT has been promoted to General Manager for this Nexstar owned CBS operation. This news release says it’s one of the largest coverage areas in the country, covering parts of SIX states. Mari’s been the General Sales Manager her since 2017 and replaces JAY HUIZENGA who is retiring after 40 years at the station, the last 13 as GM.

Webb

And congratulations to JAY WEBB, news director for WHSV-TV (ABC) and WSVF-TV (CBS/Fox) in Harrisonburg, VA, who is assuming additional duties as GM for this Gray Television owned operation. More details here. What the news release doesn’t mention is Jay’s unusual background: before his 2015 promotion to ND, he was the morning and noon meteorologist there. He’s also forecast weather in Roanoke.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 6, 2020:

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
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 N Shelby Oaks Dr. #101, Memphis, TN 38133
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL 61611 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201 (see ad above!)
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

August 30, 2020

Greetings:

This week’s newsletter is as low on content as last week’s was full. (Average them if you must!)

Just ONE newly named news director, except we don’t have a name. I’ll explain below. And NO new openings to the best of my knowledge.

However, TWO of our 26 news director openings are among our NINE Paid Help Wanted ads this week in markets large and small.

Turn to Names in the News to read about a local news director headed to an EP job for a new prime time cable newscast. And we have one news manager job filled and new listings for several others.

We’ll you about the death of a man who once headed a company that owned 15 TV stations around the country.

Finally, I’m hoping you will take a few minutes to help a friend of mine as she completes her PhD. at Michigan State. LINDA WHITE worked for me in Grand Rapids, and went on to anchor and report in Buffalo and Birmingham. She’s good people and she needs your help with this short survey.

Thanks. I appreciate your helping her out.

Newly Named News Directors:

WABG/WXVT/WNBD/WABG-DT, Greenville, MS…this Cala Broadcasting owned operation (which operates affiliates of all FOUR major networks) has filled its news director opening, according to an email from GM JEAN TURNBOUGH. However, did she not respond to my question about WHO that person is. Whoever it is replaces MARK RIGSBY who left late last year for job in Lafayette, LA.

New News Director Openings:

To the best of my knowledge, there are no new openings this week.

However, please note Paid Help Wanted ads for two ND openings below: KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO, and KTSM-TV in El Paso, TX.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO:

Are you interested in a rare opportunity to help shape the television journalists of the future? Want to create and produce great television news with bright young journalists so excited about the future they’re willing to pay for the chance to work at your station?

Then consider the news director position at KOMU Channel 8 in Columbia, MO, an NBC affiliate where students at the world’s greatest school of journalism learn to report and produce the news under the watchful eye of a great faculty.

The job is a challenging one. You’ll report to two bosses – the journalism dean and the station manager. And commercial and ratings demands are just as great here as they are at any network affiliate. And management of student learning is as important as supervising good journalism. This is not a “victory lap” kind of job.

Still, the job is special. The students are the best in the country. The facilities are first class, and the faculty editors who help teach the students are terrific.

The benefits are many:

Faculty status.
At least four weeks vacation per year free from KOMU and faculty duties.
Better-than-average health care benefits.
Regular and often intense interaction with leaders of the television journalism profession, seeking our graduates and our research into best practices of local television news.
Professional status and recognition far above the 137th DMA rank of KOMU.

If you want to work in the spotlight at a locally owned TV station that will help determine the future of television journalism, please visit here to access the online application system.

We are an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Assistant News Director, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

The Assistant News Director is one of the most critical positions in the newsroom. The successful candidate need to understand, embrace and implement newsroom long term and short term strategy. This position provides leadership in the newsroom. The Assistant News Director plays a critical role in story development with reporters and reviews scripts for accuracy, legal issues, content, value, relevance, grammar and overall direction. This role is actively involved in recruiting newsroom personnel and oversees hiring for certain job categories. The Assistant News Director serves as the primary point of contact in the newsroom when the News Director is unavailable. This position actively engages in putting content on the web and directs the newsroom to support a multi-platform environment.

CBS46 (WGCL-TV) is the largest of Meredith’s 17 owned or operated television stations broadcasting station, broadcasting 35+ hours of local news weekly as well as top prime and high profile sports programming. Employees enjoy a great work environment and flexible benefits. The station is located in Midtown Atlanta- a great place to work, shop, or live.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

AM Executive Producer, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH seeks a creative, ambitious newsroom leader to transform our morning show and guide a talented team on and off the air. The EP will help craft impactful content that is highly engaging and memorable. If you are a visionary that looks beyond the norm and takes risks, we want you on our team!

Other skills and tasks:

· – Work with the digital and desk teams to identify and assign content appropriately for each platform
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling in crafting great newscasts
· – Oversee multiple newscasts to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Regularly critique newscasts with the staff, both as a team and with individual producers
· Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Work collaboratively with other managers and perform tasks as required by News Director and Digital Director
– Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content

Qualifications:

· – 3+ years newsroom leadership experience preferred as an EP, assistant news director, or news director
· – Experience successfully leading teams through content transformation
· – Strong understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
· – Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, photojournalism, editing, and content management systems a plus
· – Organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time-sensitive deadlines
· – BA/BS in journalism, communications or related a plus

Click here to apply:

Executive Producer of Innovation, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH is looking for a motivated, innovative leader to oversee the creation and management of engaging, compelling content for all platforms. The Executive Producer of Innovation will be part of the newsroom leadership team and will work collaboratively with all dayparts as well as sales and marketing on projects. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other media as we look to meet our audience where they are and elevate our brand. The ideal candidate will identify engaging content opportunities within the newsroom and understand where that content best aligns with emerging product goals and our brand.

The EP of Innovation Will:
· – Manage multiple cross-platforms projects for emerging media such as podcasts, episodics and more
· – Oversee the transformation of early and late evening newscasts, as well as content on all platforms
· – Utilize analytics and data to track success and shape strategy
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling
· – Be a newsroom leader and a bold voice in editorial discussions
· – Challenge the norm
· – Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media to enhance content across platforms
· – Oversee multiple media projects to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Perform other tasks as required by station leadership

Click here to apply:

Assistant News Director, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate already has some management experience, knowledge of newscast production, and an appreciation of the hard work your MMJ’s and photographers provide.

This is your opportunity to take the next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Digital Content Manager, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a Digital Content Manager at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate will lead a team of six digital producers and reporters and oversee the content and development of our web and social media platforms while coordinating the efforts of the news, sales and creative services departments.

A minimum of two years producing digital content and management is required.

This is your opportunity to take your next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

News Director, KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a News Director at our legacy NBC station in El Paso, Texas (Mkt 93.)

The ideal candidate will have experience as a News Director at a broadcast affiliate, understand digital strategy, and have a passion for local news. Leadership and the ability to mentor and coach is a must.

We are looking for someone who is content savvy, who can raise the bar for storytelling.

Candidate must understand how to win while bringing the team along with them. Must be bilingual.

If you are ready, apply here:

Senior Content Producer, AZFamily, Phoenix, AZ:

I. Job Summary

The Senior Content Producer at Arizona’s Family CBS 5 & 3 TV (Meredith Corp.) overseas the flow of news to the newsroom for appropriate coverage both on-air and on our digital and social platforms. Assist the digital managing editor in the day-to-day management of the digital news operation. Candidate must be able to take a step back from the trenches, look at our product from a higher level, make sure we are framing it in the correct context with the appropriate treatment for that specific news event.

Works with the on-air EP to ensure crews are assigned and manage breaking news. Assist the Digital Managing Editor in critically evaluating newsroom processes, structure and workflow to achieve efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including for example: on-air, digital and social media.

II. Essential Job Functions

Assists DME in planning and executing around-the-clock news coverage and related features on a leading local website, multiple mobile applications, and emerging digital media platform. Monitors news sources including station emails, scanners and social media to ensure news is being appropriately covered. Interacts with internal and external peers and/or manager to exchange information related to assigned tasks.

III. Minimum Qualifications

BA in broadcast journalism or related field, or equivalent training and or exp.
At least 2 years working in a major market newsroom.
AP Style knowledge of (CMSs), HTML, CSS, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Avid and iNews are preferred.

Please apply here:

EEO

Executive Producer, WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI:

Meredith is pleased to introduce to you Find Internal Jobs at Meredith. Find Jobs allows you to search/review open internal job postings and Apply to open jobs.
* Include relevant job experience, skills and abilities
* Attach resume, cover letter, and/or design samples

Job Description

WNEM, a Meredith Corporation TV station, is recruiting for an Executive Producer. If you have a passion for producing high-energy, memorable newscasts and are super creative, this job may be just for you. WNEM-TV is in search of an Executive Producer who will lead a team of producers, reporters, and photographers to deliver promotable, compelling, and well- written newscasts, as well as online content. The EP will work closely with the News Director and other news managers to develop and implement strategies to improve product, while managing resources.

Exercise strong news judgment and supervise newscast rundowns
Collaborate with producers on story selection, graphic elements, and pace and flow of news cast
Brainstorm with staff on story ideas, showcasing and presentation
Must be able to produce newscasts
Encourage innovation
Work with News Director on promotable editorial calendar and any special events
Must have strong copy editing skills
Work closely with digital team, producers and reporters on creative content development following up on viewers story ideas via Facebook, Twitter and other online sources, as well as official sources
Motivate staff and encourage “buy in” for station’s news brand, news strategies and action plans
Other duties as assigned.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20, see ad above!)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised this week)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 7/19/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 8/23/20)
WHTM-TV Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 8/23/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 8/9/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager, see ad above!)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Obituary:

  Hipp

HAYNE HIPP, who headed the parent company that owned one-time group owner Cosmos Broadcasting, died Thursday in Greenville, SC. He was 80 years old and died of cancer. Cosmos, owned by Liberty Corporation, at one point owned as many as 15 small and medium market TV stations, before being acquired by Raycom in 2005. Hipp was a major civic leader in Greenville as detailed in this obituary.

Names in the News (and other items):

Ramirez

KHOU-TV (Tegna/CBS) News Director SALLY RAMIREZ has landed a new job. She’ll be the EP for CNBC’s new prime time newscast, “The News with Shepard Smith” which debuts September 30th. More in this news release, where you will also learn that SANFORD CANNOLD will be the Senior EP. In June, Sally announced she was leaving KHOU after four years as ND. At that time, it was also revealed that her husband, KHOU anchor RUSS LEWIS was also leaving to return to Oregon to help run a family business.

At WLNS-TV in Lansing, MI, ADAM FISHER has been promoted from Executive Producer to Digital Content Manager. He first joined the station as a producer in 2018.

General Manager News and Notes:

No GM changes or stories this week. If you know of any, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 30, 2020:

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
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922 (see ad above!)
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201 (see ad above!)
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station