Rick Gevers & Associates

July 26, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020 UPDATE:

There’s a news director change at a network owned station in a top 30 market to tell you about today.

Germano

MICHELLE GERMANO has left ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham after almost five years as news director. Her departure comes shortly after the man she replaced, ROB ELMORE, returned as general manager.

Rob, as you know, moved into 2015 to Los Angeles to be ND for ABC’s KABC-TV.

Michelle spent 12 years as ND for KOLD-TV in Tucson earlier and has also worked in Houston and Corpus Christi, TX.

Details on this story and all the week’s developments in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Sunday, July 26, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Ansin

Tonight, after we posted our latest newsletter, we learned of the death of billionaire TV station owner ED ANSIN.

He was 84.

Ansin owned stations in Miami and Boston. Both lost NBC affiliations. He and his team turned Miami (then WCKT-TV into WSVN-TV) and became a FOX affiliate with a presentation style that was widely copied.

When he lost the affiliation at WHDH-TV in Boston, he turned the station into a true independent.

In both case the stations increased their news programming and remain significant factors in their markets.

The Boston Globe has this obituary.

It’s expected his sons will take over the business.

I’m sure the trades will have much more on this story this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

(Full disclosure: I worked as a young producer at WCKT from 1976-77, but had almost no contact with Mr. Ansin, as you might expect.)

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

Greetings:

A little more movement this week, with TWO new news directors (both at Hearst stations) and TWO new openings. Our list of open ND jobs remains at 30 positions.

Once again, there’s ONE Paid Help Wanted Ad this week for an EP position in a small city that’s in a top ten market.

I’m sorry to report the death (last April) of a well respected FOUR time news director, three of those jobs in top 25 markets.

Just ONE item in Names in the News and TWO new GMs to tell you about.

Please read on, and have a great week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Franklin

WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville…AKILI FRANKLIN is being promoted to news director for this NBC affiliate from the same job at another Hearst NBC affiliate, WDSU-TV in New Orleans. She’s been the ND at WDSU since March, 2016, after three months as the Assistant ND there. Akili knows her way around there, having spent eight years at WYFF earlier in her career before stints at Hearst stations in Birmingham and West Palm Beach. She replaces BRUCE BARKLEY who’s been promoted to GM for Hearst’s KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR after eight years as ND for WYFF.

Dillard

WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…WILL DILLARD has been bumped up to ND for this Hearst owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND here since 2015 and previously worked for Hearst’s WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL, as an assignment manager and producer. Will’s also worked in Miami. At WJCL, he replaces SINAN SIDAR who was also promoted, in his case to a corporate talent recruiting role for Hearst.

New News Director Openings:

WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA…as we told you above, AKILI FRANKLIN has been promoted to ND for sister Hearst NBC affiliate WYFF-TV in Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville. She was ND here for more than four years.

Snuffer

KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE…MIKE SNUFFER is leaving this Standard Media owned ABC affiliate after just six months as news director here. There’s a sad family reason behind the abrupt move, as Mike outlined in this email to me. Before KLKN, he spent 16 years as ND for WSIL-TV in Harrisburg, IL. Mike’s a former ND for KLBK/KAMC-TV in Lubbock and KCEN-TV in Temple, TX.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Are you a show doctor who likes to lead from the line?

Join the nation’s largest media group just outside the nation’s capital – in an election year.

Nexstar Media Group’s WDVM in Hagerstown, Maryland has an IMMEDIATE opening for an Executive Producer. Oversee content decisions on multiple platforms, while still owning an hour on the line.

This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your ability to lead – and your producing talents. Work with a diverse team of professionals around the country…and do it all in market #7.

It’s the best of both worlds… small town feel with access to big city news and entertainment.

If you are up for the challenge, apply here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20, see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 7/19/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

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

Listed 7/19/20:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/12/20:

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/5/20:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Relisted 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituary:

Acklen

DAN ACKLEN, who had been a news director in Seattle, Cleveland, Portland, OR, and Medford, OR, died April 13 of complications of lymphoma, lupus and deep vein thrombosis. He was 69. Dan was well respected by his employees who called him a gentleman who treated staff with respect and kindness.

I last spoke with Dan earlier this year when he called to check in. He maintained a sense of humor through his illnesses, as proven in this 2017 email to me:

As for me, I am doing the best I can. I still follow my Oregon Ducks and have my tickets for the next FB season (BTW – Go Ducks! Beat Michigan!). However, I face some challenges. I have deep vein thrombosis, lupus, and lymphoma. As for my health issues, it’s a classic case: I quit drinking and smoking and then my body went to hell…and my maladies are not generally associated with those bad habits.

My rheumatologist says the lupus will get me before the lymphoma will…reassuring, isn’t it? I still feel good, walk every other day and enjoy life (the old line about stopping to smell the roses applies to me!).

Memorial contributions may be made to the church in which Dan and his family grew up:

Newman United Methodist Church
132 NE B St.
Grants Pass, OR 97526
106 NW F Street, #951
Grants Pass, OR 97526

Names in the News (and other items):

Lattig

DERIK LATTIG joins Spectrum News in Dallas as Planning Manager for its new operation there, scheduled to launch September 1st. He spent almost 13 years as a regional news producer for CBS Newspath in Dallas, and has worked for stations across Texas and in Albuquerque, NM.

General Manager News and Notes:

Rieffer

JENNIFER RIEFFER, who started as a traffic assistant at WDKY-TV in Lexington, KY, in 1995 and rose to General Manager there in 2018, has been promoted. She’s the new GM for Sinclair’s WSMH-TV (FOX) in Flint, MI. She’ll also oversee services provided by Sinclair to WEYI-TV (NBC) in Flint. More details here.

Trcalek

SEAN TRCALEK moves across town to become General Manager for Scripps’ KATC-TV (ABC) in Lafayette, LA. He’s been the GM for KADN-TV in Lafayette since February, 2017. It’s a return to KATC for Sean who was national sales manager there from 1989-1995. Scripps issued this news release.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 26, 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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
KLKN-TV 3240 S 10th St, Lincoln, NE 68502
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

July 19, 2020

Monday, July 20, 2020 UPDATE:

Hearst continues its trend of promoting from within as it fills a news director opening with a current Hearst ND.

Franklin

AKILI FRANKLIN has been tapped to run the newsroom at WYFF-TV (NBC) in Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville. She’s been the ND for sister Hearst NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans since March 2016.

Akili was the Assistant ND for just three months there before being promoted. She’s also worked for Hearst stations in Birmingham and West Palm Beach as well as for another New Orleans station.

It’s a return to “Your Friend Four” for Akili, who spent eight years there earlier in her career.

Also, careful readers of last night’s newsletter may have noticed that, for the second consecutive week, I typed ND when I meant GM. In the most recent screw-up, that error involved STEVE HAMMEL’s role as the interim GM for Meredith’s WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw, MI, while the company conducts a search for a new GM at that CBS affiliate.

Apologies to Steve and to you. For what you’re paying for this newsletter, you deserve better.

We’ll see you next week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Just ONE news director opening this week, but it’s good news as the incumbent is moving to his parent network. That change leaves 30 stations looking for a new news director.

There’s ONE Paid Help Wanted Ad this week for an EP position in a small city that’s in a top ten market.

We have an obituary for a former Virginia news director. That’s below.

In Names in the News, a promotion for a Texas EP, an honor for a Michigan educator who worked for two stations in the Wolverine state, and a well known retired consultant is a grandfather for the first time.

And lots of GM moves, including a new President for The Black News Channel, a new GM in Milwaukee whose sister some of you may know, a GM opening in Michigan and a new GM in a small Texas market.

Read on for details!

Newly Named News Directors:

For the second week in a row, there were no news director hires announced this week.

New News Director Openings:

Green

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA…JOHNNY GREEN, JR. is on his way to New York as VP of News Services for CBS News, replacing TIM GAUGHAN who quietly left the network earlier this year. Johnny will oversee CBS Newspath. More here. He’s been the ND at this CBS o-and-o since 2016 and spent almost a year as the Assistant ND before being promoted. Johnny’s also worked in New York Philadelphia, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), New Bern, NC, and Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Are you a show doctor who likes to lead from the line?

Join the nation’s largest media group just outside the nation’s capital – in an election year.

Nexstar Media Group’s WDVM in Hagerstown, Maryland has an IMMEDIATE opening for an Executive Producer. Oversee content decisions on multiple platforms, while still owning an hour on the line.

This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your ability to lead – and your producing talents. Work with a diverse team of professionals around the country…and do it all in market #7.

It’s the best of both worlds… small town feel with access to big city news and entertainment.

If you are up for the challenge, apply here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20, see ad above!)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/12/20:

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/5/20:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituary:

Barrick

I’m sorry to report the death of former news director RIC BARRICK. He was 57 years old and died of complications from diabetes and an infection. Ric was the first news director…and first chief meteorologist…for WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA from 2004-05. He later worked for the city of Charlottesville and most recently worked for Broward County, FL. His former station remembers him here, and Ric’s younger brother MATT posted this on social media.

Names in the News (and other items):

VERONICA HERRERA has been promoted to Senior Manager of Broadcast Content for Scripps’ KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi. (Think Assistant News Director.) She has been an executive producer for this NBC affiliate and earlier worked for another Corpus Christi station.

Sykes

Former Detroit newsman and longtime educator RICK SYKES is joining the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Learn more about his honor here. Rick’s been teaching at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI, since 1996. He spent nine years working for WNEM-TV in Saginaw and then moved to WDIV-TV in Detroit for eight years before taking a PR job and then on to CMU.

Finally, former ND, GM and longtime consultant JIM WILLI and his wife SHERRI are proud grandparents for the first time. TROY JAMES WILLI was born Monday and weighed in at six pounds, 12 ounces. Proud parents are son ZAK and his wife MELINDA who live in a Dallas suburb. Friends can congratulate Jim via email here: jwilli@ar-d.com.

                 Jim Willi & grandson

General Manager News and Notes:

Hair

We told you earlier this week that longtime broadcaster PRINCELL HAIR has been named President of the Black News Channel. Details about his new job (and more on the network, which debuted earlier this year) are here. Princell’s been a news director in several major markets, and held management jobs at CNN and NBC Sports Boston. Learn more about his career history via his Linkedin page.

Brown

ANNE BROWN moves across town to become GM for Weigel’s WDJT-TV (CBS) in Milwaukee. She’s been the director of strategy and marketing for WITI-TV (FOX). She’ll replace MARK STRACHOTA who is retiring. The Milwaukee Business Journal has more. Anne’s also worked in Washington, DC, and Columbus, OH. And here’s a trivia tidbit to help you win a bar bet (if you can find an open bar): Anne’s sister is WTSP-TV (Tampa/Tegna/CBS) News Director KELLY FRANK.

Zoumbaris

WNEM-TV, the Meredith owned CBS affiliate in Flint/Saginaw, MI, is looking for a new general manager. JULIE ZOUMBARIS left the station this week after 2 1/2 years as GM. She had worked for WNEM earlier in her career as well as for two stations in Indianapolis, Dayton, and another Flint station. Longtime GM and former ND STEVE HAMMEL is serving as interim ND GM during the search.

Aguilar

DANNY AGUILAR joins Morgan Murphy Media owned KAVU-TV in Victoria, TX, as General Manager. He most recently held the same job for Tegna’s KIDY/KXVA-TV in San Angelo, TX. He’s also worked in Corpus Christi as Station Manager for Tegna’s KIII-TV.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 19, 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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St, Greenville, SC 29609
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

July 12, 2020

Thursday, July 16, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A network o-and-o news director gets a new job with the network.

Green

JOHNNY GREEN, JR., who’s currently the news director for CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston, has been named VP of News Services for CBS News. That means he’ll oversee CBS Newspath, the affiliate news feed service.

More details here.

Johnny’s been ND for WBZ since August, 2016, when he was promoted after ten months as assistant ND. He’s also worked in New York Philadelphia, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), New Bern, NC, and Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC.

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

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Monday, July 13, 2020 UPDATE:

A new job for a well known newsman.

Hair

PRINCELL HAIR has been named President and CEO of the Black News Channel. He spent sometime helping BNC during the time leading up to its launch earlier this yaar.

More about Princell’s new duties…and lots of details about his background…in this news release.

Yoder

Also, one correction from last night’s newsletter. We told you that GARY YODER was joining WLFI-TV in Lafayette, which is true. But we incorrectly told you he was going there as ND, when in fact he will be the general manager for that Heartland Media owned CBS affiliate.

Apologies to Gary, and to you.

We’ll see you at the end of the week with our full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Once more, we get to tell you about a news director moving to the GM office.

That ONE move is the only ND change this week, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 29.

There are FOUR new GMs to report, and TWO are current or former NDs.

And in Names in the News, we’ll tell you about a FOUR time ND who’s running for Mayor and a management promotion at a Chicago station.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

As far as I know, there were no news director hires announced this week.

New News Director Openings:

Barkley

WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville, NC/SC…we told you earlier that ND BRUCE BARKLEY is being promoted to GM for sister Hearst stations KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR. Bruce’s new station posted this on its website. Bruce has been an ND for Hearst for 20 years, the last eight at WYFF and 12 years at WAPT-TV in Jackson, MS before that. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC, and has also worked in Tennessee. Bruce replaces SHAWN OSWALD who was promoted to GM for Hearst’s KETV in Omaha.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job with us, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (new listing this week)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (new listing this week)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/5/20:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

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

Names in the News (and other items):

ANNA ROBERTS has been promoted to Executive Producer of Digital Content for Nexstar’s WGN-TV in Chicago. She’s a 12 year veteran of WGN and its now defunct cable operation, CLTV. Here’s the memo from ND DOMINICK STASI. Anna has also worked for newspapers in Milwaukee and Billings, MT.

Akins

Former news director JULIE AKINS is running for mayor of Ashland, OR. She’s currently a city councilwoman there. More in this story from The Ashland Tidings. Julie’s a former ND in Las Vegas, Fresno, and for two stations in Medford, OR. She’s also worked in San Francisco.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lots of GM news this week, with FOUR new GMs, TWO with news director backgrounds.

We mentioned BRUCE BARKLEY‘s promotion to GM for KHBS/KHOG-TV in Fayetteville/Ft. Smith, AR. above, in our New News Director opening section.

Boling

Another former ND moving to the big chair is NEAL BOLING who’s being promoted to GM for KHQ-TV in Spokane, WA. He’s been the station manager there for the last six years after four years as news director for this Cowles owned NBC affilaite. Here’s the news release. Neal replaces PATRICIA McRAE (herself a former ND) who will continue as president of the Broadcast Division for the parent company. Neal’s also worked as an ND in Johnson City, TN, and as a producer for two stations in Tampa.

Rothstein

RYAN ROTHSTEIN moves within Hearst to become GM for WPTZ/WNNE-TV in Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY. Ryan has been the sales manager for WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL. Details about Ryan and his new job in this item from the WPTZ/WNNE website. He replaces JUSTIN ANTONIOTTI (another former ND) who was promoted to GM for Hearst’s WGAL-TV in Lancaster, PA.

Yoder

Finally, GARY YODER joins Heartland TV as news director general manager of the company’s WLFI-TV (CBS) in Lafayette, IN. Here’s the email from CEO ANDY FISHER. The move gets Gary within 3 1/2 hours of family in Northwest Ohio. Gary most recently was GM for Meredith’s WALA-TV (FOX) in Mobile, AL, but previously spent 15 years at WUPW-TV (FOX) in Toledo, beginning there as an account executive and rising to GM.

Allen

WLFI owner Heartland Media is part of BRYON ALLEN‘s growing media empire. The comic turned media mogul was the subject of this well-worth-your-time profile in The Hollywood Reporter.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 12, 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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St, Greenville, SC 29609
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

July 5, 2020

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another news director moves to the general manager chair!

Barkley

This time the congratulations go to BRUCE BARKLEY, who’s been named Presdient and GM of KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR. The news release is here.

Those are Hearst stations, as is WYFF-TV (NBC)in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville market in the Carolinas where Bruce has been ND since 2012. Before that, he was the ND of Hearst’s WAPT-TV (ABC) in Jackson, MS for 12 years. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC, and has worked in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, TN markets.

At KHBS/KHOG, Bruce will replace SHAWN OSWALD who was promoted to GM for the company’s KETV (ABC) in Omaha.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

As you might expect, the holiday week brought few changes.

But we do have ONE newly named news director to share, and THREE new openings, including ONE at a top ten market CBS affiliate.

Those changes leave our list of open ND jobs at 28 positions.

There’s ONE paid ad for a content manager job in Tulsa.

No obituaries, thankfully, and just ONE GM move.

And the only item in Names in the News is a positive health update on a former ND and multi-time general manager.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Munoz

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…JAMES MUNOZ adds news director to his duties at this Morgan Murphy Media owned ABC affiliate. He’s been anchoring there and will continue to anchor the 5:00 news. James has been a news director before in Midland and San Angelo, TX, and has worked on-air in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Amarillo and Lufkin, TX. He replaces ROXANN FISHER who left the station in February after less than six months as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Ramirez

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…SALLY RAMIREZ is leaving this Tegna-owned CBS affiliate. She’ll stay while the search for her successor goes on. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more. The news of Sally’s departure came as her husband, anchor RUSS LEWIS announced he was leaving to return to Oregon to work in his family’s business. Sally was ND for 4+ years, coming from KGW-TV in Portland, OR, where she was the assistant news director for the last five of her 17 years at that Tegna sister station. She’s also worked in Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, Tucson and El Paso.

Vizcon

WTMO-TV, Orlando, FL…ROBERTO VIZCON is out at this Telemundo affiliate after a little more than two years in his second stint at the station. The first time he was general manager. And the current GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week. The entire soap opera is detailed in this story from Media Moves. Vizcon has worked as a news director for Univision stations in Miami and Puerto Rico.

Sadar

WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…congratulations to SINAN SADAR who’s the latest beneficiary of a promotion within Hearst. He’s been named director of news talent recruitment for the company. Details here. Sinan’s been ND here for 5+ years, spent more than six years as ND for WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY, and four years as the Ass’t, ND for Hearst’s KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, NM. Sinan has also worked in Houston (two stations), Cleveland, Albany, NY, and Syracuse.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Content Manager, Morning News, KOKI-TV, Tulsa OK:

KOKI-TV/Fox 23 and Cox Media Group are searching for an experienced journalist who has the drive, energy and passion to work as the station’s Content Manager for our 5- hour long morning newscasts.

The successful candidate will execute the station’s strategic plan on all platforms, utilizing research to oversee content and coverage on our TV, radio, digital, and social media platforms. “

KOKI-TV, Fox 23, is Tulsa’s most trusted news source, Covering News That Matters. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which debuted in October of 1980. Since 2012, the station has been owned by Cox Media Group.

Tulsa is known for being a dynamic city with a variety of bustling urban districts, exceptional dining, an unsurpassed love of the arts and one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the nation.”

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (listed 6/21/20)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager, see ad above!)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

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

Names in the News (and other items):

Vann

A positive health update for longtime GM (and former news director) LES VANN. We told you recently that Les had broken four ribs and injured his sternum while he battled both Parkinson’s Disease and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. But he advised me this week that he’s back home:

General Manager News and Notes:

We mentioned the only GM move we know about above, in our report on the ND opening at WTMO-TV in Orlando. The station’s GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week, too.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 5, 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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station