Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

October 26, 2025

Thursday, October 30th, 2025 UPDATE:

Sorry to report the death today of an Alabama news director.

Wingard

DESMOND WINGARD died this morning after a battle with cancer. He was 46 years old. He’d been the news director for Gray Media’s WSFA-TV (NBC) in Montgomery for the last 3+ years, but had worked there for 26 years. The station remembered him here.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, at co-workers at WSFA. We’ll share funeral and memorial information when they are available.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A shocker in Indianapolis this morning.

DeJUAN McCOY, owner of Circle City Broadcasting which already owns WISH-TV (CW) and WNDY-TV (MyNetworkTV), announced this morning that he is buying WRTV (ABC) from Scripps.

Here’s the news release from Circle City and here’s the release from Scripps.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Indianapolis market (and, unless you live there, why would you be?) let me provide some perspective.

Nexstar owns WTTV and WXIN-TV. Those are the CBS and FOX affiliates.

Tegna owns WTHR-TV, the NBC affiliate.

And as mentioned above, Scripps owns WRTV and Circle City owns the former CBS affiliate; WISH-TV, which has a strong on-air news schedule.

And…if you’re been paying attention, you know that Nexstar has announced plans to buy Tegna.

I have a journalism degree, and thus, by law, am not good at math.

But even I can figure out that would leave TWO owners for the five local stations that air newscasts.

But, of course, there are some big IFs here.

IF the FCC approves BOTH deals, and IF both deals make it to the finish line (obligatory racing reference for any story involving Indy, also required by law) this would lead to an unprecedented ownership situation in a top 25 market.

As a bad reporter would say “Only time will tell.”

We hope to have more on this story in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

You could say this was another slow week, with TWO newly named news directors and ONE new opening (though that opening is at a network o-and-o in a top 20 market.)

Our count of open ND jobs remains at 24.

THREE obituaries (including that of Lassie’s mom. Why, you ask? I ain’t giving it away…you’ll have to read on.) 🙂

Also this week:

After 29 years, a longtime GM and former ND is retiring.
There’s a new GM headed to a Mississippi station.
Got a PR nightmare? Create a task force! That’s what Indiana University is doing.
A veteran ND returns to his alma mater after 50 years and details how that school (you’ve heard of it) is changing with the times.
And there’s a new Assistant ND in New York.

And there’s more…so read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Garcia

WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC…RICH GARCIA returns to a newsroom as the next news director for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. He most recently for served for three years as news director for WINK-TV (CBS) in Ft. Myers, part of his 18 years at that locally owned station. At WBTW, he replaces PAUL CARON who left in September after three years as news director.

Thomas

WPDE-TV, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC…a promotion here finds LIZ THOMAS moving down the hall to the big office (just guessing, never been there) as she takes over as ND on November 1. She replaces VICTORIA SPECHKO who is retiring after a remarkable 26 years as ND for this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate and 31 years at the station. Liz posted this about her new job and here’s Victoria’s station bio.

New News Director Opening:

Saiers

KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA…PETE SAIERS is leaving this CBS owned duopoly after two years as news director. GM DEBORAH COLLURA sent this note to the staff. It’s Pete’s second stint at KOVR: he earlier worked as a reporter/producer there before going to KPIX-TV (also a CBS o-and-o) in San Francisco. He spent two years as an ND for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles and KING-TV in Seattle.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No help wanted ads this week. If you have a news management opening, there is no more targeted place to advertise! Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 9/21/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/14/25)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 10/12/25)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 10/19/25)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 10/19/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, listed 9/21/25)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 10/19/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Streaming Content EP/Host, listing modified 10/26/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 8/24/25)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 10/26/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 8/24/25)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 10/19/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listing modified 9/21/25)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (EP of Digital Streaming) listed 10/26/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sr. EP of News & Streaming, listed 8/17/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (listed 10/26/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/14/25)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 10/5/25)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Director, listed 9/28/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 9/28/25)
WVNY-WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT (Digital EP, relisted 9/28/25)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 10/19/25)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (AM EP, listed 9/1/25)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital EP, listed 10/26/25)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 10/26/25)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 10/26/25

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Executive Reporter)

Relisted 10/26/25:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (GM and Department Head)

Listed 10/5/25:

WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Morris

Sorry to share that MACKIE MORRIS lost his daughter JENNIFER MORRIS this week. She was just 45 and had been fighting oral cancer but succumbed to an issue with her lungs. Sadly, it’s not the first time Mackie has lost a child. His son MATT died two years ago. Mackie taught at Missouri, and spent 15 years at Magid before opening his own coaching firm. More information in his post on Linkedin.

Davis

SID DAVIS died earlier this month at 97. He spent seven years as a reporter and ND for WKBN-TV in Youngstown, OH, but he is better known for his role on November 22, 1963. He was covering President Kennedy’s visit to Dallas and served as the pool reporter in the very crowded cabin of Air Force One as LYNDON JOHNSON took the oath of office. This New York Times obituary is worth reading. He also worked for NBC News and the Voice of America.

Lockhart

You are probably wonder why I am including the death of actress JUNE LOCKHART. When you read this obituary, you will learn that she had a passion for journalism. In fact, she attended more RTNDA conventions than most of you, once bringing fellow actress BARBARA BILLINGSLEY with her. Lockhart was one of three actresses to play the mom in the classic TV show Lassie. She also starred in Lost in Space among other roles. June Lockhart was 100 years old.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

DAVID HATCHER has been promoted to Assistant News Director at Nexstar’s WPIX-TV (CW) in New York. Here’s the memo from ND BEN DOBSON.

When in trouble, name a task force! That’s what Indiana University did this week after an outcry over what some saw as an improper move to force the student newspaper, The Indiana Daily Student, to stop publishing a print edition. More from The Indianapolis Star (may be behind a paywall).

Busiek

Longtime Des Moines news director (and one time RTNDA leader) DAVE BUSIEK and I were among about 20 members of the University of Missouri’s Broadcasting class of 1975 to enjoy a reunion in Columbia this weekend. One of the activities was a presentation by Dean DAVID KURPIUS on how the school is handling the current environment. Dave (Busiek) offers his thoughts about the presentation.

General Manager News and Notes:

Samuels

Longtime Rochester, NY, broadcaster CHUCK SAMUELS is headed towards retirement. Chuck’s been the General Manager for WHAM-TV for 19 years and that long stretch followed ten years as news director. Chuck sent along the note he sent to his staff, and we also have his post on LinkedIn. Chuck plans to return to Florida after he leaves this ABC affiliate next month.

Gray Media tabbed veteran Mississippi broadcaster JON POLLARD to be the next GM for WTOK-TV, its ABC affiliate in Meridian, MS.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 26, 2025:

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

WDCW/WDVM-TV 2121 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr., West Sacramento, CA 95605
KSWB/KUSI-TV 7191 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr., Columbus, OH 4321
KEYE-TV 10700 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
WKRC-TV 1906 Highland Ave, Cincinnati, OH 4521
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WPSD-TV, 408 Kentucky Ave, Paducah, KY 42003
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave. Wausau, WI 54403
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

October 19, 2025

Greetings:

Another slow week, with TWO news director changes and NO new openings

Our count of open ND jobs drops to 24.

No obituaries, no GM changes, (told you it was slow) but several interesting items in Names in the News (and other stuff).

More on RTDNA suspending its annual convention.
A huge mess at Indiana University involving the student newspaper.
A Michigan anchor wins a retaliation suit against his former station.
And some news people on the move.

Have a great week.

Newly Named News Directors:

Hebert

WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN…CYNDEE HEBERT has been named news director at this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. She joined WTHR in 2002 as a morning producer, moved to Special Projects Producer, Managing Editor, and (since 2022) Assistant News Director. Cyndee’s also worked in Knoxville, Lubbock, and Columbia, MO. She replaces Director of Content SCOTT HUMS who moved to Tegna corporate as VP of the Central News Desk.

Belilty

KINC-TV, Las Vegas, NV…congratulations to SAMUEL BELILTY who has joined the Entravision station as news director. He’s been running a Miami based public relations firm since leaving Univision’s WLTV in Miami in 2023 after six years as news director there. He’s also been an ND in Dallas and San Antonio and his worked in his native Venezuela. More in this story from Media Moves.

New News Director Opening:

I’m not aware of any new openings this week.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No help wanted ads this week. If you have a news management opening, there is no more targeted place to advertise! Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com