June 23, 2019
Greetings:
A very busy week with lots of changes to tell you about.
As in SIX new news directors.
As in SEVEN new openings.
FOUR ads, including though none for any of the 33 news director openings.
We have lots of items in Names in the News. In our GM section, details about a new GM in Los Angeles, and a former ND turned GM returns to the GM office at a FOX o-and-o.
And there are too many obituaries.
All that and more just below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Nadell
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA…SUZANNE NADELL returns to this Cox Media owned ABC affiliate as news director. Suzanne is currently the ND at Cox’s Pittsburgh station, WPXI-TV. She worked at WSB earlier in her career as an EP before being promoted to ND for Cox’s Tulsa station, KOKI-TV in 2013. She moved to WPXI in 2016. Suzanne has also worked in Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Myers and Johnson City, TN.
Turnbull
She replaces MISTI TURNBULL. Misti is also getting a promotion within COX…she’s been named Director of News for Cox Media Group. She’s a 20 year veteran of WSB, having started there as a producer in 1999, then rising through the ranks before being named news director in 2015. She’s also worked in Colorado Springs, Norfolk, and Denver.
Manuel
KXTV, Sacramento, CA…JILL MANUEL returns to the news director’s office as she becomes Director of Content for this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. She’s a former ND in Chicago (CLTV) and Cleveland (WEWS-TV) whose last newsroom job was as the Assistant ND at WFLD-TV (FOX) in Chicago. Jill’s Linkedin page tells what she’s been up to since. At KXTV, she replaces SAM COHEN who left to join Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver as Chief Content Officer for the PBS news operation.
Trabandt
WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh, PA…we mentioned above that SUZANNE NADELL was being promoted from news director at this NBC affiliate to ND for sister Cox Media Group station WSB-TV in Atlanta. Simultaneously WPXI promoted Managing Editor SCOTT TRABANDT to replace Suzanne. Scott’s been the managing editor here since 2016. He previously worked as a producer and EP for WRC-TV in Washington, and also worked in Charlotte (at Cox’s WSOC-TV) and in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Williams
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA…DAVID WILLIAMS reunites with DENISE VICKERS as he’s been named ND for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned FOX affiliate. He’s currently the ND for Gray’s KCBD-TV in Lubbock, is a former ND in Lake Charles, LA, and also worked in Huntsville and Montgomery. David worked with his new GM in both those Alabama markets, where she was the ND and he the assistant. At WFXG, he replaces ANGELA GREEN. We told you last week she was leaving for an as yet unannounced ‘new adventure’.
Peterson
WGFL-TV, Gainesville, FL…JAKE PETERSON is the new news director here. I believe he has worked in Tampa and Phoenix. In Gainesville, he replaces ANDY PARAS who left after two years to become ND for WFFT-TV in Ft. Wayne. WGFL is operated by Sinclair Broadcasting. A CBS affiliate, it is owned by New Age Media.
Gaylord
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT…a transfer between Scripps stations leaves ERIC GAYLORD as the new ND for this CBS affiliate. He’s been the ND at sister station KRTV in Great Falls, MT, since June, 2017. Eric began as a photographer, working in Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, and as chief photographer in San Diego before moving into management. If my records are correct, he replaces JERRY GIESLER who had been the ND here since July, 2015.
New News Director Openings:
Rinehart
WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA…this independent station (part of the Philadelphia market) has a listing on its website for news director. BRAD RINEHART has been the ND there since 1984. I’ve reached out to Brad but, as of this writing, have not heard back. We’ll update when we learn more. WFMZ does (according to its Wikipedia page) 46½ hours of news every week. UPDATE 6/24: Brad tells me that they are doing some succession planning and he’ll spend less time on the day to day.
Minnaugh
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL…RYAN MINNAUGH left this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate this week after just over one year as ND. He spent the previous 2 1/2 years as ND for WTKR-TV in Norfolk, working for GM SKIP VALET, who recruited him to Tampa. Ryan’s also worked as an Assistant ND in Indianapolis, and EP in Denver and Cleveland, and for CNN and WEBfn, as well as in Syracuse.
Wilson
KTVK/KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ…DAN WILSON’s last day at the Meredith owned duopoly (KTVK is independent, KPHO is CBS) was Monday. He’d been there 3 1/2 years and previously was a news director for WPTV in West Palm Beach, and has worked for another Phoenix station (KNXV-TV) and in Las Vegas for 10 years in a variety of roles at what was then KVBC-TV (NBC) and is now KSNV-TV.
Painter
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN…TAZ PAINTER’s leaving this Tegna owned NBC affiliate in early August. General Manager DAVID HUNT shared the news with the staff in this email. This is Taz’s second stint at WBIR: he was managing editor there from 2007-2014, was promoted to ND for Tegna’s WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, and returned to Knoxville in 2017. He’s also worked for Hearst stations in Albuquerque and Greenville, SC.
KCBD-TV, Lubbock, TX…we reported above that DAVID WILLIAMS is leaving this Gray TV owned NBC affiliate to become ND for WFXG-TV in Augusta, GA. He was ND here for just over two years.
KRTV, Great Falls, MT…we also told you above that ERIC GAYLORD is moving from this Scripps station to another, as news director for KPAX-TV in Missoula, MT. More on that above.
Hudspeth
KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…AMIE HUDSPETH is moving from market 203 to CNN’s Headline News in Atlanta as Script Supervisor for Weekend Morning Express. She’s been the ND here for almost five years. Before that she the Assistant News Director for WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC and has also worked in San Antonio, Austin, Oklahoma City, and Dallas. KAVU is an ABC affiliate owned by Morgan Murphy Media.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
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Investigative Producer, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Denver, CO:
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To learn more and apply, click here.
Digital Content Manager, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:
Very professional.
No drama.
#1.
Sound like a good place to work? You should apply for the Digital Content Manager position at WBRC-Fox6 News in Birmingham, AL. We’re the No. 1 Fox affiliate in the country, and the No. 1 station in the 43rd largest market. Our new DCM will be driven by urgency and ingenuity, will be a leader and a teacher, will motivate and hold the team accountable. The right candidate for this newsroom management opportunity must be a great and willing writer, have tremendous news judgement and be ready to work with our marketing and sales teams across all our digital platforms.
The WBRC Digital Content Manager will lead a team of five full-time digital content producers, plus two part-time producers. Our new DCM must have proven motivation, delegation and people management skills.
Want to know more about WBRC & Birmingham? Check this out.
Executive Producer, KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA:
KWWL is seeking an assertive news producer who is ready to take that next step toward being a top newsroom manager.
You’ll help guide our news staff and manage our multi-platform news products. Excellent news judgement is needed for this fast- paced environment and multi-city market.
The successful candidate must be able to identify great stories, create urgency and showcase stories in a memorable way. You’ll partner with the rest of the newsroom management team to coach our staff to excellence on live reports, daily weather, severe weather, breaking news and the big story.
Producers who love showcasing should definitely apply for this job. We have the latest technology alongside a renovated studio and station, now we need you to make it your playground.
Applicants must have 3 to 5 years producing experience with the goal of a career in news management.
The Waterloo-Cedar Rapids-Dubuque-Iowa City market is a great place to live, by the way.
Do you like living near a college campus? We have those. Into boating, biking, snowshoeing? Maybe brew pubs are your thing? Our area has a great quality of life, and we’re located within easy driving distance from Minneapolis, Chicago and Des Moines.
KWWL is proud to be a Quincy station. Learn why our family-owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best media companies to work for at: www.quincymediacareers.com.
To apply for the Executive Producer position, e-mail your resume to:
Allison Gibson, News Director: agibson@kwwl.com
KWWL Television, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/5/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/12/19)
WTLV-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 5/5/19)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted this week)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 5/5/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 4/21/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 5/19/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 5/12/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, TX (listed 6/9/19)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 5/5/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (2 openings, listed 5/5/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, new listing this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 5/12/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 5/19/19)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, relisted 5/5/19)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 5/5/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 5/5/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, 5/5/19)
KARK-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/16/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 5/12/19)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (Dayside EP, listed 5/5/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19, see ad above!)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (new listing this week)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted this week)
WLNS-TV, Lansing MI (listed 6/2/19)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, listing modified 5/5/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, new listing this week)
Other News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/16/19:
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer, , see ad above!)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr., see ad above!)
Listed 5/27/19:
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Mgr.)
Listed 5/19/19:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
Obituaries:
Godfrey
A memorial service for longtime newsman ED GODFREY will be held next Sunday, June 30th, in Anchorage KY. More details in this interesting obituary. (I knew Ed for more than 30 years and learned a lot by reading it.) Ed was 88 when he died last Tuesday from complications suffered in a fall. A former news director in Atlanta, Portland, OR, and Louisville, Ed also worked in Houston and Miami. He was a past president of RTNDA and leaves behind his wife of 62 years, SUE, a daughter and a son.
Bolster
BILL BOLSTER died June 13th at the age of 75. During a long career, he ran CNBC, as well as NBC stations in New York, St. Louis, and Waterloo, IA with ratings success in each cast. He was a true character: I once interviewed for a job with him and the conversation was laced with profanity (his, not mine! And I didn’t get the job.) His full career story is contained in this obituary.
Arguello
We told you earlier of the death of JOHN ARGUELLO, who last job in a long career at WOOD-TV (Nexstar/NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI, was on the assignment desk. Not bad for a self-described high school dropout who started at the station at age 18 in the mailroom. He worked as a photographer and on the station’s I-team. I mentioned in our earlier report, while I was the news director there, one of the anchors called John the smartest man in the room. And he was right. New in this report: a detailed obituary about a terrific journalist.
Brown
And our sympathy to Meredith’s Senior VP of Content, GARY BROWN, on the death of his father, GARY WAYNE BROWN. The senior Mr. Brown died Friday, June 14, at the age of 72. He battled COPD and cancer and died a few months after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary last year. More details here. Your kind note of sympathy can be sent to Gary at Gary.Brown@meredith.com
Names in the News (and other items):
RTDNA announced the winners of the National Edward R. Murrow Awards this week. Of note: two stations in Colorado won Overall Excellence Awards in large and small markets. Congratulations to the winners.
CHRIS PERALTA leaves The City of Brotherly Love to become the executive producer for Nashille’s WSMV-TV (Meredith/NBC). He’s also worked in Norfolk.
At Birmingham’s WVTM-TV, HUNTER STONE has been promoted to Assistant News Director from EP. She’s also worked in Knoxville (two stations), Orlando, Atlanta, and Albuquerque (not necessarily in that order!)
Asplund
40 years at one small market station? That’s the story of STEVE ASPLUND, news director and anchor for Marquette, MI’s WLUC-TV.
The Washington Post reviews an upcoming documentary on MIKE WALLACE.
General Manager News and Notes:
Howell
JAY HOWELL gets his THIRD general manager’s job at a CBS o-and-o in less than three years as he returns to the West Coast to run KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles. Here’s the note from CBS boss PETER DUNN. Jay’s leaving Pittsburgh and KDKA-TV after just one year there. And he spent a little less than a year as general manger for KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento. He’s a former executive with LIN media and served as a GM in two Texas markets.
Easterly
One time news director (Cleveland and Phoenix) GREG EASTERLY returns to a FOX owned station as he’s been named GM for WJBK-TV in Detroit. He’ll replace MIKE RENDA who is retiring after serving as GM for FOUR FOX o-and-o’s: Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Chicago. Greg’s been working for Tribune in a variety of roles, most recently as SVP/Group Operations. More on his extensive background here.
Lamb
BILL LAMB, who’s been General Manager for Block Communications’ WRDB-TV (FOX) in Louisville since 2002, is leaving for a GM job in a top ten market. But he hasn’t said WHERE that job is. We’ll let you know when we find out. His last day in Louisville is July 5th.
Nexstar has promoted RON ROMINES to Senior VP/Regional Manager to oversee broadcast and digital operations in a variety of markets. He’s been the GM of the company’s station WTEN-TV in Albany, NY.
Toste
JENNY TOSTE is out as GM of Fresno’s PBS station, KVPT-TV after just six months on the job. A news release from the pubcaster said the board voted to ‘end her contract‘. She’s a former anchor and reporter for KSEE-TV and KGPE-TV in Fresno and spent four years as social media coordinator in the communications office for Fresno State University.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 23, 2019:
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
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFLA-TV 200 S Parker St, Tampa, FL 33606
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KCSO-TV 500 Media Place Sacramento, CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KULX-TV 314 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WAVE-TV 725 S Floyd St. Louisville, KY 40203
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WLEX-TV P.O. Box 1457 Lexington, KY 40588-1457
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
KERO-TV 321 21st Street Bakersfield, CA 93301
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station
We’re early this week because it’s a big day for your editor. A native St. Louisian, and life long St. Louis Blues fan, I’m lucky enough to be able to go to tonight’s game six of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, which could end tonight with a Blues win.
News Director, WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX:
