August 23, 2026
Greetings:
This week’s edition is a little abbreviated due to travel, but we still have items of interest!
ONE new news director.
ONE new ND opening.
Those changes bring our count of open ND jobs to 27.
TWO paid help wanted ads, including ONE for an EP job at a family owned station in a top 20 market, the other for a job which promises a good life/work balance.
There’s ONE new GM to tell you about.
And THREE obituaries, including ONE of a former Massachusetts news director who went out to create something you’ve heard of.
It’s called ESPN.
The aforementioned travel means no news items this week…we’ll be sure to include them next time.
Newly Named News Director:
Jakob B.
KOSA/KTLE-TV, Odessa/Midland, TX…when JAKOB BRANDENBURG returns to this CBS/Telemundo operation from paternity leave, he will assume the news director’s role. Jakob’s worked here for eight years in a variety of positions, including sports director, morning anchor, and, most recently, afternoon anchor. Jakob succeeds CRAIG HUME who left in late June after less than a year as ND.
New News Director Opening:
Kalish
WOI-TV, Des Moines/Ames, IA…MATT KALISH is leaving this Tegna owned ABC affiliate to move to another Tegna station, WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta where he will be the Assistant ND. Here’s the note to the WOI staff. The move reunites him with WXIA’s Director of Content, TODD SPESSARD. They worked together at Griffin Media in Oklahoma. Matt’s also worked in Wichita and Columbia, MO.
Help Wanted Ads:
Executive Producer, KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN:
KSTP 5 Eyewitness News is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for the Twin Cities. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, KSTP-TV is a longtime market leader, and is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.
When you work for KSTP, or our other local, independently operated station KSTC, Channel 45, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community.
If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!
KSTP-TV is currently looking for an Executive Producer who will be responsible for raising the bar on storytelling as well as pushing for personal, and memorable stories. This position will be responsible for story selection, cultivation, and crafting with reporters, anchors and producers.
If you are interested in learning more and possibly applying, please see: KSTPTVExecutiveProducer
Director of News and Public Affairs, Arizona PBS:
Arizona PBS – a licensee of Arizona State University – is expanding its news and public affairs content to better serve the fast-growing Phoenix and greater Arizona markets.
To do that, we’re looking for an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director of News and Public Affairs to lead our newsroom and public affairs content efforts across broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms.
The ideal candidate is a mission-driven newsroom leader who understands the evolving role of journalism, particularly that played by non-profit newsrooms and public media.
This is not a “business-as-usual” news leadership role. Our ideal hire must be an exceptional journalist, collaborative leader, and forward-thinking media professional who can guide teams through an evolving, multi-platform media landscape while maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity.
The Director of News and Public Affairs will work closely with the Senior Director of Content to define and execute a strong editorial vision while leading a team of reporters, producers, editors, hosts, and student workers/interns. Key priorities include growing digital news audiences, working with the Senior Director of Content to develop platform-specific content strategies, as well as collaboration and innovation with other non-profit news providers in Arizona across broadcast and digital platforms.
This is a unique role in that provides a life-work balance in the news industry with generous paid time off for holidays and vacation as well as the added benefits of working at Arizona State University, which include: health, dental, and vision care coverage; retirement savings plans; and tuition reduction for employees and dependents.
To learn more and apply, please click here.
Position Closing Date: September 4, 2026
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/12/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 7/12/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 6/21/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 8/9/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/2/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN (listed 8/16/26, see ad above!)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 7/26/26)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/12/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 6/21/26)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 7/5/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/21/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/26/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 7/19/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 7/26/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 6/21/26)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (PM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/26)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 6/21/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 7/26/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 7/26/26)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 6/14/26)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 7/5/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/7/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 8/16/26:
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (Executive Reporter)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Executive Reporter)
Relisted 8/9/26:
Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs, see ad above!)
Listed 8/9/26:
WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
Listed 8/2/26:
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)
Listed 7/2t/26:
E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)
Listed 7/12/26:
KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Manager of Coverage and Content)
Obituaries:
Suarez
Our Wednesday UPDATE brought you first news of the death of longtime broadcaster JOSE SUAREZ. New: This story from Variety with details on the helicopter crash in Kenya that killed Jose and six others, including four Americans. Jose’s been GM for THREE Telemundo stations in Florida. He’s been a GM and ND in several other markets as his Linkedin page explains.
Bill R.
BILL RASMUSSEN, a former sports director turned news director for WWLP-TV in Springfield, MA, died this week at the age of 93. But you likely know him for being the founder of ESPN. Variety’s story says the idea came to him while stuck in a traffic jam. ESPN launched in 1979 with 80 employees. He was forced out of the company just two years later by investors. Eventually ABC bought the company in 1984.
Comings
A celebration of life for RON COMINGS will be held in October in Las Vegas. Ron, a multi-time news director most recently at KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, lost his fight with cancer in late June, shortly before his 78th birthday. Ron’s wife, KERRI, sent me this link to a site that allows you to post a video celebrating Ron’s life. That celebration will be held Saturday, October 24th, from 5:30-8:30 at 387 Rushing Creek Ct, Las Vegas, 89014.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Due to travel, we have no news items this week…but we’ll include them in our next edition.
General Manager News and Notes:
Sinclair has named CAROL KELLUM GM of its KPTM-TV (FOX) in Lincoln, NE, as well as KHGI/KFXL-TV in Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, NE.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 16, 2026:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KGO-TV 900 Front St, San Francisco, CA 94111
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Miami, FL, 33178-2301
KCRA-TV 3 Television Circle, Sacramento, CA 95814
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
WWL-TV 1024 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70116
WREG-TV 803 Channel 3 Drive, Memphis, TN 38103
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Dr., Sioux City, IA 51106
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station