August 25, 2008
Greetings:
Not so slow this week! Thanks for those of you who emailed me updates after last week’s ‘non-news’ newsletter.
Last week’s lack of activity is only a memory as we have a number of interesting moves that I hope you’ll find worthy of your subscription fee.
In all, there are FIVE new ND openings to share with you, while THREE stations have new news directors. We have a paid ad for one of those jobs.
My figures now show 33 open ND positions around the country.
Also this week, one new EP opening, two Names in the News, and two obituaries, one for a former network producer and EP, and one involving the mother of a former Houston and New Orleans ND who is now working at CBS News.
That and more after this week’s change:
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL…(technically the Tampa market)…KAY MATHERS (MILLER) is leaving to join a local non-profit organization. She’s been the ND here since 2001 and was the assignment editor before that.
WHNS-TV, Greenville, SC…KYANN LEWIS is headed West to become ND at KIAH-TV in Houston. She’s been ND here at this Meredith owned FOX affiliate since January, 2005. More of her new opportunity below.
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM…MICHELLE DONALDSON is leaving this LIN-owned CBS affiliate after almost five years as ND and close to nine years at the station. When you read on, you’ll learn that she’s headed to Phoenix.
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA…CHIP MAHANEY is leaving this Raycom-owned-for-now CBS affiliate to become Director of Digital Content for E.W. Scripps, a job you may have seen advertised here several months ago. Chip’s been the ND here for just over a year after a long career at KDFW-TV in Dallas. He’s also worked in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Austin. Some of you probably know Chip’s wife Susan, a former EP at WFAA-TV in Dallas who’s also worked in New York.
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL…this Citadel Communications-owned CBS affiliate is advertising for a new news director. (You can read that ad below.) My records show that ARTHUR STEADMAN had been the ND here since 2001.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX…KYANN LEWIS is joining this Tribune owned CW affiliate as its next ND. As we reported earlier in this newsletter, Kyann has been the ND for WHNS-TV in Greenville, SC. She’s also worked at KPTV in Portland, OR. Kyann replaces JOE NOLAN who left the station in June shortly after celebrating his 62nd birthday.
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ…as teased above, MICHELLE DONALDSON will be the next ND for this Meredith-owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the ND at KRQE-TV in Albuquerque since late 2003, was the Assistant ND there for four years before that, and previously worked at WXYZ-TV in Detroit. She’ll replace TOM BELL at KPHO, who left the station in February after more than four years as ND.
KTAB/KRBC-TV, Abilene, TX…ARTHUR KELLERMAN is the new ND for this duopoly. (KTAB is owned by Nexstar, and provides services to KRBC which is owned by Mission Broadcasting). Austin was the morning producer for KTVT-TV in Dallas. He replaces DAVID BACON who is taking a job in the KTAB Sales Department after just over a year as ND. David’s been at KTAB for more than 25 years, much of it as Sports Director.
**** ***** ****
HELP WANTED AD
NEWS DIRECTOR, WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL
CBS4/WHBF-TV is looking for a dynamic person to lead our News Department. The successful candidate will have the ability to motivate and guide our staff while teaching and mentoring our newer team members.
Prior News Director or Executive/Senior Producer experience is preferred but not necessary. What is necessary is the ability to grow and develop a top quality news product. You must be competitive and have an innate understanding and ability to produce compelling, topical, interesting, informative newscasts. Developing a successful working relationship with the other station Department Heads will also be vital.
This is a great opportunity for the right person. If that’s you then send out a cover letter today describing your news philosophy/vision and tell us how you’d be a great News Director. Also include a resume, references and recent newscast on VHS/DVD or provide a Web link.
Send your information to:
CBS4/WHBF-TV
Attn: Allen Sandubrae
VP News Citadel Communications
231 18th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone Calls are welcome:
Monday and Friday
515-457-9645 ext. 129
Tuesday-Thursday
309-786-5441 ext. 103
Or Email: ASandubrae@myabc5.com
We’ll fill this position as soon as we find the right person!
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Closing date September 3, 2008 or until the position is filled.
*** ***** ****
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (listed 8/15/08)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 8/8/08)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 6/6/08)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 6/13/08)
KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 6/27/08)
KHBS/KHOG, Fort Smith, AR (relisted 8/15/08)
KRCR-TV, Redding, CA (listed 7/10/08)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KTVU-TV, Oakland/San Francisco, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/10/08)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 6/20/08)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 7/03/08)
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/25/08)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (Weekend EP, relisted 7/3/08)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 6/20/08)
WSOC-TV, Charlotte, NC (Nightside EP, relisted 6/27/08)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/08/08)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 6/27/08)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/8/08)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (listed 6/20/08)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Dayside EP, relisted 6/27/08)
WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 7/03/08)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Dayside EP, listing revised 7/03/08)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, new listing this week)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/03/08)
KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 6/27/08)
WGGB-TV, Springfield, MA (listed 6/20/08)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SPECIAL PROJECTS:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/25/08)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, INVESTIGATIONS/SPECIAL PROJ.
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 8/8/08)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (listed 8/15/08)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (listed 7/25/08)
**** ***** ****
OBITUARIES:
I’m sorry to report the death of former ABC Nightline Executive Producer LEROY SIEVERS, who died earlier this week after a long, and much discussed, battle with colon cancer. It was much discussed because Leroy authored a popular blog about his fight on NPR.com and also did occasional reports on All Things Considered. Leroy was the EP of Nightline for five years, worked for CBS News, also earlier in his career was an Assignment Editor at KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco. He’s survived by his wife, NBC producer LAURIE SINGER.
Memorial contributions can be sent to:
The Leroy Sievers Memorial Fund
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Patient and Family Services
100 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
And condolences to CBS Newspath executive and former Houston (KHOU-TV) and New Orleans (WWL-TV) News Director JOE DUKE on the death earlier this summer of his mother, BERYL DUKE. Mrs. Duke died earlier this summer at the age of 86. Joe tells me she was known as “Bit” to her friends because of her diminutive size. She was a school teacher for more than 40 years in Lake Charles, LA In addition to Joe, she’s survived by one other son and four grandchildren. Your kind note would reach Joe via email at: jbduke@cbs.com
Memorial contributions can be sent in her name to:
Bishop Nolan Episcopal Day School
715 Kirkman St.
Lake Charles, LA 70601
**** ***** ****
NAMES in the NEWS:
WARREN STEWART is joining Sinclair’s Columbus, OH, duopoly of WSYX/WTTE as the Nightside EP. The move reunites him with the station’s ND, LYN TOLAN, who hired Warren as a producer at WFSB-TV in Hartford. He was promoted twice at WFSB, and most recently has been Senior Executive Producer there.
Congratulations to AMY LESSARD who returns to her native Maine as she is being promoted within Hearst-Argyle. She’ll be the new Assistant News Director for the company’s Portland, ME, station, WMTW-TV. She’s been a producer at WBAL-TV in Baltimore and also worked for the company in West Palm Beach, FL.
**** ***** ****
Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, August 22, 2008. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com
KTLA-TV 5800 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
CLTV News 2000 York, Suite 114 Oak Brook IL 60523
WSNS-TV 430 W. Grant Place Chicago IL 60614 *
KTVK-TV 5555 N. 7th Avenue Phoenix AZ 85013
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St. Sarasota FL 34236
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd, Denver CO 80203
WRTV 1330 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46202
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92102
KUTH-TV 525 South 300 West #1 Salt Lake City UT 84101 *
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court Greenville SC 29615
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Blvd., Suite 7007 Palm Beach Gardens FL 33410
KRQE-TV 13 Broadcast Plaza Albuquerque NM 87104
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Avenue Buffalo NY 14202
KMPH-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
WTVR-TV 3301 W. Broad St. Richmond VA 23230
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita KS 67203
KWCH-TV 2815 East 37th Street North Wichita KS 67219
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland ME 04101
WSTM-TV 1030 James St. Syracuse NY 13203
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia SC 29201
WAAY-TV 1000 Monte Sano Boulevard Huntsville AL 35801
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Pkwy. Huntsville AL 35801
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WHBF-TV 231 18th St. Rock Island IL 61201 (see ad above)
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th St. Moline IL 61265
KDBC-TV 2201 E. Wyoming Ave. El Paso TX 79903
WAGT-Tv 905 Broad St. Augusta GA 30901
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 S. Beaumont TX 77701
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KIMT-TV 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City IA 50401
KIDK-TV 1255 E.17th St. Idaho Falls ID 83404
# indicates Spanish language station
Rick Gevers
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
317-769-7900 (phone)
317-769-7910 (fax)
rick@rickgevers.com
www.rickgevers.com