December 22, 2008
Greetings:
A new ND for WBBM-TV in Chicago highlights this week’s changes among NDs and other news managers.
That’s one of THREE new NDs we’ll tell you about in this edition, and there are THREE new openings, as well.
By my count, there are still 26 stations with openings for a news director.
Also this week, a few additions to the list of open news management jobs. We’ll also tell you the name of the next Paul White Award winner from RTNDA, share news of several management moves, and we’ll also share the good news of the retirement of a 41 year news vet…this one a former ND in California, Texas, and Indiana. And we’ll also tell you about the wedding of a current news director.
That and more after this week’s changes:
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WBZ-TV, Boston, MA…JEFF KIERNAN is leaving this CBS o-and- to move to another CBS owned station, WBBM-TV in Chicago. He’s been ND here for just over a year. More on Jeff and his new job below.
WMGT-TV, Macon, GA…MIKE ROBERTS has left this NBC station after more than two years as ND. WMGT is owned by Morris Network.
KTKA-TV, Topeka, KS…IKE WALKER is leaving this ABC affiliate to become content brand manager for WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH. Ike’s been the ND there for the past two years, and has previously worked in Tulsa and Savannah.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
WBBM-TV, Chicago, IL…as noted above, JEFF KIERNAN will be the next news director for this CBS o-and-o. It’s a return to the area for Jeff, who grew up in nearby Munster, IN, part of the Chicago market. Jeff’s been the ND for CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston and WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, as well as WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. At WBBM, he replaces CAROL FOWLER who left the station last month after six years as ND.
WPMT-TV, York, PA…CHRIS HOLDEN will be the next ND for this Tribune-owned FOX affiliate. He was most recently was a sports producer for KPNX-TV in Phoenix. He’s also worked in Salt Lake City and as a morning producer for KTVK-TV in Phoenix. At WPMT, he replaces JIM DePURY who left the station earlier this month after 14 years as ND.
KHNL/KFVE-TV, Honolulu, HI…longtime KHNL employee DAN SCHMIDT will oversee news for this Raycom-owned station, in a department the station is calling “Content”. It’s a combination of the newsroom, programming, and creative services. The previous ND, DAN DENNISON, will lose his job in this consolidation. Dan’s been the ND here since April, 2006.
Also, two errors on my part last week. I mistakenly told you that WYFF was the call letters of the FOX station in Burlington, VT, which has an ND opening. It’s actually WFFF. Thanks to those of you who called that to my attention.
In Names of the News, in giving you an update on former WTHR-TV ND BOB CAMPBELL’s career in real estate, I identified his wife as Maureen. It is Marlene. Apologies.
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OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 10/3/08)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/21/08)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 9/26/08)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (Morning EP, listing revised this week)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (AM EP, listed 9/19/08)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, new listing this week)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (Nightside EP, listed 12/12/08)
WSOC-TV, Charlotte, NC (Nightside EP, relisted 9/19/08)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 11/21/08)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 9/26/08)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 11/21/08)
WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 9/26/08)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Dayside EP, relisted 12/12/08)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 11/21/08)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, relisted 11/21/08)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 10/03/08)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (relisted 11/21/08)
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NAMES in the NEWS:
A sincere congratulations to Hearst Argyle’s FRED YOUNG, who was named the winner of the Paul White Award by RTNDA this week. Many of you know Fred, the Senior VP/News for Hearst who will retire at year’s end. He’s been with the company since 1962, as a news director, and later GM in Pittsburgh, and most recently on the corporate staff. Fred’s one of the great people in our business, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing him well at: fyoung@hearst.com
STEPHANIE LINTON is the new Nightside EP for WFOR-TV in Miami. She didn’t have to move…she’d been the morning EP for this CBS o-and-o. The search is now on for her replacement.
Also not having to move too far for his next job is MARK FRIEDMAN, who’s now a Senior Producer for CNBC’s “Mad Money with Jim Cramer”. Mark most recently was an EP with News 12 Long Island, and has also worked in Detroit, Tampa, and Salt Lake City.
Finally, congratulations on a well-deserved retirement to TOM MOO, who wraps up a 41 year career in our business today. Tom most recently been the Assistant ND and Operations Manager for WREG-TV in Memphis. He’s a former ND in markets ranging from San Diego and San Jose to Evansville and Tyler, TX. He and his wife Marilyn are moving to Gulf Shores, AL. Your email wishing him well can be sent to: tom_moo@bellsouth.net
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WEDDING in the NEWS:
This week’s wedding news involves Las Vegas’ KLAS-TV ND RON COMINGS and his new bride, KERRY YATES, who were married earlier this month at their home. In addition to KLAS, Ron’s been an ND in Sacramento and Honolulu. He’s also worked in Florida. Kerri’s a realtor in Las Vegas. (Full disclosure: Kerri once served as my realtor…and did a great job, by the way.) You can wish Ron well via email at: rdcomings@yahoo.com
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, December 19, 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
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Rd. Boston MA 02134
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St. Sarasota FL 34236
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
WTAE-TV 400 Ardmore Blvd. Pittsburgh PA 15221
WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis IN 46278
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92102
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WKBW-TV 7 Broadcast Plaza Buffalo NY 14202
KMPH-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WEYI-TV 2225 West Willard Road Clio MI 48420
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral FL 33991
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
KDBC-TV 2201 E. Wyoming Ave. El Paso TX 79903
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd. Midway FL 32343
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa (Boise) ID 83687
WTVA-TV PO Box 350 Tupelo MS 38802
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe LA 71211
KTKA-TV 2121 SW Chelsea Dr. Topeka KS 66614
KRCG-TV Highway 54 Nortn Holts Summit MO 65043
KMID-TV 3200 LaForce Blvd. Midland TX 79711
KIDK-TV 1255 E.17th St. Idaho Falls ID 83404
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire St. Quincy IL 62306
WCAV/WVAW 999 2nd St. SE Charlottesville VA 22902
Rick Gevers
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
317-769-7900 (phone)
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