January 24, 2016
Greetings:
Just ONE new ND opening and ONE new ND in our report this week, but the biggest story may be in some of the ads we have. (By the way, our count of open ND jobs remains at 17.)
ONE of those open ND jobs is advertised in one of the SIX paid help wanted ads this week.
And there’s something for every experience level in our other ads. One is for a Senior Media Consultant at one of the largest consulting firms. And one is for another Director of Local Content Development at one of the largest TV station groups. And there are ads for news managers in a variety of market sizes.
There’s news about THREE general managers, one new, one ousted, and one retiring. Two of the three are former news directors.
And we have a handful of news managers on the move.
All that and more as you read on!
New News Director Openings:
Bongiorno
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH…we told you on Tuesday that ALEX BONGIORNO will leave this Scripps/ABC affiliate at the end of the rating period. Here are the memos from both Alex and General Manager JEFF BROGAN. She’s been ND here since July, 2013, is a former ND in Pittsburgh and Spartanburg, and has also worked in Tampa, Las Vegas and Charleston, SC.
Longtime Cincinnati media watcher JOHN KIESEWETTER offers some perspective. The change means the longest tenured Cincinnati news director will be TIM GERAGHTY at WKRC-TV. He’s only been there since August. STEVE HYVONEN was hired by WXIX-TV in September, while JEFF BENSCOTER was named ND for WLWT-TV earlier this month.
And while it’s not a new opening, please note the paid ad below for the ND opportunity at KSBY-TV in San Luis Obisbo, CA.
Newly Named News Director:
Barden
KADN-TV, Lafayette, LA…according to his Linkedin page, DOUG BARDEN is the new news director for this Nexstar owned NBC/FOX startup. He most recently was the ND at KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, CA. Doug left KSBY in December after 4 1/2 years. He’s also been an ND in Bakersfield and Cheyenne, and has worked in Salt Lake City and Reno.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Senior Media Consultant, SmithGeiger, multiple locations:
Want to help shape the future of media in an unprecedented and exciting time for our industry?
SmithGeiger LLC is the most innovative and fastest growing market research and consulting firm today. Work face-to-face with the Who’s Who of Tech, Social Media, Mobile, Internet, OTT, Studio, Program Syndication, Cable and Broadcast companies. Provide state of the art research and on-going strategic counsel that produce successful results. You must have extreme creativity, interests in all media platforms, exceptional communication and writing skills, relentless client customization skills, a commitment to excellence, and be a true team player.
CEO Dave Smith calls this the true “Golden Age of Media.” Don’t get stuck in the past. Be part of the team on the cutting edge.
Learn more about us by clicking here:
Email resume and any relevant links to: jobs@smithgeiger.com
Director of Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TX:
Nexstar Broadcasting Group is seeking an accomplished news manager to help lead local content initiatives across the group. The position of Director of Local Content Development – Midwest will work with our local stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach by providing leadership with our broadcast news products, web and mobile content initiatives, and in social media engagement.
The qualified individual will work closely with the Operations team to build on our Company’s approach to “Local” while working with our Co-Chief Operating Officers and Senior Vice Presidents on projects, brand development and market evaluations. Content is the key to drive “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives, growing ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets.
At Nexstar, we have a dynamic group that believes in the quality of our local product. We are looking for an experienced news leader to complement our team and contribute to our growing portfolio of stations. Ideal candidate should have at minimum 5 years of News Management experience. Travel is required.
Nexstar Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
News Director, KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA:
Do you want to join a top notch broadcasting organization? Are you ready to work with a strong, dedicated and professional news department? Do you want to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country? If you answered yes to these questions, then KSBY-TV in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California might be the perfect fit for you.
News Director Candidates who look to lead the team at KSBY-TV must have strong news judgment, extensive marketing knowledge and excellent people skills. A successful record of ratings growth, budget maintenance and new media development is a must. You must have proven leadership, hiring and teaching abilities.
Three to five years of News Management is required. Two or more years of News Director or Assistant News Director Experience are preferred.
Competitive compensation/benefits are provided – send resume and salary requirements to:
Kathleen Choal
President & General Manager
KSBY-TV
1772 Calle Joaquin
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Or via email to: kchoal@ksby.com
KSBY Communications is an equal opportunity employer. Pre-employment screening is required including a driving record check and drug screening. Valid California driver license will be required.
Assistant News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:
Scripps-owned NBC affiliate KSHB is looking for a strong leader with a proven track record of success. Our newsroom has won Overall Excellence in the Midwest Regional Emmy competition the past two years. Our investigative work in covering a restaurant explosion two years ago earned us a DuPont Columbia Award.
Our passion for journalism has taken us all across the country, and to Afghanistan, Honduras and Canada. Kansas City is one of the best severe weather markets. We have the tools and the people to lead the market in providing life-saving information at critical moments on all platforms.
Our culture is such that we fight for the privilege to be number-one in the market, and we are climbing. This role is a perfect launching ground to a future News Director role in Scripps. A recent KSHB Assistant News Director left here to become ND in Scripps’ largest market. Our GM is a legend in local and national journalism circles and has mentored successful news managers for decades. We will work as a station and a company to grow your career.
Here are specific areas where your leadership will be used:
- Oversee investigative team and big story coverage
Lead team in news/digital collaboration to grow audience
Work closely with reporters and anchors on enterprising stories, and on-air performance
Click here to view the full job description and to apply directly for this opportunity. Visit this site to view other opportunities within The E. W. Scripps Company.
Dayside Executive Producer, KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO:
KOAA News5 is looking for a leader to join the number one NBC affiliate in beautiful Colorado Springs/Pueblo.
This is the number two job in the newsroom. You will oversee a team of talented, award winning reporters and producers, shaping the style and tone of our news through compelling story telling and delivery.
- Participate in daily news meetings to determine stories and treatment; steer reporter story
- direction, content & delivery.
- Copy edit shows & mentor producers on showcasing, pacing, style & tone.
- Produce and manage breaking news; Line produce as needed
- Help maintain the team culture, deal quickly and fairly with conflict & be solutions oriented;
- work well under pressure
- Produce staff schedule and long range staff plans
- Excellent leader and motivator
- Must be able to manage a large staff
We a looking for 3-5 years producing experience, demonstrated leadership qualities, and an understanding of how to implement brand. If you are the “go to” producer in your shop, this is the next step.
This job comes with competitive pay and benefits at one of the best companies in broadcasting.
We strive to make this THE place to work.
Send your work to EPjob@koaa.com
EOE
Morning Executive Producer, KRNV-TV, Reno, NV:
- Produce shows/script reviews
- Shape a four-hour morning show with an emphasis on what is “new, now and next”
- Manage and train other Producers
- Special projects
- Planning and overseeing continuity into upcoming newscasts
- Cover Producer shifts as needed
- Other responsibilities as assigned
- Four-year degree in journalism or communications preferred and a minimum of 2 years relevant experience
- Strong writing skills and a proven track record for getting results on initiatives
- Great people skills with an emphasis on coaching and motivating
- Management/Leadership experience strongly preferred
- Successful candidate will have had at least 4 years of experience in broadcast journalism as a Producer, or equivalent experience.
If interested in this position, please apply at www.sbgi.net.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/13/15)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/17/16
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/10/16)
KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA (listed 1/10/16)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, IA (relisted 12/6/15)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 12/20/15)
WTVM-TV, Columbus, GA (listed 12/6/15)
KRCR-TV, Redding, CA (relisted 12/20/15)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 1/10/16)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KNTV, San Jose/San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 11/1/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (AM EP, listed 12/6/15)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (Digital EP, listed revised 1/10/16)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 1/10/16)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (Investigative EP, relisted this week)
XETV, San Diego, CA (Supervising Producer Mornings, relisted 11/22/15)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (PM EP, relisted 1/10/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 12/20/15)
KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (2 openings, AM & PM, listing revised 12/6/15)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, relisted 1/10/16)
KWTV, Oklahoma City, OK (PM EP, listed 12/27/15
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, listed 12/20/15)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Morning EP, relisted this week)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, listed 12/13/15)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Dayside EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 1/17/16)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WPTA-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/3/16)
WAOW-TV, Wausau, WI (relisted 12/13/15)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 12/13/15)
Obituary:
WENDY ENNIS, who worked at Visnews, Reuters, CBS Newspath, WTSP-TV and Consumer Reports Television before switching to a career in education, died January 27th after a several months long fight with cancer. She would have been 49 next week. Wendy is survived by her spouse, DAWN, and their three children. More in this obituary. Dawn has set up this Go Fund Me account to provide for the children, which is very honest and open about the family situation.
Situations Wanted:
We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.
Names in the News…and other things:
JUSTIN JOSEPH moves from on-air to management as he becomes Assistant News Director for Tribune’s WTKR-TV in Norfolk. And while that’s a big career change, it’s not as big as when Justin went from a Senior District Attorney in Denver to a reporting job in Cheyenne, WY. After a stop in Omaha, Justin returned to Denver as a reporter at Tribune’s KDVR/KWGN-TV. Here’s his KDVR bio.
10:00 PM Producer JEN HARGRAVE has been promoted to Nightside EP for KWTV in Oklahoma City. She’s also worked in Lawson, and Tulsa.
TREY SCHMALTZ has been promoted to Assistant ND from EP at WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, LA. He’s also worked in Monroe, LA.
General Manager News:
ALBERTO MIER Y TERAN is the new GM for KFMB-TV in San Diego, replacing PAT NEVIN. It’s a return to San Diego and KFMB for Alberto, as you’ll learn in this story from Media Moves.
Barrett
JOAN BARRETT, the longtime GM of KWCH-TV in Wichita, will leave the station after Gray Television completes its purchase of the CBS affiliate from Schurz. Joan’s been the GM here for almost 14 years and was the ND at KWCH for 18 months before that. She’s a former VP of the Broadcast Image Group, served as ND for KPNX-TV in Phoenix, and has worked in Topeka and Lubbock. Here’s what the station posted.
Smith
And congratulations to another former news director turned general manager, JAMES SMITH, who’s announced his retirement after 41 years in broadcasting. James has been GM for Raycom’s KSLA-TV in Shreveport for the last ten years, spent six years running WWAY-TV in Wilmington, N.C, before that, and spent almost 20 years as ND/Anchor for KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA. He also worked in Corpus Christi. Here’s the memo James sent to his staff, along with comments from Raycom Group VP SANDY BRELAND.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, January 24, 2016.
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
KHOU-TV 1945 Allen Parkway Houston TX 77019
KING-TV 333 Dexter Avenue N. Seattle WA 98109
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Northwest Cable News, 333 Dexter Avenue N. Seattle, WA 98109
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WJZY/WMYT-TV 3501 Performance Road Charlotte, NC 28214
XETV 8253 Ronson Rd. San Diego 92111
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WPTV 1100 Banyan Blvd. W. Palm Beach, FL 33401
WZDX-TV 1309 Memorial Parkway NW Huntsville AL 35801
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KSBY-TV 1772 Calle Joaquin San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (see ad above!)
KBAK-TV1901 Westward Drive Bakersfield, CA 93301
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd, West Monroe, LA 71292
KAUZ-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KTIV-TV 3135 Floyd Blvd. Sioux City, IA 51108
* Spanish language station