January 9, 2022
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 UPDATE:
Greetings:
CBS has announced a new initiative and tabbed one of its o-and-o news directors…and a veteran ND who’s leaving an NBC affiliate…to run the project.
Parquet-Taylor
Rather than try and explain it, I’ll let you read the news release. You’ll learn that ANDREA PARQUET TAYLOR is leaving the ND job at KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles after a year to return to Dallas and KTVT-TV, where this initiative will be based. Andrea had been the news director at KTVT before being promoted to Station Manager in 2018, and moving to Los Angeles as ND about a year ago. She’s been a news director in Detroit, Baltimore, and Raleigh (two stations).
Cross
And longtime Austin news director CHAD CROSS is also involved. We told you this weekend that Chad was leaving KXAN-TV (Nexstar owned) for the proverbial job to be announced soon. True to his word, Chad let me know of his new job today.
We’ll be back this weekend with our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It didn’t take long for 2022 to see the first week with 40 41 news director openings.
One year ago this week there were 13.
I’d guess there are many reasons for the increase. You can probably figure them out for yourself.
This week, FOUR new openings, with TWO jobs filled. (One of those filled jobs was the ‘well known’ ND hire I’d teased for a week or two.)
THREE of those 40 openings are among our FOUR Paid Help Wanted ads. The fourth ad is for an EP opening in Texas.
We’ve got an obituary for a 30+ year veteran of CBS News.
In Names in the News, we’ll link to a profile of one of the very first TV agents who is retiring. There’s a promotion at Scripps, and some movement at local stations.
And Hearst promotes a senior executive.
All this and more as you read on while I mourn the complete and total collapse of the Indianapolis Colts.
Oh, did I mention it was embarrassing, too?
Newly Named News Directors:
Hume
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA…CRAIG HUME joins this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate and operated CBS station as the next ND. Craig most recently was ND for KAAL-TV in Rochester, MN, a job he left last November after two years, the latest stop in a career that has taken him across the country with ND jobs in markets both very large and pretty small. Details here. He’s replacing KEITH ST. PETER who left in June and is now an EP for KNXV-TV (Scripps/ABC) in Phoenix.
Parker
KIEM/KVIQ-TV, Eureka, CA…JIM PARKER returns to a news director job as he’s been hired at this Cox Media Group duopoly. He’s currently the Director of Digital Content for News Press & Gazette’s KVIA-TV in El Paso. His entire career history is here. (It does not include his first job in TV, at WTOL-TV in Toledo where I hired him as the morning producer.)
New News Director Openings:
Neerman
KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA…MARK NEERMAN has left this CBS owned station after 3+ years as news director. I spoke with Mark who told me he’ll take some time to consider his next move. Before KPIX, Mark was ND for KSNV-TV in Las Vegas, where he also held regional responsibilities for Sinclair. He’s also been an ND for another Vegas station, in Louisville and Richmond, and has worked in Portland, OR, Miami, and Columbia, MO and for another San Francisco station.
Fitzgerald
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX…this Nexstar owned CW affiliate is advertising for a new news director. (You can see that ad just below.) SCOTT FITZGERALD, who’s been the Director of Operations and de facto ND, is leaving to become Regional Sales Manager Southwest for Newtek, a video software and technology company. He’s a former ND in Tulsa and Reno.
Cross
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX…after 9 1/2 years as ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate, CHAD CROSS is leaving for a new job which he promises to share soon, perhaps as quickly as this week. He’s a former ND for KWCH-TV in Wichita where he worked for ten years, the last four as ND. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad below.
Roth
KMTV, Omaha, NE…GEOFF ROTH is on the move. Again. 🙂 The veteran newsman is off to Washington State as Multi Platform News Director for Northwest Public Broadcasting. Geoff’s Linkedin Post describes what he’ll be doing and who he’ll be doing it for. And his Linkedin profile outlines his career path. He spent 3+ years as ND here, by my count his eighth ND job.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KIAH-TV, Houston, TX:
#NexstarNation News Director wanted:
This is not a traditional News Director ad. This is not a traditional station. We don’t produce a traditional newscast. This is something very different. If you have been looking for a way to break out of the regular 5/6/10 formats- keep reading!
#NexstarNation is looking for a News Director for CW 39 (KIAH) in Houston. This News Director will oversee a four-hour morning newscast that focuses on weather and traffic only. We call it NO WAIT WEATHER + TRAFFIC. You will also oversee lifestyle programming and all things community! You will give viewers what they say is missing in Houston.
Join the largest television ownership group in the country in Market #8 – making a difference locally in Houston.
Click here to learn more and apply!
News Director, KXAN-TV, Austin, TX:
KXAN, the Austin, Texas NBC affiliate, is looking for an experienced news director. KXAN is committed to succinct and powerful hard news coverage through its in-depth, investigative brand and is consistently the #1 most viewed news station in the market.
KXAN Investigates is a nationally-recognized, award-winning team of nine journalists – the largest investigative unit in Central Texas. The team has been honored with the Investigative Reporters & Editors Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, two National Edward R. Murrow Awards, two National Headliner Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award.
KXAN tackles stories that hold our leaders accountable and work to enrich our community. Our In-depth, investigative brand is promised and delivered daily.
KXAN First Warning weather is also the dominant weather brand in the market.
KXAN produces over 50 hours per week of local news content, including State of Texas, a statewide weekly political program. State of Texas is produced in Austin and distributed across Texas.
Live in one of the most desired cities in the nation and lead a nationally-recognized, award-winning team of journalists at the most-watched station in Austin, Texas.
Executive Producer, KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX:
Nexstar Media Group has a rare opening for an Executive News Producer at the leading news duopoly in North Texas.
KFDX TV in Wichita Falls is seeking someone to fill the role of Executive News Producer. Come live in one of America’s most affordable and friendliest cities.
Located on the Texas – Oklahoma border in an area known as Texoma, Wichita Falls is a family-oriented community with no traffic and very low crime. The area offers great fishing, hunting, and hiking. We’re also only two hours from Dallas or Oklahoma City if you want to experience a major metropolitan area.
This position is the number two manager in the newsroom and will be responsible for a variety of duties including supervision and producing of special projects, personnel management and producing newscasts as needed.
This is a market where news managers must be good teachers as well. The ideal candidate has at least two years of line producing experience as well as the desire to win.
Applications are being accepted now. Enter yours by clicking here.
Interested parties can also email directly to News Director Adam P. Bradshaw at: abradshaw@kfdx.com.
News Director, KOAM-TV, Pittsburg, KS/Joplin, MO:
KOAM is looking for a proven leader with the skills and experience to head the KOAM News Department in the Joplin, MO and Pittsburg, KS market.
KOAM dominates local ratings with over 35 hours of broadcast news every week, as well as extended coverage through our news and weather apps, social media, website and streaming channels.
Candidates for KOAM News Director should have a minimum of ten years in journalism with previous management experience, a four-year degree in journalism, communications or related field, and the ability to inspire a team of journalists to meet high traditional standards while embracing emerging platforms.
They should excel at collaboration, conflict management, coaching, and delegating responsibility. They should have strong broadcast and AP-style writing skills, a command of journalistic ethics, and a working knowledge of news-gathering equipment and newsroom software.
The KOAM News Director will work with station and corporate management to create strategies for audience growth, lead recruitment and retention efforts for top-level talent, and develop outreach activities for the communities we serve.
KOAM is a family-owned business that values our employees, offering medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.
Apply online by clicking here and include your resume.
KOAM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital AND, relisted 12/26/21)
WDCW/WDVM-TV, Washington, DC (listed 12/26/21)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 12/26/21)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 11/21/21)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (new listing this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 12/26/21)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 12/12/21)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 12/12/21)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (new listing this week)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 12/26/21)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (relisted this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (new listing this week)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, new listing this week)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (new listing this week)
Spectrum News, Charlotte, NC (relisted 11/21/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 12/12/21)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (new listing this week)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Streaming EP, listed 12/19/21)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 12/5/21)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (relisted 11/28/21)
KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA (relisted this week)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 12/19/21)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (AM EP, listed 12/19/21)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 11/14/21)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted this week)
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 11/28/21)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (AM EP, relisted 12/26/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 11/21/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 11/21/21)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 1/2/22)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital EP, listing modified 12/26/21)
WHBF-TV, Rock Island, IL (Digital EP, relisted 12/12/21)
KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA (relisted 12/12/21)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (new listing this week)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 12/12/21)
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (new listing this week)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WTWO-TV, Terre Haute, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/14/21)
More News Management Openings:
New listing this week:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI: (Senior Manager of Investigative and Enterprise Content)
Listed 12/26/21:
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC: Digital Content Manager
Relisted 12/26/21:
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX: (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 12/19/21:
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL: Director of Innovation News Center
Listed 12/12/21:
E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH: National Director of News Platform Strategies and Special Projects
Relisted 12/12/21:
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 12/5/21:
News Nation, Chicago, IL: (News Director – Digital)
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)
Relisted 12/5/21:
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 11/28/21:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA: (Digital Content Director)
Listed 11/21/21:
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY: (Assistant Professor)
Relisted 11/21/21:
New York 1, New York, NY (Sr. Producer, Mornings on 1)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA: (Digital Content Director)
Obituary:
Gelman
CBS News is mourning the death of JOSH GELMAN, a 48 Hours producer. Josh died last Tuesday at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. His wife, CHRISTINA LEIJONHUFVUD (cq) and his brothers were by his side. Josh spent more than three decades at CBS News, following in the footsteps of his mother, JOAN GELMAN, who was a writer and producer. Many more details about an interesting man in this obituary.
Names in the News:
Leibner
RICHARD LEIBNER, one of the first agents for on-air television newspeople, is retiring. He’s the subject of this interesting profile in the Los Angeles Times. Richard was working with his father in an accounting firm in New York City. He joined forces with NATE BIENSTOCK who was a life insurance salesman who represented some TV people.
Riley
Scripps has named MARCUS RILEY senior director of content strategy and inclusive journalism for its local media division. He’s been a senior director of content strategy for the northern region. More details in this news release. Marcus has also worked for local stations in Milwaukee and Chicago.
Jennings
TENESSA JENNINGS joins KGTV (ABC) in San Diego as an executive producer. It’s a return to Scripps for Tenessa who worked for Scripps in Cleveland and Ft. Myers. She’s currently the program director for Hearst’s WPBF-TV (ABC) in West Palm Beach. Tenessa has also worked in Columbus, GA, Columbia, SC, San Antonio, Cleveland and Great Falls, MT.
STEVEN BARDWELL starts a new job at the end of the month as the new Executive Producer for Sinclair’s KUTV (CBS) in Salt Lake City. He’s been a producer for Nexstar’s WXIN-TV (FOX) in Indianapolis and has also worked in Champaign, IL.
General Manager News and Notes:
Hayes
Hearst has promoted MICHAEL HAYES, whose title is now chief operating officer and deputy group head. He’s been the executive VP for Hearst Television since 2017. He’s a former GM for Hearst stations in Pittsburgh and Greenville, and began his career as a sportscaster before move to the sales side of the business. More here.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 9, 2022:
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
News 12 Long Island, 1 Media Crossways Woodbury, NY 11797
KPIX-TV 855 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063 (see ad above!)
KTAZ-TV 4625 S 33rd Pl Phoenix AZ 85040 **
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
WSYX-TV 1261 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Blvd, Suite 7007 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
KXAN-TV 908 W MLK Jr. Blvd. Austin, TX 78701 (see ad above!)
WAVE-TV 725 S Floyd St. Louisville, KY 40203
WDRB-TV 624 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. Louisville, Ky. 40203
WMC-TV 1960 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
KOLR-TV 2650 E. Division Springfield, MO 65803
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Drive Omaha, NE 68127
KVEO/KGBT-TV 9201 W. Expressway 83. Harlingen, TX 78552 **
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr. Carterville, IL 62918
KXXV-TV 1909 S. New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur, IL 62521
KWWL-TV 511 E 5th Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703
KWQC-TV 805 Brady St. Davenport, IA 52803
KOLO-TV 4850 Ampere Dr., Reno, NV 89502
KNDO/KNDU 216 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902
KAPP/KVEW-TV 601 N. Edison Kennewick, WA 99336
KERO-TV 321 21st St. Bakersfield, CA 93301
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320, Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
KCBD-TV 5600 Avenue A Lubbock, TX 79404
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501
KIMT-TV 135 E William St. Albert Lea, MN 56007
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Road NW Rochester, MN 55901
KOAM-TV 2950 NE Highway 69 Pittsburg, KS 66762 (see ad above!)
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WETM-TV 101 East Water Street Elmira, NY 14901
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
**: Spanish language station