July 14, 2019
Monday, July 16, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
One of the worst kept secrets in television is now public, and it involves a Nexstar news director moving to a bigger Nexstar station.
Ciliberti
DAVE CILIBERTI is leaving WCMH-TV (NBC) in Columbus, OH, to take over sister Nexstar NBC station WFLA-TV in Tampa. WCMH General Manager KEN FREEDMAN told his staff via this email.
It’s a return to Tampa for Dave, who spent 17 years at WFTS-TV (ABC) there in a variety of roles. He left WFTS in 2001 for an almost four year stint as ND for WTEN/WXXA-TV in Albany NY.
He’s also worked for two New York City stations, and began his career as a photojournalist, working in Washington, DC, and as the chief photographer for KRIV-TV in Houston.
In Tampa, he replaces RYAN MINNAUGH who left the station suddenly last month after about a year as ND there.
Turning to the corrections department, last night’s newsletter was not our best work. Two corrections:
KARI JACOBS is leaving WVEC-TV in Norfolk, not WAVY-TV, to become GM for WTSP-TV in Tampa.
And BILL SHORY spent six years as ND for Louisville’s WAVE-TV, not six months as we erroneously reported.
Apologies to all. We’ll try and do better next time.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
For the second consecutive week, we have TWO new news directors to introduce you to, with ONE vacancy, that created by one of the two new NDs.
That leaves our count of open ND jobs at 31.
There are THREE ads, including ONE for a corporate job, ONE for a news director opening, and ONE for a large market EP position…something for everyone!
We have an obituary for a long ago ND and anchor in Washington state, two managers on the move, and a new job for a longtime ND that involves drones.
And we’ll tell you about TWO general managers on the move: ONE to a new GM job in a larger market, and ONE returning home for a sales/station manager assignment.
All that and more below!
Newly Named News Directors:
Fabrizio
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY…this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate has named DAN FABRIZIO as news director. It’s an inter-Gray move for Dan, who’s spent the last eight years as ND for WSAZ-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV. He’s also been an ND in Charleston, SC, and Providence, and worked as a reporter in Miami and Columbus, OH. It’s all detailed in this email from GM KEN SELVAGGI to the staff. Dan replaces BILL SHORY who left at the end of June after six years as ND.
Neal
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY…BRIAN NEAL joins this NBC affiliate owned by Scripps as its next news director. He’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, NC, for the past eight years. Brian’s also worked in Greensboro-High Point, NC, San Francisco, Sacramento and Syracuse. At WLEX, he replaces longtime ND BRUCE CARTER who retired last December after 20 years as ND.
New News Director Opening:
WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…we told you above that DAN FABRIZIO is leaving to become ND for Gray’s WAVE-TV in Louisville.
Also, please note the ad below for the open ND job at WAFF-TVin Huntsville.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Senior VP, Local Content Development, Nexstar Broadcasting, Irving, TV:
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is seeking an accomplished news manager to lead local content initiatives across the group and complement our dynamic Corporate Content team.
The position of Senior Vice-President, Local Content Development will work with our growing group of stations to advance our strong multi-platform approach with our digital and broadcast news products inclusive of web and mobile content initiatives, our social media engagement as well as our expanding OTT products.
A strong strategic thinker and inspiring leader with amazing editorial acumen will work closely with the Operations team to build on Nexstar’s approach to “Local” while working with our Senior Management on projects, brand development and market evaluations creating a clear vision for the future and a focus on quality. Our growth leads to endless opportunities how we create and distribute content both in-market and regionally.
Content drives “Local” and the development of group wide content initiatives to grow ratings and revenue is essential across all local markets. Nexstar has a dynamic group dedicated to the quality of our local product. Successful candidate will understand the focus of “local” in local television and how to be successful at it with a clear passion for the industry.
Minimum 8 years of News/Content Management experience. If you are looking for a job that doesn’t involve travel, this is not the job for you.
Please access the link below and provide us your resume information as well as your career successes and leadership abilities. Why is this opportunity the right one for you? The position will be based in Irving, Texas and reports directly to the EVP, Station Operations & Content Development.
You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.
News Director, WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL:
Work, live and play in the region that U.S. News & World Report calls the “Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. in 2019”.
WAFF is Huntsville, Alabama’s #1 news station and dominates the digital footprint in North Alabama. Ranked at #79, the Huntsville, Alabama market is on pace to become the state’s most populous city by 2025 and is identified as among the Top 25 most-educated cities in America. Embrace space within “the rocket city” – home to NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Space Camp, Redstone Arsenal.
WAFF is seeking a fiercely competitive news director who will champion a team to grow audiences on all screens while delivering compelling, relevant content that impacts lives.
Required talents:
- Grasp and manage both On Air and Digital platforms
- Visionary leadership that attracts passionate followers
- Recruiting, Coaching, Training and Mentoring expertise.
- Strategy, Goal-setting, Planning and Content mastery for all platforms.
- Flawless verbal and written communication
- Integrity, creativity, passion, compassion, positive energy, active listener, engaging personality.
- Time management skills, can-do attitude, strong work ethic.
- Relentless in preparing budgets, hitting budgets and meeting deadlines.
- Mastery of the latest technological advancements in news gathering, production, libel and privacy laws, journalistic ethics, and maintaining professional guidelines and standards of news broadcasts.
- Resolute producer of content for website and digital platforms.
WAFF’s finger is on the pulse of one of our nation’s most progressive and most emerging cities. Welcome to our winning team!
Please apply online here.
Executive Producer, Special Projects, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC-TV, the Graham Media Group owned/NBC affiliate in Houston, TX is searching for an Executive Producer to oversee our award winning investigative and special projects team.
We have a dedicated group of experienced reporters, producers, photographers and editors focused on creating compelling, promotable investigative and enterprise content. It’s the best team in town and you’ll be the leader.
Our ideal EP is someone who is aggressive, competitive and wants to win every story and every newscast. Our ideal candidate is a leader who identifies important investigative stories with broad appeal to our very diverse audience. You’ll need experience supervising investigative journalists. IRE credentials are a plus.
We’re seeking an EP who can showcase stories, knows how to leverage web and social media to help drive ratings and gets the importance of engaging storytelling through graphics, standups and live shots.
Our EP’s are given all the resources available to be successful thus they hold a lot of responsibility in the execution of the role and management of the team. You’ll be responsible for overseeing and executing the station’s year-round promotable calendar, you’ll need to work daily with Creative Services to make sure your efforts are properly marketed. In this position, you’ll also be a key player in breaking news, working with your team to incorporate investigative research and elements into TV and online coverage.
Do you have what it takes to be our next Executive Producer? Email your resume and work samples to Aaron Wische, Assistant News Director at awische@kprc.com
And you can learn more and apply by clicking here.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/12/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 5/19/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted this week)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19, see ad above!)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, listed 6/16/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 5/27/19)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, listed 6/23/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted this week)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 5/19/19)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 6/9/19)
WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (listed 6/2/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
KARK-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/16/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted this week)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/27/19)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 6/16/19)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 6/16/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (PM EP, listed 6/2/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, listed 6/16/19)
Other News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
Nexstar Broadcasting, Dallas TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development, see ad above)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV(Digital Content Executive Producer)
Listed 7/7/19:
KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/30/19
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 6/23/19:
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/16/19:
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Content Mgr.)
Listed 5/27/19:
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Manager)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Mgr.)
Listed 5/19/19:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
Obituary:
Close
T. J. CLOSE, a longtime news director and anchor for KIMA-TV in Yakima, WA, died last Sunday, July 7th, after a long battle with prostrate cancer. He was 80. T.J. spent 30 years at KIMA and previously served as ND for sister station KEPR-TV. If you read this obituary, you’ll get a sense of this sense of humor by a trick he played on his first date with his future wife.
Names in the News (and other items):
Stroud
Congratulations to MARCUS STROUD who’s been promoted to Assistant News Director at Nexstar’s WIAT-TV in Birmingham, AL, after four years as the News Operations Manager. WIAT is a CBS affiliate. He began as a photojournalist, working in Greensboro/Winston-Salem and Birmingham and serving as chief photographer in Montgomery.
JENNIFER SMITH has been promoted from EP to Assistant ND for Scripps’s WLEX-TV in Lexington, KY.
MIKA JOHNSON is the new PM Content Manager for Scripps’ WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers. She’s worked in San Antonio for the past eleven years, spending the last nine at KSAT-TV there as a producer. She’s also worked in Bryan and Beaumont, TX.
Woelful
STACEY WOELFEL, who spent 24 years as news director for KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate, has an additional title now. He’s the Director of Aerial Journalism for the Reynolds Journalism at Missouri. Stacey’s been the initial Director of Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism at Missouri, moving to that job from his KOMU role. More here.
General Manager News and Notes:
Jacobs
Tegna is promoting KARI JACOBS, the General Manager of its Norfolk station, WAVY-TV, (NBC) WVEC-TV (ABC) to become GM of WTSP-TV, its CBS affiliate in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Kari joined WAVY in 2004 as local sales manager, became director of sales in 2011, and became the general manager there in 2011.
Watt
STEVE WATT, who’s been the GM for Scripps’ KSHB-TV (NBC) in Kansas City since April 2017, is returning to Nashville as Director of Sales and Station Manager for Meredith’s WSMV-TV (NBC) there. Here’s the note he sent to his staff at KSHB. Before moving to Kansas City two years ago, Steve served as GM for WKRN-TV in Nashville. Earlier in his career he worked as a reporter in Des Moines and the Quad Cities.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 14, 2019:
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
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WFAA-TV 606 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFLA-TV 200 S Parker St, Tampa, FL 33606
KTVK/KPHO-TV 5555 N 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd, Brown Deer, WI 53209
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfield Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33407
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WSAZ-TV 645 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801 (see ad above!)
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
KERO-TV 321 21st Street Bakersfield, CA 93301
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KCBD-TV 5600 Ave. A Lubbock, TX 79404
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station