July 21, 2008
Greetings:
Welcome to your pre-Unity Convention edition of your weekly newsletter covering news director and news management openings. I look forward to seeing many of you in Chicago next week. One note: due to the Unity convention, next week’s newsletter may be delayed.
We have FIVE new news director vacancies to tell you and about this week, while just ONE new news director was named.
By my count, that means there are now 31 stations with ND openings.
We have a paid ad for one of those openings, along with a re-run of an ad for a news director position at a regional cable sports network. There are a number of items in Names in the News, including ways you can donate to a new fund for a retired University of Missouri professor. And we have two obituaries, as well.
All that and more after this week’s changes:
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NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA…CAL CALLAWAY is stepping down as News Director for this Gannett-owned NBC affiliate, but staying on at the station in a role that will allow him to spend more time on day-to-day news gathering. Cal’s been ND here since January 2003. By the way, Cal tells me this move has nothing to do with his health, despite a report in an Atlanta newspaper.
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…congratulations to BYRON GRANDY who’s been promoted to Station Manager for this McGraw-Hill-owned ABC affiliate. He’s been ND here for 7 1/2 years, and has also been a news director in San Antonio, TX, and Augusta, GA. He’s also worked in Dallas, Milwaukee, and Bryan, TX, as well as for the Broadcast Image Group.
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS…TODD SPESSARD is leaving this New Vision TV-owned NBC affiliate to return to Tulsa as the next ND for KOKI-TV. More on that below. Todd’s been the ND here since 2003. Full disclosure: Todd worked for me in Grand Rapids in the early 90’s.
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL…STEW HIRSCH has left this Raycom-owned NBC station after a little more than a year as news director. Stew’s also worked in Raleigh and at three stations in Columbus, OH.
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL…LEIGH GERMANIS has left this Local TV owned ABC affiliate after a little more than a year as the ND here. She’s also been an ND in Austin, MN, and has worked for Frank N. Magid Associates. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS OPENING IN THE PAID AD BELOW.
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NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…as noted above, TODD SPESSARD returns to Tulsa as news director for this Newport TV-owned Fox affiliate. Todd’s spent the last 5+ years as ND for KSNW-TV in Wichita. But he’s no stranger to Tulsa, having been the ND at KJRH-TV. Ironically, while at KJRH he worked with MELANIE HENRY who he now replaces at KOKI. She left the station in May after almost three years as ND. Todd’s also a former Ass’t. ND at KTUL-TV in Tulsa, and was also ND for KMIZ-TV in Columbia, MO.
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HELP WANTED ADS
NEWS DIRECTOR, WQAD-TV, MOLINE, IL
We have a dynamic News Department and are looking for a News Director who is innovative, creative, and likes to have fun while providing great content to our current and future viewers. If you re afraid of leading this dynamic team into the HD era, you need not apply.
Responsibilities to accomplish this includes managing the news operation, directing staff, direction of all station newscasts, and setting and achieving budgets within established guidelines.
If you possess these qualities we want to talk to you!!!
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Establishes content philosophy and direction.
2. Develops long-range plans for news department
. 3. Handles performance issues of News Personnel at WQAD-TV including job evaluations and training, and leads in editing, writing, reporting, on air quality and develops news stories.
4. Hires News personnel.
5. Serves as a leader in the newsroom offering advice in editing, writing, reporting, on air quality and develops news stories, series and special assignments.
6. Oversees day-to-day budget controls, approving expenses and controlling and monitoring overtime and other costs.
7. Performs other duties as required for the News Director of WQAD-TV.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:
Understanding of what constitutes news and how news is put together for a broadcast. Previous experience in TV news management. Flexibility regarding work hours a must. Ability to type, use computers, and other such equipment. Command of the language. This is not an entry-level position.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Dexterity to operate typewriter, computer, editing equipment and other such equipment. Communication skills used in office setting to produce news. Vision to review and approve news scripts, view news, etc.
RELATIONSHIPS:
INTERNAL CONTACTS
Assistant News Director
News Staff
Station Senior Management.
EXTERNAL CONTACTS
Business, Government, Community and Civic Leaders
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS POSITION: Send a resume to:
Cindy Parchert
Controller
WQAD-TV
3003 Park 16th Street
Moline IL 61265-6061
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job.
While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change, e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, work load, rush jobs, special projects, technological developments, etc.
Local TV, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
NEWS DIRECTOR, COMCAST SPORTS NET, Mid-Atlantic
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic is looking for an experienced News Director to run the news department at its regional sports network based in Bethesda, MD.
The qualified candidate will have a proven track record of strong news judgment, the ability to build a diverse news staff, the ability to strategically position a news brand and build a quality on-air product. An understanding of how to build ratings both on-air and online is also critical.
The ideal candidate will have strong collaborative leadership skills and the ability to motivate a staff. Understanding the importance of creating dynamic digital content drivers and thinking about the product in a multi-platform, 24/7 manner are key attributes for this position.
Please send all resumes and cover letters via email only to:
Princell Hair, Senior Vice President of News Operations for Comcast SportsNet at: phair@comcastsportsnet.com.
Interested candidates should also apply online.
Please visit the Employment Opportunities section of Comcast SportsNet.com (www.comcastsportsnet.tv/pages/inner/employment).
No phone calls please.
Comcast SportsNet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
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OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 5/16/08)
WTXF-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 6/20/08)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 6/6/08)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 6/13/08)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 6/6/08)
KVIA-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 6/27/08)
KHBS/KHOG, Fort Smith, AR (listed 5/9/08)
KRCR-TV, Redding, CA (listed 7/10/08)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (2 Openings, AM and PM, listed 4/18/08)
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 7/3/08)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listing revised 5/2/08)
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 5/9/08)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 6/27/08)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (listed 6/20/08)
WSYX/WTTE, Columbus, OH (relisted 5/16/08)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Dayside EP, relisted 6/27/08)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 6/20/08)
WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted 7/03/08)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Dayside EP, listing revised 7/03/08)
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)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (relisted 5/16/08)
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OBITUARIES:
I’m sorry to report the death of former Roanoke news director and anchor RONALD H. MacDONALD who died earlier this month at the age of 75. He also taught at Washington and Lee. More details on his life and career at: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/168620
Our sympathy to JENNIFER HARDY, evening EP for KVVU-TV in Las Vegas. Her mother died this week of complications from routine knee replacement surgery. Your kind note would reach Jennifer at: jhardy@fox5vegas.com
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NAMES in the NEWS:
Congratulations to six local TV stations who have been nominated for a national EMMY Award. Nominations went to:
WBBM-TV, Chicago, IL
WBZ-TV, Boston, MA
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC
KCNC-TV, Denver, CO
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN
More details are available at: http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/news_29th_nominations.html
KATHY GAZDA returns to a newsroom as Executive Producer for WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL. She most recently was Managing Editor at WFOR-TV in Miami, and is a previous ND in Providence, San Diego, and Albany, NY.
ZACHARY PEARL has been promoted to Assistant ND at KOB-TV in Albuquerque, NM. He had been the Executive Producer there and started at the station six years ago as a producer.
JOEY PARKER joins WCJB-TV in Gainesville, FL, as the new EP/Weekend Anchor. He had been the Assistant ND/Morning Anchor at KHAS-TV in Kearney, NE. Joey’s a one-time ND in Casper, WY.
Finally, a fund has been established to honor former University of Missouri professor (and former CBS Correspondent) W. DAVID DUGAN. One of Dave’s former students, JIM STEWART, endowed the fund. If you were one of the many students that Dave counseled over the years, you can contribute to the fund by going to this website:https://donatetomu.missouri.edu. Once you’re there, select MU Libraries under Gift Information Fund, and, in the comment section, type: W. David Dugan, Jr. Journalism Library Enhancement Fund. And I understand that Dave will be attending the Centennial Celebration for the Missouri Journalism School this September in Columbia.
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, July 18, 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
WSNS-TV 430 W. Grant Place Chicago IL 60614 *
WXIA-TV 1611 W. Peachtree St. Atlanta GA 30309
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Dr. Houston TX 77063
KPHO-TV 4016 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix AZ 85017
KTVK-TV 5555 N. 7th Avenue Phoenix AZ 85013
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave. Cleveland OH 44115
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd, Denver CO 80203
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92102
WPBF-TV 3970 RCA Blvd., Suite 7007 Palm Beach Gardens FL 33410
KMPH-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
WINK-TV 2824 Palm Beach Blvd. Fort Myers FL 33916
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
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
KYTV 999 W. Sunshine Springfield MO 65807
WSTM-TV 1030 James St. Syracuse NY 13203
WAAY-TV 1000 Monte Sano Boulevard Huntsville AL 35801
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Pkwy. Huntsville AL 35801
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia SC 29201
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St. Waterloo IA 50703
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th St. Moline IL 61265
KFSM-TV 318 N. 13th St. Ft. Smith AR 72901
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd. E. Peoria, IL 61611
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 S. Beaumont TX 77701
KBTV 6155 Eastex Freeway #300 Beaumont TX 77706
KOBI-TV 125 South Fir St. Medford OR 97501
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
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
317-769-7910 (fax)
rick@rickgevers.com
www.rickgevers.com