July 21, 2019
Monday, July 22, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
We always like to report when a news director (or former news director) heads to the general manager’s office, and that’s the case in today’s UPDATE.
McClain
MIKE McCLAIN, who began his career as a news photographer, and worked his way up to news director for three network owned stations, is the new GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando. More details in this story from the Orlando Sentinel.
We told you in yesterday’s newsletter that ALLYSON MEYERS had resigned after six years at WOFL to deal with a family matter.
Mike has been the GM for Fox’s Charlotte duopoly, WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV, since last November. But he came from news, having been the ND for THREE Fox owned stations, WTVT-TV in Tampa, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and WBRC-TV in Birmingham.
Congratulations to Mike. We’ll hopefully have more on this story and all the week’s ‘news in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A busy week to tell you about with FIVE newly named news directors with THREE new openings. Of note: FOUR of those FIVE new news directors were either promoted within their current station or their current company.
TWO of our 30 open ND jobs are featured among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads below.
We have too many obituaries, THREE in all, TWO of former network correspondents who turned to education.
We have several GMs on the move and just one item…but it’s a worth read…in our Names in the News segment.
It’s a busy week…grab your favorite beverage and dig in!
Newly Named News Directors:
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL..our Monday update told you that DAVE
Ciliberti
CILIBERTI would be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. It’s a move within Nexstar AND a return to Tampa for Dave, who spent 4 1/2 years at the company’s WCMH-TV (NBC), where GM KEN FREEDMAN shared the news with the staff. Dave spent 17 years at WFTS-TV in Tampa in a number of jobs, worked for two New York City stations and began his career as a photojournalist, working in Houston and Washington. At WFLA, he replaces RYAN MINNAUGH who left the station last month after a year as ND.
Denize B.A.
KVDA-TV, San Antonio, TX…DENISE BATTLE-ALONSO has been promoted to news director for this Telemundo owned station. She’s been the Assistant ND for Telemundo’s WNJU-TV in New York City. She joined WNJU in 2014 as an executive producer and was bumped up to assistant news director three years later. She also worked for the Univision station in New York as well as in Puerto Rico and El Paso. Media Moves has more.
St. Peter
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…KEITH ST. PETER will join this Nexstar operated NBC/CBS team next month as its next news director. Keith has been Managing Editor at WHIO-TV in Dayton after almost three years. He previously served as an EP for WJAX-TV in Jacksonville, FL and also worked as a producer and assignment editor at WTEV-TV in Jacksonville. Keith replaces ROD JACKSON who was promoted in May to ND for Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV.
Baxter
WSAZ-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…congratulations to ANNA BAXTER who has been promoted to ND for this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director there, and has worked her way up to the top job (with a brief sojourn to WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH) after starting there as an intern. More in her not-yet updated station bio. Anna replaces DAN FABRIZIO. We told you last week that Dan was off to sister Gray station WAVE-TV in Louisville after eight years here.
Rodriguez
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA…another promotion from Assistant ND to News Director here, as SUZANNE RODRIGUEZ is moving into the big office. She’s been the AND there for almost two years after 18 years at cross-town competitor KGET-TV where she was the Assignment Editor for six years and a producer before that. At KERO, she replaces NANCY BAUER who was promoted to sister-Scripps station KTNV (ABC) in Las Vegas after two years as ND for this ABC affiliate.
And…because we strive for accuracy and context, I want to repeat a correction in case you missed it in our Monday UPDATE. BILL SHORY spent six years as ND for WAVE-TV in Louisville, not six months as I mistakenly told you last week. Apologies to Bill.
New News Director Opening:
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH…we told you above that DAVE CILBERTI was moving within Nexstar to become ND for the company’s Tampa station, WFLA-TV. Dave spent 4 1/2 years as ND for this NBC affiliate.
Haldeman
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX…CHARLIE HALDEMAN has decided to resign as ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here are two emails for you in one simple click: the note from GM ADAM CHASE as well as Charlie’s to the staff. He’s been there for three years and earlier had been an ND for almost six years at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA, and spent almost five years as ND for KXII-TV in Sherman, TX. He also worked as an anchor/reporter in Bryan, TX, and began his career in radio.
WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate is search for a new news director to replace STEVE GOODSPEED, who I believe left the station last month. In addition to Duluth, WDIO covers parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Also, please note another ad below for the open ND job at WAFF-TV in Huntsville.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:
WDIO-TV is seeking a News Director ready to take a powerful market leader to new heights. This leader oversees all news, weather and sports content and delivery channels and is responsible for directing and managing the news department — seeing that the station’s vision and community mission is understood by the entire news organization.
WDIO-TV, News Channel 10/13 is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, WDIO-TV is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.
When you work for WDIO-TV, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community. If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!
To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:
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.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 6/9/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (new listing this week)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
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 7/14/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted this week)
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)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, new listing 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:
New Listings this Week:
E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)
Listed 7/14/19:
Nexstar Broadcasting, Dallas TX (Senior VP, Local Content Development, see ad above)
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)
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)
Obituaries:
Griffith
Legendary Cleveland newsman FRED GRIFFITH died this week at the age of 90. While he was best known as the host of the Morning Exchange on WEWS-TV, you’ll learn in this obituary that he also spent some time as news director for that ABC affiliate. And you’ll also find out that ABC tried to hire him: when he declined, the network turned to DAVID HARTMAN. Fred also worked at WKYC-TV (NBC) in Cleveland.
Furber
LINCOLN FURBER, a former news director for WETA-TV, the public broadcast station in Washington, died Tuesday at his home in South Port Island, ME. He was 87. What a career he had! Lincoln worked in very large markets, as a correspondent for the (then) five CBS owned stations, In 1967, he joined American University in Washington as a journalism professor.
Burke
And another former network correspondent turned educator died on Tuesday, also at his home. CHARLES BURKE was 82 when he died in St. Augustine, FL. Charles began in radio and then joined ABC News as a correspondent who covered the war in Vietnam among other assignments. He got his Master’s degree from Temple University, a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1981 while teaching there He then taught at the University of Florida and retired after 18 years.
Names in the News (and other items):
Breazeale
Just one item this week. JIM BOB BREAZEALE, the Assistant ND for KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX, has gone public with details about his cancer fight. It’s a cautionary tale for all. He’s also been an executive producer in Austin. Jim Bob was a longtime sports talk radio host in San Antonio.
General Manager News and Notes:
Meyers
ALLYSON MEYERS, who’s been the General Manager for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando for more than six years, resigned this week. She said a family matter was requiring her to return to South Florida. She’s a former general sales manager at the Fox owned station in Philadelphia and served two years as station manager for WSFL-TV in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami.
Baylog
Tegna has named DAN BAYLOG general manager of its Grand Rapids, MI, ABC affiliate, WZZM-TV. He’s been with Tegna since 2014 in research jobs, first at WKYC-TV in Cleveland before moving to WVEC-TV in Norfolk in 2016. He replaces JANET MASON who announced her retirement in May after 22 years at the station…which followed 17 years at Tegna’s KARE-TV in Minneapolis, where she finished her time there as VP/News.
ROBERT COOK will be the next GM for Sinclair’s WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh. He’s worked for this Fox affiliate since 2015 in sales positions.
ANNE DOLAN heads to Florida where she’ll oversee Lockwood Broadcasting’s WPGX-TV in Panama City, FL. and WDFX-TV in Dothan, AL. Anne had been the general sales manager of WRLH-TV in Richmond, Va.
Finally, another correction from last week, in case you missed it in our Monday update. KARI JACOBS was the GM for WVEC-TV in Norfolk, not WAVY-TV, as well told you in our report that she will be the new GM for Tegna’s WTSP-TV in Tampa.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 21, 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 **
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
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202
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
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Parkway. Huntsville, AL 35801 (see ad above!)
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WCBD-TV 210 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343
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
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811 (see ad above!)
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