July 24, 2009
Greetings:
There’s a flurry of activity to report to you, including the first new ND to be named in a few weeks.
In all, there are FOUR new openings in addition to the aforementioned ONE new ND.
That brings, by my count, the number of open ND jobs to 24.
We have a paid ad for one of those new openings, as well as a repeat of last week’s ad for an ND in Idaho. And we have a listing for an EP at a Tennessee station.
There’s an obituary for the husband of a longtime Indiana news director, another for a former New York City special projects producer, and information about a memorial service for a veteran talent coach.
And in Names in the News, we have news of two new RTNDA board members and news of a new job for a former Massachusetts ND (who’s still anchoring).
All that and more after this week’s changes:
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
KVBC-TV, Las Vegas, NV…longtime KVBC employee DEBORAH CLAYTON has left the station after almost two years as ND. Deborah has been with the station for about 15 years in a wide variety of roles. She had earlier worked in Texas. KVBC is an NBC affiliate owned by Sunbelt Broadcasting.
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…MEGAN RUSHMORE has left this Journal Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate after almost three years as ND. She previously worked in Colorado Springs, CO.
WECT-TV, Wilmington, NC…RAEFORD BROWN has left this Raycom-owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND there since April, 2000, when he was promoted to ND. Learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below!
KTVZ/KFXO, Bend, OR…MIKE BOTHWELL is leaving this NBC/FOX duopoly to return east for personal reasons. Mike’s been the ND here since November, 2007, and previously worked for station owner News Press & Gazette as the Assistant ND at KESQ-TV in Palm Desert. Mike will be there for a few months. He’s previously worked in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
Cristi Jessee
KSAX-TV, Alexandria, MN…CRISTI JESSEE returns to Minnesota as ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned satellite to KSTP-TV. (The station airs local inserts within KSTP’s newscasts.) Cristi is currently working at KXTV in Sacramento as a multi media journalist, and has worked in markets from Los Angeles to Grand Forks, ND. Cristi was graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She replaces SARAH CASUELLO who left the station in February.
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PAID ADS:
NEWS DIRECTOR, WECT-TV, Wilmington, NC:
WECT-TV, Raycom’s NBC affiliate in Wilmington, NC seeks a News Director who has a successful track record of leading aggressive news coverage. Strong leadership abilities, communications and interpersonal skills, and a passion for news are a must.
Responsibilities include setting and communicating goals and strategies, staff management, budget/expense administration and efficient use of station resources.
Must be able to provide strategic direction for day-to-day news coverage, breaking news & weather, and major stories on-air and on our highly trafficked website, while consistently communicating and protecting the brand image. Our station produces 34 hours of news per week. Candidate should have experience in maximizing local coverage, weather and sports over various day parts. Successful candidate should exhibit a track record of working with Sales and Marketing on a variety of special projects.
Background should include 3-5 years of significant experience in television newsroom management with previous News Director experience preferred.
Send your resume and salary requirement to: Gary McNair at gmcnair@wect.com
EOE
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NEWS DIRECTOR, KBCI-TV, BOISE, IDAHO:
KBCI-TV, Boise, is looking for a dynamic News Director with a passion for news, weather and interactive coverage. KBCI is the heritage CBS station in a highly competetive news market (DMA 112). Boise is the statecapitol, home to the largest university in Idaho, and one of the “top ten cities to live in” according to Money Magazine (2006).
Send resume and cover letter to hr@kbcitv.com.
EOE.
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OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (new listing this week)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)
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OBITUARIES and MEMORIAL SERVICES:
I’m sorry to report the death of JOHN SAUER, husband of longtime WSBT-TV News Director MEG SAUER. Mr. Sauer died earlier this week at the age of 52. They’d been married for almost 30 years, and were high school sweethearts. In addition to Meg, he leaves two sons. More details can be found in this obituary.
Lipkin
Former WABC-TV Special Projects Producer (and current ABC News producer) REBECCA LIPKIN died earlier this week of inflammatory breast cancer. She was 48. The Washington Post has details in this story.
Flo Sikes
We have details now on a planned memorial service for longtime talent coach FLO SIKES, who died earlier this month at the age of 75. It will be held near her condo in San Diego. If you’re interested in details, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
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NAMES IN THE NEWS:
Schwaid
Two news directors, one TV and one from radio, have been added to the RTNDA board. STEVE SCHWAID, ND for Meredith’s WGCL-TV in Atlanta, replaces HELGA SILVA from Univision who left the board last month. And CHRIS CARL, the ND for WDEL-AM in Wilmington, DE, fills the spot vacated by MARK KRAHAM of WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, MD, who was elected chairman-elect at this year’s convention.
Kathy Tobin
One time ND (and current anchor) KATHY TOBIN is leaving WGGB-TV in Springfield, MA, to become Director of Development for Friends of the Homeless. Kathy spent almost ten years as ND for the station. More details here.
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, July 24, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com
WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10012
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 ***
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
WLWT-TV 1700 Young St. Cincinnati OH 45210
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WZZM-TV 645 Three Mile Road NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
KVBC-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas NV 89101
KRQE-TV 13 Broadcast Plaza Albuquerque NM 87104
KSEE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd. Green Bay WI 54307
KITV-TV 801 South King St. Honolulu HI 96813
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WLNS-TV 2820 E. Saginaw St. Lansing MI 48912
WNCT-TV 3221 S. Evans St. Greenville NC 27834
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West Traverse City MI 49684
KBCI-TV 140 N. 16th St. Boise ID 83702 (see ad above)
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire WI 54701
WECT-TV 322 Shipyard Blvd. Wilmington NC 28412 (see ad above)
KTEN-TV 10 HighPoint Circle Denison TX 75020
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B Riley Rd. Bend OR 97701
BOLD indicates new opening this week
*** indicates Spanish language station