July 8, 2018
Thursday, July 12th, 2018 UDPATE:
It’s been exactly one year to the day since we last reported a cross-town news director move.
Connors
And that’s what we have today, with news that KEITH CONNORS will be the next news director for Meredith’s WFSB-TV (CBS) in Hartford/New Haven. Keith is currently the ND for the market’s ABC affiliate, Nexstar’s WTNH-TV, where he’s been in charge for almost 3 1/2 years.
Here’s the WFSB news release about Keith’s hire.
Keith’s been an ND in Indianapolis, Houston, Charlotte, Norfolk, and Rochester, NY, and also worked in Nashville and Toledo, where I hired him as a producer at WTOL-TV.
At WFSB, he succeeds DANA NEVES who was promoted to General Manager (and thus will be Keith’s new boss) in March after 12 years as ND.
Oh, and for those of you wondering? The ‘one year ago today’ cross town move was that of HOLLY GAUNTT, who left KDVR-TV (FOX) in Denver to become ND for KMGH-TV (ABC).
More in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Monday, July 9th, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Congratulations to two news directors moving into station management today.
Andrea P.
ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR has been named Vice President/Station Manager for KTVT/KTXA-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth. She’s been the news director at this CBS owned duopoly since January, 2017, and has a long career in news. Andrea’s been an ND for two stations in Raleigh, as well as in Detroit and Baltimore. She’s also been the Assistant ND for a Houston station. CBS says it will announce her successor as news director at a later date.
Liz H.
And congratulations to LIZ HALTIWANGER who’s been bumped up to General Manager for Gray’s KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs. Liz was one of FOUR new GMs named today at Gray stations: in each case they are replacing GMs who had regional responsibilities. They will now concentrate full time on the corporate role with the title of TV Vice-Presidents. Other markets impacted were Lexington, Charleston-Huntington, and Lansing, as you’ll learn here.
Congrats to all, and more details in our full newsletter later this week, although (tease alert) we expect a large market ND announcement later this week.
We’ll see you then.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
Not surprisingly, the holiday week was slow.
Just ONE new news director opening this week, with NO newly named news directors to the best of my knowledge.
That means our list of open ND jobs remains at 33.
ONE of those news director openings is featured in ONE of this week’s TWO paid help wanted ads.
But we have lots of news in Names in the News, including an update on a longtime ND who suffered a stroke in 2016, and some veteran GMs on the move in our General Manager News section. That’s all below.
ONE of those news director openings is featured in ONE of this week’s TWO paid help wanted ads.
But we have lots of news in Names in the News, including an update on a longtime ND who suffered a stroke in 2016, and some veteran GMs on the move in our General Manager News section. That’s all below.
Newly Named News Directors:
I’m not aware of any newly named news directors this week. If you know of any, please let me know!
New News Director Openings:
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate is looking for a new news director. My records show that DARRYL HUGER had been ND there since July, 2015.
While not a new opening, there is a paid help wanted ad below for the ND job at KION-TV in Salinas/Monterey.
Monroe
We told you last week that DEBRA MONROE was leaving the station. After we published, Debra sent along this note explaining her departure:
After three wonderful years at KION working with an incredible, talented team, I’ve decided it’s time to switch things up and take a break. My husband and I are freeing ourselves up to do some traveling for the next several months before deciding what’s next for both of us. I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to work for NPG. I’m very proud of the things we’ve been able to accomplish at this station, and will spend the next few weeks preparing for a smooth transition before my departure in early August.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Senior Executive Producer, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
The WINK Senior Executive Producer will oversee the development and training of producers and Executive Producers at Southwest Florida’s leading news operation. WINK is looking for a leader capable of teaching and mentoring producers, as well as developing Executive Producers. Passion is important for this role, but more important is a sense of purpose. The top candidate will be someone who demonstrates the ability to lead and teach.
Creativity, strong news judgment, superb writing skills and excellent showcasing and production skills are a must. The Sr. EP oversees all activities that go into the creation of the on-air product, which includes Executive Producers, Producers and Associate Producers.
Integrating social media into the newscasts is an emerging growth area in which the Sr. EP must embrace and lead. The Sr. EP is the chief advocate for the practical execution of research strategies designed to meet audience expectations. This senior leadership position will help lead a team of experienced journalists that produce nearly 70 hours of local news a week.
Qualifications:
Degree in broadcast journalism, preferred.
Practical experience as an Executive Producer of television news programs.
High production and journalism standards.
Excellent management, mentoring and teaching skills.
Must pass a pre-employment screening.
Send Resume to:
Tom Doerr
News Director
WINK News
2824 Palm Beach Boulevard
Fort Myers, Florida 33916
or via email to: tom.doerr@winknews.com
News Director, KION-TV, Monterey/Salinas, CA:
KION News Channel 5, located in beautiful Monterey County, California, is seeking an extraordinary journalist to lead a growing news team. In addition, to CBS we produce news daily on CW and Telemundo.
Our News Director will be a visionary coach who understands how to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have proven skillset to maximize content and customer engagement on digital and social media platforms. Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback.
The successful candidate will be called upon to provide strategic direction for daily news coverage as well as working closely with the General Manager on long-range planning, special news coverage and station projects.
Applicants should be prepared to discuss:
Previous experience
Creative approaches to building and innovating news brand
Digital and social strategies
Effective use of social media in a broadcast environment
Previous experience managing financial, technical and people resources
KION was acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company in December 2013, and has recently made significant capital investments to build a strong local news organization.
Candidate must pass a drug test and background check. A valid driver’s license is required.
Please apply online by submitting brief cover letter that includes resume, and source of referral to: www.kion546.com (go to “About” tab, then Jobs)
NPG of Monterey-Salinas, CA LLC.is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Posting closes when position is filled.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WABC-TV, New York, NY (listed 6/8/18)
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/28/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 7/1/18)
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC (listed 6/17/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 7/1/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 6/24/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/24/28)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 7/1/18)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (AM EP, new listing this week)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 6/8/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 7/1/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted this week)
WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Dayside EP, listed 5/28/18)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (Senior EP, listed 7/1/18)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (PM EP, listed 5/28/18)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/1/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 5/28/18)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 7/1/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/1/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/13/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/1/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, listed 6/17/18)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (AM EP, listed 5/13/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (THREE EP openings, new listing this week)
WRGB-TV, Albany, NY (relisted 5/20/18)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/1/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 6/3/18)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 7/1/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 6/3/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
Names in the News (and other items):
MATT GOLDBERG, currently the Assistant News Director for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, has a new job. He’s off to New York (where his fiancee lives) to become VP/Content Strategy for the NBC owned stations. Here’s the memo to the KNBC staff explaining the new role. Matt has also worked for another Los Angeles station, as well as in San Francisco (two stations) and Houston. He’s also a past president of IRE, and is still a board member for that organization.
WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC, has filled its Digital Content Manager opening by promoting BRAD DICKERSON. He’s been a digital content producer for that Raycom station.
Two EP hires within Scripps:
KERO-TV in Bakersfield promoted MONICA DATTAGE. She was a producer there.
And KIVI-TV in Boise hired MARY BETH DICKSON, a former anchor and producer.
Sullivan
We have a few more details about BOB SULLIVAN‘s new job. We reported last week that he was leaving Tegna, where he was Vice President/Programming, for a new job as General Manager of Sneaky Big Productions. Bob kindly sent along a note explaining his new responsibilities and (this may surprise you) who owns Sneaky Big. It’s a name you’ll likely recognize.
Ragan
Glad to report that longtime WILX-TV (Lansing) News Director KEVIN RAGAN continues to recover from a stroke he suffered 18 months ago. The station aired this follow up report. Kevin was ND at the now-owned-by-Gray station for more than 19 years, and has been an ND in Wichita and Greenville, SC, and worked in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Finally, longtime WTOL-TV (Toledo) news assignment manager FRANK SEELY was the guest of honor Friday night at a retirement party. Frank spent 32 years running the desk at that CBS affiliate. (I know: I hired him in 1986 when I was the news director there.) A tribute to Frank: the gathering was well attending by many WTOL alums, some who travelled from as far as San Francisco and Washington. The station aired this tribute to him, and among the gifts (including a watch) was a golden phone, a tribute to the many hours any good assignment editor spends with such a device pinned to his ear. Friends can wish him well via an email to: frankseely58@gmail.com
Frank Seely
General Manager News and Notes:
Reingold
Veteran broadcaster DICK REINGOLD is headed to WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY, as its next general manager. Here’s the official word. That ‘official word’ has details on Dick’s extensive background, including a GM in a number of markets, including Washington, DC. and a news director in many large markets. He replaces DEREK DALTON at this Hubbard owned NBC affiliate. Derek left to become GM for WBBM-TV in Chicago.
GENE STEINBERG has left KMIR-TV in Palm Desert after three years running that Entravsion owned NBC/Univision duopoly.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 8, 2018:
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
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
KPIX-TV 5855 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WVIT-TV 1422 New Britain Ave. West Hartford, CT 06110
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY 12204
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201
WTVG-TV 4247 Dorr St. Toledo, OH 43607
WTOC-TV 11 The News Place Savannah, GA 31405
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KAPP/KVEW-TV PO Box 1749. Yakima, WA 98907
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905 (see ad above!)
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KOSA-TV 4101 East 42nd Street Suite J-7, Odessa, TX 79762
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Hwy, Oak Hill, WV 25901
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701
**: Spanish language station