June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011:
A few quick updates today: RTDNA released the list of National Edward R. Murrow winners. Congratulations to WTHR-TV in Indianapolis and WGRZ-TV in Buffalo which were honored with Overall Excellence Awards. The complete list, along with links to the winning entries, can be found here.
Also, there are at least two new ND openings.
DAN FABRIZIO has left WLNE-TV in Providence after eight months as ND, and shortly after new owners took over the station, an ABC affiliate. An ad for that position is posted below.
And longtime ND LEE HITTER is leaving WFRV-TV after 17 years as ND and more than 30 at the station, where he started as a photographer. Nexstar is in the process of buying that CBS affiliate from Liberty Media.
We’ll have lots more in our regular weekly report tomorrow, including the retirement of a former two-time ND turned GM.
Monday, June 13, 2011:
We have information about a memorial service for ALLEN LEVY, whose passing we reported below.
Friends will gather on Saturday, June 25, at 5:00 at the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, 4953 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028.
More details are available at this website set up expressly in Allen’s honor.
Whether you’re attending or not, you’re invited to pass along stories, photos, and remembrances, via email to allenlevymemorial@gmail.com. If you are planning on attending, organizers ask that you RSVP to that email address to help them with planning.
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Greetings:
We have a little more information about the death of longtime newsman ALLEN LEVY, whose passing we reported last night in an emailed update.
Allen Levy
1951-2011
Allen, a freelance producer for CBS Newspath, was found in an Arizona hotel room after he failed to show up for a live shot for CBS’s The Early Show yesterday. He was on assignment covering the Arizona wildfires. A preliminary autopsy report lists a massive heart attack as the cause of death.
Allen was 59. He was a former ND at KTVL-TV in Medford, OR, and had also worked at stations in Dallas, Denver, Hartford, Minneapolis and Miami, where he was graduated from the University of Miami. He’d been freelancing for the last eight years or so. More information on his Linkedin page.
Funeral arrangements are pending. I’ll update this website when they are finalized.
On to our regular business.
This week’s changes are all in large markets. We have TWO new NDs and TWO new openings to share with you. That means our always unofficial count of open ND jobs remains at 33.
We’re re-running a blind box ad for an unnamed top 75 market station. And we have ads for an ND/anchor at a New York state startup, an EP opening at the Weather Channel, and our first ad for a helicopter pilot. If you know of someone who’s looking for a full time chopper pilot gig, please forward them that information.
In Names in the News, a well known ND adds ‘author’ to his resume as he’s written a new book about his life in the TV business.
All that…and more…after this week’s changes:
New News Director Openings:
WTXF-TV, Philadelphia, PA…in one of several moves we reported in UPDATES during the past week, KINGSLEY SMITH is headed west to become ND for another FOX o-and-o, KTTV/KCOP-TV in Los Angeles. More on that below. Kingsley’s been ND here since January, 2008.
Gramer
KGW-TV, Portland, OR…after 13 years as ND for this Belo-owned NBC affiliate, ROD GRAMER is headed south…and east. He’ll be the next VP/GM for Bay News 9, the Tampa Bay area 24 hour cable news channel. Rod earlier had been ND for Belo’s KTVB-TV in Boise, and also worked for the Idaho Statesman newspaper. The move reunites Rod with ELLIOTT WISER, the Corporate VP for Local Programming at Brighthouse. Elliott was the first ND for Northwest Cable News when Rod was working at sister-station KTVB.
Newly Named News Directors:
KTTV/KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, CA…as mentioned above, KINGSLEY SMITH will be the next ND for this Fox-owned duopoly. In addition to 3+ years as ND for WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, Kingsley also served as ND for (what was then) another FOX o-and-o, KTVI-TV in St. Louis, and spent many years at FOX’s KDFW-TV in Dallas, beginning as a producer and eventually become Assistant ND. He’s also worked in Norfolk and Tyler, TX. In Los Angeles, he replaces JOSE RIOS who was promoted within Fox to be the company’s VP of Digital News Applications earlier this year. He’d been ND there for 19 years.
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO…ED KOSOWSKI returns to the ND chair as he’s been named VP of News and Digital Content for this Fox/CW combined newsroom. Since 2005, Ed’s worked in a variety of EP roles for CNBC. He’s a previous ND for WHDH-TV in Boston and KGO-TV in San Franciso, and has also worked in Chicago, Washington, and Miami. He replaces CAROLYN KANE, who left the station(s) in April after two years as ND.
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Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WLNE-TV, Providence, RI:
This position is a great opportunity for a highly motivated, competitive, energetic person with solid news and personnel judgement. Prior News Director experience is required.
We are in the process of fully converting the Newsroom to full HD. Experience with a Newsroom HD transition would be helpful.
Our successful candidate will be the type of leader who is a highly focused, get it done well, motivator. Someone who knows how to produce top quality newscasts filled with well written, compelling and impactful story telling.
A firm grasp of News promotion is critically important, as is a history of Web based news and social media management.
If this describes you then we should talk!
Please send – resume, news philosophy, salary history, DVD and/or Web link to:
Allen Sandubrae
VP – News
Citadel Communications Company
3903 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines IA 50266
Email: ASandubrae@myabc5.com
Phone: 515.457.9645 ext. 129
Please note: phone calls will be accepted only after initial email/mail is received.
This position will close June 30, 2011.
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. EOE
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News Director/Anchor, WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV, Utica, NY:
WUTR, WPNY and WFXV in Utica, NY seeks a News Director who is aggressive, forward thinking and a creative journalist. We are adding local news on our ABC and FOX channels in September.
This is an exciting opportunity to build a news organization from the ground up. The successful candidate will anchor, producer, hire, mentor and lead a team of skilled professionals. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and knowledge of relevant local news content are a must. This position will also include anchoring two newscasts a night. 5-10 years experience as a primary news anchor preferred. Knowledge of eMedia, social media and mobile website journalism required.
Please send a DVD or web link, resume, cover letter and news philosophy to:
Stephen P. Merren
Vice President & General Manager
Nexstar Broadcasting Group
5956 Smith Hill Road
Utica, NY 13503
e-mail: smerren@nexstar.tv
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Blind Box News Director Ad, Top 75 Market:
We’re looking for a dynamic person to lead our News Department. The successful candidate will have the ability to motivate and guide our staff while teaching and mentoring. Prior News Director experience is necessary. What is also necessary is the ability to grow and develop a top quality news product. You must be competitive and have an innate understanding and ability to produce compelling, topical, interesting, informative newscasts. Developing a successful working relationship with the other station Department Heads will also be vital.
This is a great opportunity for the right person. If that’s you then send out a cover letter today describing your news philosophy/vision and tell us how and why you’d be a great News Director. Also include a resume, references and recent newscast on DVD or provide a Web link:
Blind Box Ad 6/3
c/o Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
If you’re sending a link to a recent newscast, you can apply via email to: NDad6/3@rickgevers.com
We’ll fill this position as soon as we find the right person! We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Closing date June 20, 2011 or until the position is filled.
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Director of Cross Platform Production, The Weather Channel:
The Director of Cross Platform Production is responsible for managing a team of producers to ensure timely and accurate delivery of video forecasts and stories across all The Weather Channel platforms and outside partners. This manager will oversee daily editorial process and will monitor and react appropriately to the video numbers supplied by Omniture to work quickly to optimize video consumption. This person will work closely with all producers/product managers across all platforms of TWC to ensure each gets the needed content and will advocate placement of video across platforms, on new technology, and in any form that best showcases our content to consumers.
Specific Responsibilities:
· Develop strategies to grow video consumption on all platforms as well as cross platform promotion.
· Perform competitive and marketplace analyses to assess trends and develop innovative and dynamic strategies surrounding video content and usage.
· Work effectively with cross-functional team (meteorologists, producers, designers, developers & product managers) to effectively deliver consistently excellent, compelling content in its most effective form to the particular platform.
· Produce multimedia content (video, audio, maps, data presentation) that aligns with programming initiatives.
· Maintain knowledge of all technologies and platforms that will put our video in the hands of viewers and users.
Required experience:
· 5 years management experience in television or web.
· Experience in television and web producing preferred.
· Must know how to write, produce, and edit for TV and interactive platforms.
· Thrives in a multi-team, multi-in-house customer environment.
Apply to:
Jennifer Rigby
Multi-Media Content Director
The Weather Channel
300 Interstate North Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30339
or via email to: jrigby@weather.com
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Helicopter Pilot, KWTV, Oklahoma City, OK:
KWTV, the CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City, is in need of an experienced helicopter pilot. We own and operate a Bell 407, fully HD, state-of-the art helicopter.
We would like to find someone with experience flying for TV stations. This is a full-time position. We will gladly pay for additional training needed to fly a Bell 407.
KWTV is owned by Griffin Communications, a family owned media company based right here in OKC. If you aren’t familiar with OKC, it is a progressive city in the middle of a 30 year development strategy. We have one of the best cost of living rates in the country. And we have the NBA’s Thunder.
You can apply directly to News Director Todd Spessard: todd.spessard@news9.net.
Also, if you know of pilots who may have lost flight time due to budget cuts, consolidation, etc., please forward this information to them.
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Other News Management Openings:
Assistant News Director:
WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 4/22/11)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/15/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 5/8/11)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 5/1/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 4/15/11)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/15/11)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (listed 5/8/11)
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 5/27/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 3/31/11)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (new listing this week)
Executive News Producer:
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Weekend EP, listed 5/13/11)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 3/31/11)
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 5/8/11)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (AM & PM EP, listing revised 5/27/11)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 6/3/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, listed 3/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 4/9/11)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 4/15/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 4/15/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (2 openings, AM & afternoon, listing revised 4/15/11)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Special Projects EP, relisted 4/15/11)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (AM EP, relisted 4/15/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, listed 3/31/11)
WNWO-TV, Toledo, OH (AM EP, listed 6/3/11)
KRXI-TV, Reno, NV (PM EP, listed 5/20/11)
Special Projects Producer:
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 5/20/11)
WSVN-TV, Miami, FL (relisted 4/15/11)
Managing Editor:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/15/11)
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Name in the News:
Cohen
You can add ‘author’ to the resume of longtime newsman STEVE COHEN. Steve, who’s currently ND for KUSI-TV in San Diego, has written “The Newslife: From Arkansas to Aruba”. It chronicles the history of local news through the prism of Steve’s life running newsrooms from San Diego to Los Angeles to New York City. It also explores the rise of our current generation of broadcasters from Bill O’Reilly to Brian Williams, and many others that Steve’s met along the way. It’s a cautionary tale of what happens to a life lived inside America’s newsrooms. You can check it out (and order your copy) from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.
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The Full List:
To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, June 10, 2011.
If you know of any additions/deletions/changes/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
KMEX-TV 5999 Center Dr. Los Angeles CA 90045 **
WTXF-TV 330 Market Street Philadelphia PA 19106
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
WAVY-TV 300 Wavy St. Portsmouth VA 23705
WPMI-TV 661 Azalea Road Mobile AL 36609
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tucson AZ 85705
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
WMTW-TV 99 Danville Corner Road Portland ME 04210
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia SC 29201
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St. Waterloo IA 50703
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WJCL/WTGS-TV 10001 Abercorn St. Savannah GA 31406
KVAL-TV 4575 Blanton Road Eugene OR 97405
KBAK/KBFX 1901 Westwind Dr. Bakersfield CA 93301
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd. Rockford IL 61105
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
KTKA-TV 2121 SW Chelsea Dr. Topeka KS 66614
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
WOAY-TV Rte. 16 South Oak Hill WV 25901
KIMT-TV 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City IA 50401
WJHG-TV 8195 Front Beach Rd. Panama City Beach FL 32407
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St. Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KYMA-TV 1385 S. Pacific Ave. Yuma AZ 85365
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Rd. Utica NY 13502
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong San Angelo TX 76903
** Spanish language station