June 19, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016 UPDATE:
A surprise from Portland, OR, today, where a General Manager (and a former news director) walks across the street to take a new job.
Roark
ADRIENNE ROARK who’s been the GM for MGstbN’s (*see below) KOIN-TV (CBS) in Portland since June, 2014, left today to become General Manager of Meredith’s KPTV/KPDX, the FOX/My Network duopoly there.
Here’s the news release.
Before Portland, Adrienne spent four years as the news director for CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas, served as the ND for another CBS o-and-o, WFOR-TV in Miami, and worked for other stations. Her Linkedin page is very complete and explains it all.
She replaces ANDY DELAPORTE who left Meredith to explore other opportunities.
It’s been a very busy week…our full newsletter will have lots of material, but may be delayed by travel.
regards,
Rick Gevers
* MGstbN: Media General soon to be Nexstar
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 UPDATE:
A rare third consecutive day with an UPDATE brings word of a news director change in the second market.
Mondora
BILL MONDORA, who’s been the ND for KTTV/KCOP-TV in Los Angeles since April, 2014, has parted ways with this FOX owned duopoly. The newsroom was told within the last few minutes.
He joined FOX after a 24 year career with CBS in a variety of jobs, most of it with CBS Newspath. Bill also worked on the assignment desk in Orlando and Oklahoma City, and worked as a radio reporter in Oklahoma City for three years.
We’ll have a lot to report in our full newsletter this weekend, which may be delayed by travel.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Tuesday, June 21, 2016 UPDATE:
Several items of note in this UPDATE.
RTDNA announced the National Edward R. Murrow Awards today. Here’s the complete list. Congrats to the winners.
And the folks at Tegna were busy today, filling THREE of the company’s open ND jobs. All went to first time news directors.
Davilas
KPNX-TV in Phoenix named GEORGE DAVILAS news director for that NBC affiliate. Here’s the news release. As you’ll read, George’s experience seems to be on the programming side and not news. Who did he replace at KPNX? Well, it was either MARK CASEY, who was both interim ND and station manager when he left last month, after 17 years there, most as ND. Or did he replace SANDRA KOTZAMBASIS, who was the news director when she left in March after 18 months as ND? We report, you decide, as someone once said.
Cohen
KXTV in Sacramento also went the first time ND route by promoting SAM COHEN to be news director. She’s been the EP of digital and social at this ABC affiliate for just over a year. Sam worked for the FOX affiliate in Sacramento for almost six years, and produced in Salt Lake City and Milwaukee. She replaces JEROME PARRA who left in May after four years as ND.
KIII-TV, the Tegna station in Corpus Christi, TX, named OSCAR GARCIA as its next news director. Oscar has been an EP for KFOX-TV in El Paso, where he has been for almost six years. He’s worked for four years at another El Paso station, and replaces veteran ND RICHARD LONGORIA who retired in April after 13 years at KIII and decades in our business.
More later!
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, June 20, 2016 UPDATE:
The week beings with a new news director opening at a top 25 midwest station.
Thouvenot
BRIAN THOUVENOT has parted ways with Meredith’s KMOV-TV in St. Louis, the CBS affiliate. General Manager MIKE MURPHY told the staff via this email this morning.
He was the ND there for just over two years, promoted after SEAN McLAUGHLIN left to become VP of News for Scripps.
Brian first joined the station in 2008. He’s a native of the St. Louis area who worked in Springfield, MO, and Lancaster, PA before joining KMOV.
His Linkedin page has his career details.
And we’ll have all the week’s news in our full report this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Great to see so many of you at this past week’s IRE Conference in New Orleans. Long time readers know of my fondness for that convention and glad to see more NDs among the attendees. And congratulations to MATT GOLDBERG, Managing Editor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, who was elected President of the IRE Board. Matt’s the first broadcaster to serve as President since JIM POLK in the 70’s, and one of four broadcasters on the board.
In our normal business, we have news about THREE newly named news directors (they’ve all been NDs before) and just ONE opening, bring our list of open ND jobs to 25.
TWO of those 25 openings are included in the SIX Paid Help Wanted ads this week.
There’s some very interesting information in the latest RTDNA ND survey. The link to that is in Names in the News, along with details about new jobs for several current and former news managers.
Read on!
New News Director Opening:
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS…AL CARL is staying within the Media General-soon-to-be-Nexstar (hereafter MGstbN) family as he leaves this NBC affiliate to become ND for the company’s WISH-TV in Indianapolis. More below. Al was here about 16 months.
Newly Named News Directors:
KTAZ-TV, Phoenix, AZ…MIGUEL GAYTAN moves from Univision’s KAKW-TV in Austin, TX, to become ND for Telemundo’s Phoenix station. He’s worked in Texas for more than 20 years at Univision affiliated stations in Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo. More in this story from Media Moves. He replaces ANDREA OSPINA who took an Assistant News Director job at the Telemundo station in Houston.
Carl
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…we shared earlier the news of AL CARL’s appointment as news director of this MGstbN (see above!) CW affiliate. GM LES VANN told the staff in this memo. This is Al’s third consecutive job at a MGstbN station. He’s currently ND for KSNT-TV in Topeka, a job he took for family reasons. He’d been the ND at the company’s WTNH-TV in New Haven/Hartford. Al’s also been run newsrooms in Omaha, Huntsville, and in Savannah. He’s also worked in Kansas City, Saginaw and Albany, NY. Al replaces ELBERT TUCKER who is now the news director of another MGstbN station, WKRN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Nashville. Elbert and his wife are both from Tennessee.
Of note: Al becomes the sixth ND in 13 years here, but the station has had only seven NDs in 48 years, given the 35 year tenure of LEE GILES which ended with his 2003 retirement.
Schieferstein
KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID…GREG SCHIEFERSTEIN returns to KPVI and Pocatello as ND for this NBC affiliate. Here’s the news release announcing his appointment. We told you last week that Greg was leaving WEEK-WHOI-TV in Peoria where he’d been the ND for three years. In addition to his earlier stint at KPVI, Greg’s been an ND in Augusta, GA, and Missoula, MT. He’s also worked in Seattle, Toledo and Rockford, IL. Greg replaces ERIC JOCHIM who took a job in Helena, MT, to be closer to family there. KPVI is owned by Idaho Broadcast Partners.
While it’s not a new opening, please note the new Paid Help Wanted ad below for the ND opening at KRNV-TV in Reno.
And our apologies to SARI PADORR whose name I misspelled last week in reporting her appointment as temporary ND at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, AL.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KRNV-TV, Reno, NV:
KRNV in Reno, NV, a Sinclair Broadcast Group station is seeking an experienced, hands-on News Director with strong leadership skills and an aggressive style.
Responsibilities:
Managing the station’s news operations, setting budgets, establishing goals and directing the staff that produces 30+ hours of local news weekly
Responsible for initiating and managing content delivery on multiple platforms
Work closely with local and corporate management to establish News content, philosophy and direction
Review daily newscasts to ensure quality control and brand compliancy, and subsequently provide feedback to all news staff
Recruiting, hiring and negotiating contracts for news department personnel
Collaborate with other managers to develop marketing plans, establish ratings goals, and effectively reach said goals
Requirements:
Must have a working knowledge of journalistic ethics, libel, and privacy laws
Will bring strong fiscal experience for both operational and capital expenditures
Must have a demonstrated ability to manage multiple hours of daily newscasts on two stations and must have a proven track record of success in building a winning news organization
Journalism degree and a minimum of five years’ experience in news management with noted leadership skills is required
Position Type:
Full-Time/Regular
If interested in this position, please apply at www.sbgi.net
Sinclair Broadcast Group is proud to be an EEO and a drug free workplace!
News Director, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC-TV seeks an innovative “hands on” News Director with a proven ability to grow audiences through story selection and marketing; converting audience research into attainable and measurable results.
The successful candidate will lead, manage, hire, train, supervise and motivate News department personnel. They should be experienced in preparing operating budgets and be prepared to be involved in News department capital planning. Any candidate must have excellent news judgment, be thoroughly versed in digital and social media, have a passion for breaking news and strong organizational and leadership skills.
Qualifications include five years’ experience in news department management, preferable News Director in a top 25 Television Market. Strong Journalist with proven management skills; and thorough knowledge of national and international news issues demonstrating sound news judgment.
To apply please send resume via email to jobs@kprc.com
Executive Producer, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:
WBNS-TV, Central Ohio’s News Leader, seeks a dynamic Executive Producer with a proven track record. The successful candidate will be responsible for the production, execution and overall presentation of our daily newscasts, while providing leadership in the newsroom, managing producers and associate producers, ensuring writing meets station standards, coordinating with other departments for daily multiplatform news production and assisting in development of news department strategy.
10TV strives to succeed and is looking for someone with passion and enthusiasm to join our strong team! This position requires at least six years’ experience in local television news as a Producer and Executive Producer (with at least two years as EP or similar). The candidate must have excellent news judgment and communication skills, proficient comprehension of digital and social platforms and above average writing and storytelling skills. The ideal candidate should have the ability to manage and influence a large group and to work effectively in often stressful situations required. Experience in investigative journalism and digital platforms are a plus.
Please apply by clicking here and please be sure to include your news philosophy and link to a recent newscast in your cover letter or resume.
WBNS 10TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Assistant News Director, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL:
Job Description:
WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida is looking for an aggressive team leader with a proven track record for achieving outstanding results. Must be able to lead a strong newsroom in a fast-paced competitive environment. Excellent news judgment, storytelling and showcasing skills required. The ideal candidate will be able to direct, motivate and develop a successful team. You will help supervise anchors, reporters and producers. You will also work closely with Creative Services to make sure there is promotable content in the newscasts. We are looking for someone who can execute strategic plans while leading the presentation of content on air, online and in the world of evolving media. Note: All essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this posting.
Qualifications:
This is an ideal position for an Executive Producer who is looking to make that next move. We are looking for someone with a producing background who also has at least five years of experience in a supervisory role. Must be able to perform well under pressure, meet deadlines and communicate thoroughly with all levels of management and staff. We want someone with a passion for breaking news, weather, innovative storytelling and digital coverage. Must be able to work a flexible schedule which could include days, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Degree in communications or related field desired.
Location:
WJXT-TV
4 Broadcast Place
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Email resumes and links to: kbonfield@wjxt.com
No phone calls.
Executive Producer, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
A WINK Executive Producer will oversee the production of Southwest Florida’s leading newscasts. WINK is looking for a creative news junkie with a passion for leading a team of producers to build exceptional newscasts. Our EPs manage a team of experienced journalists that produce 65 hours of local news a week.
The EP helps producers shape and create newscasts with exceptional writing and story flow. The ability to mentor and teach is a must. The EP oversees all activities that go into the creation of the on-air product.
Specifically, the EP guides producers with lead story showcasing, story treatment, flow, story count, strategic story positioning for quarter-hour meter management, graphics production and headline and tease strategies. Integrating social media into the newscasts is an emerging growth area in which the EP must embrace and lead. The EP is the chief advocate for the practical execution of research strategies designed to meet audience expectations.
Leading candidates must be hands on managers who inspire their teams every newscast, every day. Every so often, EPs will be asked to lead by example and produce in the event of absences or illness. This is not a role for an “administrator.”
EPs will be held responsible for all aspects of the newscasts each oversees. That means leading and managing all aspects of the broadcasts, such as, working with production and engineering on technical operations, scheduling, and setting performance expectations with each member of the team.
Send resumes and links to: tom.doerr@winknews.com
Tom Doerr
News Director
WINK News
824 Palm Beach Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33916
No phone calls, please.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 6/5/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 6/12/16, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 6/12/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 5/15/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 4/24/16)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (listed 6/12/16)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 5/1/16)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 5/22/16)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, new listing this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listing modified 6/12/16, see ad above!)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (AM EP, relisted this week)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (PM EP, listing revised 6/12/16, see ad above!)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, listed 4/10/16)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 6/12/16, see ad above!)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 6/12/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (relisted 5/1/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 5/8/16)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 5/22/16)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (relisted 5/22/16)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, new listing this week)
WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 5/22/16)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 4/24/16)
Names in the News:
Old friend BOB PAPPER has released his latest RTDNA research project. You can find it by clicking here. Lots of interesting information, including age, gender, and tenure breakdowns. It’s worth some of your time.
Passant
Longtime CBS News employee COURT PASSANT follows his former boss KURT DAVIS to Affiliate Relations, where he’ll be the (deep breath) Vice President of Affiliate Marketing for CBS Affiliate Relations and CBS Television Networks Distribution. Court had been the Executive Director of Broadcast Marketing for CBS News. He joined CBS in 1992 after working in Louisville, Albany, NY, South Bend, and Columbia, MO. VP MARSHA COOKE told the staff in this email.
BRAD TATUM joins WBZ-TV in Boston as Assistant News Director. He’s been an EP at WHDH-TV in Boston and spent many years at WSOC-TV in Charlotte.
MacKenzie
Longtime Magid consultant (and former KCNC-TV/Denver News Director) JACK MACKENZIE has joined Penn Schoen Berian as Executive Vice President. This news release will explain who they are and what he will do there.
General Manager News:
I’m now aware of any GM changes this week. If you are, please let me know.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 19, 2016:
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 (see ad above!)
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77027
KPNX-TV 200 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
KTAZ-TV 4625 S 33rd Pl, Phoenix, AZ 85040 **
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
WHP-TV 3300 N 6th St, Harrisburg, PA 17110
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604
KFVS-TV 310 Broadway Cape Girardeau MO 63701
WAND-TV 904 South Side Drive Decatur, IL 62521
WVNY/WFFF 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester, VT 05446
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502 (see ad above!)
KBOI-TV 140 N 16th St, Boise, ID 83702
WEEK/WHOI-TV 2907 Springfield Road. East Peoria, IL 61611
WWTV/WWUP 22320 130th Ave, Tustin, MI 49688
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima,WA 98901
KIII-TV 5002 S Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KSNT-TV 6835 NW HWY 24. Topeka, KS 66618
KRCG-TV 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KAUZ/KSWO-TV 3601 Seymour Highway Wichita Falls, TX 76309
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
* Spanish language station