June 5, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016 UPDATE:
There are now TWO news director openings in Houston after news today that RHONDA LAVELLE is leaving KPRC-TV to return to Detroit, where she’s taking the ND job at Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC).
Here’s the note from GM MIKE MURRI to the staff.
LaVelle
Rhonda has been the ND for KPRC since July 2014, when she was promoted. She joined that Graham Media owned station a few months earlier as the Assistant News Director, but had spent 16 years as an EP for Graham’s (then called Post-Newsweek’s) NBC affiliate in Detroit, WDIV-TV.
Rhonda is a native Michigander and has also worked in Saginaw and for another Detroit station.
She replaces DAVE MANNEY who left earlier this year to return to New York as EP of Investigations for WNBC-TV.
As we mentioned, the ND opening in Houston is the second there, with FOX o-and-o KRIV-TV also looking for an ND.
More in our full report later this week.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
TWO.
That’s the number of newly named news directors AND the number of new news director openings in this week’s report. Our list of open ND jobs increases ever so slightly to 27.
ONE of those openings is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below. And we have an ad just below for the Kneeland Project.
Lots of news managers moving this week. We have those details below along with an Indiana GM change. And a fun story connecting a legendary comedian, a well known TV host and personality, and a former Las Vegas News Director.
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Applications are due June 10.
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New News Director Openings:
Takahashi
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL…after 6 1/2 years, TAI TAKAHASHI is headed to Oregon to be the Assistant News Director for Tegna’s KGW-TV in Portland, OR. Tai told me he has a lot of family in Portland so he is excited about the move. He’s a former ND in Lexington, KY, who’s also worked in Seattle, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Wichita, and Topeka. WAND is an NBC affiliate owned by Block Communications.
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City/Columbia, MO…JULIE MORAVCHIK is leaving this Sinclair owned CBS affiliate to return to her native Wisconsin as ND for WGBA-TV in Green Bay. More on that below. She spent about 15 months as ND here.
Newly Named News Directors:
Volpicella
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA…FRANK VOLPICELLA rejoins GM MARK PIMENTEL as ND for this Meredith owned CBS affiliate. They worked together previously at both WSB-TV in Atlanta and in Huntsville, where Mark hired Frank as his ND at WAFF-TV. Here’s Mark’s note to the staff, and here’s the story from the local paper. You’ll remember Frank left KVUE-TV in Austin, TX, in April after taking the Tegna buyout. He’s also worked in Tampa, Jacksonville, FL, and Lexington. Frank replaces LARRY PERRET who was ND here for just under two years. EP LEESA DILLON also left the station. And if you’re counting (and judging by my emails, many of you are) Frank becomes the sixth ND in eight years here.
Moravchik
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…as reported above, JULIE MORAVCHIK has been named news director for this Scripps’ owned NBC affiliate. She relayed to me that she’s a Wisconsin native and (of course) a huge Packers’ fan. More from the WGBA website. She’s been the ND for KRCG-TV in the Jefferson City/Columbia, MO market, has been an ND in Grand Forks, ND, and in Duluth, and has also worked in Minneapolis. At WGBA, she replaces BOB HEALEY who left earlier this month to take an anchor job in Montana.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY:
WHEC-TV (News10NBC), Rochester, NY a Hubbard Broadcasting station, is seeking a dynamic News Director who is a strong leader with a clear vision and the ability to communicate that vision to the staff. You must be passionate, realizing we make a HUGE difference every day in our community, and you must have a strong desire to teach, lead and learn with our award winning News Team.
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We produce 5 hours of news each weekday and quarterly hour-long specials tackling issues which are vital to the welfare of our community. We are an advocate for the community and we look to hold those that abuse their powers accountable. We have a top notch digital team that has consistently ranked #1 in viewer engagement due to the strong story-telling we produce every day.
Our culture is one of service; service to our community and to one-another. You should know how to listen, learn, assess challenges and opportunities, collaborate to find solutions, and implement change. You should be open to finding new solutions and taking risks. You must be good with multitasking and prioritization in order to meet deadlines. On our side, we will work very hard as a station and company to help you grow as a person and news professional.
To view the detailed posting and apply, click here:
No phone calls please. EOE
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/15/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted this week)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 4/16/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 4/2/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (relisted 5/8/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 5/15/16)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 4/24/16)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 5/1/16)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Dayside EP, new listing this week)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 5/22/16)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 4/16/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 jobs, Dayside & Spec. Proj., listing modified 5/15/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (AM EP, listing revised 5/27/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 4/2/16)
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM EP, listed 4/10/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 4/2/16)
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)
WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 5/22/16)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/8/16)
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 4/24/16)
Names in the News:
KGUN-TV in Tucson has promoted ALAN PABLIK to be executive producer of Good Morning Tucson. He had been the 5:00 producer there.
KATE SINGH joins KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs as EP. She’s previously worked in Denver.
And JASON POPE moves within Quincy to become the EP for KTTC-TV in Rochester, MN. He’d been the 5:00 producer for the company’s KWWL-TV in Waterloo, IA.
And how can you work comedian MARTY ALLEN, TV host/columnist ROBIN LEACH, and a former Las Vegas news director into one story? Click here for the answer.
General Manager News:
MERRY EWING moves east but stays in Indiana as she becomes the new General Manager of Quincy operation WPTA/WISE-TV. She’s spent the last year…and a few months…as GM of Quincy’s WSJV-TV in South Bend/Elkhart, IN.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 5, 2016:
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 **
WXYZ-TV 20777 West 10 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48037
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46202
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave. Austin, TX 78757
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Road Roanoke, VA 24017
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 (see ad above!)
WAAY-TV 1000 Monte Sano Blvd SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
KFVS-TV 310 Broadway Cape Girardeau MO 63701
WCIA-TV 509 S Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
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
KBOI-TV 140 N 16th St, Boise, ID 83702
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
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
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
* Spanish language station