June 7, 2015
Greetings:
I enjoyed visiting with some of you at this past week’s IRE Conference in Philadelphia, and there were a number of you I saw but did not get to talk to. It was another record year for the conference. IRE Executive Director MARK HORVIT told me attendance was very close to 1,800, with a growing broadcast presence.
At the risk of omitting some, groups with significant attendance included Gannett, NBC, and Cox. Apologies to others I may have missed.
Moving on to our routine business, there are FOUR new ND openings and FOUR newly named NDs in this week’s edition, leaving our count of open ND jobs at 29.
We have two new ads for an Assistant ND in a medium market station, and another for a number of openings at an news operation outside New York. We’ve also freshened our list of Other News Management Openings.
There are a few management changes in Names in the News, and links to a few article that you may find interesting if you missed them this week.
And there are two obituaries, including one of a long-ago ND who was once challenged on how he would fill the time when he expanded his station’s newscast to a whopping….45 minutes.
All that and more below.
New News Director Openings:
WNJU-TV, New York, NY…Friday was JOSE MORALES‘ last day as ND for this Telemundo o-and-o. He was ND there for 5+ years. More in this story from Media Moves.
Comings
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV…veteran news director RON COMINGS was among the victims of a mid-week ‘staff reduction’ by Nexstar, which took over this CBS affiliate in February. The Las Vegas Review Journal puts the number of cuts at 18 in this article. Ron had been ND here since 2006. He’d earlier been an ND in Honolulu and Sacramento, but began his career as a reporter, working in Minneapolis and Florida.
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA…we told you earlier this week that JIM GILCHRIEST is leaving this Media General owned NBC affiliate to become ND for WSMV-TV in Nashville. More on that below.
WFIE-TV, Evansville, IN…after 27 years at the station, the last four as news director, SCOTT GALLOWAY is taking a promotion within Raycom to become ND at WTOC-TV in Savannah. Details below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Gilchriest
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN…as noted above, JIM GILCHRIEST will be the next ND for this Meredith-owned NBC affiliate. He spent four years as ND at WAVY-TV in Norfolk and four years before that as ND for KTVB-TV in Boise. He’s worked in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Rochester, NY, and began his career in radio news. At WSMV, Jim replaces MATTHEW HILK who spent more than eight years as ND before leaving in February. Matthew began last Monday as the Supervising Producer at CNN in Washington for “The Lead With Jake Tapper”.
Eldridge
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT…veteran newsman LEE ELDRIDGE started last month as the new news director for this Sinclair-owned CBS affiliate. Lee most recently worked as a news manager for KUSI-TV, the independent station in San Diego. He’s been an ND in Louisville, Chattanooga, Rochester, NY, and Greenville, NC, and has worked in Atlanta and Memphis. He replaces JENNIFER DAHL who was upped to Group News Director for Sinclair in January after four years as ND.
Galloway
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA…we told you earlier that SCOTT GALLOWAY has been named news director for this Raycom-owned CBS affiliate. Scott’s spent the last 27 years as Raycom’s WFIE-TV in Evansville in a variety of roles, including Chief Photographer, Assignment Editor, Assistant News Director, and the last four as ND. Scott takes over for JAN SMITH who left the station in May after five years as ND and ten at the station.
Placencia
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX…VERONICA PLACENCIA has been named ND for this Nexstar owned NBC station. It’s a return to KTSM for Veronica, who was born in El Paso and has spent her entire professional career there. She most recently has been the Assistant ND and Assignment Editor for the Univision station there. Here’s hoping she lasts longer than REY CHAVEZ who we told you in April was going to be the ND there, and then left in May.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Several Management Opportunities, RNN, Rye Brook, NY:
Regional News Network (RNN) is a privately owned enterprise based in Rye Brook, NY. Reaching more than six million homes throughout New York, New Jersey and Long Island, RNN is distributed on Verizon FiOS 1 News.
Due to a recent expansion, RNN is recruiting for a variety of weekend positions. Candidates must be able to work all shifts. Current open positions include Executive Producers, Producers, Assignment Editor, Technical Director, Editor and many other positions.
Please visit our website and apply online at https://rnn-tvcareers.silkroad.com/.
Please mention Rick Gevers as your source.
Assistant News Director, WCYB-TV, Bristol, VA:
WCYB-TV, Bristol VA-TN, serving the Tri-Cities DMA, seeks a dynamic Assistant News Director to join our #1 news operation.
Qualified candidates will have at least 3 years of television producing, assignment desk and/or assistant news director experience. The successful candidate must be an excellent writer and producer, have exemplary management and supervisory skills and exhibit a passion to cover local television news with a record of doing so with credibility and integrity.
The Assistant News Director will be someone who can craft shows, mentor young producers and be the standard-bearer of our “Getting the Facts Right”. As a steward of the brand, you will copy-edit and proofread reporter scripts in a manner consistent with that goal. You will also take charge in the producing of breaking news, severe weather coverage and select special programs. At every turn you must be competitive, energetic and a true team player. A degree in Broadcast Journalism or equivalent is preferred.
Send a cover letter, resume and a link to examples of your work which demonstrates in detail the qualifications listed above to hr@wcyb.com Subject: Assistant News Director.
No phone calls please.
WCYB-TV, 101 Lee Street, Bristol VA 24201 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 4/12/15)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 5/10/15)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 5/10/15)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 4/12/15)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KRCR-TV, Redding, CA (listed 4/19/15)
KECI/KCFW/KTVM, Bozeman, MT (listed 4/26/15)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 5/24/15)
KNTV, San Jose/San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 5/30/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (2 jobs, Inv/Spec. Proj. & newscast EP, revised 5/3/15)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 5/17/15)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 4/12/15)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, listed 5/3/15)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (Dayside EP, listing revised this week)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Dayside EP, listed 5/10/15)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 4/19/12)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 4/12/15)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (PM EP, listed 4/26/15)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted 5/24/15)
ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 4/26/15)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 5/10/15)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 4/12/15)
NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 5/24/15)
Obituaries:
SAM ZELMAN, who revolutionized local TV news by expanding it to a whopping 45 minutes when he was the ND at KNXT-TV (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles, died May 29th in Tucson at the age of 100. This Los Angeles Times story also covers his long career at CBS News and his role as one of the builders at CNN.
Our sympathy to VALERIE ROBERTS (EVANS) on the loss of her father, LEE ROBERTS ,who died May 27 at the age of 87. Valerie’s a former ND in the Flint/Saginaw market, and has worked in Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, and Grand Rapids. This obituary tells us that her dad’s Air Force enlistment papers were signed by JACKIE ROBINSON. Your kind note of sympathy reaches Valerie at: uvuli73@sbcglobal.net
Names in the News…and other things:
TvSpy is reporting that VALERIE FEDER has left her job as Assistant News Director for WCBS-TV in New York. She’s been there since 2007. Valerie’s worked for another NYC station, and in Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Tampa, and Chicago.
ALFREDO SANCHEZ has been promoted from EP to Assistant ND at KXTX-TV, the Telemundo station in Dallas. And while Alfredo is joining KXTX, IRIS RODRIGUEZ is leaving her job as a producer there to become the EP for KLTM-TV in McAllen, TX.
In case you missed it, the Denver Post recently profiled that city’s three new news directors. The full article is here.
Of some interest to folks in this part of the world, Dispatch Printing Company is selling its print products, including The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. The company says it will continue to own its two TV stations, WTHR-TV here in Indianapolis and WBNS-TV in Columbus. Click here to read the full story.
TVNewscheck says there is little change in its top 30 broadcast groups, which I’m betting you can’t recite in order. But you can study the list by reading the story.
Finally, best wishes for a speedy recovery to the self-proclaimed “Surly Editor” of Newsblues, MIKE JAMES, who is scheduled for knee surgery tomorrow morning.
General Manager News:
Two General Manager changes in Orlando this week.
Valet
We told you in an UPDATE a few days ago that SKIP VALET was leaving WKMG-TV (CBS) after six years as GM and 33 years at the company, beginning when I hired him as a production assistant at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville in 1982. He went on to be the ND there, in Orlando, and in Houston before returning to WKMG.
SHAWN BARLETT announced her retirement after nine years as GM for WFTV in Orlando. She’ll be replaced by PAUL CURRAN, VP/Sales for the Cox Media Group which owns that ABC affiliate.
And ERIC LAND is returning to Birmingham as GM for WBMA-TV. He’s a former GM for WIAT-TV in Birmingham, has been a GM in Tampa, Jacksonville (FL) and Buffalo and was the COO for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 7, 2015.
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
WNJU-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 *
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KYW-TV 1555 Hamilton St. Philadelphia PA 19130
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St. Miami FL 33178 *
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St. Durham NC 27701
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas NV 89102
KLAS-TV 3228 Channel 8 Drive Las Vegas 89109
WAVY-TV 300 Wavy St. Portsmouth VA 23705
KJRH-TV 3701 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa OK 74105
WFXR-TV 2618 Colonial Ave. S.W. Roanoke VA 24015
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St Toledo OH 43604
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WFIE-TV 1115 Mount Auburn Rd. Evansville IN 47720
KRNV-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WPTA/WISE-TV 3401 Butler Rd Ft. Wayne, IN 46808
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Blvd. Macon GA 31201
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus GA 31901
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 East Columbia MO 65201
KTVL-TV 1440 Rossanley Dr. Medford OR 97501
KTMF/KWYB-TV 2200 Stephens Ave. Missoula, MT 59801
WDHN-TV 5274 E. State Highway 52 East Dothan AL 36376
WHSV-TV 50 North Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KMVT/KSVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849
* Spanish language station