May 3, 2026
Greetings:
Only ONE ND change this week, a promotion at a Central Illinois CBS affiliate. And, as far as I know, NO new openings.
Our count of ND openings drops to 30.
We have TWO new ads for management positions at a powerhouse, family owned station in North Carolina, and are repeating ONE paid ad for an ND opening in the Pacific Northwest.
Be sure to check out BARRY NASH’s new ad, and be sure to click on it to check out his Substack post which contains some great graphics. And while you’re clicking, weather consultant TIM HELLER is offering help in improving your weather content without adding staff.
Sadly, FOUR obituaries, ONE for a Florida Assistant ND, TWO for former news directors, and ONE for the brother of a recently retired Missouri ND.
A former newsie ascends to the GM job at a top five market network o-and-o.
- More attorneys general have signed onto the antitrust suit attempting to block the Nexstar-Tegna deal. Surprisingly, several are Republican.
- CBS changes its London Bureau Chief admit reports that the outgoing chief clashed with BARI WEISS over coverage of Israel and Gaza.
- Her replacement has never worked in TV.
- The Gray Media/Allen Media Group deal has closed and we have a detail-less news release from Gray.
- A former Atlanta and Dayton ND is retiring after 22 years at ESPN.
- AP’s longtime media writer takes a buyout.
- And student from archivals Indiana University and Purdue University are honored for coming together to defend press freedom.
It’s a busy newsletter. Hope you enjoy it.
Newly Named News Director:
Gordon
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL…MARY GORDON has been promoted to news director for this Nexstar Media owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the Assignment Editor and Content Director and replaces MAGGIE GRINESTAFF. We told you two weeks ago Maggie was stepping down to spend more time with her young children. WMBD noted her departure in this story.
New News Director Openings:
Not aware of any new hires this week. If I’m wrong, please let me know by emailing me at: rick@rickgevers.com
Help Wanted Ads:
Senior Producer-Primetime Newscasts, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:
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Newscast Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:
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News Director, KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID:
- Live in the closest metropolitan destination to Yellowstone National Park
- Lead a team of journalists in the market’s #1 multi-platform newsroom.
- Work for a family-owned company with terrific employee-focused benefits
- Outdoor enthusiasts love the proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, relaxing natural hot springs, and fly fishing on the Snake River
NPG of Idaho, including the legacy stations for the Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID/Jackson, WY DMA and the dominant news leader in Eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming, has an exciting opportunity for someone to lead our news team as News Director. A year-round tourist destination with world-class recreational activities and quality of life few cities can match. We are a diversified company committed to its people and successful news organizations.
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The ideal candidate will be a visionary coach, and an effective communicator with a passion for the news business. Degree in Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, or related field is preferred. In addition, a minimum of four years of newsroom or related managerial experience is a must.
Successful candidates must pass a background check, drug test, and provide proof of vehicle insurance.
NPG of Idaho is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
No Phone calls please.
Click here to learn more and apply!
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 3/8/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 4/22/26)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 4/19/26)
WXOW-TV, Wausau, WI (listed 3/22/26)
KWES-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX (listed 3/1/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Sports EP, listed 3/29/26)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (Digital Content EP, listed 4/26/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 3/15/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 4/12/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/15/26)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/19/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 4/19/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 3/15/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 3/15/26)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 4/19/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/19/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 3/15/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 3/15/26)
WPRI/WNAC-TV, Providence, RI (AM EP, listed 4/19/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 3/15/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 3/15/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 3/29/26)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 4/19/26)
WTEN/WXXA-TV, Albany, NY (Lifestyle show EP, listed 3/29/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (Morning EP, relisted 4/19/26)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Evening EP, listed 3/29/26)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (listed 3/22/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 3/15/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 3/15/26)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/2/36)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 5/3/26:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Producer, Nighttime Newscast, see ad above!)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Newscast Producer, see ad above!)
Relisted 4/19/26:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 4/12/26:
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (GM of Student Broadcast Media and Instructor)
Listed 4/12/26:
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital News Manager)
Obituaries:
Cavazos
WWSB-TV (ABC) in Sarasota, FL, is mourning the loss of assistant news director JOHN CAVAZOS who died Saturday, April 25th at the age of 63. Here’s the story from the station’s website. He’s a former news director in Burlington, VT, worked twice on Boston, for several stations in Tampa, and also worked in Jacksonville and Harlingen, TX. John’s full career history is here.
Holston
We’re a little tardy in reporting that MARK HOLSTON, who spent 15 years as news director and anchor for KCFW-TV in Kalispell, MT, died back in February. He was 79. Mark later worked in public relations for the Flathead Basin Commission but gained acclaim as a music writer and historian, primarily in jazz music. Mark also served on several boards. Learn more in this obituary.
Lawyer
A one time news director for the Christian Broadcasting Network, RICHARD “DICK” LAWYER died in late April. at the age of 80. He worked for CBN for about two years, but may be better remembered (especially if you ever worked in the station) for having spent more than four decades working for the AP in Pennsylvania, serving as broadcast editor from 1972 until 2014.
Clyde H.
I’m sorry to report that CLYDE HOLLIDAY, brother of long time St. Louis newsman ART HOLLIDAY, died April 13th. Clyde was 79 years old and sadly lost his son just a few months before he passed. Regular readers know that Art retired last year after 46 years at KSDK-TV in St. Louis, where he started as the weekend sports anchor and ended as news director. Your kind note of support can be sent to Art by clicking here.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
The never ending saga of the proposed Nexstar acquistion of Tegna took yet another turn this week when five more attorneys general joined the federal antitrust suit in an attempt to block the deal. Notably, three of the newcomers are Republican.
The New York Post says CBS News canned London Bureau Chief CLAIRE DAY after she clashed with Editor in Chief BARI WEISS over coverage of Israel and Gaza. The network wasted little time in replacing Day, naming SHAYNDI RAICE to the job. Raice is a 16 year veteran of The Wall Street Journal who, notably, like Weiss, has not previously worked in TV.
Gray Media and BYRON ALLEN‘s company Allen Media Group closed on a long ago announced deal in which Gray is buying some of Allen’s stations. Oddly, the Gray news release was remarkably devoid of details. Fortunately, TheDesk.net filled in those pesky facts.
Roberts
DAVE ROBERTS, who started in local news and served as a news director in Dayton and Atlanta, is retiring in August after more than 22 years at ESPN and 50 years in our business.. His current title is (take a deep breath here) ESPN Executive Vice President, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment. That lengthy title covers, as you might expect, a wide variety of duties.
Longtime Associated Press media writer DAVID BAUDER has taken a buyout from the wire service. His last day was Thursday and one of his last stories was about a photographer who is fascinated by things that evoke a time gone by…or about to pass into history. Like newspaper offices.
You probably don’t need to be a big sports fan to know that Indiana University and Purdue University are arch-rivals. But students at the two schools bonded together to defend press freedom and were honored this week by the SPJ. The Indianapolis Star explains what they did, while this item from SPJ explains the award.
General Manager News and Notes:
Second week in a row with just one GM move, but it’s a big one. There’s also a new president for a small company.
Morris
ABC has named JOHN MORRIS as President and General Manager of its Philadelphia o-and-o, WPVI-TV. He’s been the Vice President of Multiplatform Programming for ‘PVI. But he began at the station as a news writer before advancing to producer and later executive producer. He replaces BERNIE PRAZENICA who retired in January after 17 years as GM and 40 at the station.
I’m just guessing here but would assume that near the top of John’s to-do list is finding a new news director. We told you in March that TOM DAVIS left after 15 years as ND and the previous seven as assistant ND.
Vernon
Meanwhile, Draper Media named BILL VERNON as its new President. He’s been the VP there since late 2024 and first joined Draper in 2020. If you’re not familiar with Draper, the company owns seven TV properties and 12 radio stations across Delaware and Maryland, including WBOC-TV (CBS) in Salisbury, MD. He replaces CRAIG JAHELKA who retired earlier this year.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 3, 2026:
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
WCAU/WWSI-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Avenue Seattle, WA 98121
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1001 Highlands Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St Spokane WA 99223
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way. Jackson, MS 39209
WNDU-TV 54516 State Road 933, South Bend, IN 46637
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KSNT/KTKA-TV 6835 NW HWY 24 Topeka, Kansas 66618
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KIFI-TV 1915 N Yellowstone Hwy Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (see ad above!)
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WLUC-TV 177 US-41 East, Negaunee, MI 49866
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station