May 4, 2009
Greetings:
Two seems to be the key number in this week’s newsletter.
Sadly, TWO obituaries of former news directors, one a fairly recent ND in Florida and Minnesota, and one a long-ago ND in San Jose/San Francisco.
There are TWO new ND openings.
And there have been TWO new NDs named.
That means, by my count, 18 stations without a news director.
And there are THREE items in Names in the News.
All that and more following this week’s changes:
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL…JIM PLATZER is leaving this Block Communications owned NBC affiliate to become ND for WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC (more on that below). He’s been ND here since August, 2006.
KOBI-TV, Medford, OR…BILL KELLY is leaving this NBC affiliate after two years as ND. He’s taking a job (in another market) as an on-air meteorologist and anchor. Bill had been a meteorologist in Phoenix before returning to Medford last July for family reasons.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC…as mentioned above, JIM PLATZER will be the next ND for this Gannett-owned CBS affiliate. Jim’s currently the ND at WAND-TV in Decatur, IL, is a former ND for WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV, and has also worked in Johnstown and Altoona, PA, Mobile, AL, and spent seven years in Florida, working in both Orlando and Tampa. At WFMY, he replaces GINA KATZMARK who left the station in January after 3 1/2 years as ND.
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR…we’re a little late in reporting that GM MARK HATFIELD (a former ND) has assumed the NDs responsibilities here in addition to his GM duties. GARY DARIGOL was released from the station this past February for financial reasons. He’d been ND there since August 2007.
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OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
KRPC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/17/09)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 1/11/09)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/10/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (listed 3/8/09)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 4/3/09)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, listed 2/13/09)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (Morning EP, relisted 1/23/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 1/30/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, listed 1/30/09)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/23/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 1/16/09)
KITV, Honolulu, HI (listed 2/27/09)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 4/3/09)
SENIOR WEB PRODUCER:
WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 3/20/09)
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OBITUARIES
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 5, in Phoenix for former Tallahassee and Austin (MN) ND STEVE ROLLISON. Steve died Thursday, April 30th, in Phoenix. In addition to his ND stints in Tallahassee and Austin, Steve worked in the Quad Cities, served as VP/News for the News-Press and Gazette Group, and also sold satellite trucks for BAF. Steve was a decorated Vietnam war vet. He’s survived by his wife Sheri and two children. Visitation will be held from 9:00-10:30 AMat St. Mary’s Basilica, 400 E. Monroe, in Phoenix, (602-354-2100), with a funeral mass held at 10:30. Burial will be at a national cemetery in Phoenix.
ROGER ORR died April 18th at the age of 76. He had served as ND for KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco from 1958 until the mid 1960’s when he joined Pacific Bell as a spokesman. He also worked in Omaha and Austin, TX. You can learn more about his life and family in this obituary.
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NAMES in the NEWS:
One-time news director TERRY COLE is the new GM at Sinclair’s WEAR-TV in Pensacola, FL. Terry most recently has been the GM at sister-Sinclair station WGME-TV in Portland, ME. He’s a former ND in Tampa, Wichita, and Charleston/Huntington, WV, and also worked in Rapid City.
RANDY WINTER has assumed additional duties at Quincy Newspapers’ WAOW-TV in Wausaw, WI. His new title, effective July 1, will be Director of Station Operations. He has been Director of News and Operations, and will continue to oversee the news department. This new role for Randy comes with the retirement of longtime WAOW General Manager LAURIN JORSTAD who’s retiring after 36 years with the station. Randy’s email, if you’d like to congratulate him, is: rwinter@waow.com
KOAT-TV in Albuquerque has named REBECCA GAYLORD as its new Assistant ND. Rebecca has been the morning EP at KDVR-TV in Denver, and has previously worked in Dallas and St. Louis.
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, May 1, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77027
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento CA 95818
KDKA-TV One Gateway Center Pittsburgh PA 15222
KPTV/KPDX 14975 NW Greenbrier Parkway Beaverton OR 97006
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak Street Kansas City MO 64112
WSYX/WTTE-TV 1261 Dublin Rd. Columbus OH 43215
WJAR-TV 23 Kenney Dr. Cranston RI 02920
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WAFF-TV 1414 N. Memorial Pkwy. Huntsville AL 35801
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St. Waterloo IA 50703
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
KWQC-TV 805 Brady St. Davenport IA 52803
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KOBI-TV 125 South Fir St. Medford OR 97501
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308
Rick Gevers
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
317-769-7900 (phone)
317-769-7910 (fax)
rick@rickgevers.com
www.rickgevers.com
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