November 6, 2016
Greetings:
Good luck to you and your co-workers on Tuesday’s election coverage.
THREE newly named news directors headline this week’s report, while we have TWO new news director openings.
That takes our list of open news director jobs to 23.
In Names in the News, details about the retirement of a two-time news director, a newly named Senior EP in Atlanta, and we’ll get an update on the latest turn in the career for a former Texas news director.
Read on!
New News Director Openings:
Richards
WRGB-TV, Albany/Schenectady, NY…STEVE RICHARDS will leave this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate after the November rating period. Steve’s been the ND here for just under two years. He told me he was grateful for the opportunity and wished the station well. He spent 27 years at WHEC-TV in Rochester, NY, starting as a vacation relief photographer, rose to Managing Editor and Assistant ND before serving as ND from 2009 to 2013.
Doughty
KWES-TV, Midland, TX…JAMES DOUGHTY has left this Raycom Media owned NBC affiliate after about 15 months as ND. He’s also worked in Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lufkin, San Angelo and in San Antonio.
Updating a story from last week…we told you that WTOK-TV (Meridian, MS) news director JOHN JOHNSON was leaving that station but we didn’t know why. We’ve since learned he’s retiring after 32 years there. Best wishes!
Newly Named News Directors:
Commodore
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…TINA COMMODORE moves up within Cox Media Group and becomes news director for this FOX affiliate. She’s been the Managing Editor at Cox’s WSB-TV in Atlanta and earlier had been the Manager of Coverage and Content there. She’s also worked in Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati, as well as for CNN. At KOKI, Tina replaces SUZANNE NADELL who was also promoted, in her case to WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh.
Humber
Platte
KGMB/KHNL-TV, Honolulu, HI…SCOTT HUMBER is being promoted to news director of this Raycom Media owned duopoly. The long and detailed note from GM RICK BLANGIARDI is here. Scott’s worked here for 14 years in a variety of roles and earlier worked in sports related media in the Boston area. Scott will replace MARK PLATTE who’s leaving to return to the mainland where his children are in school after six years as ND here. Mark had worked for newspapers before switching to TV. His unusual background is here.
Stein
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL…MATT STEIN has been named news director for this ABC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND at WREG-TV in Memphis for the past 4 years. He’s also worked in Salinas/Monterey, CA, Seattle, Denver, Charlotte, and Syracuse. He’s also a past winner of Walter Cronkite Award for Political Journalism. Matt replaces JENNIFER HARDY who was promoted to news director for WWSB-TV in Sarasota, FL.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Managing Editor, WAND-TV, Decatur, IL:
WAND-TV News in Decatur, IL is seeking a Managing Editor who understands how to showcase news across all platforms to provide the best experience whether it is on TV, digital or social. The person will oversee communication and logistics, working directly reporters, photographers, producers, managers, and others to cover the news of the day. The Managing Editor should have excellent news judgment and leads a team of multi-platform talent. He or she works closely with the News Director and Assistant News Director to manage workflow, content distribution and coverage planning.
ROLE AND REQUIREMENTS:
Lead role in identifying daily news coverage and content for all WAND News platforms. Previous experience in some form of multi-platform content distribution is necessary.
Will supervise breaking news response and daily coverage.
Ability to bring strong sense of urgency, immediacy and real time strategies to digital content and project initiatives.
Proven record with breaking news, owning the big story and growing new opportunities in our multi-media environment.
Work with reporters and anchors on enterprising stories.
Ability to coach reporters on finding unique elements to differentiate their content depending on platform.
The ideal candidate thrives on taking a lead role in editorial meetings and is a multi-tasker with demonstrated leadership and skills in managing resources.
Candidate must be an excellent communicator, motivator and delegator and able to foster teamwork and collaboration. Strong organization and writing skills and ability to prioritize daily is a must.
Please rush your resume to Morgan Trump, Assistant News Director: Morgan.Trump@wandtv.com.
WAND-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Senior Executive Producer, KRIV-TV, Houston, TX:
Fox 26 KRIV, the Fox O&O in Houston, TX, is seeking a highly competitive and innovative applicant for the position of Senior Executive Producer to oversee day-to- day news operations in the gathering, execution and production of content across multiple-platforms. The primary responsibility of this position is to create timely and compelling content with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy and excellent production values. In addition:
Be a creative and innovative thinker, content developer and “show doctor”
Possess strong breaking news skills and control room experience
Work with news director to recruit talent and train staff
Be able to communicate goals, motivate the team and commit to measureable results
Collaborate with executive producer of special projects on unique and promotable content for newscasts, long-form specials and digital platforms.
Have the ability to produce extensive live coverage whether in the studio or on a live remote
Serve as liaison for news department with marketing team
Attend editorial meetings, maintain schedules and perform other duties as assigned
Candidate should have a minimum of 7 years’ experience in a medium to large market news operation producing local or network news. Minimum of 3 years management experience. Knowledge of control room automation, desktop editing, I-news, and Microsoft pc-based systems is preferred. Bachelor’s Degree required. Valid driver’s license required.
Click on this link to apply:
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. EOE/M/F/Veteran/Disabled
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 10/30/16)
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted this week)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (relisted this week)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 10/30/16)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (relisted 10/23/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 10/16/16)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 10/2/16)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 10/23/16)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/4/16)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 10/23/16)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (relisted 10/30/16)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted this week)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Spec. Projects Sr. EP, relisted this week)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (Special Projects/Investigative, relisted 10/30/16)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior EP, relisted 10/30/16, see ad above!)
KWGN-TV Denver, CO (listed 9/25/16)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Dayside EP, relisted 10/30/16)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 9/18/16)
KMOV-TV, St. Louis, MO (AP EP, listed 10/23/16)
KPTV, Portland, OR (relisted 9/11/16)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (two openings, listed 10/23/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (two openings, listing modified 9/18/16)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, relisted 9/18/16)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted 10/30/16)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, relisted 10/30/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (PM EP, relisted 9/4/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 9/25/16)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/4/16)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (AM EP, listed 10/30/16)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 10/23/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 10/30/16)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (relisted 9/25/16)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listing revised 9/11/16)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (new listing this week, see ad above!)
Names in the News:
MacDonald
Longtime Anchorage newsman STEVE MAC DONALD will retire in December. He’s been at KTUU-TV there since 1996 in a variety of roles, including two stints as ND. Steve’s also a former news director at KTVA-TV there.
DARCY BONFILS joins WGCL-TV in Atlanta as Senior Executive Producer. She’s been working at The Weather Channel and earlier worked for two stations in New York City.
Readers of, uh, a certain age will likely remember BILL GOODMAN, once a news director for KPRC-TV in Houston. He’s been named executive director of the Kentucky Humanities Council following a long career at Kentucky Educational Television. More here.
General Manager News:
JAMES BARONET is the new GM for Sinclair’s KSAS-TV in Wichita, KS. He had been a GM in Baton Rouge.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, November 6, 2016:
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
KTVT-TV 5233 Bridge Street, Fort Worth TX 76103
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
WIVB-TV, 2077 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14207
WTEN-TV 41 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road. Schenectady, NY 12309
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
WAND-TV 904 South Side Drive Decatur, IL 62521
WRCB-TV 900 Whitehall Road Chattanooga, TN 37405
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Drive New Bern, NC 28560
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Road Fort Wayne, IN 46807
KIMA/KEPR-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
KAPP/KVEW 114 N. 4th Street Yakima, WA 98901
WTVA-TV PO Box 320 Tupelo MS 38802
KX Network 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501
KARD/KTVE-TV 200 Pavilion Road W. Monroe, LA 71292
KWES-TV P.O. Box 60150 Midland, TX 79711
KESQ-TV 31276 Dunham Way Thousand Palms, CA 92276
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
WTOK-TV 815 23rd Ave. Meridian, Ms. 39301
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. N Twin Falls, ID 83301
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501