November 8, 2026
Greetings:
Happy post-election week.
And a busy week it was, with FIVE news director openings and TWO newly named news directors.
That means our count of open ND jobs jumps to 25.
There are THREE interesting paid help wanted ads this week.
- A Senior Director of Content and Innovation at Nexstar
- An assistant ND job at a family owned station in a beautiful place to live.
- And a Marketing position at a family owned station in Minnesota that ight be perfect for anyone you know who’s been impacted by layoffs.
And friend BARRY NASH says Your People are Your Brand in his newest column. Click on his ad just below for more.
Also in tonight’s newsletter:
- Former ND STEVE COHEN offers his perspective on his unsuccessful run for Congress.
- EMILY BARR wonders about political spending and what the future holds.
- A longtime Ohio media writer looks at the past…current…and future of a legendary Cincinnati station.
- Lots of GM changes.
- And TWO obituaries, including one for the man thought to be the model or inspiration for the RON BURGUNDY character in the movie Anchorman. We’ll got a video of WILL FERRELL discussing that.
Finally, thanks to those who sent a nice note after last week’s mention of an event at the School of Journalism at my alma mater, the University of Missouri. Appreciate the note, and a reminder that it we can do something, you can, too, even if it’s at a smaller scale.
Lots more in this week’s newsletter….read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Gray
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…BRAD GRAY moves within Tegna to become the next news director for this ABC affiliate. Here’s the note from GM DAN BAYLOG. Brad is currently the Assistant ND at sister Tegna station WTHR-TV (NBC) in Indianapolis, and has also worked in Chicago and Atlanta. He replaces ASHLEY TALLEY who left earlier this fall to become ND for Tegna’s WWL-TV (CBS) in New Orleans.
Appleby
KOKH-TV, Oklahoma City, OK…this Sinclair owned FOX station reached across the border to fill its open ND position. DAN APPLEBY was most recently the regional news director at CTV Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here’s the note that went to staff, and here’s Dan’s Linkedin page. You’ll see he’s also worked at several US stations. Dan replaces BARBARA MERCKX who left this summer after nine months as ND.
New News Director Openings:
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX…this Nexstar owned CW station is looking for a news director to replace LIZ ROLDAN. We told you three weeks ago that Liz was returning to Miami as ND for Univision’s WLTV.
Kummer
KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN…we first reported MATT KUMMER’s departure from this Tegna owned NBC affiliate in Thursday’s UPDATE. Matt’s been ND there for just over a few. NEW THIS EDITION: Matt’s LinkedIn post about his departure and his future plans. He’s a former ND in Louisville, Knoxville, Green Bay, and earlier worked as an EP for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.
Mason
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, ND…AARON MASON has taken a job as director of media and public relations at Catholic Health and thus will leave this Scripps ABC station where he’s been ND for 5+ years and Assistant ND for almost seven years before that. Here’s Alan’s Linkedin post about his past and future and here’s the story from The Buffalo News. Alan’s also worked at WIVB-TV in Buffalo and in Elmira, NY.
Smith
WLEX/WTVQ-TV, Lexington, KY…JENNIFER SMITH is headed to WLWT-TV (Hearst/NBC) in Cincinnati as its new Assistant News Director. Details in this story from the WLWT website. She’s been ND at WLEX for more than three years and added ND duties for WTVQ earlier this year when Scripps acquired it. She’s also worked for another Lexington station and in Columbia, MO.
Lane
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO…another news director moves to a PR job here as MEGHAN LANE is moving across town (the state capital) to be communication director for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. She’s a 16 year veteran of the station, starting as a reporter and jomving through the ranks to evening anchor before she became news director in 2022.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR:
Imagine building your career in one of the most beautiful and dynamic regions in the Pacific Northwest. Central Oregon offers an incredible quality of life, with outdoor adventures, vibrant communities, growing cities, and a front-row seat to the issues shaping a region on the rise.
We are looking for an ambitious, creative Assistant News Director who wants to help shape the future of local journalism in Central Oregon. Someone who believes great journalism starts with great people, knows how to inspire and develop a team, encourages fresh ideas, and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo.
KTVZ-TV is part of News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG), a family-owned media company with a longstanding belief in the importance of local journalism. NPG believes in investing in its employees, supporting the communities it serves, and giving its stations the opportunity to make a difference. That commitment to people, community, and local storytelling is at the heart of who we are.
At KTVZ, we believe in being First. Local. Live. We strive to be more than a news source. We want to be a resource, an advocate, and problem solvers for the communities we serve. If you believe in local journalism, value being part of a company that believes in its people, and want to live and work in an extraordinary place, we invite you to explore a future at KTVZ News.
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Gregory Deffenbaugh, News Director at gregory.deffenbaugh@ktvz.com
Marketing, Community and Creative Services Director, KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN:
Hubbard Broadcasting’s KAAL ABC 6 News in Rochester, MN is seeking a highly organized, creative, and community-focused professional to serve as our Marketing, Community & Creative Services Director. This leadership position is responsible for leading the station’s marketing, community outreach, event planning, brand management, and creative services efforts.
The ideal candidate is both a relationship-builder and a creative storyteller who can strengthen KAAL’s connection with the communities we serve while developing impactful promotional campaigns across television, digital, social, and community platforms. This individual will serve as the station’s primary coordinator for community engagement, marketing initiatives, station promotions, and creative services projects.
Rochester, MN is a fast growing, affluent, diverse community in SE Minnesota. Home of the Mayo Clinic, repeatedly ranked as the world’s best hospital, Rochester is a highly educated city with rich cultural amenities only 90 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul. A safe community with great schools and a high quality of life-Rochester has been named the most livable city in America multiple times.
To see the full job description and to apply, please click here.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WUPA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Morning AND, listing revised 9/27/26)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 10/25/26)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 11/8/26)
KSBW/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Ass’t. Content Director, listed 11/8/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 11/1/26)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 10/4/26)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 10/25/26)
KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR (listed 11/8/26, see ad above!)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 9/13/26)
WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA (Digital EP, listed 9/27/26)
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/13/26)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/1/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 11/1/26)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 11/1/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (relisted 9/27/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/4/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/13/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/20/26)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/13/26)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (AM EP, listed 9/13/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (Senior EP, listed 9/13/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 11/8/26)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/7/26)
WIVB/WNLO-TV, Buffalo, NY (Morning Daypart Mgr., listed 11/1/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 9/13/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/13/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 11/8/26)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 9/13/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 9/7/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 9/27/26)
WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN (listed 11/8/26)
KWES-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX (listed 9/13/26)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (Digital Content EP, listed 10/4/26)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 11/1/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 11/8/26:
Nexstar, Irving, TX (Senior Dir. of Content and Innovation, see ad above!)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Executive Reporter)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (Digital Manager)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (Executive Reporter)
Listed 11/1/26:
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (Marketing, Community & Creative Services Dir., see ad above!)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Community Connection Coordinator)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (Executive Reporter)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (Executive Reporter)
Multiple Scripps Stations (Senior Mgr. of Community Connections)
Listed 10/25/26:
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk. VA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KSTM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Media Manager)
Relisted 10/25/26:
KLBK-TV, Lubbock, TX (Digital Media Director)
Relisted 10/18/26:
WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
Relisted 10/11/26:
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)
Listed 10/11/26:
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital Media Manager)
Listed 9/27/26:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (Story Desk Manager)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Executive Reporter)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Story Desk Manager)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (Digital Media Manager-Newsroom)
Relisted 9/20/26:
KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Mgr. of Coverage and Content)
Obituaries:
Mason
LINDA MASON, a trailblazing journalist who served in a variety of top executive roles for CBS News for more than 47 years. died October 28th. She was 84. CBS remembered her in this obituary which details her many jobs there.
Greene
HAROLD GREENE died this week at the age of 82. He anchored at several stations in San Diego and Los Angeles and was also the first anchor and ND for KCST-TV (now KNSD-TV) in San Diego. He also worked for San Diego’s KGTV, which remembered him here. And he was thought by many to have been the inspiration for the RON BURGUNDY character in the movie Anchorman. You’ll enjoy this tale from the actor who played Burgundy, WILL FERRELL.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Cohen
Thursday’s UPDATE told you that a longtime former San Diego News Director STEVE COHEN came up short in his bid for Congress in California’s 50th District. Steve told me he got caught up in the ‘Blue Tsunami’ that washed across much of the station. NEW THIS EDITION: Steve’s Linkedin post ‘Reflections on Running for Congress’. And UPDATED THIS EDITION: the latest vote count (they’re slow in CA!)
Speaking of elections, former Graham Media CEO and onetime GM at WLS-TV in Chicago EMILY BARR wrote this column for TVNewsCheck about election spending in 2026 and what lies ahead.
Are the changes at Scripps’ WCPO-TV (ABC) in Cincinnati a new beginning or the beginning of the end? Longtime Cincinnati media writer JOHN KIESEWETTER ponders that question in this very interesting look at the history of this storied station and its many recent changes.
General Manager News and Notes:
Lots of GM news this week:. TWO retirements, and THREE new jobs for GMs.
Hensley
BRETT HENSLEY, the longest serving general manager at a Hearst television station, is retiring at the end of the year. He’s been general manager for KOCO-TV (ABC) in Oklahoma City since 1999 and earlier ran KHBS/KHOG-TV (also ABC) in Ft. Smith, AR.
Cope-Walton
At Graham Media’s WJXT-TV (independent) in Jacksonville, FL, TERRI COPE-WALTON has announced her retirement and will leave the station later this month. She’s been GM there since 2021 and before that was ND for WRTV (ABC) here in Indianapolis. Her station bio has more on her background.
TOM CURY adds duties of GM for another station as he will oversee KVUE-TV (ABC) in Austin. He’s already running KENS-TV (CBS) in San Antonio, a job he’s held since 2015.
Gray Media has promoted JAIME ESKRIDGE to general manager for WLFI-TV (CBS) in Lafayette, IN. She’s been the interim GM there since returning to the station after a stint on the digital team for previous owner Allen Media.
JENNIFER LOPEZ has been named GM for Sinclair’s Boise TV stations, KBOI-TV, KYUU-TV and KNIN-TV. She had worked there before moving to Seattle where she worked for Sinclair’s KOMO-TV, rising to sales manager.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 8, 2026:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
KYW-TV 1555 Hamilton Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WJBK-TV 16550 W 9 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075
KARE 11 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis, MN 55427
Spectrum News 13 & Bay News 9 20 N. Orange Ave. Orlando, FL 32801
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
WKBW-TV 7 Broadcast Plz, Buffalo, NY, 14202
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
WLEX/WTVQ-TV 1065 Russell Cave Rd, Lexington, KY, 40505 (internal candidates only)
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
KLKN-TV 3240 South Tenth Street, Lincoln NE 68502
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
WQOW-TV 5545 State Highway 93, Eau Claire, WI 54701
KRCG-TV 10188 Old Highway 54 North, New Bloomfield, MO 65063
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
WUTR/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Road Utica, NY 13502
WHSV-TV 50 North Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station