October 21, 2018
Greetings:
Remember how slow our reports have been the last few weeks.
Not this week!
Not with FOUR new news directors (all in top 35 markets), and THREE new ND openings, TWO in top 30 markets. One of those ND openings is at a top ten network o-and-o, and the opening was created because the incumber is off to be a GM.
Our list of open ND positions eases down slightly to 29.
ONE of those openings is featured in this week’s only Paid Help Wanted ad.
TWO obituaries this week, one of a veteran news director and one of a founder of NABJ.
And we have many items in Names in the News, including a lengthy New Yorker Magazine look at Sinclair Broadcasting.
Read on for more!
Newly Named News Directors:
Sepulveda
WVEA/WVEN-TV, Tampa and Orlando, FL…ÁNGEL SEPÚLVEDA returns to Entravision as news director for its stations in Tampa and Orlando. He’ll be based in Orlando but travel to Tampa every week. Angel once worked in Orlando as a producer and has consulted for Telemundo. Media Moves has the full story here.
Hostetter
KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, PA…KATHY HOSTETTER will be the next ND for this CBS o-and-o. She’s been the ND at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis for the past 5 1/2 years. Kathy told me her husband BEN, a Pennylsvania native, is taking a new job there. And she knows KDKA GM JAY HOWELL from when both worked for LIN Media. Kathy’s been an ND in Louisville, Norfolk and Ft. Wayne, and has worked in San Jose/San Francisco and Grand Rapids, MI. At KDKA, she replaces ANNE LINABERGER whose departure in August came after 8 years as ND and 19 at the station.
Carter
WTNH-TV, New Haven/Hartford, CT…it appears you can go home again…and again…as CHUCK CARTER gets the big office in his third time at this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the news release. The move reunites him with GM RICH GRAZIANO: they’ve worked together at another Hartford station and in New York. Chuck was the Assistant ND here until June, when he left for the EP job at WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, and he’d been a producer at WTNH earlier in his career. Chuck replaces KEITH CONNORS who left in July to become ND for cross-town rival WFSB-TV.
Clark
KCTV, Kansas City, MO…another ND hire with the initials CC (why yes, you’re right, we ARE scrambling for unusual angles) as CASEY CLARK has been named ND for this Meredith owned CBS affiliate. KCTV GM CHUCK PODUSKA told the staff via email. Casey’s been the ND for Hubbard’s WHEC-TV in Rochester for the past 3 1/2 years, and has worked in markets all over the country. Casey replaces SCOTT LEVY who left in August after two years as ND.
New News Director Openings:
McClain
WAGA-TV, Atlanta, GA…we’re always pleased to report the promotion of a news director to general manager, and such is the case as MIKE McCLAIN is being promoted to GM for sister FOX o-and-o WJZY/WMYT-TV in Charlotte. He’s been ND at WAGA for eight years, earlier served as ND for FOX owned stations in Tampa and Birmingham, and began his career as a news photographer.
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN…we told you above that KATHY HOSTETTER is leaving this Dispatch owned NBC affiliate after 5 1/2 years to become ND for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY…and we also told you above that CASEY CLARK will leave to become the next ND for KCTV in Kansas City. Casey was ND for this Hubbard station for more than three years.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN:
Knoxville ABC Affiliate WATE, a Nexstar Station, is seeking a News Director. Station produces 7 hours of local news and programming daily M-F and 10.5 hours on the weekends in addition to a multitude of special events and remote broadcasts annually in addition to continuous local news and weather through an extensive digital presence.
Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee, which provides tremendous opportunities for recruiting, partnerships and issue-oriented news content. Our robust community proximity to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains provide excellent quality of life.
Successful candidate will be an experienced journalist, possess excellent leadership skills, have a demonstrated ability to hire well and train, motivate and inspire news staff. Must have 3 years’ experience as a News Director or Assistant News Director, experience overseeing successful remote productions, excellent writing skills and the ability to work cohesively with other departments throughout the station. A comprehensive understanding of traditional and digital platforms is a must.
Manages all aspects of the News Department (other than Production.)
* Plans and manages staffing, training, and performance evaluations for the News Department.
* Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
* Works with other senior station leaders to establish and reach station goals.
Requirements & Skills:
* Experience guiding, directing and motivating subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
* Ability to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills.
* Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
Apply online by clicking here. No phone calls please.
Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 9/23/18)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 9/3/18)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/26/18)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 10/14/18)
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (listed 10/7/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 9/3/18)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/9/18)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (new listing this week)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/30/18)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (relisted 9/9/18)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (AM EP, relisted 10/14/18)
WFAA-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (listed 10/14/18)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (Dayside EP, listed 9/9/18)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (PM EP, new listing this week)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 9/9/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 9/16/18)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 10/14/18)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (AM EP, listed 9/9/19)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (PM EP, listed 10/7/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, relisted 9/23/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (TWO openings, AM & PM, listed 8/26/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, listing modified this week)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 9/23/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (TWO EP openings, listing revised 9/9/18)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 10/14/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 9/3/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted this week)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted 10/14/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 10/14/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (new listing this week)
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
Listed 10/21/18:
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (PM Content Manager)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (AM Content Manager)
Listed 10/14/18:
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Content Manager)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Broadcast Director)
Listed 10/7/18:
Spectrum News Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (Assignment/Planning Manager)
Listed 9/3/18:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Editorial Content)
Listed 8/26/18:
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (Digital Content Manager)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Bradley
DON BRADLEY (real name: DON BURIAN) died Tuesday, October 16th. He was 73. Don was a news director in many markets, including New Haven/Hartford, Ft. Wayne, Waco, and Victoria, TX, and worked in many other markets. He began his career in radio, working in several markets. He’s survived by his wife of 49 years, Connie. Learn more about Don’s life and career in this obituary, written by his former colleague KENN VENIT.
Sanders
VINCE SANDERS, one of the founders of the National Association of Black Journalists, died October 10th in Central Florida, where he moved after retiring. He was 83 and lost a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This Orlando Sentinel obituary will fill you in on a long and interesting life.
Names in the News (and other items):
The New Yorker offers a lengthy look at what it calls the growth of Sinclair Broadcasting’s conservative media empire. It suggests the company has concentrated on smaller markets where its stations can have a big influence.
Houston
Old friend CARLTON HOUSTON will be leaving his gig as Assistant News Director for Tegna’s WUSA-TV at the end of the November book. Carlton told me he’s looking for a great new challenge. He’s a former ND in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, worked in news management in Tampa and Jackson MS, and on air in Kansas City, Norfolk, and Columbia, MO.
Kiriyama
GEORGE KIRIYAMA joins KTNV-TV (Scripps/ABC) in Las Vegas as Managing Editor. He’s been the Managing Editor at KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, CA for the past four years. George began his career as a reporter, working in Midland/Odessa, TX, Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids, Kansas City and San Francisco/San Jose.
JESSICA REMER joins WMC-TV in Memphis as Digital Content Manager. Jessica previously worked at KTUL-TV in Tulsa as a Digital Content Executive Producer. She will start later this month.
McHan
CANDACE McHAN returns to her native Georgia as Assistant News Director for Raycom-soon-to-be-Gray’s WALB-TV. She grew up watching WALB. Candace has been the Morning EP for WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers, and has also worked in Oklahoma City, Macon, GA, and for two stations in Tallahassee. More in this memo to the WALB staff.
GEORGE DUNSTER, a longtime news director in Lima, OH, is moving to Ohio to live with a daughter. He’s 86 now, and after 25 years at WLIO-TV, spent years working in local theatre. He’s enough of an icon in Lima to warrant this profile. Of note: George’s son SEAN followed him into TV, and served as ND for several stations, including WHIO-TV in Dayton before leaving the business last year.
And apologies to GERRY LANOSGA whose name I misspelled last week in reporting his renewed partnership with former colleague KATHLEEN JOHNSTON at Indiana University.
General Manager News and Notes:
We told you above that MIKE McCLAIN will be the next GM for FOX’s WJZY/WMYT-TV in Charlotte. He’s currently the ND for FOX’s WAGA-TV in Atlanta.
James
KEVIN JAMES has been promoted to General Manager of Meredith’s Phoenix duopoly, KPHO/KTVK-TV. He’s been sales manager there and succeeds ED MUNSON who is retiring.
And Meredith promoted the GM of its Las Vegas station, TODD BROWN, to Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. He’s worked at KVVU-TV for 16 years and has been GM for six.
Sinclair has named PETE MONFRE GM of its Milwaukee station, WVTV.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 21, 2018:
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
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
KXAS-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76155
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20016
WAGA-TV 1551 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Pl, Indianapolis, IN 46278
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917 (see ad above!)
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria Tulsa, OK 74105
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street. Green Bay, WI 54301
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WHEC-TV 191 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323 Tyler, TX 75701
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas RD Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WTVA-TV P.O. Box 320 Tupelo, MS 38802
KRCG-TV, 10188 Old Highway 54 North. New Bloomfield, MO 65063
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute, IN 47808
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
**: Spanish language station