October 30, 2022
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Two announcements from Gray Television and the death of a Houston news director in today’s UPDATE.
Archer
Gray has created its own in-house consulting division and hired two industry veterans to manage it. The company hired CHRIS ARCHER as VP Research & Consulting: he’s held a similar job at SmithGeiger for the last 12 years, and had earlier been a news director in Honolulu and worked for KRON-TV in San Francisco in a variety of roles.
Calfo
And Gray hired a former SmithGeiger consultant, TONY CALFO, as its director of research. Tony has been at Screen Engine/ASI and Simple Opinions since leaving SmithGeiger in 2017. Both Chris and Tony will start their new jobs on January 1, as you will learn in this company news release.
But wait, there’s more! (A RON POPEIL tribute!)
Finch
Gray also promoted JAMES FINCH to Vice President of News Services. He’s been the company’s director of news services, managing vendor partnerships and content/resource sharing. He’ll add oversight of Gray’s in-house training program, He joined Gray when it bought Raycom: he had been ND for Raycom’s WBRC-TV (FOX) in Birmingham. More on James’ promotion in this news release.
Vazquez
Finally we close with the passing of longtime Texas newsman JERRY VAZQUEZ who lost his battle with cancer over the weekend. He was 54 and had been the ND for KTMD-TV (Telemumdo) in Houston since 2014. He earlier worked at KTRK-TV (ABC owned) in Houston. This obituary has complete details about Jerry’s work history and more.
I did not know him. After reading the obituary, I wish I had.
We’ll see you Sunday with our full report.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Another slow week, with just ONE new news director opening, and, again, NO new hires, leaving our list of open jobs at 21.
TWO of those 21 open jobs are featured in paid help wanted ads.
For the second consecutive week:
- No obituaries to share.
- ONE GM hire.
There’s one new Assistant ND and a correction for a mistake we (okay, I) made last week.
Read on to learn more.
Newly Named News Directors:
For the second consecutive week, I’m not aware of any new hires. Please let me know if I’ve missed something.
New News Director Opening:
Bliven
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA…congratulations to KEITH BLIVEN who was been promoted to director of operations for this Gray TV owned NBC affiliate. Keith has been the news director here since 2016, coming from WDSU-TV (NBC) New Orleans (where he has worked twice). He’s also worked in Jackson, MS (twice), as well as in Mobile and Tupelo, MS.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA:
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Fox 40 produces the most local news in the market plus executes on multiple special projects and a statewide weekly political show. You will lead and supervise all aspects of news, weather, sports and digital content and be a key part of the leadership team in this competitive Top 20 market.
Sacramento has it all when it comes to a top quality of life in Northern California.
We are looking for someone who has passion for the industry, is a proven leader, can lead a growing television station and has the desire to win the right way. You must also have a strong sense of collaboration.
To learn more and apply, just click here!
News Director, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Houston, Texas seeks a strong, dedicated, innovative, multi-platform content focused newsroom leader that grows both people and product. A successful candidate will have a proven track record of empowering people to successfully convert audience focused research into actionable strategic goals and is relentless and consistent in delivering results.
The News Director will oversee the entire operation of the News Department on all platforms (broadcast, digital, social, etc.), create and implement strategic plans for audience growth and newsroom operations, and build and maintain key relationships to foster a positive news image within the community.
The ideal candidate must have a minimum of five years news managerial related experience in television news, be an effective leader with the ability to address conflict quickly and directly and be organized and creative with the ability to motivate the news operation in a competitive market.
A degree in Communication/journalism is preferred.
At KPRC, our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative and recognize and reward achievement. Graham Media offers a generous benefits package that includes 401K and healthcare on day one!
To apply please submit cover letter, resume and references to VP & General Manager, Phil Lane at: jobs@KPRC.com
Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 10/23/22)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 10/30/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 9/25/22)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (relisted 10/23/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/11/22)
KAGS-TV, Bryan, TX (listed 9/11/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 9/5/22)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 10/23/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (relisted 10/30/22)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/23/22)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (EP Investigations, listed 10/9/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/9/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 10/30/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (2 openings, PM EP & MSJ EP, revised 10/30/22)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 10/30/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (Digital EP, listed 10/16/22)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (AM EP, listed 10/9/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 9/18/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, relisted 9/11/22)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed corrected 9/25/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 9/18/22)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 9/5/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 10/30/22)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 10/30/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 jobs, Spec. Proj. & EP, modified 10/9/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 9/25/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/30/22)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relised 10/30/22)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/30/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 9/11/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, relisted 10/30/22)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 10/30/22)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 9/25/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 9/25/22)
KREM-TV, Spokane WA (listed 10/9/22)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (relisted 9/18/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (PM EP, listing revised 9/18/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 10/2/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listing revised 9/18/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 9/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 9/18/22)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 9/18/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 10/30/22)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (listed 10/23/22)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 10/30/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 10/30/22)
News Center Maine, Portland/Bangor (relisted 10/30/22)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 10/2/22:
Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Listed 9/18/22:
WPTV, West Palm, Beach, FL (Senior Manager of Investigative Content)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 9/12/22:
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 9/5/22:
AccuWeather, State College, PA (Sr. Producer, Live Broadcast)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 9/5/22:
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News:
Blllau
JUSTIN BILLAU, a 21 year veteran of Gray’s WTVG-TV (ABC) in Toledo, gets another promotion, this time to Assistant News Director. He began at the station as a photographer, advanced to chief photographer, and then moved to news operations manager. ND MICHAEL BALDWIN posted this note on Linkedin which explains some of the reasons for his frequent promotions.
Apologies to MICHAEL O’NEIL. We told you last week that he was moving from Tulsa to Baltimore as an EP for WMAR-TV (ABC). That was right, but we (and when I say ‘we’ I really mean ‘I’) misidentified his former station in Tulsa. He was at KTUL-TV (Sinclair/ABC) there, not KJRH-TV (Scripps/NBC) as we reported.
General Manager News and Notes:
Fogarty
The only General Manager change comes from Savannah, GA, where general sales manager MARSHA FOGARTY has been upped to GM at Gray’s WTOC-TV (CBS). She’s been at the station since 1998, first as an account executive before being promoted to local sales manager. Marsha’s been the GSM since 2014 and replaces LARRY SILBERMANN a one-time ND and former Raycom Regional ND who’d been the GM for almost seven years.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 30, 2022:
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
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 (see ad above!)
KPNX-TV 200 East Van Buren Street Phoenix, AZ 85004
KTXL-TV, 4655 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820 (see ad above!)
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
KWCH-TV 2815 E. 37th Street North Wichita, KS 67219
WEHT/WTVW-TV, 800 Marywood Dr., Henderson, KY 42420
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B. Riley Rd. Bend OR 97703
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd North, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 South Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station