October 9, 2016

Greetings:

I apologize in advance for any typos or non-coherent portions of this week’s newsletter, written as it was while I was trying to watch the Presidential Debate.

And there was a fair amount to write about, with THREE new news director openings, and TWO newly named news directors. Those changes raise our list of openings to 21.

FOUR of those openings are featured among our FIVE help wanted ads.

I’m sorry to report the passing of longtime newsman MILT WEISS, who died this week at the age of 69. We have more on that below. And there are a few news manager changes in large markets, and we have details on two GM shuffles at Media General.
samfull10-9-16

Newly News Director Openings:

WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL…MIKE RAUSCH is leaving this Media General but soon to be owned by Nexstar CBS affiliate after seven years as ND. He’s joining KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs, CO, as ND. More on that below.

KAPP/KVEW-TV, Yakima/Kennewick, WA…these ABC affiliates are advertising for a new news director…on Craigslist. JOAN LUCAS left in August after a year on the job, according to her Linkedin bio.

WTVA-TV, Tupelo, MS…STEVE ROGERS has left this Heartland Media owned NBC affiliate after less than a year as news director. He had been a reporter there for a few months before being promoted.

And while not new openings, please note paid help wanted ads below for ND jobs at WTEN-TV in Albany, NY, KESQ-TV/CBS Local 2 in Palm Desert, CA, and WAND-TV in Decatur, IL.

Newly Named News Director:

KINC-TV, Las Vegas, NV…ANGEL COVARRUBIAS will be the next ND for this Entravision o-and-o. He’s been the ND for KLDO-TV, the Univision station in Laredo. At KINC, he’s replacing RAFAEL HENRÍQUEZ who moved to Orlando as Assistant ND and Executive Producer at WVEN-TV.  More from Media Moves.

Rausch

Rausch

KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…as mentioned above, MIKE RAUSCH is leaving WKRG-TV in Mobile to be the next news director for this News Press & Gazette owned ABC affiliate. The move reunites Mike with KRDO GM TIM LARSON: they worked together at WIVB-TV in Buffalo in the 80’s, when Tim was the ND and Mike the Assistant ND there. We have the memos to both newsrooms from Tim and WKRG GM MIKE BUNTING. And we have more on Mike’s background here. At KRDO, he replaces JENE NELSON who left in June after two years as ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

wtenlogo

News Director, WTEN-TV, Albany, NY:

ABC affiliate WTEN-TV in Albany, NY has an immediate need for a News Director.

WTEN also operates a JS&S agreement with WXXA (FOX). Responsibilities include managing a news operation that provides news product to both WTEN and WXXA. Ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills along with a passion for multi-platform news distribution. Knowledge of branding and marketing is essential. Must be able to create and maintain a positive, focused, and competitive culture within the News Department. Work ethic and in-depth knowledge of news coverage will be closely examined.

Experience requirements are minimally an assistant news director. Education requirements are minimally a four year degree in Journalism, Communication, or closely related field.

Qualified candidates should apply online at www.MediaGeneral.com or email resume and cover letter to hr@news10.com.

Drug screen and background check required. Young Broadcasting of Albany is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

wand-logo

News Director, WAND-TV, Decatur, IL:

WAND-TV (DMA #85) has an immediate opening for a News Director.

We are looking for a candidate with at least 3+ years of experience as a News Director or Assistant News Director.

We want a leader who has knowledge, passion, and the ability to make critical decisions quickly. The newsroom will be yours to build and improve. We are a good news operation that is looking to become an exceptional news operation. Since WAND is a privately owned company, our staff is free from the restraints that can come with a company beholden to board members and shareholders. You will have a lot of freedom and only have to report directly to the Station President.

WAND is the perfect place to build a solid career. Decatur is centrally located in a tri-phenated market with the Illinois capital to the west and the world-renowned University of Illinois to the east. Decatur’s low cost of living, great schools and low crime rates makes it a perfect place to raise a family. In addition to its own growing downtown area, Decatur’s central location means it’s a short drive to several medium and major cities that have all of the amenities, including a few hours to either Chicago or St. Louis.

If you have what it takes to bring our news operation to the next level, email your resume to chris.yeagle@wandtv.com

WAND-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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News Director, KESQ-TV/CBS Local 2, Palm Springs, CA:

The Gulf California Broadcast Company in Palm Springs, CA currently seeks applicants for the position of News Director for KESQ (ABC), CBS Local 2 and KUNA-TV (Telemundo).

Job Description: The News Director is responsible for the execution of the stations brands in all forms for our news product. The News Director provides the vision and leadership to make our stations the best source of news, weather and information in the Palm Springs market. The ND is responsible for the overall supervision and development of the News Department staff, providing direction in story selection, storytelling and coverage in all aspects of the on air news product as well as on all digital platforms.

Qualifications include: A minimum of five years’ experience in a leadership role in multi-platform journalism. In addition, excellent time management skills, effective communication skills, an ability to work in a high stress, fast paced environment with multiple daily deadlines, good organizational skills, and excellent audience research based news judgment is required. A Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism or a related field is preferred.

Candidate must pass a drug test and background check and a valid driver’s license is required.

The Gulf California Broadcast Company operates a state-of-the-art facility. The historic Palm Springs market offers a desirable lifestyle and is located in the beautiful Coachella Valley.

Please send cover letter and resume to:

Gulf California Broadcast Company
Attention: Catherine Ferguson
31276 Dunham Way
Thousand Palms, CA 92276

Or email resume to Catherine.ferguson@kesq.com

The Gulf California Broadcast Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Posting closes when position is filled.

wfftlogo

News Director, WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN:

If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with newsroom leadership experience, then we are interested in speaking with you. Our News Director will focus on building an energetic, skill-rich, and innovative team that can gather and deliver the best local news content to the Ft. Wayne market. This is a great opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competitve and accomplished newscast that has earned four Emmy nominations and twice awarded Best Newscast.

The successful candidate must have an ability to coach reporters to be enterprising with their story generation, as well as compelling and relevant with their content. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional leadership are a requirement.

Fort Wayne is located in northeast Indiana and is the second largest city in Indiana and the 76th largest city in the country. The Fort Wayne market is an extraordinary place to live and work, offering affordable living and an active lifestyle. Fort Wayne has been honored with several awards for quality of life and is a multiple winner of the All American City Award.

Please send resumes and support materials to:

WFFT Fort Wayne
Attn: Bill Ritchhart
3707 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Britchhart@wfft.com

Nexstar Broadcasting is an equal opportunity employer.

Kshb Logo

Assistant News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:

Scripps-owned NBC affiliate KSHB is looking for a strong leader with a proven track record of success. Our newsroom has won Overall Excellence in the Midwest Regional Emmy competition the past two years. Our investigative work in covering a restaurant explosion two years ago earned us a DuPont Columbia Award.

Our passion for journalism has taken us all across the country, and to Afghanistan, Honduras and Canada. Kansas City is one of the best severe weather markets. We have the tools and the people to lead the market in providing life-saving information at critical moments on all platforms.

Our culture is such that we fight for the privilege to be number-one in the market, and we are climbing. This role is a perfect launching ground to a future News Director role in Scripps. A recent KSHB Assistant News Director left here to become ND in Scripps’ largest market. Our GM is a legend in local and national journalism circles and has mentored successful news managers for decades. We will work as a station and a company to grow your career.

Here are specific areas where your leadership will be used:

* Oversee investigative team and big story coverage
* Lead team in news/digital collaboration to grow audience
* Work closely with reporters and anchors on enterprising stories, and on-air performance

Click here to view the full job description and to apply directly for this opportunity.

Visit http://scripps.com/careers to view other opportunities within The E. W. Scripps Company.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted 9/4/16)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (listed 9/4/16)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 8/14/16)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 8/7/16)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 10/2/16, see ad above!)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 8/21/16)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/4/16)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 8/21/16)
KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX (listed 8/21/16)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (relisted 9/4/16)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (2 jobs, Sr. EP & Spec. Projects Sr. EP, listed 9/25/16)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (Special Projects/Investigative, relisted 10/2/16)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior EP, listed 9/18/16)
KWGN-TV Denver, CO (listed 9/25/16)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (Dayside EP, relisted 10/2/16)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 9/18/16)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (Dayside EP, listed 8/28/16)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 8/7/16)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 8/14/16)
KPTV, Portland, OR (relisted 9/11/16)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (two openings, listing modified 9/18/16)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, relisted 9/18/16)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (AM EP, relisted 8/14/16)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted 10/2/16)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM EP, listed 8/28/16)
WFOX/WJAX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, listed 8/21/16)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (PM EP, relisted 9/4/16)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 9/25/16)
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/14/16)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/4/16)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listing revised 8/21/16)
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN (AM EP, listing revised 8/28/16)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (relisted 9/11/16)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (PM EP, relisted 8/21/16)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (relisted 9/25/16)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listing revised 9/11/16)

MANAGING EDITOR:

NBC Boston (relisted 9/18/16)

Obituary:

MILT WEISS died last Tuesday. He was 69. Milt was a News Director at KGO-TV in San Francisco and WEWS-TV in Cleveland. He also worked as a Senior Producer for World News Tonight. He later worked with his son DYLAN WEISS at a production company. Dylan posted this moving tribute to his father on Facebook.

Names in the News:

RENEE WASHINGTON heads west to become the next Assistant News Director for ABC’s KABC-TV in Los Angeles. She’s currently the Dayside EP for ABC’s WABC-TV in New York, and earlier worked for another ABC o-and-o, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. More in this memo from KABC News Director ROB ELMORE.

WTTG-TV in Washington has promoted KYLE CARMEAN to Assistant News Director. He’s been the News Content Manager for this FOX o-and-o.

General Manager Moves:

Two Media General General Managers are getting new assignments. You can read all about it in this memo from Media General COO DEB McDERMOTT.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, October 9, 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
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
WTEN-TV 41 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY 12204 (see ad above!)
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WSET-TV 2320 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg VA 24501
WCSH/WLBZ-TV One Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
WAND-TV 904 South Side Drive Decatur, IL 62521 (see ad above!)
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Road Fort Wayne, IN 46807 (see ad above!)

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
KMID/KPEJ-TV 3200 LaForce Boulevard Midland, TX 79711
KESQ-TV 31276 Dunham Way Thousand Palms, CA 92276 (see ad above!)
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. N Twin Falls, ID 83301
KEYC-TV 1570 Lookout Dr, North Mankato, MN 56003
KYOU-TV 820 W Second St. Ottumwa IA 52501

* Spanish language station

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