September 3, 2018
Greetings:
We’re a day delayed by the holiday weekend but we’re full of news, some of it very unusual.
First, there are THREE new news director openings, and, to the best of my knowledge, NO news directors were announced this week.
So, our list of open ND jobs jumps to 30.
FOUR of those 30 openings are among our SEVEN paid help wanted ads this week.
There’s an obituary for a veteran news director and anchor who worked in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and California. And more information on the death of a two-time Louisiana news director whose passing we first reported last week.
Names in the News has a number of items I think you’ll find interesting, including a veteran newsman using a Times Square Billboard in his attempt to find a life saving kidney! We have good news on another cancer fight, a number of comings and goings on the news management front, and we have a tale of a former ND and GM who found his next job…while driving Uber.
And we’ll remind you that the early registration deadline is coming for the next RTDNA/EIJ convention.
Newly Named News Directors:
After a few busy weeks, I’m not aware of any newly named news directors this week. We always appreciate your confidential email tips.
New News Director Openings:
KBLR-TV, Las Vegas, NV…XOCHITL SANDOVAL has left this Telemundo owned station after four years as news director. EP JAVIER PALMERA left as well. Media Moves has the full story here.
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…STEW HIRSCH has left this Heartland Media owned FOX affiliate after almost two years as news director. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Colson
WVII/WFVX-TV, Bangor, ME…CRAIG COLSON is leaving this Rockfleet Broadcasting owned ABC/FOX duopoly. This story from the local newspaper says his departure is due to unspecified health issues. He’s been ND here since 2012, but has been a fixture in Maine broadcasting for more than 30 years. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad below.
And while they are not new openings, please check out the Help Wanted Ads below for ND jobs at WTNH-TV in New Haven/Hartford, CT, and WOWT-TV in Omaha.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WTNH/WCTX-TV, New Haven/Hartford, CT:
WTNH News 8 and WCTX MyTV 9 are seeking an experienced and creative leader in the position of News Director.
The position of News Director will be accountable for budgets, strategic planning, brand building, and talent contracts. The ideal News Director will have experience working with unions, have a broad portfolio of experience in news operations, be instantaneous with decision-making; able to fluidly move between strategic and tactical activities; able to influence and engage multiple internal and external audiences; and be accomplished in building and developing a highly skilled, empowered, passionate news room staff.
Incumbents in this role will have strong business and financial acumen, demonstrating the ability to build and manage a budget. The News Director must possess and drive the highest code of ethical conduct, taking ownership for protecting the station and the license, and must be empathetic, an exceptional leader, and motivator.
For more information…and to apply…just click here.
News Director, WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN:
If you are an experienced broadcast journalist with newsroom management and leadership experience, then we are interested in speaking with you.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone to join and lead a highly competive 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.
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:
via email to: Britchhart@wfft.com
or via mail or overnight delivery to:
Bill Ritchhart
VP/General Manager
WFFT-TV
3707 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
WFFT is an equal opportunity employer
News Director, WVII/WFVX-TV, Bangor, ME:
Small market network affiliates seek a hands on, high energy leader who says “follow me”, charging everyday looking for news.
WVII (ABC) and WFVX (Fox) in Bangor, Maine need someone to lead the news team. It is not a deal breaker but would be a plus if you can anchor a newscast.
I want you to dazzle me with your ideas, knowledge and attitude. You will not be micromanaged. You are going to be given a great deal of freedom and will have a lot of FUN. Do you have joy in your heart? Are you a Happy Warrior?
There are somethings in Bangor, Maine you may miss. I am afraid we are short on Crime, Pollution, Traffic and Urban Blight. If you can live with that and want to live and work in a place where people are still friendly, we look forward to hearing from you!
Please send resume and salary history to: careers@wvii.com
Assistant News Director, KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA:
This is a rare opportunity for a passionate, exceptional leader to join KOVR, the CBS O&O in Sacramento.
Help set the agenda, oversee special projects, and lead the day-to-day operations of a content-driven, multiplatform newsroom. Innovate, create, and coach to bring content and execution to the next level.
Live minutes away in a great neighborhood. Play a short drive away from Lake Tahoe and Reno to the east, San Francisco to the west, and wine country in three directions.
Apply here:
AM Executive Producer, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL:
Winter’s coming….sooner than you think it is.
Tired of cold and snow?
Why don’t you come work in sunny Florida?
WJXT-TV in Jacksonville is looking for a Morning Executive Producer to help lead a strong newsroom in a fast-paced competitive environment. Excellent news judgment, storytelling and showcasing skills required. You will help manage anchors, reporters, producers, photographers and editors. Must be able to identify good stories, create leads, create urgency and create memorable moments. You will help oversee web and social media content. We need someone who can execute strategic plans while leading the presentation of content on air, online and in the world of evolving media. NOTE: All essential functions of this position are not necessarily described in this posting.
Qualifications:
Prior EP experience is a plus, but this is also a good move for an excellent newscast producer with at least five years of experience. You will be on-call as needed. Expect to work long hours, weekends and holidays as needed.
Requirements:
Prefer college degree in journalism or communications.
Contact: Send resume and newscast links to: kbonfield@wjxt.com
News Director, WOWT-TV, Omaha, NE:
Gray Television owned WOWT (NBC) in Omaha, NE is seeking a dynamic News Director to lead our legacy station to the #1 spot in the market.
WOWT is a modern facility equipped with state of the art technology, and with our leading broadcast news we provide award winning local news coverage, dedicated community service, and effective marketing solutions for area businesses.
Omaha is one of the most progressive cities in the Midwest with a strong market support by several national industries. The Omaha area boasts an array of top attractions that can’t be matched, from the World Famous Henry Doorly Zoo, to the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Omaha is popular for our downtown which is home to a revitalized riverfront and the Historic Old Market.
We are looking for a News Director who will be responsible for overseeing our content and day to day operations. The ideal candidate will possess newsroom leadership experience, a proven track record of success, meter market experience, and a vision for taking an award winning news product to an exceptional level. Must be a strong competitive leader with excellent communication skills, a successful track record in coaching and developing news staff, and growing audience across all platforms. The candidate must also demonstrate an understanding and enthusiasm for evolving digital, social and mobile media.
If you have the experience, talent and skills necessary to effectively lead, mentor, and motivate an outstanding group of journalists and news professionals please apply.
Please apply online by clicking here.
Assistant News Director, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO:
Have a passion for innovation and the ability to motivate a team to produce compelling content on air, online and on social media?
Then 5 On Your Side, the award-winning NBC affiliate in St. Louis, has an opportunity for you! We have an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director who can oversee our daily news operation, collaborating with the News Director and other news managers to make the most of our resources to win the day and grow audience.
The ideal candidate must be a creative thinker who understands what it means to “own” the big story, be the market leader in enterprise storytelling, and incorporate meaningful social conversation into everything we do. You’ll also help the News Director with the development and execution of long-term newsroom strategy.
Special projects experience is a plus. Prior newsroom management experience is a must.
If this sounds like the job for you, contact KSDK News Director Tiffani Lupenski at tlupenski@ksdk.com
To apply, click here.
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 8/12/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/15/18)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 8/26/18, see ad above!)
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC (relisted 8/19/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted this week)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted this week)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 7/1/18)
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA (listed 8/19/18)
WALB-TV, Albany, GA (listed 8/5/18)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 8/26/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 7/1/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 7/8/18)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (Senior EP, listed 7/1/18)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/1/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 8/5/18)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/19/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listing modified 7/15/18)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (PM EP, new listing 8/26/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (TWO openings, AM & PM, listed 8/26/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/1/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, relisted 8/19/18)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 7/15/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 7/8/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (THREE EP openings, listed 7/8/18)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/1/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 8/19/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 7/22/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 8/12/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 8/19/18)
OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
Listed this week:
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)
Listed 8/19/18:
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Director of National News Content)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Senior Digital Producer)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (Planning Editor)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (Digital Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Denney
LEE DENNEY, a one-time news director at WFIE-TV in Evansville who worked at stations around the country, died August 22, 2018, at the age of 77 at a hospice in Kentucky. During a 45 year career, Lee worked for two stations in Evansville, as well as Louisville, Dayton, Jacksonville, FL and San Diego. Many more details in this obituary. Lee mentored many young journalists, including my college classmate and good friend, former ABC/CNN/NBC correspondent MARK POTTER who told me how Lee helped his career in this note.
Korbel
We have more information on the passing of JOHN KORBEL whose death we reported last week. He’s a former news director in Lafayette and Lake Charles, LA who later taught at Loyola University in New Orleans and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. John died August 20th at the age of 75 after losing his battle with cancer. This obituary was published after our deadline last week.
Names in the News (and other items):
The early registration deadline for this year’s RTDNA/EIJ conference in Baltimore is fast approaching: you can save money if you register by this Wednesday, September 5th.
This year’s conference (September 27-29 in Baltimore) will be my 39th consecutive RTDNA conference, so obviously I find it valuable. And you can, too, when you attend sessions on many topics, including newsroom management and storytelling. (The storytelling sessions will be led by two of the best, CBS’s STEVE HARTMAN and KARE-TV’s BOYD HUPPERT.)
RTDNA chair-elect JERRY WALSH sent me this note noting some of the other highlights.
I hope to see you there.
Two people I likely first met at RTDNA conferences passed along updates this week on their battles against cancer and its consequences.
MARC WEINER, who stepped down as VP of News Development for FIOS1 News last March, is utilizing some unique tactics in his search for a new kidney, having lost his to bladder cancer. That includes this billboard in Times Square. Naturally, his quest is getting mainstream media coverage, including this story from WNBC-TV and the New York Post. If you can help Mark, know someone who can, or just want to wish him well, here’s his email: marcweiner01@gmail.com
Kalb
And newsman turned educator STEVE KALB shared good news in his battle against cancer, which we first told you about in February.
Two management hires at Scripps’ KMGH-TV in Denver:
GERARDO LOPEZ joins this ABC affiliate as its next Assistant News Director from KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
And JOSEPH PETERS has been promoted to Nightside executive producer.
Two significant news management departures from WJXT-TV, the Graham Media owned independent powerhouse in Jacksonville.
Redington
After 39 years at the station, MAL REDINGTON has retired. As you’ll read in this memo from News Director KATHRYN BONFIELD, Mal held a wide variety of jobs during his time at WJXT. Having worked with him there during my two years as Executive Producer/Assistant News Director, I can tell you that you’ll find no more upbeat and hard working person. Good luck in retirement, Mal!
Volpicella
And FRANK VOLPICELLA is also leaving WJXT, returning to his beloved Texas after a year as Managing Editor there. We’ll let him explain his plans in this note he sent me. The stint as Managing Editor was a return to ‘JXT for Frank, who worked there before stops as news director in Lexington, Huntsville, Austin, TX, and Atlanta. He also worked in Tampa.
WBTW-TV in Myrtle Beach has a new executive producer. It’s STEVE ROTH, who most recently worked as an evening producer at WBTV in Charlotte.
Marks
And under the category of ‘you never know how you’ll find your next job’, this note from longtime newsman and general manager (and past RTNDA chair) JEFF MARKS:
I am working now as a consultant for Widelity, the company that is assisting the FCC and stations that are changing channels due to the repack. Applying to the FCC for reimbursement of the costs related a channel change is a complicated process, and Widelity’s team takes the heartache out of it.
In what might be the ultimate networking story, I met the president of Widelity, DAVID WILEY, when I was driving Uber. During a short ride to the airport, we figured out we were in the same business, and out of that conversation came the opportunity to join the Widelity team. (Not much time for Ubering now.)
General Manager News and Notes:
ERIC DUNCAN has been named General Manager of Raycom Media’s KOLD-TV in Tucson, AZ. He’s currently GM for Raycom’s KXXV-TV which is being sold as part of the Gray-Raycom deal. More in this email from Raycom management.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, September 3, 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
WGN-TV, 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, IL 60618
KXAS-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76155
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KNXV-TV 515 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KDKA-TV 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd., #100 Pittsburgh, PA 15222
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510 (see ad above!)
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KBLR-TV 5000 West OakeySuite B2 Las Vegas, NV 89102 **
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WWMT-TV 590 W Maple St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane, WA 99201
WOWT-TV 3501 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131 (see ad above!)
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 (see ad above!)
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
WVII-TV 371 Target Industrial Circle Bangor, ME 04401 (see ad above!)
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701
**: Spanish language station