December 26, 2022
Greetings:
I hope your holidays were happy and safe. Guessing it was chilly and snowy for many of you.
For a holiday weekend, we have more activity than I expected.
ONE new news director, ONE new opening, and lots of items in Names in the News.
23 stations are still looking for a news director, according to my always unofficial list of such things. And we have ONE paid help wanted ad for an Assistant ND in Rochester, MN.
There an obituary for an EP of an ABC News program and, for the second week, no news about GMs.
My crystal ball is cloudy as to how much activity we’ll have this week, but I anticipate publishing sometime over the weekend.
Stay safe and warm!
Newly Named News Directors:
Walker
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse, WI…JASON WALKER has been named news director for this Morgan Murphy Media owned CBS affiliate, the third ND in 30 years there. Here’s the note from GM CHRIS PALMER. Jason’s been the Assistant ND for KBTX-TV in Bryan, TX, and has worked in many markets in many roles. He replaces CHRISTI REYNARD who left the station in August after just over one year as ND.
New News Director Openings:
Garza
KGNS-TV, Laredo, TX…this Gray TV owned NBC/ABC operation has a posting on its website for a new news director. My records show that JERRY GARZA has been the news director (and anchor) there since 2016. I’ve emailed Jerry asking about his future plans, but have not yet heard back. If I do, I will pass that information along.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN:
ABC News Channel 6, KAAL-TV in Rochester, MN is looking for an Assistant News Director to help lead our news room operations.
KAAL is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting-a premier family-owned mid-sized media organization.
In this role, you would be in charge of the evening news broadcasts as well as having a key role in the recruitment and training of news producers and on-air talent.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about objective journalism, believes in treating people with respect and dignity and wants to be an active member of their community. This is a great opportunity for either a lateral move or for someone looking to get into leadership.
Rochester, MN is one of the fastest growing cities in America. Home of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, Rochester is one of the most highly-educated, affluent and diverse communities in the country. Repeatedly named as America’s Most Liveable City; Rochester is full of great schools, parks, cultural outlets and is just 90 minutes from Minneapolis-St. Paul and 4 hours from Chicago.
Learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here and searching for jobs in Rochester, MN.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 11/6/22)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (relisted 10/23/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 11/13/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KETK-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 12/11/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 12/18/22, see ad above!)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (EP & Digital EP, listing revised 12/4/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/9/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 10/30/22)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 12/26/22)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (AM EP, listed 10/9/22)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 11/20/22)
WRTV, Indianpolis, IN (listed 11/20/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 12/11/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 12/4/22)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 10/30/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 11/20/22)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 12/11/22)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 12/4/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/30/22)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/30/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 11/13/22)
WIVB/WNLO-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 11/6/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 12/11/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 12/11/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 12/11/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 12/11/22)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/11/22)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 12/11/22)
WRBL-TV, Columbus, GA (Digital EP, listed 11/20/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 10/30/22)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (listed 10/23/22)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 12/18/22)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 12/4/22:
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
Obituary:
Tejera
DEX TEJERA, the executive producer of ABC’s Sunday morning program This Week, died of a heart attack on Friday, December 23rd. He was just 39 years old and leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. Details in this story from Variety. Dex also worked in local news in New York, as you’ll see in his Linkedin profile.
Names in the News:
A number of quick items for your reading pleasure.
The Standard General-Tegna deal is still unresolved. The latest: Standard’s letter to the FCC pledging no layoffs for two years.
Former CNN producer JOHN GRIFFIN will be sentenced in March after pleading guilty to federal sex charges.
Scripps has created a new division to explore opportunities creating partnerships with sports leagues.
After 34 years at WMUR-TV (Hearst/ABC) in Manchester, NH, including a stint as news director, JENNIFER CROMPTON is retiring.
WLBT-TV (Gray/NBC) in Jackson, MS, has hired a radio news director from Indianapolis, CHRIS DAVIS, to oversee online reporting, accord to the Indianapolis Business Journal.
General Manager News and Notes:
Once again, I’m not aware of any GM moves this week.Please let me know if you know of something I missed.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, December 26, 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
KSAT-TV 1408 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78215
KVUE- TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WSLS-TV 821 5th St. NE Roanoke, VA 24016
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd. Flint MI 48503
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
KHGI-TV 1078 25 Road Axtell, NE 68924
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
WGFL/WNBW/WMYG-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station