September 29, 2008
Greetings:
We have another busy week to tell you about, with lots of news director changes and many updates to our list of news management openings.
On the news director front, THREE new NDs were hired this week, and there are also THREE new openings. Two of those new NDs created two of those new openings.
So my count of 36 stations with current ND openings remains this week.
And thanks to those of you who passed along information about some of those changes. It’s much appreciated by me, and benefits all readers. I welcome all tips about any of these openings: rick@rickgevers.com
I’m sorry to have to bring you an obituary of a veteran CBS news producer that many of you (at least those at CBS affiliates) probably knew. That’s below.
We also have two paid ads this week: one is a blind box ad for a major market station, and the other is a repeat of last week’s ad for an Assistant ND in Salt Lake City.
In Names in the News, we’ll tell you about a new book written by a TV news pioneer and bring you up to date on some management moves by your colleagues.
That and more after this week’s changes:
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WVUE-TV, New Orleans, LA…MIMI STRAWN is on her way to Alabama to rejoin her former WVUE GM as ND for WAFF-TV. More on that below. Mimi’s been the ND for this Fox affiliate for a pretty eventful four years. The station was recently purchased by the Louisiana Media Company, a group who’s principal owner is New Orleans Saints owner TOM BENSON.
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…FORREST CARR is leaving this Journal Broadcasting owned Fox affiliate to become ND at KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. (More on that below.) Forrest has been the ND here since December, 2005.
KOLO-TV, Reno, NV…BOB PAGE has left as ND here after about 18 months. He’s previously worked in San Diego and San Francisco. His replacement will be the sixth ND here in seven years. KOLO is an ABC affiliate and is owned by Gray Television.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM…as mentioned above, FORREST CARR will be the next ND for this LIN-owned CBS affiliate. It’s a return to the Southwest for Forrest, who’d been an ND in Tucson before moving to Florida, first as ND at WFLA-TV in Tampa, and then Ft. Myers. He replaces MICHELLE DONALDSON who left after almost five years as ND to take the same job at KPHO-TV in Phoenix.
WCSH-TV, Portland, ME…MAUREEN O’BRIEN has been promoted to News Director for this NBC affiliate. She had been the Managing Editor here, and replaces MIKE CURRY who retired earlier this summer. WCSH is owned by Gannett.
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL…MIMI STRAWN has been named ND for this Raycom owned NBC affiliate. We told you above she’s been the ND for WVUE-TV in New Orleans. The move to Alabama reunites her with former WVUE GM VANESSA OUBRE who recently made the same move. Mimi’s also been an ND in Tulsa. At WAFF, Mimi replaces STEW HIRSCH who left the station in July after a year as ND.
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HELP WANTED ADS
MAJOR MARKET NEWS DIRECTOR OPENING
Major market is seeking a News Director to lead a growing department in a growth market.
The candidate must have a track record of ratings success and be dedicated to investigative reporting, severe weather coverage and breaking news.
This group owned station offers top benefits and is committed to the finest in Broadcast Journalism.
Resumes and letters to: NDad@rickgevers.com or you can mail resumes and letters to:
News Director Opening
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
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ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR, KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT
KTVX TV, the Newport Television ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah, needs an Assistant News Director.
You’ll guide a newsroom based on original reporting and delivering on our brand promise every day, every newscast. Producer or EP background is preferred.
Most importantly, you need a track record of strong people skills that make others want to follow where you lead.
This is a unique opportunity to help build a dynamic new identity for Utah’s first TV station. (And to enjoy some of the world’s best skiing, hiking, and mountain views.)
Send a resume and letter explaining why you are a perfect fit to: jobs@abc4.com
or you can mail that same information to:
Tom Bell
News Director
KTVX
2175 West 1700 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
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OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 8/8/08)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/19/08, see ad above)
KHBS/KHOG, Fort Smith, AR (relisted 8/15/08)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 8/29/08)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 9/19/08)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (Nightside EP, listed 9/14/08)
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted this week)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (Nightside EP, new listing this week)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (AM EP, listed 9/19/08)
WSOC-TV, Charlotte, NC (Nightside EP, relisted 9/19/08)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/8/08)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted this week)
WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA (relisted this week)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, listed 8/22/08)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/03/08)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SPECIAL PROJECTS:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/25/08)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, INVESTIGATIONS/SPECIAL PROJ.
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 8/8/08)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (listed 7/25/08)
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OBITUARY:
Our condolences to the family and friends of longtime CBS News producer MARTY GILL who died last weekend after a long battle with cancer. Marty most recently had worked in New York, but earlier in his career had been a Newspath producer in Detroit, where I first met him. He was only 58, and leaves behind a wife and three children. You can read more (and post your online message to the family) by clicking here.
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NAMES in the NEWS:
Boston’s CBS o-and-o, WBZ-TV, has promoted JOHN KARALIS to the position of Managing Editor. He had been the morning EP here.
Congratulations to MARGIE RUTTENBERG who’s been named Assistant News Director for Washington’s WTTG-TV. She’s a longtime DC newswoman, having worked at WRC-TV for 18 years, most recently as dayside EP.
WGGB-TV in Springfield, MA, has a new Executive Producer. It’s DEBRA BURKE, who has been the Senior Producer at WKBW-TV in Buffalo.
AL PRIMO has written a new book, along with his former colleague RANDY TATANO. It’s called Eyewitness Newsman and chronicles Al’s career as a pioneering news director in Philadelphia and New York. Many of you know Al as the creator of the Eyewitness News format. He’s also been a consultant and currently oversees the weekend syndicated program Teen Kids News. You can learn more about the book (and even buy a copy!) by going to this website: www.eyewitnessnewsman.com
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, September 26, 2008. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com
KTLA-TV 5800 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
CLTV News 2000 York, Suite 114 Oak Brook IL 60523
WSNS-TV 430 W. Grant Place Chicago IL 60614 *
KTVK-TV 5555 N. 7th Avenue Phoenix AZ 85013
WWSB-TV 1477 10th St. Sarasota FL 34236
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd, Denver CO 80203
WOFL-TV 35 Skyline Dr. Lake Mary FL 32746
WRTV 1330 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis IN 46202
KGTV 4600 Air Way San Diego CA 92102
KUTH-TV 525 South 300 West #1 Salt Lake City UT 84101 *
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WVUE-TV 1025 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy. New Orleans LA 70125
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Avenue Buffalo NY 14202
KMPH-TV 5111 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral FL 33991
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WSTM-TV 1030 James St. Syracuse NY 13203
WAAY-TV 1000 Monte Sano Boulevard Huntsville AL 35801
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WPTZ-TV 5 Television Drive Plattsburgh NY 12901
WHBF-TV 231 18th St. Rock Island IL 61201
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th St. Moline IL 61265
KDBC-TV 2201 E. Wyoming Ave. El Paso TX 79903
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr. New Bern NC 28561
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd. Midway FL 32343
KDLT-TV 3600 S. Westport Ave. Sioux Falls SD 57106
KOLO-TV 4850 Ampere Dr. Reno NV 89502
WAGT-TV 905 Broad St. Augusta GA 30901
KBAK/KBFX 1901 Westwind Dr. Bakersfield CA 93301
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 S. Beaumont TX 77701
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
WTHI-TV 918 Ohio St. Terre Haute IN 47808
KIMT-TV 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City IA 50401
KIDK-TV 1255 E.17th St. Idaho Falls ID 83404
* indicates Spanish language station
Rick Gevers
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077
317-769-7900 (phone)
317-769-7910 (fax)
rick@rickgevers.com
www.rickgevers.com