May 24, 2009

Greetings:

Welcome to the Indy 500 edition of your weekly newsletter.

Lots to tell you about this week.

There are THREE new NDs to tell you about, and we answer the question of where Fresno ND JIM HOLLAND is headed. You’ll remember we told you last week that Jim was leaving KGPE-TV but couldn’t yet say where he was headed. Now we know, and you’ll find that below.

Our infrequent category: Same Old News Director Named makes its second appearance. We’ll explain.

And there are NO new ND openings that I am aware of, leaving the number of open news director jobs at 19.

We do have a new ad this week: for an EP in “The Biggest Little City in the World”. And we’re repeating last week’s ad for a company whose product can help you automate some of your news production needs.

Also this week:

I’m sorry to share an obituary of a Grand Rapids (MI) producer who died last Friday after a long cancer fight.

On the bright side, one former and one current ND are headed to their state Broadcaster Halls of Fame. And we have a few new news management hires to tell you about.

All that and more following this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

None that I know of.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA…NATE LEDING has been promoted to News Director for this Quincy Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate. Nate’s been the EP there since last August, and has served as the interim ND since J.J. MURRAY left the station in February after eight months as ND. Nate’s a former ND in Alexandria, MN, and has also worked in Columbia, SC, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and for ESPN. He becomes the fourth ND in three years at KWWL.

KCEN-TV, Waco/Temple, TX…we told you last week that JIM HOLLAND was leaving KGPE-TV in Fresno for a job-to-be-announced-later. Well, later is now. Jim will be the next ND for this NBC affiliate, newly acquired by London Broadcasting. And that’s the connection: London Broadcasting is owned by Terry London, who ran Gaylord Broadcasting when Jim was ND for then-Gaylord-owned CBS affiliate KTVT-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth. Jim replaces DON BRADLEY who has left the station after two years as ND.

KWQC-TV, Davenport, IA…DENISE KILLIAN is the new ND for this Young Broadcasting-owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Interim ND there since MIKE WRIGHT left the station in March after less than a year as ND. Denise had been the Assistant ND for Young’s WTEN-TV in Albany, NY and also was the EP for Young’s WKRN-TV in Nashville. She becomes the fourth ND in five years here, and the third in 18 months.

SAME OLD NEWS DIRECTOR NAMED:

WOI-TV, Des Moines/Ames, IA…we’re happy to tell you that SCOTT FREDERICK will continue as ND for this Citadel Communications owned ABC affiliate. We told you in March that, due to financial considerations, Scott would be replaced by Citadel’s VP/News, AL SANDUBRAE. Now Al passes along the good news that Scott will remain on the job, and Al will continue as VP of News.

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PAID ADS:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, KRNV-TV, Reno, NV

Northern Nevada’s first fully high definition television station seeks a creative, energetic individual to join its team. We have earned a reputation as the market’s technological and news coverage leader by presenting well-balanced, informative newscasts.

If you seek an opportunity with a progressive news station dedicated to providing useful, timely information, while refining your own skills with the cutting edge of technology, then apply immediately.

Typical Duties:

Supervise newscast producers, reporters, assignment editors and photographers;
Direct the focus of news stories;
Participate in daily news editorial meeting;
Understand and implement the news philosophy of the news director;
Work closely with the News Director to make news judgments on coverage and presentation of the day’s news events;
Make contacts and gather information about news issues and events in Northern Nevada and the West;
Work with producers, reporters, assignment editors and photographers to make sure KRNV completely, accurately and fairly covers news
events; Oversee all graphic and visual elements of the newscasts;
Establish a good working relationship with the engineering, production, sales, programming and operation departments;
Assist in ratings and long-range planning for the News Department;
Write interesting news stories from wire copy, field reports and telephone interviews;
Line produce newscasts when necessary to cover shifts;
Produce interesting, viewer friendly newscasts, and Perform other tasks related to the position as assigned, which may include website contribution.

Requirements:

Be a take charge person with leadership skills;
Passion for news;
High level of creativity;
Three to five years experience as a television news producer;
Thorough understanding of SNG and ENG;
Must be able to find creative and unique ways to make the news interesting and understandable;
Ability to meet daily deadlines, work cooperatively with and motivate other staff members;
Newsroom computer experience (iNews preferred);
Good phone etiquette;
Pass pre-employment drug test and have a valid driver’s license.

Contact:

Human Resources
Sierra Broadcasting Company
1790 Vassar Street
Reno NV 89502

Fax: 775-785-1208

Email: cwalker@krnv.com

SIERRA BROADCASTING COMPANY: AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER This employer does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, marital or veteran’s status.

NEWSCHIEF automates lower-third ticker and branding!

Since 1996 CGS has provided turn key ticker and branding systems for the broadcast television industry, including interfaces to CHYRON, VIZRT, and AVID.

The NEWSCHIEF HD Display Suite provides one solution for stations looking to display news headlines, weather forecasts and conditions, weather alerts, financials, phone and web automated school closings, elections, sports scores, lottery, and snype animations.

CGS also provides a central source for all your wire feed needs, including automated news headlines, weather, financials, lottery, sports scores, day in history, famous birthdays, and fuel prices.

For more information, visit our website at: http://www.cgsautomation.com

**** ***** ****

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 5/15/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (listed 3/8/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, listed 2/13/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, listed 1/30/09)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/23/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 1/16/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (new listing this week, see ad above!)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/15/09)

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OBITUARY:

I’m particularly sorry to report the death of WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids, MI) Special Projects Producer DAN LIMBAUGH. Dan produced Live at 5:00 when I was the ND there from 1993-1995. Dan was a terrific producer, a wonderful person, a mentor to many, and a devoted father. Dan died last Friday after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. He was only 52, and leaves behind his wife, Janice and two sons. More information on Dan, including information on memorial contributions to an educational fun for his youngest son Nicholas, can be found in this report that the station aired.

**** ***** ****

NAMES in the NEWS:

Congratulations to one former and one current ND for their inductions into two different state broadcasters Halls of Fame. SPENCE KENARD, former ND at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, was inducted into the Utah Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In addition to his long tenure at KSL, Spence was also the longtime voice (or narrator) of the Morgan Tabernacle Choir and a past RTNDA chair.

Congrats, also, to KVVU-TV ND ADAM P. BRADSHAW who will be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Adam’s been the ND at KVVU for three years: an earlier stint at KVBC-TV in Las Vegas helped him meet the minimum five years of service in Nevada to be eligible. Adam’s been an ND in Salt Lake City and Rochester, NY, and has also worked in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Longtime Ohio newsman STEW HIRSCH is back in the Buckeye State and back on an Assignment Desk. Stew’s the new Assignment Manager at WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. That reunites him with station ND BRENNAN DONNELLAN: they worked together at WBNS-TV about 20 years ago. Stew is a former ND for WAFF-TV in Huntsville, and also worked in Raleigh in addition to three different Columbus stations.

ROB MACHADO heads west…WAY west…to become EP for KITV, the Hearst-Argyle owned ABC affiliate in Honolulu. Rob had been the morning EP for Belo’s KMOV-TV in St. Louis. He’s also worked in Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Raleigh.

Apologies to HELEN SWENSON, whose title I botched last week in reporting her new job at The Weather Channel. The correct title is VP of Live Programming. Helen, of course, is a former ND in Seattle and West Palm Beach who most recently worked as a consultant for Frank N. Magid Associates.

**** ***** ****

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, May 22, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
KRIV-TV   4261 Southwest Freeway          Houston TX 77027
WTVJ-TV   15000 SW 27th Ave.              Miramar FL 33027
KDKA-TV   One Gateway Center              Pittsburgh PA 15222
KPTV/KPDX 14975 NW Greenbrier Parkway     Beaverton OR 97006
KSHB-TV   4720 Oak Street                 Kansas City MO 64112
WZZM-TV   645 Three Mile Road NW          Grand Rapids MI 49504
WGNO-TV  One Galleria Blvd, #850 Metairie, LA 70001
WJAR-TV   23 Kenney Dr.                   Cranston RI 02920
KGPE-TV   4800 N. First St.               Fresno CA 93726
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WAFF-TV   1414 N. Memorial Pkwy.          Huntsville AL 35801
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KOBI-TV   125 South Fir St.               Medford OR 97501
KAVU-TV   3808 N. Navarro                 Victoria TX 77901
KSAX-TV   PO Box 189                      Alexandria MN 56308

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

Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference!
Check out Kiva.org to Learn How


May 18, 2009

Greetings:

Another busy week of changes in the middle of an important rating period, with THREE new news director openings, and THREE new NDs to introduce to you.

Two of these new NDs are at stations which aren’t used to such changes: one has had just one ND in 25 years, the other only four news directors in 26 years.

These changes leave our count of open ND jobs at 21.

We have two paid ads this week: one for a company that can help you automate some of your newscast production needs. Check out their ad below and visit their website.

And the other paid ad is for a news director search in The Big Easy.

In Name in the News (a slow week there!) we’ll tell you about a big new job for a former Seattle and Florida ND who’s been working as a consultant.

All that and more following this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA…veteran news director JIM HOLLAND is leaving this Newport TV-owned CBS affiliate. Jim tells me he has a new job in TV, but won’t be able to share the details for a few days. He’s been the ND here for almost six years, and has previously served as an ND in Dallas, Albany, Wichita (where he was also station manager) and Syracuse. We’ll report his new job when we get the details.

WPBN-TV, Traverse City, MI…DOUG DeYOUNG is leaving this Barrington Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate to become Director of Government Relations for the Traverse City area Chamber of Commerce. He’s Doug’s been ND here for more than ten years, and previously worked in Lansing and Grand Rapids, MI, all at NBC affiliates. Full disclosure: Doug and I worked together at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids when I was the news director there.

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…this ABC affiliate is advertising for a new news director. My records show the most recent ND was DOUG TISDALE.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WSYX/WTTE-TV, Columbus, OH…MITCH JACOB has been named ND for this Sinclair-owned ABC/FOX duopoly. Mitch won’t have far to move, as he is currently the ND for WTOL-TV in Toledo. He’s been ND there for almost five years, and previously has been an ND in Phoenix, Wichita, and Harlingen, TX. In Columbus, Mitch replaces LYN TOLAN who left the station in January after two years as ND.

WTOL-TV, Toledo, OH…ANDI ROMAN has been promoted to News Director for this Raycom-owned CBS affiliate. Andi has been the Assistant ND there, and moves up with the departure (noted immediately above) of MITCH JACOB to Columbus. Andi becomes just the fourth ND here in 26 years!

WCAX-TV, Burlington, VT…ANSON TEBBETS will be the next ND for this family owned CBS affiliate, where he had been a reporter before becoming Vermont’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture in 2007. He’s also a former radio ND. Anson replaces longtime WCAX ND MARSELLIS ‘DIV’ PARSONS, who’s been news director here since 1984. ‘Div’ will continue to anchor the 6:00 pm news through the summer. He’s worked for WCAX since 1967, and is one of the true gentlemen in our business. I’ll miss seeing him at RTNDA and other industry gatherings.

**** ***** ****

PAID ADS:

NEWSCHIEF automates lower-third ticker and branding!

Since 1996 CGS has provided turn key ticker and branding systems for the broadcast television industry, including interfaces to CHYRON, VIZRT, and AVID.

The NEWSCHIEF HD Display Suite provides one solution for stations looking to display news headlines, weather forecasts and conditions, weather alerts, financials, phone and web automated school closings, elections, sports scores, lottery, and snype animations.

CGS also provides a central source for all your wire feed needs, including automated news headlines, weather, financials, lottery, sports scores, day in history, famous birthdays, and fuel prices.

For more information, visit our website at: cgsautomation.com

NEWS DIRECTOR, WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA:

Tired of being told by your boss “You can’t take risks with your newscast in this economy”? We disagree! Tribune Broadcasting is looking for a News Director bursting with ideas, attitude and the creativity to reinvent our industry. The job is in New Orleans and the conservative need not apply. A News Director position in The Big Easy is anything but easy.

We need a strong leader that will bring change. Are you the one to bring it? Benefits include a wild time at Mardi Gras, a tasty Po Boy and some adrenaline driving weather coverage along with a good salary and employment benefits.

Scare us with one of your crazy ideas and you just might get the job. Send your resume and a paragraph why you want this job to:

Phil Waterman
WGNO/WNOL-TV
One Galleria Blvd., Ste. 850
Metairie, LA 70001

via fax to: 504-569-0952

or via email to: pwaterman@abc26.com

EOE.

**** ***** ****

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 1/11/09)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (relisted this week)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (listed 3/8/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, listed 2/13/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted this week)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, listed 1/30/09)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/23/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 1/16/09)
KITV, Honolulu, HI (listed 2/27/09)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)

**** ***** ****

NAME in the NEWS:

Former Seattle (KIRO-TV) and West Palm Beach (WPEC-TV) news director HELEN SWENSON has been named VP of Live Programming for the Weather Channel. It’s a return to Atlanta for Helen, who lived there earlier in her career when she worked at WSB-TV. Helen most recently has been working as a consultant for Magid. She’s also worked in Pittsburgh, Orlando, and Miami.

**** ***** ****

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, May 15, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
KRIV-TV   4261 Southwest Freeway          Houston TX 77027
WTVJ-TV   15000 SW 27th Ave.              Miramar FL 33027
KDKA-TV   One Gateway Center              Pittsburgh PA 15222
KPTV/KPDX 14975 NW Greenbrier Parkway     Beaverton OR 97006
KSHB-TV   4720 Oak Street                 Kansas City MO 64112
WZZM-TV   645 Three Mile Road NW          Grand Rapids MI 49504
WGNO-TV  One Galleria Blvd, #850 Metairie, LA 70001 (See ad above!)
WJAR-TV   23 Kenney Dr.                   Cranston RI 02920
KGPE-TV   4800 N. First St.               Fresno CA 93726
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WAFF-TV   1414 N. Memorial Pkwy.          Huntsville AL 35801
KWWL-TV   500 East Fourth St.             Waterloo IA 50703
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 WesT               Traverse City MI 49684
KWQC-TV   805 Brady St.                   Davenport IA 52803
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KOBI-TV   125 South Fir St.               Medford OR 97501
KAVU-TV   3808 N. Navarro                 Victoria TX 77901
KSAX-TV   PO Box 189                      Alexandria MN 56308

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

Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference!
Check out Kiva.org to Learn How


May 11, 2009

Greetings:

Lots of activity to tell you about for the middle of a major rating period. Though, as I noted in a mid-week update to those of you who receive this newsletter via email, it seems to happen every year.

This week, there are TWO new ND openings to report, while TWO new NDs were named both at top 30 market stations in California. One of those new NDs replaces a 12 year veteran ND in San Diego.

Be sure to check out the paid ad for one of those newly-opened jobs, especially if you’d like to live in a city that’s full of great restaurants.

These changes leave our count of open ND jobs at 19.

Also this week, a new job for a former Houston ND…and she won’t have to move. We have the obit for the mother of a former Chicago and Miami ND who’s now a consultant, and we’ll pass along some information about the lineup for this year’s IRE conference, always one of the most valuable conferences in our industry.

All that and more following this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…TIM GERAGHTY is moving up within station owner Gannett to become VP-Information Director of another Gannett-owned ABC station, KXTV in Sacramento (more on that below). Tim has been ND here since July, 2004, and previously had been the ND for WTVJ-TV in Miami. He’s also worked in Kansas City, Decatur, IL, Kalamazoo, MI, and Columbia, MO.

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA…BOB NOONAN is leaving this Tribune-owned ABC/CW affiliate to become the Assistant ND for sorta-sister station WREG-TV in Memphis. (WREG, the CBS affiliate in Memphis, is operated by LocalTV LLC, which has a shared services arrangement with Tribune.) Back to Bob: he’s been the ND here since February, 2004. More on this opportunity in the paid ad below.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA…as reported above, TIM GERAGHTY is the new VP/Information Director for this Gannett-owned ABC affiliate. Tim heads west from another Gannett/ABC station, WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, MI. He’s also been ND for WTVJ-TV in Miami, and has worked in Kansas City, Decatur, IL, Kalamazoo, MI, and Columbia, MO. At KXTV, he replaces STACY OWEN. She left the station in February after 3 1/2 years as ND.

KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA…DEAN ELWOOD will be the new ND for this Midwest Television-owned CBS affiliate. Dean has been the Assistant ND here. He replaces longtime ND FRED D’AMBROSI who has left the station after 12 years as ND. Fred’s a former ND in Milwaukee who’s also worked in Cleveland and Columbia, MO.

**** ***** ****

PAID AD:

NEWS DIRECTOR, WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA:

Tired of being told by your boss “You can’t take risks with your newscast in this economy”? We disagree! Tribune Broadcasting is looking for a News Director bursting with ideas, attitude and the creativity to reinvent our industry. The job is in New Orleans and the conservative need not apply. A News Director position in The Big Easy is anything but easy.

We need a strong leader that will bring change. Are you the one to bring it? Benefits include a wild time at Mardi Gras, a tasty Po Boy and some adrenaline driving weather coverage along with a good salary and employment benefits.

Scare us with one of your crazy ideas and you just might get the job. Send your resume and a paragraph why you want this job to:

Phil Waterman
WGNO/WNOL-TV
One Galleria Blvd., Ste. 850,
Metairie, LA 70001

via fax to: 504-569-0952

or via email to: pwaterman@abc26.com

EOE.

**** ***** ****

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 1/11/09)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/10/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (listed 3/8/09)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 4/3/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, listed 2/13/09)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (Morning EP, relisted 1/23/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 1/30/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, listed 1/30/09)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/23/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 1/16/09)
KITV, Honolulu, HI (listed 2/27/09)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 4/3/09)

**** ***** ****

OBITUARY:

Our sympathy to former ND and current Senior VP for SmithGeiger MARK TONEY on the death of his mother, CATHERINE ‘KITTY’ TONEY. Mrs. Toney died March 4th at the age of 78. Mark’s a former ND in Chicago, Miami, and Oklahoma City. In addition to Mark, Mrs. Toney is survived by her husband and two daughters. Click here to read a detailed obituary, which includes information on where you can make memorial contributions.

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NAME in the NEWS:

KATHY WILLIAMS proves you can go home again…without having to move. She’s returning to KPRC-TV in Houston as Assistant ND, where she’d worked earlier in her career. Most recently she’d been the ND for KRIV-TV in Houston, and has also been an ND at two stations in Cleveland. She’s also worked in Chicago and Washington.

**** ***** ****

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

I’ve told you before that I think the annual IRE conference is among the best in the business, and this year’s upcoming gathering in Baltimore appears to have a great lineup of speakers and panels. And good news…there’s still time to get the hotel and the early registration discount! IRE Board Member PHIL WILLIAMS of WTVF-TV in Nashville covers some of the highlights here.

**** ***** ****

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, May 8, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
KRIV-TV   4261 Southwest Freeway          Houston TX 77027
WTVJ-TV   15000 SW 27th Ave.              Miramar FL 33027
KDKA-TV   One Gateway Center              Pittsburgh PA 15222
KPTV/KPDX 14975 NW Greenbrier Parkway     Beaverton OR 97006
KSHB-TV   4720 Oak Street                 Kansas City MO 64112
WSYX/WTTE-TV 1261 Dublin Rd.              Columbus OH 43215
WZZM-TV   645 Three Mile Road NW          Grand Rapids MI 49504
WGNO-TV  One Galleria Blvd, #850 Metairie, LA 70001
WJAR-TV   23 Kenney Dr.                   Cranston RI 02920
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WAFF-TV   1414 N. Memorial Pkwy.          Huntsville AL 35801
KWWL-TV   500 East Fourth St.             Waterloo IA 50703
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
KWQC-TV   805 Brady St.                   Davenport IA 52803
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KOBI-TV   125 South Fir St.               Medford OR 97501
KSAX-TV   PO Box 189                      Alexandria MN 56308

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

Make a Small Loan, Make a Big Difference!
Check out Kiva.org to Learn How


May 4, 2009

Greetings:

Two seems to be the key number in this week’s newsletter.

Sadly, TWO obituaries of former news directors, one a fairly recent ND in Florida and Minnesota, and one a long-ago ND in San Jose/San Francisco.

There are TWO new ND openings.

And there have been TWO new NDs named.

That means, by my count, 18 stations without a news director.

And there are THREE items in Names in the News.

All that and more following this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

WAND-TV, Decatur, IL…JIM PLATZER is leaving this Block Communications owned NBC affiliate to become ND for WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC (more on that below). He’s been ND here since August, 2006.

KOBI-TV, Medford, OR…BILL KELLY is leaving this NBC affiliate after two years as ND. He’s taking a job (in another market) as an on-air meteorologist and anchor. Bill had been a meteorologist in Phoenix before returning to Medford last July for family reasons.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC…as mentioned above, JIM PLATZER will be the next ND for this Gannett-owned CBS affiliate. Jim’s currently the ND at WAND-TV in Decatur, IL, is a former ND for WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV, and has also worked in Johnstown and Altoona, PA, Mobile, AL, and spent seven years in Florida, working in both Orlando and Tampa. At WFMY, he replaces GINA KATZMARK who left the station in January after 3 1/2 years as ND.

KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR…we’re a little late in reporting that GM MARK HATFIELD (a former ND) has assumed the NDs responsibilities here in addition to his GM duties. GARY DARIGOL was released from the station this past February for financial reasons. He’d been ND there since August 2007.

**** ***** ****

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
KRPC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/17/09)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 1/11/09)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/10/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (listed 3/8/09)
WTEN-TV, Albany, NY (listed 4/3/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, listed 2/13/09)
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (Morning EP, relisted 1/23/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 1/30/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, listed 1/30/09)
WZTV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/23/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 1/16/09)
KITV, Honolulu, HI (listed 2/27/09)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 4/3/09)

SENIOR WEB PRODUCER:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 3/20/09)

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OBITUARIES

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 5, in Phoenix for former Tallahassee and Austin (MN) ND STEVE ROLLISON. Steve died Thursday, April 30th, in Phoenix. In addition to his ND stints in Tallahassee and Austin, Steve worked in the Quad Cities, served as VP/News for the News-Press and Gazette Group, and also sold satellite trucks for BAF. Steve was a decorated Vietnam war vet. He’s survived by his wife Sheri and two children. Visitation will be held from 9:00-10:30 AMat St. Mary’s Basilica, 400 E. Monroe, in Phoenix, (602-354-2100), with a funeral mass held at 10:30. Burial will be at a national cemetery in Phoenix.

ROGER ORR died April 18th at the age of 76. He had served as ND for KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco from 1958 until the mid 1960’s when he joined Pacific Bell as a spokesman. He also worked in Omaha and Austin, TX. You can learn more about his life and family in this obituary.

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NAMES in the NEWS:

One-time news director TERRY COLE is the new GM at Sinclair’s WEAR-TV in Pensacola, FL. Terry most recently has been the GM at sister-Sinclair station WGME-TV in Portland, ME. He’s a former ND in Tampa, Wichita, and Charleston/Huntington, WV, and also worked in Rapid City.

RANDY WINTER has assumed additional duties at Quincy Newspapers’ WAOW-TV in Wausaw, WI. His new title, effective July 1, will be Director of Station Operations. He has been Director of News and Operations, and will continue to oversee the news department. This new role for Randy comes with the retirement of longtime WAOW General Manager LAURIN JORSTAD who’s retiring after 36 years with the station. Randy’s email, if you’d like to congratulate him, is: rwinter@waow.com

KOAT-TV in Albuquerque has named REBECCA GAYLORD as its new Assistant ND. Rebecca has been the morning EP at KDVR-TV in Denver, and has previously worked in Dallas and St. Louis.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, May 1, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
KRIV-TV   4261 Southwest Freeway          Houston TX 77027
WTVJ-TV   15000 SW 27th Ave.              Miramar FL 33027
KXTV      400 Broadway                    Sacramento CA 95818
KDKA-TV   One Gateway Center              Pittsburgh PA 15222
KPTV/KPDX 14975 NW Greenbrier Parkway     Beaverton OR 97006
KSHB-TV   4720 Oak Street                 Kansas City MO 64112
WSYX/WTTE-TV 1261 Dublin Rd.              Columbus OH 43215
WJAR-TV   23 Kenney Dr.                   Cranston RI 02920
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV   904 South Side Dr.              Decatur IL 62525
WAFF-TV   1414 N. Memorial Pkwy.          Huntsville AL 35801
KWWL-TV   500 East Fourth St.             Waterloo IA 50703
WFFF-TV   298 Mountain View Dr.           Colchester VT 05446
KWQC-TV   805 Brady St.                   Davenport IA 52803
WMGT-TV   PO Box 4328                     Macon GA 31208
KOBI-TV   125 South Fir St.               Medford OR 97501
KSAX-TV   PO Box 189                      Alexandria MN 56308

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

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