July | 2009 | Rick Gevers & Associates

July 25, 2009

Greetings:

There’s a flurry of activity to report to you, including the first new ND to be named in a few weeks.

In all, there are FOUR new openings in addition to the aforementioned ONE new ND.

That brings, by my count, the number of open ND jobs to 24.

We have a paid ad for one of those new openings, as well as a repeat of last week’s ad for an ND in Idaho. And we have a listing for an EP at a Tennessee station.

There’s an obituary for the husband of a longtime Indiana news director, another for a former New York City special projects producer, and information about a memorial service for a veteran talent coach.

And in Names in the News, we have news of two new RTNDA board members and news of a new job for a former Massachusetts ND (who’s still anchoring).

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

KVBC-TV, Las Vegas, NV…longtime KVBC employee DEBORAH CLAYTON has left the station after almost two years as ND. Deborah has been with the station for about 15 years in a wide variety of roles. She had earlier worked in Texas. KVBC is an NBC affiliate owned by Sunbelt Broadcasting.

WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…MEGAN RUSHMORE has left this Journal Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate after almost three years as ND. She previously worked in Colorado Springs, CO.

WECT-TV, Wilmington, NC…RAEFORD BROWN has left this Raycom-owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND there since April, 2000, when he was promoted to ND. Learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below!

KTVZ/KFXO, Bend, OR…MIKE BOTHWELL is leaving this NBC/FOX duopoly to return east for personal reasons. Mike’s been the ND here since November, 2007, and previously worked for station owner News Press & Gazette as the Assistant ND at KESQ-TV in Palm Desert. Mike will be there for a few months. He’s previously worked in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

Cristi Jessee

KSAX-TV, Alexandria, MN…CRISTI JESSEE returns to Minnesota as ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned satellite to KSTP-TV. (The station airs local inserts within KSTP’s newscasts.) Cristi is currently working at KXTV in Sacramento as a multi media journalist, and has worked in markets from Los Angeles to Grand Forks, ND. Cristi was graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She replaces SARAH CASUELLO who left the station in February.

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PAID ADS:

NEWS DIRECTOR, WECT-TV, Wilmington, NC:

WECT-TV, Raycom’s NBC affiliate in Wilmington, NC seeks a News Director who has a successful track record of leading aggressive news coverage. Strong leadership abilities, communications and interpersonal skills, and a passion for news are a must.

Responsibilities include setting and communicating goals and strategies, staff management, budget/expense administration and efficient use of station resources.

Must be able to provide strategic direction for day-to-day news coverage, breaking news & weather, and major stories on-air and on our highly trafficked website, while consistently communicating and protecting the brand image. Our station produces 34 hours of news per week. Candidate should have experience in maximizing local coverage, weather and sports over various day parts. Successful candidate should exhibit a track record of working with Sales and Marketing on a variety of special projects.

Background should include 3-5 years of significant experience in television newsroom management with previous News Director experience preferred.

Send your resume and salary requirement to: Gary McNair at gmcnair@wect.com

EOE

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

NEWS DIRECTOR, KBCI-TV, BOISE, IDAHO:

KBCI-TV, Boise, is looking for a dynamic News Director with a passion for news, weather and interactive coverage. KBCI is the heritage CBS station in a highly competetive news market (DMA 112). Boise is the statecapitol, home to the largest university in Idaho, and one of the “top ten cities to live in” according to Money Magazine (2006).

Send resume and cover letter to hr@kbcitv.com.

EOE.

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

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (new listing this week)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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

OBITUARIES and MEMORIAL SERVICES:

I’m sorry to report the death of JOHN SAUER, husband of longtime WSBT-TV News Director MEG SAUER. Mr. Sauer died earlier this week at the age of 52. They’d been married for almost 30 years, and were high school sweethearts. In addition to Meg, he leaves two sons. More details can be found in this obituary.

Lipkin

Former WABC-TV Special Projects Producer (and current ABC News producer) REBECCA LIPKIN died earlier this week of inflammatory breast cancer. She was 48. The Washington Post has details in this story.

Flo Sikes

We have details now on a planned memorial service for longtime talent coach FLO SIKES, who died earlier this month at the age of 75. It will be held near her condo in San Diego. If you’re interested in details, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Schwaid

Two news directors, one TV and one from radio, have been added to the RTNDA board. STEVE SCHWAID, ND for Meredith’s WGCL-TV in Atlanta, replaces HELGA SILVA from Univision who left the board last month. And CHRIS CARL, the ND for WDEL-AM in Wilmington, DE, fills the spot vacated by MARK KRAHAM of WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, MD, who was elected chairman-elect at this year’s convention.

Kathy Tobin

One time ND (and current anchor) KATHY TOBIN is leaving WGGB-TV in Springfield, MA, to become Director of Development for Friends of the Homeless. Kathy spent almost ten years as ND for the station. More details here.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, July 24, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10012
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 ***
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
WLWT-TV 1700 Young St. Cincinnati OH 45210
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WZZM-TV 645 Three Mile Road NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
KVBC-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas NV 89101
KRQE-TV 13 Broadcast Plaza Albuquerque NM 87104
KSEE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd. Green Bay WI 54307
KITV-TV 801 South King St. Honolulu HI 96813
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WLNS-TV 2820 E. Saginaw St. Lansing MI 48912
WNCT-TV 3221 S. Evans St. Greenville NC 27834
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West Traverse City MI 49684
KBCI-TV 140 N. 16th St. Boise ID 83702 (see ad above)
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire WI 54701
WECT-TV 322 Shipyard Blvd. Wilmington NC 28412 (see ad above)
KTEN-TV 10 HighPoint Circle Denison TX 75020
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B Riley Rd. Bend OR 97701

BOLD indicates new opening this week

*** indicates Spanish language station

July 18, 2009

Greetings:

Is it possible that no new news directors have been hired in the past two weeks? I’m not aware of any….if you are, please share the news with me via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

We do know of THREE new ND openings, bringing the total number of open ND positions to 21.

Also, last week we reported GREG CATLIN’s promotion to General Manager at WBNG-TV in the Binghamton, NY market, and listed that position as open. We were partly right. Greg is the new GM, but he is assuming those additional duties and continuing as ND.

There are two ads this week: one for one of the newly created ND openings, and the other a repeat of last week’s ad for a great new program from the Carole Kneeland Project.

Big changes MAY be afoot with the annual RTNDA conference. The organization is talking with SPJ about a possible joint conference with SPJ…that story is in Names in the News, along with the retirement of a longtime newsman and a new job for a former news director.

We also have the obituary of a mother of a former Missouri and Arkansas ND.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Geoff Roth

KSEE-TV, Fresno, CA…GEOFF ROTH is joining the journalism faculty at Hofstra University in New York. Geoff’s been the ND for this Granite owned-NBC affiliate since July, 2007, and has also been ND for another Fresno station as well as in San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Ft. Myers. He’s also worked in Pittsburgh, Washington, Denver, Miami, Richmond, and Jacksonville.

KBCI-TV, Boise, ID…YVONNE SIMONS is leaving to become the Assistant ND for WBTV in Charlotte. Yvonne’s been the ND here for more than two years, and has also worked in Las Vegas, Columbus, Raleigh, Norfolk, and Champaign, IL, much of that time as a reporter and anchor. KBCI is a CBS affiliate owned by Fisher Broadcasting. Learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below.

WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…this Gray Television owned NBC affiliate is now advertising for a new ND to replace JOHN HOFFLAND who passed away earlier this month.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

None that I know of.

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

PAID ADS:

NEWS DIRECTOR, KBCI-TV, BOISE, IDAHO:

Send resume and cover letter to hr@kbcitv.com.

EOE.

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

NEW PROGRAM AT THE CAROLE KNEELAND PROJECT:

Don’t be left behind. Apply today!

The Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism presents the New Media Leadership Forum: Leading Journalists in the Digital Era. This entirely new session for experienced, dynamic, and innovative news directors will be held October 7-10, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.

You can’t afford to miss these three days!

Thanks to our generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for you. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as your hotel and several meals. You cover only your transportation and a few meals — we’ll take care of the rest.

This year, our goal is to unite some of the industry’s most seasoned, veteran news directors in a forum during which we hope you will both share and gain knowledge. It will be a three night, four-day event focusing on the dramatic challenges facing your news operation today. We will tackle such issues as:

What the broadcasting world will look like in the next three, five, ten years and beyond
How our process and systems need to be changed to meet the challenges of the next decade
International journalism – what we can learn from the world
How our newest customers are changing the face of our business
Challenges and opportunities in times of change, including leading change, helping others find and maintain focus
Leading Millennials
Leadership and ethics in a 24-hour socially networked world
A GM’s perspective
Community journalism
Creating positive newsrooms: proven systems that work

Most importantly, you’ll leave the program with a solid plan to guide your leadership decisions starting the day you return to your newsroom. This isn’t theoretical stuff that you’ll put on a shelf and neglect.

Our participants will be joined by some of the best & brightest experts in the country to help lead & facilitate the sessions, but they won’t provide didactic, one-way lectures. On the contrary. We need high-level expertise, insight, and experience like yours to make this the best, most useful forum it can be. You will teach as much as you will learn. You’ll also build relationships with fellow news director colleagues that we hope will endure and provide assistance to you for years to come.

It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. You’ll return to your newsroom refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges news directors now face.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!

For additional information, please visit our website at www.KneelandProject.org or contact Stacy Baum, Executive Director, at: stacybaum@comcast.net

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

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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

OBITUARY:

Our sympathy to former ND (Kansas City, Little Rock) ND RICK ILER on the death of his mother, BETTY ANN GILLESPIE. She died Monday, July 6th at the age of 71. This obituary contains many more details. Your note of sympathy would reach Rick at: rick_iler@yahoo.com

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Not really a ‘name in the news’ but worth reporting that RTNDA and SPJ are in discussions to hold a joint conference in 2011. RTNDA will hold its 2010 conference in conjunction with NAB in Las Vegas next April. The proposed joint conference would be held in the fall of 2011 in a city yet to be determined. More details in this news release from RTNDA.

Bob Feldman

Longtime AP executive and former ND BOB FELDMAN is retiring at the end of the month. Bob joined AP in 1992 after serving as ND in Scranton and Baltimore and was the longtime Assistant ND at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. At AP, he helped launch APTV video (now APTN) and has served as the Northeast Regional TV Executive since 1996. He’s at the AP until July 27, so presumably your well wishes will reach him at: bfeldman@ap.org

Dan Weiser

One time Sacramento and Lancaster, PA, ND DAN WEISER is headed to DC, where he’s been named Senior Web Editor for the United States House of Representatives. He’ll oversee overall operations of five websites, include house.gov. Dan tells me it’s tough to leave California, but the move puts him closer to family. Dan’s email is: dan@weiser.tv

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Saturday, July 18, 2009. If you know of any updates,corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10012
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 ***
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
WLWT-TV 1700 Young St. Cincinnati OH 45210
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WZZM-TV 645 Three Mile Road NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
KRQE-TV 13 Broadcast Plaza Albuquerque NM 87104
KSEE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave. Fresno CA 93727
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
KITV-TV 801 South King St. Honolulu HI 96813
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WLNS-TV 2820 E. Saginaw St. Lansing MI 48912
WNCT-TV 3221 S. Evans St. Greenville NC 27834
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West Traverse City MI 49684
KBCI-TV 140 N. 16th St. Boise ID 83702 (see ad above)
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire WI 54701
KTEN-TV 10 HighPoint Circle Denison TX 75020
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308

(BOLD indicates new opening this week.

*** indicates Spanish language station)

July 10, 2009

Tuesday, July 13 UPDATE:

There will be no former funeral service for longtime talent coach FLO SIKES, whose death we reported below. Flo died Friday in San Diego, with her sister and daughter by her side. She had suffered for a while with complications from back surgery, but died of heart problems. Flo worked for many years for AR&D. Former AR&D executive ED BEWLEY offered these thoughts about his former colleague: Flo was a true character. For me, she was kinda hard to love but easy to respect. While she was a difficult friend at times, she rewarded friendship with deep loyalty, a keen sense of humor and dedication to whatever project we worked on together. Among other gifts, Flo introduced me to the phrase; “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” and used it as a mantra to her coaching clients. But, despite her pronouncement, she was indeed a perfectionist. She had high standards for herself and others. To this day, I hear her correcting my grammar – even in retirement. She taught me a lot, especially about performance, that I carried with me throughout my career. For that and her friendship I say, “bravo.”

Monday, July 12, UPDATE:

This week’s newsletter has been amended to reflect the accurate situation at WBNG-TV in Johnson City, NY. GREG CATLIN has been promoted to General Manager, but is assuming those responsibilities in addition to his role as News Director. Consequently, there is no ND opening here. We’ve moved that item to Names in the News below. Congrats to Greg and apologies for the inaccurate report.

Also, we now have a link to the obituary for former news director and news manager JERRY MORING whose death we reported in the newsletter below.

Greetings:

The floodgates opened this week and THREE new news director openings rushed in. And as far as I know, there are NO new news directors since our last report. All these openings are for jobs previously held by veteran NDs.

My count of open ND jobs increases to 18.

We have a paid ad for a new program from the Carole Kneeland Project. It sounds very interesting, and almost everything is paid for! Read on for details.

We’ve had too many obituaries lately, and this week is no exception, unfortunately. There are three: a Wisconsin ND, a former ND from Baltimore and Washington, and a pioneering talent coach.

We do have some good news…a new and healthy baby for a Minneapolis news director.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Donnellan

WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH…we told you earlier this week that BRENNAN DONNELLAN is leaving this Hearst-owned NBC affiliate after six years here. Before Cincinnati, Brennan was a news director in Syracuse. He’s also worked in Boston, Atlanta, Norfolk, and Columbus, OH. (By the way, please note it is now Hearst Television, not Hearst-Argyle, after Hearst Corporation took the company private.)

Forrest Carr

KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM…FORREST CARR has left this LIN-owned CBS affiliate after just ten months on the job. Forrest has also been an ND for WFTX-TV in Ft. Myers, KGUN-TV in Tucson, and WFLA-TV in Tampa.

KITV, Honolulu, HI…in another move we reported earlier this week, TOD PRITCHARD has left this Hearst owned ABC affiliate. Tod’s been the ND there since 2001 and had earlier been a news director in Madison, WI.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

None that I know of.

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

PAID AD:

NEW PROGRAM AT THE CAROLE KNEELAND PROJECT:

Don’t be left behind. Apply today!

You can’t afford to miss these three days!

What the broadcasting world will look like in the next three, five, ten years and beyond
How our process and systems need to be changed to meet the challenges of the next decade
International journalism – what we can learn from the world
How our newest customers are changing the face of our business
Challenges and opportunities in times of change, including leading change, helping others find and maintain focus
Leading Millennials
Leadership and ethics in a 24-hour socially networked world
A GM’s perspective
Community journalism
Creating positive newsrooms: proven systems that work

Click here for more information and to apply.

Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!

For additional information, please visit our website at www.KneelandProject.org or contact Stacy Baum, Executive Director, at: stacybaum@comcast.net

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

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

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

OBITUARIES:

John Hoffland

Funeral services were held this past Wednesday for WEAU-TV (Wausaw, WI) News Director JOHN HOFFLAND, who died suddenly at his home last weekend at the age of 64. John spent more than 25 years as ND for WEAU in two stints. He retired in 2007, went to work for an area radio station before returning to WEAU-TV last year. He also worked in LaCrosse, WI, Waterloo, IA, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. He’s survived by his wife and son. More details, including details on a new scholarship fund in his name, are in this obituary from WEAU.

I’m saddened to report the death of FLORENCE ‘FLO’ SIKES, a former talent coach for Audience Research & Development. I’m told she died yesterday in San Diego, but I have few other details. Flo was a school teacher who became one of the early talent coaches in television news. If/when I learn more, I’ll update the website version of this newsletter:

And former news director JERRY MORING has died. He was in his 70’s and had been battling cancer, though apparently his heart failed. Jerry had been a news director in Baltimore and Washington in the 60s and 70s, worked briefly for ESPN, and also worked in Houston and for several stations in New York City. He was a former GM of Metro Video News in Houston, and was once married to former NBC News executive JO MORING.

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Greg Catlin

Congratulations to GREG CATLIN who has assumed additional duties as General Manager for WBNG-TV in Johnson City, NY (that’s in the Binghamton market). He’s a former anchor who’s been at the station for more than 25 years. WBNG is a CBS affiliate owned by Granite Broadcasting.

And congratulations to KSTP-TV (Minneapolis) News Director LINDSAY RADFORD on last month’s birth of daughter SAMANTHA. She was born on June 14th, weighing seven pounds, 14 ounces, and is the second child for Lindsay and her husband. Samantha joins brother JACKSON who is 21 months old.

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, July 10, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10012
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 ***
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
WLWT-TV 1700 Young St. Cincinnati OH 45210
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WZZM-TV 645 Three Mile Road NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
KRQE-TV 13 Broadcast Plaza Albuquerque NM 87104
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
KITV-TV 801 South King St. Honolulu HI 96813
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WLNS-TV 2820 E. Saginaw St. Lansing MI 48912
WNCT-TV 3221 S. Evans St. Greenville NC 27834
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KTEN-TV 10 HighPoint Circle Denison TX 75020
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308

(BOLD indicates new opening this week.
*** indicates Spanish language station)

July 3, 2009

Tuesday, July 7th UPDATE:

Donnellan

There are TWO new news director openings today. BRENNAN DONNELLAN is leaving WLWT-TV in Cincinnati this Friday after six years as the ND for this NBC affiliate. And TOD PRITCHARD is leaving KITV in Honolulu, where he’s been the ND for the past seven years. Both stations are owned by Hearst. We’ll have more on these developments in our regular Friday newsletter later this week.

Saturday, July 4th, UPDATE:

John Hoffland

I’m sorry to report the death of longtime WEAU-TV (Eau Claire, WI) News Director JOHN HOFFLAND. He died this morning of an apparent heart attack at his home. He was 64 years old and a Vietnam veteran. John first became news director here in the 80’s, retired in 2007, took a job as ND for a local radio station, and returned to WEAU as ND in January, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Penny, and son, Lucas. John also worked in La Crosse, WI, Waterloo, IA, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. The station’s report on his death is here.

Greetings:

Best wishes for a safe holiday weekend.

There’s just ONE new news director to report to you today, with just ONE new opening, and both moves were created with one ND change within a company.

That means our list of open ND positions remain at a very low 15.

Please join me in congratulating all this year’s Edward R. Murrow award winners. The complete list is here.

And we have three obituaries this week, involving either children or parents of current and former news directors.

That and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENING:

WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…PATTI McGETTIGAN is being promoted within owner LIN Television to be the ND for the company’s Indianapolis station, WISH-TV. More on that below. Patti has been the ND here 2001, and has worked for this NBC affiliate (her second time there) since 1995. She’s also worked in Lansing and Pittsburgh.

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR NAMED:

McGettigan

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…as noted above, PATTI McGETTIGAN will be the next ND for this LIN-owned CBS station. Patti has been the ND for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, MI, since 2001. She re-joined the station in 1995 as EP, and was promoted to Assistant ND in 1998. At WISH-TV, she replaces KEVIN FINCH who left the station last month to join an Indianapolis-based documentary producer after more than two years as ND.

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

OTHER NEWS MANAGEMENT OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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

OBITUARIES:

Bryan Barbin

Funeral services were held yesterday (Thursday, July 2, 2009) in Columbus, OH, for BRYAN BARBIN, the 18 year old son of veteran news director LYN TOLAN and her huband, BRAD BARBIN. Bryan died last weekend after an incident at a Columbus festival, as reported in this story from The Columbus Dispatch. You can find more details about Bryan and his life in this obituary. Lyn’s a former ND in Columbus, Hartford, Orlando, Cincinnati, and Grand Rapids, MI.

I’m sorry to report the death of FRANK SHAFRAN, father of former Jacksonville (WJXT-TV) and Houston (KPRC-TV) news director NANCY SHAFRAN. Mr. Shafran died just two weeks short of his 90th birthday. He was a nuclear engineer who worked on the Manhattan Project and helped build the first nuclear power plant in this country. He ran his first marathon at age 60! Your note of sympathy would reach Nancy at: nancyshafran@thenwtgroup.com

And our sympathy to WBBJ-TV (Jackson, TN) news director BRAD GRANTHAM and his wife ANGIE who had a stillborn baby last month. The family has established a memorial fund to both cover medical expenses and hopefully contribute to the Preeclampsia Foundation. If you’d like to donate, you can send a check to:

Evangeline Rose Grantham Memorial Fund
Acct # 9530449308
c/o Regions Bank
11 Murray Guard Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, July 3, 2009. If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WNBC-TV 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10012
WDIV-TV 550 W. Lafayette Blvd Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV 9440 Kirby Dr. Houston TX 77054 ***
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Ave. Miramar FL 33027
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WZZM-TV 645 Three Mile Road NW Grand Rapids MI 49504
WKRG-TV 555 Broadcast Dr. Mobile AL 36606
WAND-TV 904 South Side Dr. Decatur IL 62525
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WLNS-TV 2820 E. Saginaw St. Lansing MI 48912
WNCT-TV 3221 S. Evans St. Greenville NC 27834
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West Traverse City MI 49684
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KTEN-TV 10 HighPoint Circle Denison TX 75020
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308

(BOLD indicates new opening this week.

*** indicates Spanish language station)