Rick Gevers & Associates

August 29, 2009

September 1, 2009 UPDATE:

Karen Scott

KAREN SCOTT has resigned as ND of Tribune’s WPIX-TV in New York.  She’s been ND there for ten years, making her NYC’s longest tenured ND.  Karen has worked at the station for 16 years.  More details in this article from The New York Daily News.

Greetings:

An opening in market #2 heads another busy week in news director and news management movement.  We told you about that opening earlier this week in an emailed UPDATE.

That’s one of  THREE newly opened ND positions in this week’s report, and there are  TWO new NDs to tell you about.

That brings my count of open ND jobs to 28.

We have four new news management openings this week, continuing a flurry of such openings added to the list.  Could that mean stations are hiring again?  I’ve  seen a little of that in my ‘day job’ as an agent for on-air folks.  (BTW, if you have on-air openings, please let me know via email at: openings@rickgevers.com)

In Names in the News, two news manager updates, and a new job for a longtime newsie.  Tease: he got all wet to get ready for this new job.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Bob Long

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…we told you earlier this week about the impending retirement of veteran news director BOB LONG, who’s stepping down as ND for this NBC o-and-o next month.  Bob’s been the ND here since 2003, and previously served as ND for another NBC o-and-o, WRC-TV in Washington.  Bob spent most of his career in Los Angeles and DC, and also headed his own production company from 1975 to 1992.   He’ll leaving the country in October to teach a semester of journalism ethics at the Bahcesehir University on the Bosphorous in Turkey.

WZTV,    Nashville, TN…KEN SMITH, the only news director this Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate has ever had, has left the station after more than 9 years.  Ken launched news here in 2000, and has also worked at all the other Nashville stations, as well as in Cincinnati, Greensboro, NC, Shreveport, Knoxville, and also served as ND for the Orlando-based Health Network.

WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…RON KRISULEVICZ has left the Nexstar owned duopoly after three years as ND.  When he was promoted to that position, he also oversaw news at WYOU, which has since closed its news operation. Ron previously worked in Hagerstown, MD.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM…IAIN MUNRO has been promoted to ND for this LIN-owned CBS affiliate.  He’s been the Assistant ND here since 2007.  Iain’s a former ND at KTXS-TV in Abilene, TX.  At KRQE, he replaces FORREST CARR who left the station last month after less than a year as ND.

Bob Healey

WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…BOB HEALEY is assuming the additional duties as news director for this Journal-owned NBC affiliate.  Bob’s been an evening anchor here since 2003, and has worked at the station since 2001.  He started his career in sports, befitting someone who was a number one draft pick of the California Angles and pitched in their farm system for four years.  He’s also worked (in TV) in Quincy, IL, and Des Moines.  At WGBA, he replaces MEGAN RUSHMORE who left the station last month after more than 2 1/2 years as ND.

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

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 7/31/09)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, new listing this week)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (new listing this week)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (two jobs, AM & PM, listed 8/14/09)
KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, new listing this week)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/14/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (new listing this week)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

MARGARET CORDES returns to Texas as the new morning EP for KRIV-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Houston.  Margaret is currently the evening EP for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, but earlier in her career was an EP for KTRK-TV in Houston.  She’s a former news director in New Orleans, and has also worked in Chicago, Seattle, and Milwaukee.

Congratulations to STEVE KORIOTH who has been promoted to Ass’t. News Director for Madison, WI’s, WKOW-TV. Steve just joined WKOW about two months ago after six years as ND for KTEN-TV in the Sherman, TX/Ada, Oklahoma.  He’s also worked in Huntsville and Tucson.

Veteran newsman SKIP HALEY has joined Bright Star Productions as Operations Manager.  Bright Star focuses on sports programs, including two new scuba series which will air next year.  So Skip earned a Master Dive certificate. The company is in Florida, but Skip will continue to live in Baton Rouge, LA, where he formerly worked at WBRZ-TV. He’s also worked in Atlanta, Montgomery, and Huntsville, and is a former RTNDA board member.  Wish him well via email at: brinco@aol.com

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, August 28, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

KNBC-TV   3000 W. Alameda Ave.            Burbank CA 91523
WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte ND 28217
WZTV-TV   631 Mainstream Drive            Nashville TN 37228
WPEC/WFLX 1100 Fairfield Dr.              W. Palm Beach FL 33407
WOOD-TV   120 College SE                  Grand Rapids MI 49503
WBRE-TV   62 S. Franklin                  Wilkes-Barre PA 18701
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
KGUN-TV   7280 E. Rosewood St.            Tucson AZ 85710
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
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
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
WLNS-TV   2820 E. Saginaw St.             Lansing MI 48912
KBCI-TV   140 N. 16th St.                 Boise ID 83702
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
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
WLOX-TV   208 DeBuys Road                 Biloxi MS 39531
KTVZ-TV   62990 O.B Riley Rd.             Bend OR 97701

August 20, 2009

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 UPDATE:

Bob Long

Veteran news director BOB LONG is retiring from KNBC-TV, where he has been ND since 2003.  Prior to that, Bob was the ND for WRC-TV, the NBC o-and-o in Washington, DC.  He’s leaving KNBC in late September and heads to Turkey to teach a semester on journalism ethics a week later.  Bob’s also a regional director for RTNDA.

Greetings:

We’re a little early this week, in part because there’s been a lot of activity in the last day or two, and in part because of my travel schedule.

There are FOUR new openings to tell you about, all in top 70 markets, and three of which involve people who’ve been NDs at several different stations.  And the  ONE new ND named this week has also been an ND two top 20 markets.

That brings my count of open ND jobs to 27.

Also this week, we’re re-running paid ads for openings at the Weather Channel and a blind box ad for a Midwest duopoly looking for an Assistant News Director.

And we have two new managers to tell you about in Names in the News.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Mary Alvarez

WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC…MARY ALVAREZ has been named Executive Producer for Local Progamming for this Belo-owned NBC affiliate.  The station’s news release says the goal is to produce compelling local programming.  Mary’s been ND here for more than four years and has worked at the station for more than nine.  She’s also worked at two stations in Miami and in Tallahassee.

WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL…DAVE CHRISTOPHER has left the Freedom Broadcasting-owned CBS affiliate after just more than two years as ND.  He’s also been a news director in Springfield, IL, and Jackson, TN, and has worked in Dallas, Cleveland, Columbus, OH, Charleston, WV, and Ft. Wayne.

WNYT-TV, Albany, NY…PAUL LEWIS is headed to college.  He’s enrolled in a master’s program at Quinnipiac University in interactive communications.  Paul’s been the ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned NBC Affiliate for three years and earlier had been an ND in Hartford, CT, for ten years.

KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ…LENA SADIWSKYJ has left this Journal Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the ND there for just over three years.  Lena’s a former ND at two stations in Orlando as well as one in Shreveport, and has worked in Phoenix, Birmingham, and  taught at the University of Missouri.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

Stacy Owen

WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH…STACY OWEN heads east to become the next news director for this Hearst-owned NBC affiliate.  Stacy most recently was ND for KXTV in Sacramento, and earlier in her career was ND for KRON-TV in San Francisco, where she had also served as producer, executive producer, and assistant news director.  She replaces BRENNAN DONNELLAN who left the station last month after six years as news director.

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

PAID ADS:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, THE WEATHER CHANNEL, ATLANTA

We are searching for an Executive Producer to be responsible for all aspects of all weekday morning live programming.

Responsibilities include:

– Determining daily editorial content, overall production elements, graphic support and contributions from bureaus and affiliate partners.

– Producing in a control room, including multiple live shots from various locations.  Consult with Meteorologists during daily briefings.

– Overseeing video acquisitions via satellite networks and other sources.

– Writing creative scripts and preparing video teases as needed

– Developing and maintaining a constructive relationship with show talent.

– Responsibility for planning and executing sponsorship components and ad integration

Qualifications include:

– 10-15 years experience in live television news production

– At least 6 years experience managing a staff

– Bachelor`s degree in communications, or related subject preferred.

– Control room experience producing live news programs that contain live remote elements.

– Must be able to work in a team environment with minimum supervision.

– Advanced knowledge of computer newsroom systems

Send your resume to: Rashida Jones at: rjones@weather.com

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

BLIND BOX AD, ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR, MIDWEST

Mid-size Midwestern duopoly on the rise, looking to continue redefining a market.  After years of unprecedented growth,  we need an Assistant News Director who is willing to take the reins and continue shaping our news product across multiple platforms.

Successful candidate needs an ability to multi-task, a willingness to get their hands dirty, and a desire to mold an improving newsroom.  Must be willing to build news product focused on what the viewer wants to see, while working within the restraints of modern news budgets.

Strong news judgment,  flexibility and focus are necessary.

Email your resume and cover letter to: NDad@rickgevers.com, or mail to:

Blind Box Ad
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077

Please note:  I have no role in the hiring process.  All replies, both email and postal mail, are forwarded automatically to the hiring station.

OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 8/7/09)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 7/31/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (two jobs, AM & PM, listed 8/14/09)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/14/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/14/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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

NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Marcie Golgoski

MARCIE GOLGOSKI heads south and returns to Hearst as the morning Executive Producer for WESH-TV, Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Orlando.  Marcie is currently the morning EP at WSYR-TV in Syracuse.  Earlier in her career, she worked for Hearst as a producer for WBAL-TV in Baltimore.

WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw has a new Assistant ND as ERIC SHEPARD joins this Meredith owned CBS affiliate.  He most recently was an EP at WXYZ-TV in Detroit and has been a producer in Baltimore and Raleigh.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Thursday, August 20, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
WCNC-TV   1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr.      Charlotte ND 28217
WPEC/WFLX 1100 Fairfield Dr.              W. Palm Beach FL 33407
WOOD-TV   120 College SE                  Grand Rapids MI 49503
KRQE-TV   13 Broadcast Plaza              Albuquerque NM 87104
KSEE-TV   5035 E. McKinley Ave.           Fresno CA 93727
WNYT-TV   715 N. Pearl St.                Albany NY 12204
WKRG-TV   555 Broadcast Dr.               Mobile AL 36606
KGUN-TV   7280 E. Rosewood St.            Tucson AZ 85710
WGBA-TV   1391 North Rd.                  Green Bay WI 54307
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
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
WNCT-TV   3221 S. Evans St.               Greenville NC 27834
WLNS-TV   2820 E. Saginaw St.             Lansing MI 48912
KBCI-TV   140 N. 16th St.                 Boise ID 83702
WPBN/WTOM-TV 8518 M 72 West               Traverse City MI 49684
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
WLOX-TV   208 DeBuys Road                 Biloxi MS 39531
KTVZ-TV   62990 O.B Riley Rd.             Bend OR 97701

August 15, 2009

Greetings:

A very surprising move tops this week’s list of news director and news management changes.

We told you about the move earlier this week that saw a longtime Gannett executive leave the company.

Another opening sees a longtime ND (try 28 years!) moving upstairs to the GM’s chair at a small market powerhouse.

Those are among the  THREE new openings to tell you about, and there is only  ONE new news director hire this week.  That raises the number of openings to  24.

We have two paid ads (you may not care, but my wife does!) for interesting opportunities.

One of those paid ads is for an Executive Producer position at The Weather Channel, while the other is a blind box ad for a midwest duopoly looking for an Assistant News Director.

And we have one item to check out in Name in the News.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

Todd Hauer

WYIN-TV, Merrillville, IN…TODD HAUER is leaving this PBS affiliate to become Associate Director of Media Relations for Valparaiso University.  He’s been ND here for three years and previously worked as a reporter in the Carolinas.  WYIN airs a nightly newscast at 9:00.

WUSA-TV, Washington, DC…we told you about this surprise move in an emailed UPDATE last Tuesday.  LANE MICHAELSEN, a longtime news executive with Gannett, is leaving this CBS affiliate to become ND for WTVJ-TV in Miami.  (More on that below.) Lane’s been ND here for just under a year.  His replacement will be the fourth ND here in the last five years.

Dave Vincent

WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS…congratulations to longtime ND (and even longer-time employee) DAVE VINCENT on his promotion to GM of this Raycom-owned ABC station.  Dave’s been the ND here since 1981, and has worked at the station since 1977.  During his tenure, the station has won a Peabody, a duPont, and a National Murrow Award for stories ranging from civil rights to coverage of Hurricane Katrina.  Please join me in congratulating Dave via email at: dvincent@wlox.com

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

Michaelsen

WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL…as noted above, LANE MICHAELSEN will be the next ND for this NBC o-and-o.  Lane is currently ND for Gannett’s WUSA-TV in Washington, and his move ends a long career with Gannett in which he worked as a photojournalist in Minneapolis, a news director in Little Rock and Tampa (in addition to Washington) and also served as VP/News for the company.  At WTVJ, he replaces YVETTE MILEY who was promoted to Executive Editor for MSNBC earlier this year.  Of note: WTVJ’s GM is ARDYTH DIERCKS, who had been a GM at Gannett stations earlier in her career.

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

PAID ADS:

Executive Producer, The Weather Channel, Atlanta

We are searching for an Executive Producer to be responsible for all aspects of all weekday morning live programming.

Responsibilities include:

– Determining daily editorial content, overall production elements, graphic support and contributions from bureaus and affiliate partners.

– Producing in a control room, including multiple live shots from various locations.  Consult with Meteorologists during daily briefings.

– Overseeing video acquisitions via satellite networks and other sources.

– Writing creative scripts and preparing video teases as needed

– Developing and maintaining a constructive relationship with show talent.

– Responsibility for planning and executing sponsorship components and ad integration

Qualifications include:

– 10-15 years experience in live television news production

– At least 6 years experience managing a staff

– Bachelor`s degree in communications, or related subject preferred.

– Control room experience producing live news programs that contain live remote elements.

– Must be able to work in a team environment with minimum supervision.

– Advanced knowledge of computer newsroom systems

Send your resume to: Rashida Jones at: rjones@weather.com

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

Blind Box Ad, Assistant News Director, Midwest

Mid-size Midwestern duopoly on the rise, looking to continue redefining a market.  After years of unprecedented growth,  we need an Assistant News Director who is willing to take the reins and continue shaping our news product across multiple platforms.

Successful candidate needs an ability to multi-task, a willingness to get their hands dirty, and a desire to mold an improving newsroom.  Must be willing to build news product focused on what the viewer wants to see, while working within the restraints of modern news budgets.

Strong news judgment,  flexibility and focus are necessary.

Email your resume and cover letter to: NDad@rickgevers.com, or mail to:

Blind Box Ad
Rick Gevers & Associates
PO Box 577
Zionsville IN 46077

Please note:  I have no role in the hiring process.  All replies, both email and postal mail, are forwarded automatically to the hiring station.

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

Other News Mgmt. Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/7/09)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listed 8/7/09)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 7/31/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 8/7/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (two jobs, AM & PM, new listing this week)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 8/7/09)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 8/7/09)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

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

NAME IN THE NEWS:

CHAD CURTIS has been named Manager, Broadcast News, Department of Communications, at Brigham Young University.  Chad’s a BYU grad who is currently working for NBC NewsChannel. (You saw this position advertised in this newsletter a few weeks ago.)  Chad will oversee the student newsroom that does a daily 30 minute live newscast on KBYU-TV (in the Salt Lake City DMA), as well as BYU’s online efforts, and a weekly 30 minute Spanish language news magazine that is broadcast by satellite to Mexico, Central and South America.

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

Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, August 14, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

WYIN-TV   8625 Indiana Place              Merrillville IN 46410 (PBS affiliate)
KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
WUSA-TV   4100 Wisconsin Ave NW           Washington DC 20016
WDIV-TV   550 W. Lafayette Blvd           Detroit MI 48231
KXLN-TV   9440 Kirby Dr.                  Houston TX 77054  (Spanish Language)
WLWT-TV   1700 Young St.                  Cincinnati OH 45210
WOOD-TV   120 College SE                  Grand Rapids MI 49503
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
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
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
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
WLOX-TV   208 DeBuys Road                 Biloxi MS 39531
KTVZ-TV   62990 O.B Riley Rd.             Bend OR 97701

August 8, 2009

Tuesday, August 11 UDPATE:

Michaelsen

In a move seen as a surprise by many, longtime Gannett news manager LANE MICHAELSEN is leaving the company (where he is currently VP of the News and Information Center for the company’s Washington, DC, CBS affiliate, WUSA-TV) to become VP/News and Content for WTVJ-TV, the NBC o-and-o in Miami.  Lane’s been at WUSA for just under a year, but has served Gannett as a VP/News as well as ND for its stations in Little Rock and Tampa.  He began his career as a photojournalist and has been honored many times for his work.  At WTVJ, he replaces YVETTE MILEY who was named Executive Editor for MSNBC earlier this year.

Greetings:

We have a handful of new ND hires to tell you about, including one in New York City that was announced Friday afternoon.

That’s one of  FOUR new NDs in this week’s report, with  ONE new opening, and that in a top ten market.

For the second week in a row, we have a handful of new News Management Openings.  Is that a sign that stations are starting to hire again?  I don’t know, but it’s a nice sign.

In Names in the News, a new Assistant ND in Cleveland, a PR promotion for a former ND, and an award for a longtime Missouri Journalism School professor.

All that and more after this week’s changes:

NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:

KNTV,    San Jose/San Francisco, CA…SUSAN SULLIVAN is leaving this NBC o-and-o to return home as ND for WNBC-TV in New York City.  She’s been the VP/News here since November 2007.  Much more on this move below.

NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:

WNBC-TV, New York, NY…as noted above, SUSAN SULLIVAN has been named ND for this NBC o-and-o.  She’s currently VP/News for NBC’s KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco.  Susan has previously been an ND in New York (WNYW-TV), Washington, DC (WTTG-TV) and Phoenix (KNXV-TV), and has worked at both WCBS-TV and WABC-TV in New York.  Susan also has a law degree from Fordham University School of Law in New York.  At WNBC, she replaces VICKI BURNS who was named VP of Content & Audience Development for NBC Local Media New York last June after just more than a year as the ND here.

Stanton Tang

WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…Executive Producer STANTON TANG has been promoted to News and Information Director for this Gannett-owned ABC affiliate.  He’s been the EP there since December, 2005, and previously worked in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Sacramento.  Stanton replaces TIM GERAGHTY who was promoted earlier this year  to be ND for Gannett’s KXTV in Sacramento after almost five years as ND here.

Bob Stoldal

KVBC-TV, Las Vegas, NV…we alerted you to this surprising move in a mid-week emailed UPDATE.  BOB STOLDAL, longtime ND of cross-town rival KLAS-TV, has been named Executive Vice President/News for this Sunbelt Communications owned NBC affiliate.  He’ll also manage and coordinate the news operations of all the Sunbelt stations.  Bob retired as VP/News of KLAS in 2008, ending a long career with that station, which began in 1967.  He did spend a few years as ND of sister-Landmark station WTVF-TV in Nashville.  Bob’s a native Nevadan and an expert in the history of Las Vegas.  He replaces DEBORAH CLAYTON who left KVBC last month after almost two years as ND, and spent many more years than that working at the station.

KTEN-TV, Denison, TX…we told you last week that veteran newsman CRAIG MARRS had been named GM of this NBC affiliate.  We didn’t know that he’ll also been assuming the ND duties, at least for now.  So we’re removing this from our list of openings.  KTEN is owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group.

Also this week, DAN GARCIA’s job as ND of KAUZ-TV in Wichita Falls, TX, was eliminated after the station’s owned signed a joint sales and shared services agrement with the owners of KSWO-TV in Lawton, OK.

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Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (listed 4/25/09)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (relisted 6/19/09)
KWWL-TV, Waterloo, IA (listed 7/31/09)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (PM EP, relisted 6/14/09)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, new listing this week)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listed 7/31/09)
Northwest Cable News, Seattle, WA (PM EP, new listing this week)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 5/15/09)
KXTV,    Sacramento, CA (Morning EP, relisted 6/19/09)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM EP, listed 7/31/09)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (new listing this week)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/24/09)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 6/19/09)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/14/09)
WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (new listing this week)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (listed 5/22/09)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER/PRODUCER:

WPTA/WISE, Ft. Wayne, IN (new listing this week)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:

Finlayson

Former Chicago, San Francisco/Oakland, and Nashville ND ANDREW FINLAYSON will be a Knight fellow this fall at Stanford.  He’s now Director of Online Content for Fox.  Andrew tells me that will allow him to get a “sort of mini-MBA in digital entrepreneurship.”  The Stanford Knight fellowship is now focusing on the future of journalism and digital innovation.  He’d like to hear from any news directors…actually from anyone…who has started their own digital media business, either full or part time.  You can share you thoughts with Andrew via email at:  Andrew.Finlayson@FOXTV.COM

ROBERTA PETTERSON has been named Assistant ND for WEWS-TV in Cleveland.  She most recently had been an EP for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh and has also worked in Tulsa, OK.

Mike Cavender

Former News Director MIKE CAVENDER has been promoted to VP of Client Solutions for Medialink.  Mike’s a former ND in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Tampa, and Nashville, and a past chairman of RTNDA and RTNDF.  He joined Medialink three years ago.  He’ll continue to be based in Atlanta.  You can re-connect with Mike via email at: mcavender@medialink.com

Rod Gelatt

And congratulations to longtime University of Missouri Journalism Professor ROD GELATT who’s been named one of the seven winners of the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism.  Rod’s been affiliated with the J-School for more than 45 years and has had a role in training hundreds if not thousands of journalists.  Full disclosure: I was a student of Rod’s while at Missouri.  You can read more about Rod and the other winners by clicking here.  And you can wish Rod well via email at: rgelatt@aol.com

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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have a current ND opening, as of Friday, August 7, 2009.  If you know of any updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email at: rick@rickgevers.com

KNTV      2450 North First St.            San Jose CA 95131
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
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
WNWO-TV   300 S. Byrne Rd.                Toledo OH 43615
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
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
KTVZ-TV   62990 O.B Riley Rd.             Bend OR 97701