April | 2011 | Rick Gevers & Associates

April 23, 2011

Greetings:

THREE new openings, two of them created by departures of long tenured news directors, top the newsletter this week. And there’s ONE newly named news director, leaving our list of openings at 33.

We have the full list of Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners, along with the story of a new job for the RTDNA Chair-elect. There’s one other item in Names in the News.

Also this week, obituaries of two former news directors, one from West Virginia and the other from California. We have a few new Assistant ND openings in our listing of Other News Management Openings, and repeats of ads for two news managers in top 15 markets.

All that and more about this week’s changes.

New News Director Openings:

Rios

KTTV/KCOP-TV, Los Angeles, CA…JOSE RIOS is being promoted within Fox. Beginning June 1, he’ll be the company’s VP of Digital News Applications. Jose has worked at the station since 1992, when he first joined as Managing Editor and was promoted to news director later that year. He’d previously been ND for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

Lindner

KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN…we told you earlier this week that longtime ND TOM LINDNER was leaving this Gannett-owned NBC affiliate after 19 years at the station and 15 as ND. Tom’s staff paid tribute to him in this lengthy story which aired Thursday, certainly an unusual occurrence in a day and time when most stations refuse to acknowledge staff changes. Tom also served as Assistant ND here, worked at two other Twin Cities stations, and also worked for WMAQ-TV in Chicago.

Schermer

KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA…DAVE SCHERMER, who’s been ND for this NBC affiliate since 2006, is leaving. He told the local newspaper he plans to stay in the area and focus on building informational websites. He’s also worked as a special projects producer in San Diego and as a reporter in Sacramento. He’ll stay at this Cordillera owned station for a few more weeks.

Newly Named News Directors:

Cisneros

KTAZ-TV, Phoenix, AZ…JULIO CISNEROS has been named ND for the Telemundo o-and-o. He has been Digital Production Director for Entravision in Phoenix, managing three websites. He’s a former ND and anchor for KREN-TV in Reno and has also worked in Sacramento. He replaces JUAN VILLA who left the station in January to become ND for KTVW-TV, the Univision station in Phoenix.

One clarification from last week’s edition. We reported MATT STEVENS was the new ND/Anchor for KFBB-TV in Great Falls, MT. Matt tells me he’s the interim ND there, and we have added that opening back to the list of open ND jobs. And the emailed version of this newsletter inexplicably omitted the last name of new WDAZ-TV ND CHRIS REGIMBAL in reporting his promotion last week. Apologies and congratulations again to Chris.

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HELP WANTED ADS:

Assistant News Director, KHOU-TV, Houston, TX:

KHOU 11, a Belo owned CBS affiliate in Houston, has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director. We’re searching for a dynamic newsroom leader to oversee day to day operation of our enterprise driven news organization in market #10. Candidates should have previous news director, assistant news director, or executive producer experience in a medium to large market. The assistant news director must be able to devise and execute a winning strategy built around strong reporting and storytelling. We’re looking for someone who can teach and coach outstanding journalism in a newsroom that has won more awards for journalistic excellence than any other station in Texas.

Interested candidates will need a minimum of 10 years experience in television news, with five years being in a major market. Other skills needed include the ability to make good, sound, non-judgmental decisions with on-air programming, have analytical budgetary abilities, and the ability to interact productively and positively with fellow employees.

For more information, please visit www.khou.com.

For consideration, please submit resume to jobs@khou.com or mail to

KHOU 11
Attention: HR/AD
1945 Allen Parkway,
Houston TX 77019

Fax 713-284-8818

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Managing Editor, WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL:

WFTS-TV, a Scripps owned ABC affiliate in sunny Tampa is seeking an experienced dynamic leader for Managing Editor. Must have proven ability in medium to large market with positive impact on ratings and content quality. The Managing Editor is responsible for organizing and coordinating assignment desk staff and multi-media journalists to facilitate daily news coverage for multiple platforms.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Manage daily editorial flow, including assigning multi-media journalists, photojournalists and assignment desk staff to cover daily news stories and events
Lead daily news planning and coverage
Supervise and schedule Multi Media Journalists, Content Coordinators and assignment desk staff to manage overtime
Review content, ensuring journalistic balance, for all platforms
Implement and have working knowledge of federal, state and local laws impacting operations
Assist editorial staff in developing all news coverage plans
Work closely with executive producers on distribution of coverage
Complete and deliver performance evaluations for direct reports
Knowledge of and proficiency in posting content to station websites
Performs other duties as assigned

Skills:

Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office
Broad understanding of newsroom operations and equipment
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast paced environment
Advanced oral and written communication skills
Ability to work a varied schedule, including weekends and holidays.

Education/Experience:

Bachelors Degree in related discipline. Minimum 5 years news room management experience.

Apply to requisition #3478 online at www.scripps.com. No phone calls please.

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Other News Management Openings:

Assistant News Director:

WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (new listing this week)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/15/11, see ad above)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 3/12/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (new listing this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 4/15/11)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (relisted 4/15/11)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 3/31/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 3/31/11)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 2/25/11)

Executive News Producer:

KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 3/12/11)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 3/31/11)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/25/11)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, listed 3/25/11)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 4/9/11)
WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 4/15/11)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 4/15/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (2 openings, AM & afternoon, listing revised 4/15/11)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Special Projects EP, relisted 4/15/11)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 4/15/11)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (AM EP, relisted 4/15/11)
KVOA-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, listed 3/31/11)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (relisted 4/15/11)

Special Projects Producer:

WSVN-TV, Miami, FL (relisted 4/15/11)

Managing Editor:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/15/11, see ad above)

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Obituaries:

I’m sorry to report the passing of two former news directors.

MARK DAVIS, the former ND for WTRF-TV in Wheeling, WV, died at the age of 80 following a long illness. He also anchored and reported for this CBS affiliate, which remembered him in this story.

Young

GAYLEN YOUNG, who served as ND for KGET-TV in Bakersfield, CA, from 1985-1988, died yesterday (Thursday, April 21) of injuries suffered in a car accident in Utah. He was 59. Gaylen’s 16 year old son was behind the wheel and suffered minor injuries. Gaylen worked at KGET for 23 years, worked at another Bakersfield station for two years, and earlier had worked in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Here’s KGET’s story on his passing.

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Names in the News:

RTDNA announced the winners of Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards this week. Click here for the entire list. (Self serving promotional note. Among the winners is my client CHRIS DANIELS of KING-TV in Seattle, honored for best writing in that competitive market.)

Benz

RTDNA chair-elect KEVIN BENZ has a new job. He’s the Editor-in-Chief of CultureMap Austin, a daily digital magazine set to launch this summer. He had been ND for News 8 Austin for eleven years before leaving that job in December. As chair-elect of RTDNA, Kevin’s in charge of planning this fall’s RTDNA/SPJ convention in New Orleans.

WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, NC, has a new executive producer. LORI DENBERG joins this ABC o-and-o from WKMG-TV in Orlando, where she was News Content Manager. Lori has also worked for WESH-TV in Orlando, and in Miami and West Palm Beach.

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The Full List:

To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, April 22, 2011.

If you know of any additions/deletions/changes/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KMEX-TV 5999 Center Dr. Los Angeles CA 90045 **
KTTV/KCOP-TV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis MN 55427
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
KOIN-TV 222 SW Columbia St. Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KLUZ-TV 2725 F. Broadbent Pwky NE Albuquerque NM 87107 **
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque NM 87104
KATV 401 Main St. Little Rock AR 72201
KOKI-TV 2625 S. Memorial Tulsa OK 74129
WKEF/WRGT-TV 45 Broadcast Plaza Dayton OH 45408
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tucson AZ 85705
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Road Roanoke VA 24017
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Road Flint MI 48503
WMTW-TV 99 Danville Corner Road Portland ME 04210
KVEO-TV 349 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WCYB-TV 101 Lee St. Bristol VA 24201
KOLN/KGIN-TV 40th & W Streets Lincoln NE 68503
KVAL-TV 4575 Blanton Road Eugene OR 97405
KSBY-TV 1772 Calle Joaquin San Luis Obispo CA 93405
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd. Rockford IL 61105
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe LA 71292
KTKA-TV 2121 SW Chelsea Dr. Topeka KS 66614
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
KIMT-TV 112 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Mason City IA 50401
WJHG-TV 8195 Front Beach Rd. Panama City Beach FL 32407
KUPB-TV 10313 W. Country Rd. #117 Midland TX 79706 **
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St. Gainesville FL 32653
WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV 5956 Smith Hill Rd. Utica NY 13502
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KFBB-TV 3012 Highwoods Blvd. Great Falls MT 59403
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong San Angelo TX 76903

** Spanish language station

April 16, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Lindner

A surprise from Minneapolis today, where longtime KARE-TV News Director TOM LINDNER is leaving the station. This brief news release from the station makes no mention of his future plans. Tom’s Twitter page has a brief (of course it’s brief, it’s Twitter) reference to his departure.

Tom’s run the newsroom at this Gannett-owned NBC affiliate since 1992, and has been VP/News there since 1996. He earlier worked at WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities.

I’ll hope to have more on this story in our full newsletter later this week.

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Greetings:

It was good to see some of you at NAB this week. I hope to see many more at RTDNA’s convention later this year in New Orleans.

It was a busy week of news director changes, with ~~THREE~~ TWO (see UPDATE below) new news directors to introduce to you (each first-time NDs) with THREE new openings. Both of those new news directors spent the early days of their careers as photographers.

That leaves our count of open ND jobs to 29 30.

One of those newly named ND vacates a managing editor job in a top 20 market, and his former station is advertising the position below. We also have a new ad for an Assistant ND job in a top ten market, and a repeat of last week’s ad for an EP in Raleigh.

We also have freshened up our list of Other News Management Openings, removing some and re-listing many that are still open.

In Names in the News, an obituary for a former Oklahoma ND, some managers on the move, and twins for a meteorologist turned news manager.

All that…and so much more…after this week’s ND changes.

Newly Named News Directors:

Ciliberti

WTEN-TV, Albany, NY…DAVE CILIBERTI fills this long-open vacancy at Young’s ABC affiliate. Dave’s currently the Managing Editor of News Platforms (!) for WFTS-TV in Tampa, where he’s worked since 1994 in a variety of roles. He earlier worked as a News Operations Manager for two New York City stations, and as a photographer in Washington, DC, and Houston. At WTEN, he replaces ROB HUBLER who left the station in December. Of 2009. (By the way, Dave’s old station is now searching for his replacement. Check out the paid ad below.)

Regimbal

WDAZ-TV, Grand Forks, ND…congratulations to another former photographer, CHRIS REGIMBAL, who’s been promoted to news director for this ABC affiliate. Chris first joined the station in 1991 as a sports photographer, eventually became chief photographer and most recently has been running the Assignment Desk. He replaces CASSIE WALDER who is moving to the Washington, DC area. Cassie spent more than six years as ND for this Forum Communications owned station.

UPDATE: We earlier had reported that MATT STEVENS had been named ND/Anchor at KFBB-TV in Great Falls, MT. Matt tells me is only the interim ND there, so we’re adding that back to our list of openings.

New News Director Openings:

Howard

KOLN/KGIN-TV, Lincoln, NE…JERRY HOWARD has left this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate after three years as ND. He’s also been an ND in Great Falls, MT, and worked in Kansas City, Little Rock, and Topeka. He’s also taught at the University of Oklahoma.

Graham

WFXL-TV, Albany, GA…TERRY GRAHAM, the news director and anchor for this Barrington Broadcasting station, has parted company with the FOX affiliate. He’s been at the station since August, 2005, and previously worked in Meridian, MS.

WUTR/WPNY/WFXV-TV, Utica, NY…this triopoly (if that’s a word) is beginning a news operation that will air newscasts on all three stations (affiliated with ABC/FOX/MyNetwork), and the search is on for a news director/anchor. Wikipedia says WUTR closed its original news operation in 2003. Nexstar Broadcasting owns WFXV and WPNY and provides services through an outsourcing agreement to WUTR, which is licensed to Mission Broadcasting.

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HELP WANTED ADS:

Assistant News Director, KHOU-TV, Houston, TX:

For more information, please visit www.khou.com.

For consideration, please submit resume to jobs@khou.com or mail to

KHOU 11
Attention: HR/AD
1945 Allen Parkway,
Houston TX 77019

Fax 713-284-8818

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Managing Editor, WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL:

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Manage daily editorial flow, including assigning multi-media journalists, photojournalists and assignment desk staff to cover daily news stories and events
Lead daily news planning and coverage
Supervise and schedule Multi Media Journalists, Content Coordinators and assignment desk staff to manage overtime
Review content, ensuring journalistic balance, for all platforms
Implement and have working knowledge of federal, state and local laws impacting operations
Assist editorial staff in developing all news coverage plans
Work closely with executive producers on distribution of coverage
Complete and deliver performance evaluations for direct reports
Knowledge of and proficiency in posting content to station websites
Performs other duties as assigned

Skills:

Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office
Broad understanding of newsroom operations and equipment
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast paced environment
Advanced oral and written communication skills
Ability to work a varied schedule, including weekends and holidays.

Education/Experience:

Bachelors Degree in related discipline. Minimum 5 years news room management experience.

Apply to requisition #3478 online at www.scripps.com. No phone calls please.

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Executive Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

Would you like to be a leader in a news operation with a commitment to excellence and the resources you need to succeed?

WRAL, the dominant television station in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market, is seeking a strong Executive Producer to oversee the presentation and look of WRAL newscasts. We’re looking for a leader who will coach the producing staff, write and approve scripts, review topical and image promotion, enhance weather and sports coverage and contribute to special coverage and sweeps planning.

This person will work closely with our graphics and promotion teams as well as the news management team. We are looking for a person with outstanding communication skills, superb news judgment who excels at breaking news and has an eye for details. If you have a vision for graphics and a passion for memorable, creative and topnotch newscasts, this is the job for you.

WRAL is locally owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, a community-oriented company that offers some of the best benefits in the business. Requirements include five years of experience in producing newscasts, two years of news management experience, a four-year college degree and a pre-employment drug screening. All candidates must apply online at www.cbc-raleigh.com.

EOE, M/F. All Capitol Broadcasting Company properties are tobacco free.

JOB NUMBER: 11057 POSTED: April 5, 2011 CLOSING: April 19, 2011

It is the policy of the company to be fair and impartial in all relations with employees and applicants for employment. No person will be discriminated against in employment because of race, color, religion, age, sex, military status, national origin, physical/mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law.

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