Rick Gevers & Associates

March 29, 2015

Monday, March 30, 2015 UPDATE:

Some news director changes and two former NDs-turned GMs on the move in today’s UPDATE.

KARIN MOVESIAN, who’s been the ND for Journal’s-soon-to-be-Scripps’ KTNV (ABC) in Las Vegas since 2007, has been named news director for KSDK-TV in St. Louis.  Karin grew up in the St. Louis area, was graduated from St. Louis University, and earlier in her career worked at KMOV-TV.  She’s also worked as an Assistant ND in San Antonio, and as an EP in Chicago (two stations), Detroit, and Minneapolis.

Shipley

At KSDK, she’ll replace MIKE SHIPLEY who announced last October that he’d retire from the station (but not from working) after his replacement was hired.  Mike’s worked for this Gannett-owned NBC station for almost 34 years, joining in 1981 as the Night Assignment Editor He’s been ND here since 2000.  Full disclosure:  Mike and I worked together at the campus radio station at Missouri, and I hired him at KSDK.

Hilk

In Nashville, WSMV-TV News Director MATTHEW HILK has left that Meredith owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the news director (actual title: Director of News and Creative Services) since June, 2006. Before that he was the Assistant ND for stations in Pittsburgh and Birmingham, a producer in Orlando, and a reporter in Louisville, Charleston, WV, and Oak Hill, WV.

Lerner

One-time ND turned GM ERIC LERNER is headed to the Big Apple as the next GM for WNBC-TV, where he’ll replace the retiring MICHAEL JACK. Eric’s currently the GM for another NBC o-and-o, WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He’s been a GM in Seattle and Fresno, and a news director in Chicago, Seattle, and Wichita. He began his career working for Frank Magid Associates.

Reingold

Finally, congratulations to longtime broadcaster DICK REINGOLD who is being promoted to VP/GM for Bonten Media’s stations in New Bern-Greenville-Washington, NC. Dick’s currently the GM for Bonten’s cluster of NBC stations in Montana. His background includes four news director jobs, a GM position at WUSA-TV in Washington, and other interesting jobs. You can read about all of them on his Linkedin page.

Congrats to Karin, Eric and Dick on their moves, and best wishes to Mike and Matthew as they move into the next phase of their careers.

I’m sure we’ll have a lot more to report in the next edition of our newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

We interrupt your watching of some pretty good NCAA basketball games to bring you this week’s newsletter.

This week’s score: 4, 3, 27, 2, 3.

FOUR new news directors.

THREE new ND openings.

A total of 27 stations looking for news directors.

TWO new paid help wanted ads.

And a total of THREE help wanted ads.

And we have TWO items about new General Managers (one a former ND) and ONE item about TWO new EPs for a Milwaukee station.

All that and more as you read on.

New News Director Openings:

KSTP-TV, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN…after seven years as ND for this Hubbard owned ABC affiliate, LINDSAY RADFORD is off to be ND for KMGH-TV in Denver. More on her move below.

Garner

WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI…GENIE GARNER has left this Weigel Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate after more than two years as news director. Genie’s been the ND here since August, 2012, and previously worked as a news director in Louisville (WHAS-TV), Honolulu (KITV), and Terre Haute, IN (WTHI-TV). She’s also worked as the Assistant News director for KMOV-TV in St. Louis.

Klaus

WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC…BARRY KLAUS left this Hearst owned NBC affiliate this week after 13 years at the station, and eleven as news director. He’s going to work for a family business in New York City. (Barry’s a big Mets fan, and the staff gave him an appropriate farewell gift.) He’s also worked in Albuquerque, Hartford, Albany, NY, and Charleston, WV.

And please check out the ad for the open ND position at KTSM-TV in El Paso.  That’s below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Weiner

Verizon FIOS1 News, New York, NY…MARC WEINER has been named news director for this Verizon-owned 24 hour news channel serving New York. He most recently worked as an EP for Al Jazeera America’s news channel. Marc’s a former ND in Raleigh, Las Vegas, and Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo, and he’s worked in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Minneapolis. At FIOS1, he replaces JERRY ANDREWS who was ND here for two years.

Radford

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…we told you earlier this week that LINDSAY RADFORD will join this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate as ND. It’s a return to Colorado for Lindsay, who worked for another station in Denver and in Colorado Springs earlier in her career. She’s spent the last seven years as ND for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, the Hubbard-owned ABC station there, which she first joined in 2003 as an EP. Lindsay’s also worked in Hartford and El Paso. She replaces JEFF HARRIS who left last fall to be ND for another Scripps’ station, WEWS-TV in Cleveland. The station news release is here, and the local TV columnist’s story is here.

Lewis

KATU-TV, Portland, OR…KYANN LEWIS returns to Portland to become news director for this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate. She’s currently the EP for KNTV, the NBC o-and-o in San Jose/San Francisco. Earlier in her career she worked for more than seven years for KPTV and KGW-TV in Portland. She’s also been a news director in Houston (KIAH-TV) and Greenville, SC (WHNS-TV). At KATU, she replaces TIFFANI LUPENSKI who left in January (after two years as ND and four years at the station) to become ND for KGTV in San Diego.

LaFlesh

WPTZ/WNNE-TV, Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT…MICHAEL LaFLESH has been promoted within Hearst to become news director here. Michael’s a longtime Hearst employee, spending the last 2 1/2 years as EP for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. He also worked for Hearst’s WLWT-TV in Cincinnati for ten years, seven as the Nightside Executive Producer. Michael’s also worked in Dayton. He replaces SINAN SADAR who was promoted to ND of Hearst’s newly acquired WJCL-TV in Savannah. Sinan spent six years as ND here.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX:

KTSM-TV, the NBC affiliate in the vibrant city of El Paso, TX is searching for an experienced, innovative leader with great news judgement, strong digital news initiative, and a passion to be the best. This is a great News Director opportunity in a great news market.

The successful candidate will lead the operation of a legacy news station and have the opportunity to build the department to reflect the changing newsroom model.

El Paso, TX is the 19th largest city in the U.S and one of the most livable cities in the country with over 300 days of sunshine each year. It rates 1st in lowest crime rate for four consecutive years in U.S. cities with over 500,000 people, 1st in Texas as its most affordable city, 3rd as the best city to raise a family and 4th as the best mid-size city for jobs.

For a detailed job description and to apply, please click here.

Assistant News Director, WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA/Hilton Head, SC:

A great chance for you to join a great company! WJCL – the Hearst owned ABC affiliate in Savannah, GA/Hilton Head, SC – is looking for an Assistant News Director.

Savannah/Hilton Head is one of the top destinations in the nation that lives up to the hype with world class restaurants, sites, sounds and history as well as thriving modern amenities, communities and industries that are hiring. The Coastal Empire and Low Country have it all!

The successful candidate should have 2+ years of newsroom management experience, a varied background in the development & production of content and a willingness to help others grow.

Join a best-in-class broadcast company that is not afraid to invest in people or a place.

Just click here to learn more about the job and how to apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 3/22/15)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 3/7/15)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/7/15)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 3/22/15)
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (listed 3/1/15)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 2/22/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 3/14/15)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 3/22/15)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/7/15)
WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL, (listed 2/1/15)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/14/15)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (2 openings, relisted 3/14/15)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 1/18/15)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Special Projects EP, relisted this week)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (2 openings, AM & Dayside, new listing this week)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 2/15/15)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, relisted 3/7/15)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 2/1/15)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 3/1/15)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted 3/22/15)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 3/22/15)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 2/22/15)
Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 3/14/15)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 3/22/15)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/15/15)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

Two new EPs to tell you about at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee.

LAURA MATOVINA moves from nearby Chicago to become the new morning EP for this NBC affiliate. She’s been the morning producer for WFLD-TV in Chicago. She’s also worked in Rockford, IL, and for another Milwaukee station. And NICOLE BUCKLEY will join the staff after the May book. She’ll be the evening EP here. Nicole currently works at WTMJ’s sister station in Ft. Myers, FL, where she’s an EP. She began her career in Springfield, IL.

General Manager News:

Vea

If you missed our UPDATE item earlier this week, we’ll remind you that congratulations are in order for two-time Salt Lake City news director TANYA VEA, who’s been promoted to VP/General Manager for KSL-TV there.  Here’s the link to the story from the KSL website. She first joined KSL in 2010 as ND. She earlier served as the ND for KUTV in SLC. Little known fact: Tanya’s the niece of WXIA-TV (Atlanta) ND JENNIFER RIGBY.

LYLE SCHULZE will be the next GM for Raycom’s WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. He’s currently running WCTI-TV in Greenville/New Bern/Washington, Bonten Media’s ABC affiliate. He’s also been a GM in Palm Springs, Lansing, and Evansville, and has worked in Houston, Charlotte and Milwaukee.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, March 29, 2015.

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

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Drive Glendale CA 91201
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul MN 55114
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St. Miami FL 33178 *
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
Central Florida News 13, 20 N. Orange Ave. Suite 13 Orlando FL 32801
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WDJT-TV 809 S. 60th St. Milwaukee WI 53214
WXII-TV 700 Coliseum Drive Winston-Salem NC 27106
WWL-TV 1024 North Rampart St. New Orleans 70116
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
KJRH-TV 3701 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa OK 74105
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
KTSM-TV 801 N. Oregon, El Paso, TX 79902 (see ad above!)
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 East Columbia MO 65201
KTVL-TV 1440 Rossanley Dr. Medford OR 97501
KECI/KCFW/KTVM 340 W. Main Missoula MT 59802 (see ad above!)
WHSV-TV 50 North Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KMVT/KSVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

March 22, 2015

Thursday, March 26, 2015 UPDATE:

Good news for two veteran newswomen today!

Radford

Moments ago, LINDSAY RADFORD was announced by GM BRAD REMINGTON as the next news director for Scripps’ KMGH-TV in Denver, the ABC affiliate there. It’s a return to Colorado for Lindsay, who has worked as a producer in both Denver and Colorado Springs and whose mother and other family members live in Colorado.

She’s currently the news director for Hubbard’s KSTP-TV in St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN. She been ND there since 2008, and also served as Assistant ND and EP in her 12 years at that ABC affiliate. Lindsay’s also worked in Hartford and El Paso, TX, in addition to a short time at another Minneapolis station.

Click here to read the news release.

At KMGH, she replaces JEFF HARRIS who left last fall to become ND at another Scripps’ station, WEWS-TV in Cleveland.

Vea

And congratulations to TANYA VEA, who has been promoted to General Manager for KSL-TV and KSL Newsradio in Salt Lake City. She’s been station manager there for the last year or so when she was promoted from news director. Tanya’s also a former ND at KUTV in Salt Lake City, a position she left for a PR job she held for two years before moving to KSL in 2010. Read the story the station posted on its website here.

We’ll have more on a busy week in our full newsletter!

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 UPDATE:

Changes involving two veteran news directors in this UPDATE.

Garner

GENIE GARNER, who’s been the news director for Weigel’s WDJT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, confirmed to me this afternoon that she has left the station.  She’s been the ND here since August, 2012, and previously worked as a news director in Louisville, Honolulu, and Terre Haute, IN.  Genie has also worked for a station in St. Louis.  More in this article.

Klaus

And longtime WXII-TV (Winston-Salem, NC) news director BARRY KLAUS will leave the station later this week.  He’s headed to New York City to work in a family business there.  Barry’s been the ND here for more than eleven years and spent two years as the Assistant ND before being promoted.  He’s also worked in Albuquerque, Hartford, Albany, NY, and Charleston, WV.  Here’s his Linkedin page. WXII is owned by Hearst and is an NBC affiliate.

We’ll have more on both these stories…and all the week’s developments, in our full newsletter later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

THREE seems to be the featured number in this week’s report.

THREE new ND openings.

THREE new news directors to tell you about, leaving 27 open ND jobs.

And THREE new advertisers, of which TWO are looking for small market ND jobs in different parts of the country. And we welcome back WeatherMetrics whose ad is just below. Visit them at NAB!

Just one item in Names in the News (send me your news at rick@rickgevers.com), two new GMs, both in smaller markets, and one obituary for a veteran general manager.

If your NCAA bracket is better than mine, read on. And since that would be everyone who filled one out…

New News Director Openings:

KTSM-TV, EL Paso, TX…LAUREN MACIAS-CERVANTES left at the end of the February rating period after 4+ years as news director. KTSM is an NBC affiliate and is now owned by Nexstar.

Grogan

KECI-TV, Missoula, MT…CHRIS GROGAN is leaving this NBC affiliate (known as NBC Montana and owned by Bonten Media) to take an Assistant News Director position at WSYX/WTTE-TV in Columbus, OH. Chris was here almost three years, had previously been an ND in Grand Junction, CO, and worked in Great Falls, MT and Springfield, MO. You can learn more about the opportunity in the paid help wanted ad below.

Norred

WHSV-TV, Harrisonburg, VA…after seven years at the station, and 3 1/2 as news director, KAY NORRED has left this Gray Television owned ABC affiliate. She’s also worked in Tampa, Mobile-Pensacola, Sarasota, and Tallahassee.

While it’s not a new opening, I did want to call your attention to the paid help wanted ad below for the opportunity at WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY.

Newly Named News Directors:

Boers

WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…DAN BOERS has been promoted to News Director for this Media General owned NBC affiliate. He’s a West Michigan native who’s worked here for 18 years in a variety of roles. Dan first worked as a producer, then, for the last 12 years, as Assistant News Director. He’s also worked in Lansing. At WOOD-TV, he replaces REBECCA SAPAKIE who stepped down as ND in January to take a job within Media General working with stations on digital initiatives. She was ND here for six years.

KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA…TRACI ZERAVICA returns to this Cowles owned station as news director. She produced here in the early 90’s, was the EP from 2000-2007, and served as the Corporate ND for the Cowles stations in California (which have since been sold). Most recently she spent 2+ years as the Assistant News Director for KATU-TV in Portland. OR. At KHQ, she replaces JESSICA ROE who left the station earlier this month after just seven months as ND.

Moravchik

KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO…JULIE MORAVCHIK has been named news director for this CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. She most recently was ND for WDAZ-TV in Grand Forks, was previously a news director in Duluth, and has also worked in Minneapolis. She replaces ROBBY MESSER who left in January after about 16 months as ND. He’s returning to Phoenix and KTVK-TV (his first TV station) where he’ll be a producer. Here’s the story the station posted on its website about Julie’s hiring.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, NBC Montana:

NBC Montana — KECI/KCFW/KTVM, the NBC stations in Missoula, Kalispell, and Butte-Bozeman, MT — is searching for an aggressive, experienced, hands-on leader to be News Director.

This person will provide leadership in the development and execution of our strategic news plan, closely tied to viewer research and zealous focus on our brand. Coaching and leading our team in compelling storytelling are key parts of the responsibility.

Position is based in Missoula, MT, home of the University of Montana, and some of the best and widest range of outdoor activities in America. This opportunity is unique and especially challenging because you will lead a dispersed staff across four newsrooms that produce over 25 hours of live news each week in two DMAs across spectacular Western Montana, a coverage area larger than New England.

The strongest candidates will be able to articulate the news plan, and hold team members accountable for consistent execution of that plan. Continuous recruiting and teaching new reporters working at their first full-time TV news jobs are crucial to success. We seek a track record of a newsroom leader who embraces coaching and training newsroom personnel and promotes a collaborative work environment in concert with our company’s Culture of Excellence.

Learn more about this opportunity by clicking here.

Please apply if you are the one to lead our successful news operation grow to the next level.

Qualified candidates should contact Dick Reingold, VP & General Manager at rreingold@keci.com.

No phone calls please. NBC Montana is owned by Bonten Media Group. EEOC

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 3/7/15)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/7/15)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted this week)
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (listed 3/1/15)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 2/22/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 3/14/15)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (relisted this week)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/7/15)
WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL, (listed 2/1/15)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (Morning EP, listed 1/26/15)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 3/14/15)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (2 openings, relisted 3/14/15)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 1/18/15)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 2/15/15)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, relisted 3/7/15)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 2/1/15)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 3/1/15)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted this week)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted this week)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 2/22/15)
Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 3/14/15)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted this week)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/15/15)

Obituary:

LARRY HERBSTER died this week at the age of 71. He ran television stations in Oklahoma City, Buffalo, Wilkes-Barre, PA and Rochester, NY, and also worked for WUSA-TV in Washington, DC. More about his life and career in this detailed obituary.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

Brooks

ANDRE BROOKS heads west to become the morning EP for KDVR-TV, Tribune’s FOX affiliate in Denver. He’s been the Assistant ND for WDTN-TV in Dayton, and has also worked in San Diego, Jacksonville, FL, and Washington, DC.

General Manager News:

MARCI DANIELS has been named GM for WETM-TV, Nexstar’s NBC affiliate in Elmira, NY. She’s spent most of her carer in the Flint/Saginaw market, most recently as sales manager for WEYI/WBSF-TV. She’s also worked in West Palm Beach.

Another Nexstar station, another new GM. JUDSON “JUD” BECK will run WLAX/WEUX-TV in La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI. He’s been working for Living Social, previously was the GSM for WFLD-TV in Chicago, and served as sales manager for both the CBS and FOX stations groups.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, March 22, 2015.

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

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Drive Glendale CA 91201
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St. Miami FL 33178 *
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
Central Florida News 13, 20 N. Orange Ave. Suite 13 Orlando FL 32801
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Boulevard Portland OR 97232
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WWL-TV 1024 North Rampart St. New Orleans 70116
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
KJRH-TV 3701 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa OK 74105
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
KTSM-TV 801 N. Oregon, El Paso, TX 79902
WPTZ-TV 5 Television Drive Plattsburgh NY 12901 (see ad above!)
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 East Columbia MO 65201
KTVL-TV 1440 Rossanley Dr. Medford OR 97501
KECI/KCFW/KTVM 340 W. Main Missoula MT 59802 (see ad above!)
WHSV-TV 50 North Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22802
KMVT/KSVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

March 15, 2015

Greetings:

Good news for FOUR news managers as they accepted new news director jobs this tteek. And the ONE opening was created by a promotion within Hearst.  So our count of open ND jobs now stands at 26.

Among our THREE obituaries includes one for a man who spent 27 years at the same station as a news director.  There are TWO items in Names in the News, and TWO General Managers changing jobs.  And we’ve re-freshed our list of Other News Management Openings.

By the way, we’re less than a month away from the NAB conference in Las Vegas. I’ll hope to see many of you there.

Until then…read on!

New News Director Openings:

WPTZ-TV, Plattsburgh NY/Burlington, VT…SINAN SADAR has been promoted within Hearst to become news director of WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA. He spent more than six years as ND of this NBC affiliate. More on his new job below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Kline

KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ…CHRIS KLINE was upped to News Director this week for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate. He’s worked there for eight years, beginning as a reporter, then moving to web producer, to executive producer, and to Director of New Media. Before joining KNXV, he worked as a convergence journalist for the local paper and for CNN’s Crossfire in Washington. Chris replaces PAT COSTELLO who left last month (right after the Super Bowl) to return to Seattle where he is now ND for KOMO-TV. Pat spent two years as ND here.

D’Ambrosi

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland OH…we told you earlier this week about FRED D’AMBROSI’s new job as ND for the Raycom owned duopoly. It’s a return to Cleveland, who produced for WKYC-TV earlier in his career. Since his days at WKYC, he worked as an EP in Pittsburgh, and a news director in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Washington, DC. Fred’s also worked in Green Bay and Columbia, MO. The news release is here. Fred replaces DAN SALAMONE who left in January after nine years as ND to find “a new challenge.”

WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…as mentioned above, SINAN SADAR is already on the job as the new ND for this newly-acquired-by-Hearst ABC affiliate. Sinan spent more than six years as ND for WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY, and four years as the Ass’t, ND for Hearst’s KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, NM. Sinan has also worked in Houston (two stations), Cleveland, Albany, NY, and Syracuse. He replaces JULIE EISENMANN who left earlier this year (after 3+ years as ND here) for the Assistant ND job at WXIA-TV in Atlanta.

Hettrick

WGGB-TV, Springfield, MA…PATIENCE HETTRICK moves from sister-Meredith station WFSB-TV in Hartford (where she was the Assistant News Director) to become ND for this ABC affiliate…which also runs a FOX affiliate on a digital channel and a CBS affiliate on a lower power station. Patience replaces DAVE WARD who will be the Assistant ND for this unique operation. JIM TORTORA, who had been VP/News and Station manager for the ABC/FOX parts of the operation, has left. More in this article.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 1/11/15)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 3/7/15)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/7/15)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 1/11/15)
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (listed 3/1/15)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 2/22/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (2 positions, Dayside & Weekend, listed 1/18/15)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 1/3/15)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/7/15)
WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL, (listed 2/1/15)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (Morning EP, listed 1/26/15)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (2 openings, listing revised this week)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 1/18/15)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, relisted 2/1/15)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted 1/11/15)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 2/15/15)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, relisted 3/7/15)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 2/1/15)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 3/1/15)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted 1/11/15)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 1/11/15)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 2/22/15)
Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted this week)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 1/11/15)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/15/15)

Obituaries:

Gamble

BOB GAMBLE, who spent 27 years as news director for Channel 6 here in Indianapolis (from 1959-1986, with the call letters first WFBM-TV and then WRTV) died Saturday, March 5th, at the age of 89. Bob was a past president of (then) RTNDA, and also worked in Albert Lea, MN, Lincoln, NE, and Oklahoma City. After his retirement in 1986, he and his wife designed, built, and operated a kennel in a small town northeast of Indianapolis. More in this obituary.

Crew

DICK CREW, who spent five years as the Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated version of Evening Magazine (the local version was known as PM Magazine) died of lymphoma last month at the age of 72. After leaving Evening Magazine, he started his own production company and later earned a PhD and taught at the University level for the rest of his career. You can learn more about his life and career by clicking here to read a detailed obituary of his life.

Our sympathy to former news director JACK PAGANO on the loss this week of his mother. KATHLEEN BUSCEMI died March 5th at the age of 77. We told you last summer that Jack was leaving his ND gig at WAKA-TV in Montgomery after just a month on the job so he could take care of his mother. Her full obituary is here. And I’m told that she is related, by marriage, to the family of actor STEVE BUSCEMI.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

Sullivan

One of the more interesting moves this week was that of BOB SULLIVAN, who left Scripps, where he was Vice President of Programming, for Gannett, and a similar position with the title of Senior Vice President of Programming. Bob’s previously worked for Gannett in a number of markets: as a GM in Washington, both ND and Station Manager in Phoenix, as ND in Jacksonville, FL and assistant ND in Denver. He also ran the Arizona Super Bowl committee for the 2008 game and owned his own consulting business. The Gannett news release is here.

ROB DEW has been promoted to Assistant News Director for WOLO-TV in Columbia, SC. He had been the executive producer there and first joined the station in 2005 as a producer.

General Manager News:

JAMES “JAMIE”AITKEN has been named GM of Tribune’s KDAF-TV in Dallas. It’s a return to the Metroplex for him. He previously was President/GM of the now-shuttered Texas Cable News, and had been Program Director for co-owned WFAA-TV there. Most recently he’s been the GM of KREM-TV in Spokane, WA. He’s also worked in Phoenix.

Tribune also made a GM move in Hartford/New Haven, bringing JON HITCHCOCK back to the market as GM of WTIC/WCCT-TV in Hartford. He spent 17 years at WTNH/WCTX-TV in New Haven before leaving in 2009 to run CBS’s KYW-TV in Philadelphia.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Saturday, March 14, 2015.

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

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Drive Glendale CA 91201
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St. Miami FL 33178 *
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
Central Florida News 13, 20 N. Orange Ave. Suite 13 Orlando FL 32801
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Boulevard Portland OR 97232
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WWL-TV 1024 North Rampart St. New Orleans 70116
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
KJRH-TV 3701 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa OK 74105
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane WA 99201
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WPTZ-TV 5 Television Drive Plattsburgh NY 12901
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 East Columbia MO 65201
KTVL-TV 1440 Rossanley Dr. Medford OR 97501
KMVT/KSVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station

March 7, 2015

Thursday, March 12, 2015:

An almost top-ten market gets a new news director.

Kline

CHRIS KLINE has been promoted to ND for Scripps’ KNXV-TV in Phoenix (now market #11. Didn’t realize that!).

He’s been the Director of New Media for this ABC affiliate. Chris has worked there for eight years, in roles ranging from reporter to web producer to executive producer. Before KNXV, he worked as a convergence journalist for the Arizona Republic and at CNN’s Crossfire in Washington.

Here’s the news release from General Manager ANITA HELT.

Chris replaces PAT COSTELLO who left after the Super Bowl to return to Seattle where he is now the ND for KOMO-TV.

It’s a busy week…we’ll have lots to report in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Wednesday, March 11, 2015 UPDATE:

Here’s a surprise involving a veteran broadcaster, Gannett, and Scripps.

Sullivan

BOB SULLIVAN, who’s been the Vice President of Programming for Scripps, is leaving the company for a newly created position as Senior Vice President of Programming for Gannett.

It’s return to Gannett for Bob, who’s worked for the company in a variety of locations in jobs ranging from General Manager to Station Manager to News Director to Assistant News Director.

He’s also run his own consulting company and was President of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee in 2008.

Click here to see the memo that Gannett President of Broadcasting DAVE LOUGEE sent to the company’s general managers.

We’ll have all the latest news in our full report later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, March 9, 2015 UPDATE:

Cleveland’s WOIO/WUAB-TV has filled its vacant news director position with an experienced news director who once worked for a competitor.

D’Ambrosi

FRED D’AMBROSI was named ND of this Raycom owned CBS/CW duopoly today. Earlier in his career, Fred worked as a producer for WKYC-TV in Cleveland.

He later went on to be a news director in Milwaukee, San Diego, and Washington, DC, and has also worked in Pittsburgh and Green Bay.

Here’s a link to Fred’s Linkedin page, and you can see the company’s news release by clicking here.

At WOIO/WUAB, he replaces DAN SALAMONE who resigned in January to (in his words) “move on to a new challenge.”

Also, the emailed version of our full newsletter you received on Saturday contained a bad link to the story about JILL GEISLER‘s move to Loyola University. The correct link is here.

We’ll have more in our full newsletter later this week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

There are TWO new ND openings in this week’s report, with, to the best of my knowledge, NO new NDs this week. Our court of open ND jobs grows to 28.

Do read on, though, for a number of items of interest, including a new job for a longtime Poynter faculty member, and two promotions for folks at North Carolina station. There are ads for TWO positions, one in television, and one outside of TV.

And for the second week in a row, there’s a lot of General Manager news.

All that, and more, below!

New News Director Openings:

KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA…JESSICA ROE has left this Cowles-owned NBC affiliate after about nine months as news director. She’s previously worked for four stations in Denver, and at stations in San Francisco, Albuquerque, and Colorado Springs. When she took this position, she had spent the previous four years working for the state of Colorado.

KMIZ-TV, Columbia, MO…this News Press & Gazette ABC affiliate is looking for a new news director, following last week’s promotion of CURTIS VARNS to General Manager after 16 years as News Director.

Newly Named News Directors:

I’m not aware of any newly named news directors. If you are, please let me know via an email to: rick@rickgevers.com.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Digital Executive Producer, WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH:

WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio is looking for a Digital Executive Producer (DEP).

The DEP is the regulator for all content and is responsible for the development of all the content on all current platforms and any that may develop in the future. The DEP reports to the Digital Director and News Director.

The DEP also helps to set the expectations and follow up with newsroom staff to constantly add new, urgent and in-depth content to wdtn.com and social media 24-7. The DEP breeds a culture where our priority is placed on multi-platform efforts that live the 24 Hour 2 News brand.

Click here to learn more about this job, and for instructions on how to apply.

Indianapolis Prize Producer/Event Co-ord., Indianapolis, IN:

The Indianapolis Zoo seeks a producer for The Indianapolis Prize, a major conservation award and gala. The ideal candidate will help shape the focus and direction of the program and have the opportunity to grow his or her role and responsibility over time.

The Indianapolis Prize is the largest individual monetary award for animal species conservation in the world, with an unrestricted award of $250,000 to the winner.

Since its inception in 2005, the Indianapolis Prize has drawn international attention to conservation issues and receives extensive media coverage in the U.S. and abroad. This prestigious award is given every other year to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to animal conservation, and is presented at a 1,000 person black tie gala.

Here’s a chance to use your writing, organizational, and TV production skills to help advance animal conservation, and work (mostly!) normal hours.

Permanent, full-time position with benefits. Learn more about the Prize and this opportunity by clicking on these links: About the Prize.  About the job.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 1/11/15)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 12/27/14)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 12/27/14)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 1/11/15)
KXAS-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (listed 3/1/15)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (relisted 2/22/15)
WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 1/11/15)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (2 positions, Dayside & Weekend, listed 1/18/15)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 1/3/15)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/7/15)
WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL, (listed 2/1/15)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (Morning EP, listed 1/26/15)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 1/11/15)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 1/11/15)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, relisted 1/11/15)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 1/18/15)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Morning EP, relisted 2/1/15)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, relisted 1/11/15)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 2/15/15)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Morning EP, relisted this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 2/1/15)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 3/1/15, see ad above!)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (AM EP, relisted 1/11/15)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (relisted 1/11/15)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 2/22/15)
Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/18/15)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFXT-TV, Boston, MA (relisted 1/11/15)

NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (relisted 1/11/15)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/15/15)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News…and other things:

Geisler

JILL GEISLER has a new job. She’s joined Loyola University as the Bill Plante Chair of Leadership and Media Integrity. Jill spent 16 years on the faculty at Poynter before reducing her role there in 2014. She’s a former ND for WITI-TV in Milwaukee. There’s more details on her new role in this story.

There are two management updates for WGHP-TV in Greensboro/High Point, NC. ERIC OLSEN has been promoted to Assistant News Director from EP. And MARGARET KREGER has been promoted from 10:00 PM Producer to Nightside EP. The station continues to look for a new morning EP.

General Manager News:

Another week, another long list of general manager news.

Remington

We were first to report the appointment of former ND BRAD REMINGTON to fill the long-vacant GM position at Scripps’ KMGH-TV, the ABC affiliate in Denver. It’s a return to KMGH for Brad, who left as Managing Editor in 1996 for the first of four jobs as a news director, beginning in Albuquerque, then St. Louis, Denver (KDVR-TV, the FOX station) and Phoenix, before returning to Denver 2+ years ago. Brad’s wife, NAN, had stayed in Denver for her job, and they’d been commuting for four years. He opened a franchise business in the interim. Here’s more in the company’s news release.

Raycom named three new general managers this week, at:

WTOL-TV in Toledo, where BRIAN LORENZEN will replace the retiring BOB CHIRDON. Earlier in his career, Brian worked at WUPW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Toledo. He most recently has been sales manager at KRQE/KASA-TV in Albuquerque.

KOLD-TV in Tucson, where NICK ULMER replaces DEBBIE BUSH, who’s headed to Cincinnati to run the company’s WXIX-TV there. Ulmer has been the GM at WFIE-TV in Evansville, where he’ll be replaced by JAY HIETT who’s been the GSM for that NBC affiliate.

Serra

Finally, congratulations to old friend and college classmate JIM SERRA who’s been named Broadcaster of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. Jim’s been the GM at Raycom’s KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, since 1990. He’s worked there twice, first in the news department in 1975, then returning for a sales position in the early 1980’s. Jim also worked in news in Shreveport, Louisville, Miami, and St. Louis, where we worked together at KSDK-TV. More on his award in this story.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

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

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Saturday, March 7, 2015.

WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Drive Glendale CA 91201
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
KNXV-TV 515 N. 44th St. Phoenix AZ 85008
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St. Miami FL 33178
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
Central Florida News 13, 20 N. Orange Ave. Suite 13 Orlando FL 32801
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th St. Cleveland OH 44114
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Boulevard Portland OR 97232
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
KUTV 299 S. Main St. #150 Salt Lake City UT 84111
WOOD-TV 120 College SE Grand Rapids MI 49503
WWL-TV 1024 North Rampart St. New Orleans 70116
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany NY 12204
KJRH-TV 3701 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa OK 74105
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchison Ave Knoxville TN 37917
WOWK-TV 555 Fifth Ave. Huntington WV 25701
KHQ-TV 1201 W. Sprague Ave. Spokane WA 99201
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
WJCL/WGTS 1375 Chatham Parkway Third Floor Savannah, GA 31405
WFFT-TV 3707 Hillegas Rd. Ft. Wayne IN 46807
WDAZ-TV 2220 S. Washington Grand Forks, ND 52801
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 East Columbia MO 65201
KTVL-TV 1440 Rossanley Dr. Medford OR 97501
KMVT/KSVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd. North Twin Falls, ID 83301
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849

* Spanish language station