June 22, 2025
Greetings:
We’re delayed as we were watching game seven of the NBA Finals where my Indiana Pacers fell short. Congrats to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
We have just TWO changes this week. ONE new news director and ONE new opening, so there are still 34 ND jobs available.
ONE of those openings is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Sorry to report the death of a former news director who held that job in four markets, the last for 22 years.
There are a lot of GM changes, as well, many in big markets.
Finally, part of our tardiness is travel to/from the IRE Convention in New Orleans where it was a pleasure to see some of you. As longtime readers know, that’s by far my favorite convention. More on the convention below.
Attendance at IRE this year topped 1,650.
Attendance at RTDNA last week (also in New Orleans): 180.
Have a great week.
Newly Named News Directors:
Kalish
WOI-TV, Ames/Des Moines, IA…MATT KALISH gets his first news director job at this Tegna owned ABC affiliate. He’s currently the EP at Griffin’s KOTV (CBS) affiliate in Tulsa. Matt’s also worked for Griffin’s KWTV (also CBS) in Oklahoma City, and has worked in Wichita and Columbia, MO. At WOI, he replaces PERRY PACE who left in March after three years as ND to take the ND job at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga.
New News Director Openings:
Hoffman
WKYC-TV Cleveland, OH…JEFF HOFFMAN’s return to a newsroom was short-lived. Our UPDATE earlier this week told you that he had left this Tegna owned NBC affiliate after just one month as news director. His hire there surprised many, as he had spent the last 22 years as either a General Manager or Station Manager at four different stations, most recently 9+ years as GM for WKMG-TV (Graham/CBS) in Orlando.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:
WBNG is looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.
WBNG-TV, the CBS affiliate in Binghamton, NY, seeks a News Director to help guide our news department to new heights of journalistic and ratings success. This is an exciting opportunity to join a great team in one of New York’s most beautiful places to live.
The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 4 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues, as well as sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Binghamton, NY, we want to hear from you.
Compensation: $70,000/year
If you think you’re qualified, want to work with a great group of people and live in a great community, apply online at: Careers – Gray Television
WBNG-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM Assistant ND, listed 6/8/25)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 5/4/25)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/15/25)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 5/18/25)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 5/11/25)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 4/13/25)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 5/26/25)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (relisted 6/1/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 6/8/25)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/27/25)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (relisted 6/15/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (EP Evening Magazine, listing revised 4/6/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/1/25)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, relisted 6/1/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 6/1/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/15/25)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 6/15/25)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Digital EP, listed 6/1/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC (relisted 4/20/25)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, relisted 4/20/25)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 6/15/25)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listing revised 4/27/25)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/15/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM (Nightside EP, listed 5/11/25)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 6/15/25)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 4/20/25)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 5/4/25)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (listed 5/26/25)
KHON/KHII-TV, Honolulu, HI (Digital EP, listed 6/15/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted 6/15/25)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 4/27/25)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 6/1/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital EP, listed 6/15/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 5/18/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (relisted 4/20/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (relisted 4/20/25)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 6/15/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 4/20/25)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, relisted 5/11/25)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 6/8/25)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 6/15/25:
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (Executive Reporter)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/8/25:
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital News Manager)
Listed 5/26/25:
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 5/4/25:
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Executive Reporter)
Obituary:
Brennan
Sorry to report the death of longtime news director KEVIN BRENNAN. Kevin died Monday at the age of 73 in Savannah, where he spent 22 years as ND for Nexstar’s WSAV-TV before retiring in 2022. Kevin was also a news director in Tampa, Jacksonville, and New Orleans. His former station reported this brief story. But your time will be better spent reading this more detailed obituary.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
As mentioned above, the IRE convention ended today in New Orleans, where six members were elected (or re-elected) to board of directors. Of note: FOUR of the six were broadcasters.
Keeshan
IRE also inducted three members into its Ring of Honor, among them former investigative reporter KEVIN KEESHAN. It was a big week for Kevin, who also announced his retirement after 47 years, the last 14 at NBC. He is currently EVP of News Editorial for the NBC owned stations. He’s also a former ND at ABC’s KFSN-TV in Fresno, and at KGO-TV in San Francisco, where he worked with GM VALARI STAAB who hired him at NBC and sent out this note on his retirement.
Kovaleski
Speaking of investigative reporters and retirements, TONY KOVALESKI is retiring later this year after 42 years exposing wrongdoing. Tony has worked in Phoenix, Houston, San Francisco and twice at KMGH-TV in Denver, which had this story on his retirement. Of note: Tony’s daughter JENNIFER followed in his footsteps and now is also an investigative reporter at KMGH.
JACKLYNN SYLVESTER moves within Tegna to become Assistant ND at KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis. She’s a former ND in Decatur, IL who has been the AND at WBNS-TV in Columbus, OH. She will be replaced there by ABBEY BAKER (MEIER) who’s been the Dayside EP. Abbey’s also worked in Ft. Myers.
General Manager News and Notes:
Lots of GM news this week. Lots, and several of the moves at FOX owned stations.
GLENN BERK, who’s been the GM for FOX’s WITI-TV in Milwaukee, moves to WFLD-TV in Chicago, where he replaces SHEILA OLIVER, who is retiring. MIM DAVEY (a former news director) will replaces Glenn in Milwaukee AND continue to serve as GM for KMSP/WFTC-TV in Minneapolis. More details here.
Another former news director, DAVID HUGHES, moves within Gray Media to become GM for WFSB-TV (CBS) in Hartford. He’d been GM for Gray’s WOIO/WUAB-TV in Cleveland. In Hartford, he replaces DANA NEVES, who was promoted to Senior Managing Vice President for the company.
MICHAEL BROUDER is stepping down in August as GM for Tegna’s WTHR-TV (NBC) in Indianapolis. Michael told me he is going to Ball State in nearby Muncie, IN, to teach. He’s been an adjunct there. By the time he leaves, Michael’s will have been GM here for six years…and five years before that as the director of marketing. His complete career history is here.
And WES MILBOURN is retiring as VP/GM of Nexstar’s KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. He’s been GM there since 2006 in his second stint at the station, interrupted by a brief time in Omaha.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 22, 2025:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these may have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017
WGN-TV 2501 West Bradley Place Chicago, IL 60618
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road Boston, MA 02134
WMUR-TV 100 South Commercial St. Manchester, NH 03101 (Boston)
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis, MN 55427
WFTV 490 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114
KSAT-TV 1408 N St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78215
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202
WPEC-TV 1100 Fairfeild Drive W. Palm Beach FL 33407
KOKH-TV 1228 E Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
WHIO-TV 1611 South Main Street Dayton, OH 45409
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WSLS-TV 821 5th St SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KIMT-TV 112 N Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790 (see ad above!)
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KTXS-TV 4420 N. Clack St.Abilene, TX 79601
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Drive Rapid City, SD 57701
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
WLUC-TV 177 US-41 East, Negaunee, MI 49866
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902 (Content Manager)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station