April 26, 2026
Greetings:
There’s ONE new ND to tell you about with TWO new openings, bringing our list of open stations to 31.
We have ONE paid ad for one of those new openings in the Pacific Northwest.
There’s ONE new GM in New York state.
And we have lots of news items.
- Nexstar’s PERRY SOOK says eventually ‘two or three companies’ will own all America’s stations.
- We have the latest update in the court case on the Nexstar-Tegna deal.
- Magid says TV newsrooms need to change the way they do business ASAP. (Wanna bet they’ll suggest a consultant to help you with that?)
- We have a long profile of TONY DOKOUPIL, the latest ratings for his Evening News, another look at how CBS affiliates view the late night programming move, and a new job for a former CBS Mornings EP.
- Two local stations won Peabody Awards this week.
- And a new garden at the Missouri J-School honoring identical twin brothers who had great careers in journalism.
That and more below!
Newly Named News Director:
Carl
KWTV, Oklahoma City, OK…AL CARL will be the next Director of Content for this Griffin Media CBS affiliate, reporting to Griffin’s Director of Content ANDY MILLER. Andy sent this note, and Al sent one to friends. He replaces NATHAN ELLIOTT who will coordinate statewide coverage for Griffin’s stations in OKC and Tulsa. Al left his job as VP/News for WISH-TV (CW) in Indianapolis last fall when it was eliminated. His complete career history can be found here.
New News Director Openings:
Kane
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA…JESSIE KANE is stepping away from local news and leaving this Tegna owned CBS affiliate after more than six years as ND. Details in this memo from GM RJ MERRITT. This is Jessie’s second tour with KREM, having worked as a producer earlier in her career. She followed that up with a national tour of Tegna stations, working in Charlotte, Seattle and Sacramento before returning to KREM.
Randal
KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID…SETH RANDAL will leave this News Press & Gazette station in mid May. In this Linkedin post, Seth says the job was one of the great honors of his life and that he is looking forward to great possibilities ahead. He’s been the ND there for two years, and held many other jobs, though few in local news. KIFI is looking for this replacement: Check out the paid help wanted ad just below.
Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID:
- Live in the closest metropolitan destination to Yellowstone National Park
- Lead a team of journalists in the market’s #1 multi-platform newsroom.
- Work for a family-owned company with terrific employee-focused benefits
- Outdoor enthusiasts love the proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, relaxing natural hot springs, and fly fishing on the Snake River
NPG of Idaho, including the legacy stations for the Idaho Falls/Pocatello, ID/Jackson, WY DMA and the dominant news leader in Eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming, has an exciting opportunity for someone to lead our news team as News Director. A year-round tourist destination with world-class recreational activities and quality of life few cities can match. We are a diversified company committed to its people and successful news organizations.
The News Director will oversee and provide strategic direction to the station’s news operation consisting of broadcast and digital platforms. We are looking for a strong newsroom leader who considers coaching a priority.
The ideal candidate will be a visionary coach, and an effective communicator with a passion for the news business. Degree in Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, or related field is preferred. In addition, a minimum of four years of newsroom or related managerial experience is a must.
Successful candidates must pass a background check, drug test, and provide proof of vehicle insurance.
NPG of Idaho is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
No Phone calls please.
Click here to learn more and apply!
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 3/8/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 4/22/26)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 4/19/26)
WXOW-TV, Wausau, WI (listed 3/22/26)
KWES-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX (listed 3/1/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Sports EP, listed 3/29/26)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (Digital Content EP, listed 4/26/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 3/15/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 4/12/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/15/26)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/19/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 4/19/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 3/15/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 3/15/26)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 4/19/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/19/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 3/15/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 3/15/26)
WPRI/WNAC-TV, Providence, RI (AM EP, listed 4/19/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 3/15/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 3/15/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 3/29/26)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 4/19/26)
WTEN/WXXA-TV, Albany, NY (Lifestyle show EP, listed 3/29/26)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (Morning EP, relisted 4/19/26)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Evening EP, listed 3/29/26)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (listed 3/22/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 4/19/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 3/15/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 3/15/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Relisted 4/19/26:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 4/12/26:
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (GM of Student Broadcast Media and Instructor)
Listed 4/12/26:
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital News Manager)
Situations Wanted:
We’re happy to offer a free Situations Wanted ad to news managers who are looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to take advantage of that, email me a note (150 words maximum), a photo, and a resume and a link if you have one.
We had no takers this week, but if you’re interested…just email me.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Nexstar’s CEO PERRY SOOK told an NAB audience that only ‘two or three companies’ will eventually own all of America’s local TV stations. And in the same appearance, he ripped into Direct TV, which is fighting Nexstar’s attempt to buy Tegna.
Meanwhile, the federal judge handling that case set deadlines for each litigants to submit briefs in the legal attempt to block the purchase.
Speaking of NAB, the Magid consulting firm says stations need to dramatically change they way they do news. Here’s the story from Variety.
Vanity Fair takes a long look at CBS Evening News anchor TONY DOKOUPIL and wonders if he will survive the BARI WEISS era at CBS.
The latest ratings for his program are not good.
And BILL CARTER, who has long covered the late night TV scene, takes a look at how CBS affiliates view the network’s latest programming move after your late local news.
Former CBS Morning EP SHAWNA THOMAS is now working at MS NOW, where she will be political director.
Congratulations to KABC-TV in Los Angeles and KMBC-TV in Kansas City who both won Peabody Awards this week. KABC was honored (along with ABC News) for its coverage of the wildfires, while KMBC for an investigative series looking at abuses in prisons. Here’s the complete list of winners.
The University of Missouri dedicated the LANCE and VANCE HEFLIN Memorial Garden on Friday. Lance and Vance were identical twins who both died too young. And they explored different paths in journalism. Vance went the photojournalist route, while Lance was twice a DuPont Award winner while working for WPLG-TV in Miami. He later worked for CBS News and was the founding executive producer for America’s Most Wanted.
General Manager News and Notes:
Just one GM move this week.
Hubbard Broadcasting named ANTHONY KAHL to be President and GM of its Rochester, NY, NBC affiliate, WHEC-TV. Here’s the news release. He most recently has been GM for Rincon’s KOKI-TV in Tulsa, OK.
Anthony replaces DICK REINGOLD who retired. We told you last February that Dick was retiring after almost eight years at WHEC, and a long career in our industry. Old friends can send him a note by clicking here.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Monday, April 26, 2026:
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
WCAU/WWSI-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Avenue Seattle, WA 98121
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1001 Highlands Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St Spokane WA 99223
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KCEN-TV 215 N. 3rd Street Temple, TX 76501
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WAPT-TV 7616 Channel 16 Way. Jackson, MS 39209
WNDU-TV 54516 State Road 933, South Bend, IN 46637
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMBD-TV 3131 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KSNT/KTKA-TV 6835 NW HWY 24 Topeka, Kansas 66618
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KIFI-TV 1915 N Yellowstone Hwy Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (see ad above!)
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WLUC-TV 177 US-41 East, Negaunee, MI 49866
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station