October 12, 2025
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 UPDATE:
It’s the end of another era.
RTDNA is suspending its annual convention, and says it is unlikely to return.
With the exception of 2001 (cancelled due to 9/11) it’s been an annual event since 1946.
Before 2021, it was THE place to network and learn. The convention floor was huge, with helicopters, satellite trucks, newsroom computers, cameras, editing and other gear.
Attendance was well over 1,000 people.
Each of the (then) Big Three networks entertained in hospitality suites.
But the fallout from the missed 2001 convention…and the many changes in the industry…has changed everything.
RTDNA teamed with NAB for ten years, then SPJ. Both partnerships ended.
The attendance at June’s convention in New Orleans was just 180, and that was buttressed by last minute free registration to members in Louisiana.
RTDNA says it will replace the annual convention with a variety of smaller events around the country and the world, often partnering with other journalism groups like NAB, IRE, ONA, NAHJ, NLGJA, etc.
Many more details and the schedule can be found here.
There’s also a FAQ page on that website, and one of the questions addresses what I am sure is top of mind for you.
We hope to have more on this story in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
It’s been a fairly slow week, with just ONE news director change as a Michigan ND moves across state.
Our count of open ND jobs stands at 25.
We’re re-running an ad for a new book from a veteran ND with one small clarification. WAYNE LYNCH’s new book is NOT non-fiction. You probably figured that out when you read it involves vampires.
We have an obituary and a story about the death of a former Little Rock GM and station owner. He bought the station with a friend who later bought the Dallas Cowboys. But his self-written obituary neglected to mention his conviction on federal charges involving visa irregularities and his two mistresses.
There’s also an obituary for a Poynter business media reporter.
TWO new GMs…one involving a promotion within Nexstar to a top ten market, while the other is an ND who is assuming GM duties as well.
And TWO items in Names in the News this week. ONE is the choice of a new editor in Chief for CBS News, and the other because it happened about a mile from my house.
Read on!
Newly Named News Director:
Blanton
WJBK-TV, Detroit, MI…you learned in Tuesday’s UPDATE that BROOKS BLANTON has been named VP/News Director for this FOX o-and-o. Brooks has been the ND for Tgna’s WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids for the last 3 1/2 years. He replaces LAURA MOORE who left the station after 27 years of service…two as ND..when new GM PAUL McGONAGLE was named.
New News Director Opening:
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…you learned about that BROOKS BLANTON is headed east on I-96 to become ND at FOX o-and-o WJBK-TV.Brooks was ND for this Tegna owned ABC affiliate for 3 1/2 years…and has, of course, other career stops.
Paid Ad:
BLOOD STAINED PAPERS – A new book by Wayne Lynch
Wayne Lynch, a reader of this site, a friend and longtime broadcast and regional cable news director has written his first fiction novel, a Halloween thriller.
It’s about an aggressive TV reporter recruited by a secret society of vampire hunters to save three print reporters infected by a centuries-old demon.
The story mixes real-time crimes with abundant fantasy horror in a mid 1970s East Coast city where he actually worked. It features location photos to weave a tale of terror, where only love can save the reporters’ humanity and their futures, but only after a violent death match between two vampire rivals.
It’s called Blood Stained Papers, available as an eBook at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
No help wanted ads this week. If you have a news management opening, there is no more targeted place to advertise! Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 10/5/25)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 9/21/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/14/25)
WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA (listed 8/17/25)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 10/12/25)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 8/10/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, listed 9/21/25)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 8/24/25)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (EP/Inv. & Special Projects, relisted 9/14/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (EP Evening Magazine, relisted 9/14/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Streaming Content EP, listed 9/21/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 8/24/25)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 8/24/25)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 9/21/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 8/24/25)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 9/14/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listing modified 9/21/25)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 9/14/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sr. EP of News & Streaming, listed 8/17/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/14/25)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 10/5/25)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Director, listed 9/28/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 9/28/25)
WVNY-WFFF-TV, Burlington, VT (Digital EP, relisted 9/28/25)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 8/24/25)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (AM EP, listed 9/1/25)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 10/5/25:
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 8/17/25:
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (GM and Department Head)
Obituaries:
Jones
DAVID JONES, a onetime owner and GM of Little Rock’s KARK-TV died in September. He was 94. Jones bought KARK with partners, including close friend JERRY JONES, now owner of the Dallas Cowboys (and presumably NOT a relative, despite the same last name). He also is credited with improving ambulance services in Little Rock. David wrote his own obituary but neglected one critical part of his life mentioned in this story…involving his Chinese mistresses.
RICK EDMONDS, whose byline you might recognize if you read his coverage of the business of media on the Poynter website, died last week of injuries suffered in a car accident. He was 78.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Weiss
You likely heard about BARI WEISS’s appointment as Editor in Chief of CBS News. This Associated Press article tries to explain why that appointment has caused so much controversy.
Sanchez
And in a story many of you have asked me about (since the original incident happened about a mile from my home), Fox Sports analyst MARK SANCHEZ was released from a local hospital today. You likely know he was involved in an altercation with a truck driver in downtown Indianapolis last weekend. He’s facing several charges, including felony battery. Reporter RUSS McQUAID from Nexstar’s CBS/FOX duopoly was at the Criminal Justice Center this morning when Sanchez was booked and scored this exclusive interview.
General Manager News and Notes:
Wholey
PATRICK WHOLEY gets a big promotion as he’ll be the next general manager for Nexstar’s WDVM/WDCW-TV (Independent/CW) in Washington, DC. He’s spent the last 12 years (of his 23 years there) as general manager for Nexstar’s WPRI-TV (ABC) in Providence, RI. You’ll learn in this story that he has a sales background. Patrick’s complete career history is on his Linkedin page.
Harsha
And congratulations to KEEGAN HARSHA, who has been named General Manager and Senior Director of News for Scripps’ KTVQ-TV (ABC) in Billings, MT. It’s another example of Scripps having GMs also serve as a department head. He’s currently Senior Director of News for The Montana News Network, which includes Scripps stations in EVERY city in Montana I’ve ever heard of…and some I have not. 🙂
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 12, 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
WDCW/WDVM-TV 2121 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
KSWB/KUSI-TV 7191 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr., Columbus, OH 43215
KEYE-TV 10700 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
WKRC-TV 1906 Highland Ave, Cincinnati, OH 4521
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd. NW, Grand Rapids, MI.
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WPSD-TV, 408 Kentucky Ave, Paducah, KY 42003
WBTW-TV 101 McDonald Court Myrtle Beach SC 29588
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WEAU-TV 1907 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave. Wausau, WI 54403
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station