Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

May 18, 2025

Greetings:

It’s a VERY busy week, with lots of ND changes and way too many departures of old friends, some (but not all) from retirement.

There are FOUR new news directors to tell you about, with THREE new openings. ONE of those new ND’s named is in a top ten market. We now have 37 stations looking for a news director.

ONE of those ND openings is featured in a paid help wanted ad. Hint: It’s a BIG job in a BIG market.

And RTDNA is promoting its upcoming convention in New Orleans next month. That ad is just below.

We mentioned lots of departures. Those are covered in Names in the News, along with a new job for a former Tucson news director.

And Gray made TWO general manager moves.

It’s all below! Take a few minutes away from your preparation for both the NBC Eastern Conference Finals (Pacers-Knicks, starting Wednesday) and the upcoming Indy 500 (next Sunday night) and read on!

RTDNA25 isn’t just another conference; it’s where journalism’s future takes shape.

Join us June 11–13 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans for a one-of-a-kind experience built around:

Hands-on workshops — no panels, no lectures.
Small-group breakouts that spark connection and new ideas
Real conversations with industry leaders with newsroom leaders and changemakers

Every session is interactive. Every topic is practical. You’ll leave with tools you can use, a stronger network, and a renewed sense of purpose.

We’ll tackle critical topics like:

Mental health and newsroom burnout
Leading Gen Z journalists
AI and journalism ethics
Building trust and collaboration in teams

Check out the full schedule — including pre-conference workshops and breakout sessions — and start planning your experience! You’ll walk away with more than insights; you’ll leave with an improved leadership toolkit, an expanded support network and a renewed purpose in your work.

But act soon! The group rate at Hotel Monteleone expires after May 21, and registration rates increase after June 4. Lock in your spot at the best possible rate.

Newly Named News Directors:

Cowan

WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA…in an inter-company move within Cox Media, JOE COWAN returns to this ABC affiliate as ND. He left WSB two years ago to take the ND job at Cox’s WHIO-TV (CBS) in Dayton, OH. Joe spent 16 years at WSB, beginning as a producer, moving to executive producer and then multi-platform managing editor. He replaces SUZANNE NADELL. We told you in March that she was leaving to pursue her dream as an author and motivational speaker.

Waxel

WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL…congratulations to MARIE WAXEL who’s been promoted to ND here. She’s worked at this Allen Media ABC station since 2019, beginning as morning anchor, moving to evenings and then assistant news director. More in this staff memo from GM MIKE WRIGHT. Marie’s also worked in Shreveport and Greenville, SC, as well as for another Huntsville station. She succeeds ADAM HENNING who left in March after about two years as ND.

Baldwin

KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN…MICHAEL BALDWIN will be the next news director for this Gray Media owned CBS and NBC operation. He posted the good news on Linkedin. He most recently was the Assistant ND at KVOA-TV in Tucson, is a former ND in Toledo and Bridgeport, WV, and began his career on air, working in many markets. PAUL BROWN had been the ND there. He’s taken a job with PBS in Duluth.

Rowley

KIEM/KVIQ-TV, Eureka, CA…ROSS ROWLEY will be the next news director for this CBS/NBC operation. His promotion comes after the stations were taken over by Marquee Broadcasting. Here’s Ross’s Linkedin page. He replaces DAWN DUGLE who left the station last fall after about a year as news director.

New News Director Openings:

Garcia

WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…RICH GARCIA has left this locally owned CBS affiliate after three years as news director and 18 years at the station. He was the assistant news director there for almost 15 years before his promotion. Here’s the memo to staff from GM JAMIE RICKS.

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH…you learned above that JOE COWAN is returning to Atlanta as ND for WSB-TV.

WDTV, Bridgeport,WV…this Gray Media owned CBS affiliate has a news director opening. We reported in October 2023 that CHRIS YOST had been promoted to news director there from AND.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Director of News and Multiplatform Content, WGN-TV, Chicago, IL:

WGN-TV, Chicago’s most iconic news brand, is seeking a Director of News and Multiplatform Content to lead our newsroom. This is a rare opportunity to shape impactful journalism across broadcast, streaming, digital, and social media in one of America’s largest and most dynamic media markets.

We’re looking for a visionary leader to drive our 24/7 multiplatform content strategy—someone who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and audience growth. You’ll oversee all aspects of news production and content development across linear TV, OTT/CTV, WGN’s digital properties, and social media. From live breaking news to original streaming content, your leadership will influence how Chicago stays informed—anytime, anywhere.

If you’re passionate about journalism, audience engagement, and building the future of news, this is your moment. Join Chicago’s Own WGN and lead where legacy meets transformation.

Apply now by clicking here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 4/6/25)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 5/4/25)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 4/20/25)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 5/11/25)
KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 4/13/25)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (listed 3/23/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 4/27/25)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 4/6/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (EP Evening Magazine, listing revised 4/6/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/2/25)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 3/16/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 3/23/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/6/25)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/2/25)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 3/2/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/9/25)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 4/6/25)
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, listed 4/6/25)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listing revised 4/27/25)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 4/6/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, relisted 4/20/25)
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, NM (Nightside EP, listed 5/11/25)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 4/6/25)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 4/20/25)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (AM EP, listed 3/23/25)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 5/4/25)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (Digital EP, listed 4/27/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/6/25)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 4/27/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (relisted 4/20/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (relisted 4/20/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 4/20/25)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 5/4/25)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, relisted 5/11/25)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WYXZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 3/16/25)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 5/4/25:

KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Executive Reporter)

Listed 4/20/25:

WRBL-TV, Columbus, GA (Digital Content Director)

Relisted 4/20/25:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter)

Listed 4/6/25:

KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Digital Director)

Relisted 3/23/25:

KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (News and Content Manager)

Listed 3/9/25:

Tegna, Temple TX: (Texas Digital Director, overseeing five stations)

Listing Revised 3/7/25:

WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Multiplatform Managing Editor)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

WAY too many old friends leaving the business, sometimes via retirement…and sometimes not.

Connell

We told you yesterday that SANDRA CONNELL is leaving Talent Dynamics next month. Here’s the note she sent me. It would hard to underestimate the impact she’s had on hundreds (if not thousands) of careers…and often the people she helped had no idea of her role in their careers. She’s been in the business for more than 45 years and will be missed. Her note above contains contact information if you want to reach out.

Finlayson

ANDREW FINLAYSON is retiring June 30th, 15 years to the day that he started at consulting firm SmithGeiger, where he is now the EVP of Digital and AI strategies. Andrew passed along this note worthy of your time. Andrew held three ND jobs: in Chicago (WFLD-TV-FOX), San Francisco/Oakland (KTVU-TV-FOX), and Nashville (WSMV-TV-NBC). There were other stops, along the way, of course, as detailed here.

Prieto

Another retirement: AL PRIETO from ABC News, where he is a Vice President of ABC News, overseeing News One, which means he had lot of interaction and impact on the network’s relationship with affiliate stations. Al posted this note on Linkedin. He’s been with ABC News for 42 years, beginning as a booker, researcher and production assistant on Good Morning America.

Roach

But wait, there’s more! Multi-time news director KEVIN ROACH is also retiring. He’s spent the last five years working at WJLA-TV, Sinclair’s ABC affiliate in Washington, DC, where he spent the last two years overseeing the I-Team. Kevin shared the note he sent to his co-workers a week ago Friday. He’s had several ND jobs and a long stint with the Associated Press. All of his background is here.

Finally, we told you a few weeks ago that JOHN LAUGHRIN was leaving as ND for WFRV-TV to start his own business. New this edition: The station interviewed him as his 25 year career in news comes to an end.

Thor W.

THOR WASBOTTEN continues to prove there is life after news. He’s a former ND in Tucson and Boise who then moved to higher education with jobs at Penn State and Kent State. He then went on to Santa Clara University as managing director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Now, Thor is headed to Belmont University to serve as executive director of the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics.

We erred last week in reporting this story. Nexstar has named BILL NARDI as VP of Station Operations. That’s correct, but we goofed on the name of the person he is replacing. He’ll replace MARK ~~TAYLOR~~ TURNER who is retiring. Bill’s been in a similar job for Tegna.

Dennison

Due to an editing error, our report last week on DAN DENNISON’s retirement failed to include his email address. Dan a longtime news manager, is retiring from his job as Communications Director at the Hawai’i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources. Here’s his note, this time WITH his email address for friends who want to wish him well. Dan had SIX ND stops over the years.

General Manager News and Notes:

Gray made two GM moves at stations in Nebraska, promoting SHANNON BOOTH to GM for WOWT-TV in Omaha, and replacing her in Lincoln with JACQUE HARMS who returns to Nebraska from her GM position at KKTV in Colorado Springs.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, May 11, 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 (See ad above!)
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)
WFTV 490 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801
KMOV-TV 77 Progress Parkway; Maryland Heights, MO 63043
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
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WMC-TV 1960 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
WINK-TV 2824 Palm Beach Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33916
WFTX-TV 621 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
KTHV-TV 720 Izard Street Little Rock, AR 72201
WHIO-TV 1611 South Main Street Dayton, OH 45409
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
WFRV-TV 1181 E Mason Street Green Bay, WI 54301
WLUK-TV 787 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304
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
WMDT-TV 202 Downtown Plaza, Salisbury, MD 21801
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
WDHN-TV 5274 AL-52, Webb, AL 36376
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MM 55902
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Drive Rapid City, SD 57701
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KAIT-TV P.O. Box 790, Jonesboro, AR 72403
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902 (Content Manager)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

May 11, 2025

Saturday, May 17, 2025 UPDATE:

Greetings:

It is ABSOLUTELY the end of an era.

Connell

After more than 45 years of having a huge impact on the careers of thousands of people (whether they knew she had a role or not), SANDRA CONNELL will leave Talent Dynamics next month. More in this note Sandra sent me this morning.

She started at Talent Dynamics in 1979 when it was part of consulting firm Audience Research & Development, bought the company when AR&D went through significant changes in 1996 and sold it to Glass City Talent three years ago.

She continued working but that will end next month.

For the few reading this that may not know, TD hosts the largest existing library of on-air talent. Stations looking for new anchors, meteorologist, etc., would (in the old days) make the trek to Dallas to look at tapes of potential employees (I made that trip several times myself in my long-ago news director days.)

What made Sandra special was her intimate knowledge of everyone in the business, on-air or off, good, bad, and indifferent.

In sports and entertainment, there are stars known by one name: LeBron. Cher. Michael. Madonna, Tiger. Peyton.

Sandra held such a position in our industry. When someone said Sandra, no last name was needed.

Her contact information is contained in her message above if you wish to send her a kind note.

We’ll see you later this weekend with a full newsletter, with lots of news director changes to share.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

As I predicted, there was (deservedly) very little sympathy for me last week as I shared the difficulties of publishing that edition (FOUR televised sporting events involving favorites) all day Sunday.

Today. just ONE such event, game four of the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers NBC Eastern Conference semifinals. (8:00 PM on TNT).

We’re going..which is why we’re early!

If you are looking for me, my seats are directly at center court.

In the second row.

Of the upper deck. 😉

You have a better chance of winning PowerBall than seeing me.

Once again, we are, I am pretty sure. the first to report ONE of our TWO new openings this week…and that’s in a top 20 market. And there’s ONE new ND which you first learned about in a Wednesday UPDATE.

Our list of stations with ND openings stands at 38.

NO paid help wanted ads this week, and NO obits, as well. ONE of those items is good.

In a move that should strike fear into country club membership directors everywhere, a big four network affiliate in a top 20 market will operate without a general manager. That’s below in our GM section, along with Sinclair’s appointment of someone who’ll be GM for a lot of stations.

And lots of items in Names in the News: A veteran ND shares her battle with breast cancer, a well known industry figure wasn’t out of work long, and SIX time ND is retiring from his current job in the public sector in Hawaii. Those are just a few of the stories.

Read on for more!

Newly Named News Director:

Hoffman

WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH…Wednesday’s UPDATE told you that JEFF HOFFMAN is the next ND at this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. It’s a reversal of a trend of a ND turning GM…in the case, Jeff’s most recent three jobs were all GM positions. Here’s the memo to the staff, the news release, and Jeff’s Linkedin page. BTW, the emailed version of that UPDATE erred in reporting that Jeff was replacing MICKI BYRNES, so many to wondered if he’d be the GM there. No. He replaces JON ADKINS. JOHN TREVINO replaced Micki as GM.

New News Director Openings:

Tina C.

WFTV, Orlando, FL…TINA COMMODORE has left this Cox Media owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the news director here since February, 2020, coming from another COX station, KOKI-TV (FOX) in Tulsa, OK, and previously worked for Cox’s WSB-TV (ABC) in Atlanta. Tina’s also worked in Richmond, VA, Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati, as well as for CNN.

Teater

KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR…SHAYLA TEATER will leave this Tegna owned CBS station. Her Linkedin post explains her decision. She’s worked here for 18 years and spent a lot more time there than that, as she often accompanied her father, DOUG KRILE, to work where he was the main anchor. Shayla’s been the ND here for 5+ years and also worked in Greensboro and Columbia, MO.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

No ads this week, but if you have a news management opening, there’s no more targeted place to advertise it! Email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com