Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

December 14, 2025

Greetings:

Apologies for our tardy delivery this week, as travel (and my unsuccessful tryout for the Indianapolis Colts QB position) delayed our report.

And further delaying our efforts was a VERY active week, with FIVE new news directors and FIVE new openings.

Our always unofficial list of open ND jobs increases ever so slightly to 28.

We have more on a surprise GM departure in Detroit. That’s the only item in our GM news section.

In Names in the News section:

Another anchor change for the CBS Evening News.
A tepid reception for a CBS Town Hall.
An old/new president for Univision News.
A longtime Boston news executive is retiring.
And CHIP MAHANEY has finished his masters project on ND burnout and job satisfaction. We have his full report to which many of you contributed.

All that…and more…below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Carter

WBTV, Charlotte, NC…as we shared in Thursday’s UPDATE, CHUCK CARTER will be the next news director for this Gray Media owned CBS affiliate. He’s spent the last seven+ years as news director for Nexstar’s WTNH-TV (ABC) in Hartford-New Haven, CT. It’s the latest of many stops in Chuck’s career, many in large markets. At WBTV, he replaces JASON STEVENS who left last month after two years as ND.

Gulden

WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, OH…REBECCA (BECKY) GULDEN returns to Sinclair AND a newsroom as she’s been named ND for this CBS affiliate. Becky was ND for Sinclair’s Dayton station, WKEF-TV (ABC) until 18 months ago when she took job as a PIO for a local school district. She replaces TIM GERAGHTY who left in September (after 10 years) to become ND for Tegna’s KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis.

Luca

WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…CARLI LUCA leaves warm Louisiana for cold Grand Rapids, where she will be the next ND for this Scripps’ owned FOX affiliate. She’s been the ND for Gray’s KALB-TV in Alexandra, LA. Carli does have experience with the cold: she worked for WNDU-TV in South Bend as an EP and investigative reporter among other jobs. She replaces JACE LARSON who left in July (after nine months) to become ND at KSAT-TV in San Antonio.

Barlow

KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…in a cross-market move, JOSH BARLOW will be the next news director for this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate. He’s spent the last two years as ND for Gray’s KKTV in his second stint there. Of note: KKTV is one of the stations Gray is trading to Scripps. At KXRM, Josh replaces JOE COLE who left last month after 25 years at the station, mostly as an anchor but was ND when he departed.

Pitts

WSFA-TV, Montgomery, AL…23 year station veteran SALLY PITTS will become News Director for this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate in January. She’s currently an anchor at the station, but (as you might imagine) has held a number of jobs during her time there. More in her station bio. Sally replaces DESMOND WINGARD. Desmond died of cancer at the age of 46 in late October.

New News Director Openings:

WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT...you learned above (and in our Thursday UPDATE) that CHUCK CARTER is leaving this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate after seven years to become ND for Gray’s WBTV (CBS) in Charlotte.

KKTV, Colorado Springs, CO…and in another move we told you about above, JOSH HARLOW is leaving this Scripps owned CBS affiliate and is crossing the street to become ND for Nexstar’s KXRM-TV (FOX).

WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA…this Lockwood Media owned FOX affiliate has a news director opening. My records (not always perfect) show that CHRISTOPHER PAYNE was named ND there in March, 2024.

KALB-TV, Alexandria, LA…in the third opening this week created by someone leaving to take a new ND job, CARLI LUCA is leaving this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate to become ND for Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI.

Munoz

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…JAMES MUNOZ is leaving this Morgan Murphy owned ABC affiliate after seven years at the station. He’s been the ND since 2020, and first joined as a morning anchor in 2017. MIKE McGUFF has more here. James sent me a note saying he is moving to Houston and plans to take some time for himself and family before tackling another challenge.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you have a news management opening, there’s no better audience than ours to advertise that job. Please email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WDCA/WDVM, Washington, DC (listed 11/9/25)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 12/7/25)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 11/9/25)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 11/2/25)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 12/14/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 11/16/25)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 10/12/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 12/7/25)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, relisted 11/23/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Streaming Content EP/Host, modified 10/26/25)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 12/7/25)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 11/9/25)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Morning EP, listed 11/16/25)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 10/26/25)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (listed 11/9/25)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 10/19/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listing modified 12/7/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (listed 10/26/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (Morning EP, listing revised 11/16/25)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 11/30/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 12/7/25)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (AM EP, listed 11/23/25)
KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND (Digital EP, listed 12/14/25)
WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV (Digital EP, listed 11/16/25)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 10/26/25)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 12/7/25:

WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Story Desk Manager)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (Executive Reporter)

Listed 11/16/25:

WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (Executive Reporter)

Listed 11/2/25:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Digital Content)

Listed 10/26/25

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Executive Reporter)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Tony D.

You likely saw earlier this week that CBS News is moving TONY DOUKOUPIL from mornings to become the next anchor of the CBS Evening News. Here’s the news release. You may not have seen this Wikipedia listing of the many anchor combinations the network has deployed, Doukoupil being the EIGHTH in the last 20 years, and that’s not counting the interims.

Weiss

Chicago news executive JENNIFER SCHULZE is among those dismayed by CBS’s choice of Editor-in-Chief BARI WEISS to host a recent town hall with ERIKA KIRK, widow of assassinated political activist CHARLIE KIRK. Her column is here. CBS promoted the town hall heavily during newscasts but failed to report (on the Evening News, at least) the surprise vote by the Indiana Senate rejecting a Republican backed redistricting proposal. Meanwhile, Variety reports that advertisers steered clear of the town hall broadcast.

Changes at the top of Univision, where LEOPOLDO GOMEZ and DANIEL CORONELL keep swapping the Presidency of the news division.

Congratulations to longtime WCVB-TV Assistant News Director GERRY WARDWELL who is retiring. He’s worked at this Boston Hearst owned ABC affiliate for 27 years, the last 17 as the AND.

Mahaney

Finally, in April, 2024 we solicited your input to help CHIP MAHANEY work on his master’s project on job satisfaction and burnout among television news directors. Chip’s work is now published and you can check it out here. Many of you know Chip, who worked for Scripps in a variety of roles for many years and is now teaching at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

General Manager News and Notes:

Ellis

We shared (in our Thursday UPDATE) that WDIV-TV (Detroit) General Manager BOB ELLIS had resigned, effective immediately. He’d run that Graham Media owned NBC affiliate for more than four years, and had been the GM at sister station WJXT-TV (independent) in Jacksonville for 12 years. Bob had earlier been the ND at WDIV. New this edition: This story from Deadline Detroit looks at issues that might have triggered Bob’s surprise departure.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 14, 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

WMAQ-TV 454 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL 60611
WDCW/WDVM-TV 2121 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr. W. Sacramento, CA 95605
KSWB/KUSI-TV 7191 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111
WTNH-TV 8 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209
WZZM-TV 645 3 Mile Rd. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Road, Madison, WI 53719
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WTVC-TV 4279 Benton Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37406
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WFXG-TV 4221 Washington Rd. Martinez GA 30907
KELO-TV 501 South Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104
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
KSWO-TV 1401 SE 60th St. Lawton, OK 73501
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
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
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

December 7, 2025

Thursday, December 11, 2025 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Two items worthy of an UPDATE today.

Ellis

Longtime Graham Media (formerly Post-Newsweek) executive BOB ELLIS resigned today, effective immediately, as GM of the company’s Detroit NBC affiliate, WDIV-TV. He’s been there since October, 2021. Bob had also been the ND at WDIV from 2007-2009 and served as GM of the company’s WJXT-TV (independent) in Jacksonville for the 12 years in between. More on his backgroun on his not yet deleted WDIV profile…read it quickly before it disappears!

His departure comes shortly after he was recognized as the #1 local manager in the country by Radio+Television Business Report. (Turn to page 10 of that issue for more.)

Carter

And longtime Hartford-New Haven, CT, News Director CHUCK CARTER is headed to Gray Media’s WBTV (CBS) in Charlotte as ND. He’s been the ND for Nexstar’s WTNH-TV (ABC) for the last seven plus years. That’s the latest in a large number of stops, a journey which began in Cadillac, MI. More on his Linkedin page. In Charlotte, Chuck replaces JASON STEVENS who left last month after two years as ND and three at the station.

We’ll have more on these stories and a number of other ND changes in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Hello from Indiana, home (at least for now) of the #1 College Football team in the land, and a rapidly declining NFL squad.

There’s ONE new news director this week, (and we’re removing another station from our list now that we have better clarification of a recent hire’s new role) and there are THREE new openings.

Our always unofficial list of open ND jobs grows to 27.

BARRY NASH is back with a column suggesting that anchors who stop posting on social media during the newscast might perform better.

We have an obituary for a former West Virginia News Director who also worked as a correspondent for CBS and NBC News.

There are several GM moves to share.

These stories are in Names in the News:

Is a recent FCC decision good news for local TV stations?
A veteran investigative reporter sticks his toe into management.
A former Phoenix EP returns to her old station in a new role.
Promotions for THREE people at CBS Stations Streaming.
Gray establishes a scholarship in memory of one of its former NDs.
And there’s a new award competion that’s free to enter, with just ONE unusual requirement.

All that…and more…below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Pérez

WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL…this Telemundo station (owned by NBC) has promoted assistant news director JOSE CARLOS PEREZ to be news director. He’s a two year veteran of the station and will report to SALLY RAMIREZ, who is the Senior Vice President of News, NBCUniversal Local Chicago. More details about his new role…and his career history…in this news release.

Bidwell

We need to clarify last week’s report about JEFF BIDWELL’s return to WPSD-TV in Paducah as Executive Editor for the Western Division of Paxson Media Group. He’ll oversee the station as well as two daily newspapers and five weeklies. That’s the same role held by PERRY BOXX who is, in his own words, taking “Senior Status” at the end of the year. (Some might call that retirement.) So we have removed the ND opening at WPSD from our list.

New News Director Openings:

WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL…this NBC owned station has posted a job for news director. Whoever is hired will report to SALLY RAMIREZ, who is the Senior Vice President of News, NBCUniversal Local Chicago (just like JOSE CARLOS PEREZ, who we reported above has been promoted to ND for sister station WSNS-TV (Telemundo). This move resulted from AKEMI HARRISON’s departure as ND last August. She crossed the street to WGN-TV where she is Director of News and multi-platform content.

Jensen

KELO-TV, Sioux Falls, SD…BETH JENSEN is retiring in two weeks after almost 30 years at this station. She began as a reporter and worked her way up the ranks from producer to executive producer, and spending the last (almost) 18 years as news director. Here’s the note from GM MARI OSSENFORT, which includes Beth’s note to the staff. KELO is a CBS affiliate owned by the Nexstar Media Group.

Sweeney

KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX…GINNY SWEENEY has left this Tegna owned ABC/NBC operation after slightly more than four years as news director. She’s a Beaumont native who has also worked in Wichita, St. Louis and Houston.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you have a news management opening, there’s no better audience than ours to advertise that job. Please email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com