Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

November 3, 2025

Greetings:

Lots of news in this week’s edition. including TWO new news directors and THREE new openings.

Our count of open ND jobs increases ever-so-slightly to 25.

There’s ONE obituary for an Alabama News Director who lost his cancer battle.

Lots of GM changes, including TWO in top 20 markets.

And many stories in Names in the New (and Other Stuff) including a number of stories on all the changes at CBS News, including an AMAZING coincidence involving all the correspondents who were laid off. Amazing, I tell you.

We have details on another ND who is going public with her breast cancer fight to raise awareness for other women. There’s a new EP in Salt Lake City. We recap a controversial station sale here in Indianapolis.

Indiana University changes its attitude towards the student newspaper. And a former ABC VP takes a job at this alma mater…where one of his jobs will be to oversee…the student newspaper!

And there’s more…so read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Garza

KEYE-TV, Austin, TX…a promotion here from Assistant News Director to News Director for ERIN GARZA. She’s been the AND at KEYE for seven years and earlier worked for two stations in Houston. Erin replaces ROB CARTWRIGHT. We told you in September that Rob was leaving (after 12 years as ND here) to become VP/News for WBZ-TV, the CBS o-and-o in Boston. KEYE is a CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair.

Floyd

KXMB/KXMA-TV, Bismarck, ND…KENT FLOYD joins this Nexstar CBS/CW as its next news director. He’s been the Assistant News Director for WATN-TV, the Tegna owned ABC affiliate in Memphis. He’s also worked as a Managing Editor for KARE-TV in Minneapolis and for NBC News in Charlotte among other stops. He replaces STEVE ROLDAN who left in September after just over one year as ND.

New News Director Opening:

Stevens

WBTV, Charlotte, NC…JASON STEVENS has left this Gray Media owned CBS affiliate after 2+ years as ND and three at the station, which he first joined as Assistant News Director in July, 2022. Jason is a former news director in Jackson, MS, an has also held news management positions in a number of other markets as outlined on his Linkedin page.

Julie M.

WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI…very sorry to tell you that JULIE MORAVCHIK is stepping down as ND for the Gray Media/ ABC affiliate to concentrate on her fight against breast cancer. She revealed a setback in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio that was covered in the Superior Telegram. We told you just two months ago that she’d ‘rung the bell’ to mark the end of her chemo treatments. Julie’s been the ND here for 3+ years.

Buehler

WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN…PHIL BUEHLER is leaving this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate for a job outside of television. He’s been the ND here for four years and will leave in two weeks. Here’s the note he sent the staff. Before WTVC, Phil spent three years as the ND for Gray’s KOTA/KEVN-TV in Rapid City, SD. He started as a sports anchor, began a news anchor, left TV for seven years before returning.

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:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 9/21/25)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, ND (listed 11/2/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 9/14/25)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (listed 10/12/25)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 10/19/25)
KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 10/19/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, listed 9/21/25)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 10/19/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Streaming Content EP/Host, modified 10/26/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 8/24/25)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 10/26/25)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 10/19/25)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listing modified 9/21/25)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (EP of Digital Streaming) listed 10/26/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sr. EP of News & Streaming, relisted 11/2/25)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (listed 10/26/25)
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 10/19/25)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (AM EP, listed 9/1/25)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital EP, listed 10/26/25)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 10/26/25)

Other News Management Openings:

Listed 11/2/25:

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

Listed 10/26/25

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

Relisted 10/26/25:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (GM and Department Head)

Listed 10/5/25:

WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

Wingard

If you missed our Thursday UPDATE, sorry to report the death of WSFA-TV (Montogermy, AL) News Director DESMOND WINGARD. He lost his battle with cancer at the age of 46. Desmond had been the ND here for 3+ years but had worked for this Gray Media owned NBC affiliate for 26 years. The station paid him tribute here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

What an interesting time at CBS News.

You’ve probably read about the layoffs there, including both anchors of CBS News Saturday Morning, MICHELLE MILLER and DANA JACOBSON and the program’s EP, leaving that show’s future uncertain.

A number of correspondents were released, including DEBORA PATTA, JANET SHAMLIAN, NIKKI BATTISTE, NANCY CHEN, ELISE PRESTON and LISA LING.

This report from The Independent points out the obvious. ALL of the laid off on-air people shared something in common.

They are women.

Meanwhile, CBS Mornings anchor GAYLE KING vigorously denied this Variety report that she was headed out of her morning anchor role.

And while most news operations are increasing their streaming efforts, CBS has canceled two streaming programs, CBS Morning News Plus and CBS Evening News Plus, all part of this week’s cost-cutting layoffs.

Friday was the last edition of CBS Evening News Plus, and the program’s anchor, JOHN DICKERSON (who’s also leaving the network, and his co-anchor role on the CBS Evening News at the end of the year) closed the last program with this video on why he went into journalism.

It’s been a rough transition to a new job for JEN BLAKE. We told you in March that she was moving within Gray to be the new ND for WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC. But shortly after her move, her doctors in Rapid City, SD (where she’d been the ND at KOTA-TV) told her to return to a doctor for followup on her annual mammogram. She’s going public with her case to raise awareness for other women.

MICHAEL O’NEIL starts December 1 as the EP for KSTU-TV, the Scripps owned FOX affiliate in Salt Lake City. It’s the latest job in Michael’s career, including a two year stint at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, where we worked together when I was the ND there.

Our Tuesday UPDATE told you of the proposed sale of Scripps’ WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis to Circle City Broadcasting, which already owns WISH-TV (CW) and WNDY-TV (MyNetworkTV) in Indy. Here’s why, if that deal goes through, it would mark a big change in ownership in the #25 market.

The roller coaster ride over oversight of the student newspaper at Indiana University continued this week. The University has now lifted its ban on ‘news’ in the seven print editions the Indiana Daily Student’ publishes each year. Details from The New York Times. That decision came after a controversy that included the dismissal of the faculty advisor.

Prieto

Apparently not deterred by that development, AL PRIETO has signed on for a new job at his alma mater, Montclair State University. He’ll be the faculty advisor to The Montclarion, the student newspaper there, part of his duties as Special Assistant to the Dean of the College of Communications and Media. We told you last May that Al was retiring as a VP of ABC News, where he oversaw NewsOne. Al spent 42 years at ABC News and kindly sent me this note about his new job.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lots of GM changes this week.

We’ll start in New York, where CRISTINA SCHWARZ will leave WNJU-TV (Telemundo) at the end the year after 12 years as GM. ERIC LERNER, GM of co-owned WNBC-TV, will oversee both stations.

CHRIS CONROY moves within Gray to become GM for WOIO/WUAB-TV (CBS/CW) in Cleveland. He’s been the GM for KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau and earlier had run Gray’s KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR.

And Gray is sending NICK HASENECZ to South Bend as GM of WNDU-TV, its NBC affiliate there. He’s been the Director of Sales and interim GM of WOIO/WUAB-TV in Cleveland.

Finally, Sinclair has named MARK MARTIN GM of KOKH/KOCB-TV in Oklahoma City and KTUL-TV in Tulsa.

Our List of Open News Director Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 2, 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
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr., West Sacramento, CA 95605
WBTV, 1 Julian Price Place Charlotte, NC 28208
KSWB/KUSI-TV 7191 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr., Columbus, OH 4321
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 49544
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
WBAY-TV 115 S. Jefferson St., Green Bay, WI 54301
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WTVC-TV 4279 Benton Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37406
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WPSD-TV, 408 Kentucky Ave, Paducah, KY 42003
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
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

October 26, 2025

Thursday, October 30th, 2025 UPDATE:

Sorry to report the death today of an Alabama news director.

Wingard

DESMOND WINGARD died this morning after a battle with cancer. He was 46 years old. He’d been the news director for Gray Media’s WSFA-TV (NBC) in Montgomery for the last 3+ years, but had worked there for 26 years. The station remembered him here.

Our sympathy to his family, friends, at co-workers at WSFA. We’ll share funeral and memorial information when they are available.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A shocker in Indianapolis this morning.

DeJUAN McCOY, owner of Circle City Broadcasting which already owns WISH-TV (CW) and WNDY-TV (MyNetworkTV), announced this morning that he is buying WRTV (ABC) from Scripps.

Here’s the news release from Circle City and here’s the release from Scripps.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Indianapolis market (and, unless you live there, why would you be?) let me provide some perspective.

Nexstar owns WTTV and WXIN-TV. Those are the CBS and FOX affiliates.

Tegna owns WTHR-TV, the NBC affiliate.

And as mentioned above, Scripps owns WRTV and Circle City owns the former CBS affiliate; WISH-TV, which has a strong on-air news schedule.

And…if you’re been paying attention, you know that Nexstar has announced plans to buy Tegna.

I have a journalism degree, and thus, by law, am not good at math.

But even I can figure out that would leave TWO owners for the five local stations that air newscasts.

But, of course, there are some big IFs here.

IF the FCC approves BOTH deals, and IF both deals make it to the finish line (obligatory racing reference for any story involving Indy, also required by law) this would lead to an unprecedented ownership situation in a top 25 market.

As a bad reporter would say “Only time will tell.”

We hope to have more on this story in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

You could say this was another slow week, with TWO newly named news directors and ONE new opening (though that opening is at a network o-and-o in a top 20 market.)

Our count of open ND jobs remains at 24.

THREE obituaries (including that of Lassie’s mom. Why, you ask? I ain’t giving it away…you’ll have to read on.) 🙂

Also this week:

After 29 years, a longtime GM and former ND is retiring.
There’s a new GM headed to a Mississippi station.
Got a PR nightmare? Create a task force! That’s what Indiana University is doing.
A veteran ND returns to his alma mater after 50 years and details how that school (you’ve heard of it) is changing with the times.
And there’s a new Assistant ND in New York.

And there’s more…so read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Garcia

WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC…RICH GARCIA returns to a newsroom as the next news director for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. He most recently for served for three years as news director for WINK-TV (CBS) in Ft. Myers, part of his 18 years at that locally owned station. At WBTW, he replaces PAUL CARON who left in September after three years as news director.

Thomas

WPDE-TV, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC…a promotion here finds LIZ THOMAS moving down the hall to the big office (just guessing, never been there) as she takes over as ND on November 1. She replaces VICTORIA SPECHKO who is retiring after a remarkable 26 years as ND for this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate and 31 years at the station. Liz posted this about her new job and here’s Victoria’s station bio.

New News Director Opening:

Saiers

KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA…PETE SAIERS is leaving this CBS owned duopoly after two years as news director. GM DEBORAH COLLURA sent this note to the staff. It’s Pete’s second stint at KOVR: he earlier worked as a reporter/producer there before going to KPIX-TV (also a CBS o-and-o) in San Francisco. He spent two years as an ND for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles and KING-TV in Seattle.

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