August 9, 2026
Greetings:
It’s a very lengthy newsletter this week.
THREE new news directors (including ONE in a top 20 market.)
THREE new ND openings (including ONE in a top 20 market.)
TWO paid help wanted ads, including ONE for a job which promises a good life/work balance.
NO obituaries or GM changes.
But lots of news which we’ll try and recap, though the FIRST item may not be the most important…but certainly it’s the most unique.
- A former Hearst and Raycom executive makes it to the FBI 10 Most Wanted List!
- The FCC votes to repeal the 39% ownership cap, though some think they can’t do that.
- A federal judge says Nexstar can NOT appoint its executives to the Tegna Board, even though Nexstar owns the company.
- DAVID ELLISON defends his attempt to buy Warner Bros. and thus control both CBS News and CNN, but an article from Poynter pokes holes in his essay.
- Scripps announces a ‘refounding’ of the company with a big emphasis o streaming; But 268 people are out of work.
- CBS launches an occasional new segment in the Evening News.
- We have a lengthy profile of the #2 person at CBS News.
- And we have some Names in the News, including a 79 year old former ND who just finished a 371 mike bike ride.
Those stories and much more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
WOFL/WOGX-TV, Orlando/Gainesville. FL…this FOX o-and-o has promoted RACHEL LINDEN to VP/ND. She’s a seven year veteran of the station, who began as a producer, then EP, and, for the last two years, Managing Editor. Rachel has also worked in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Lexington, KY, and Tri-Cities, WA. At WOFL, Rachel replaces the woman to whom she will now report, MELLISA MEDALIE, who was promoted to Senior VP/GM for the FOX stations in Florida.
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY…Kentucky native KELLEN YOUNG will be the next ND for this Hearst owned CBS affiliate. It’s an inter-company move for Kellen, who’s been the Assistant ND for WLWT-TV (NBC) in Cincinnati for the past three years. He’s also worked for Hearst stations in Boston and Winston-Salem. In Louisville, Kellen replaces his new boss, ANDREA STAHLMAN who was promoted to GM earlier this summer after 14 years as ND.
KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS…WADE PARSONS will be the next news director for this Lockwood Broadcasting ABC affiliate. Here’s the news release from the station. For the last five years, Wade’s been the news director for Sinclair’s WCHS-TV (CBS/FOX) in Charleston, WV. He’s also worked in Las Vegas, Providence, Orlando, and Greenville, SC. At KAKE, he replaces DAVID WILLIAMS who left earlier this summer for family reasons after five years.
Of note: Wade learned about the opening an ad in this newsletter!
New News Director Openings:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA…LEISHA BEARD is leaving this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate to be closer to family. She’s been the news director here since late 2023. Prior to that, she’d been the ND for Nexstar’s WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg, PA and earlier spent a dozen years (of her 17 at the station) as ND for KSNF/KODE-TV in Joplin, MO.
WCHS-TV, Charleston, WV…you learned above that WADE PARSONS is leaving to become the ND for KAKE-TV (ABC) in Wichita.
KCAU-TV, Sioux City, IA…ANDY BOTTGER has left this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the ND here since the summer of 2022, and has been at the station for 13+ years.
And one UPDATE from a change we reported last week. We told you that ANDY PARAS had left the Nexstar duopoly in Fresno. Andy posted this about his situation on Linkedin.
Help Wanted Ads:
Director of News and Public Affairs, Arizona PBS:
Arizona PBS – a licensee of Arizona State University – is expanding its news and public affairs content to better serve the fast-growing Phoenix and greater Arizona markets.
To do that, we’re looking for an experienced, strategic, and innovative Director of News and Public Affairs to lead our newsroom and public affairs content efforts across broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms.
The ideal candidate is a mission-driven newsroom leader who understands the evolving role of journalism, particularly that played by non-profit newsrooms and public media.
This is not a “business-as-usual” news leadership role. Our ideal hire must be an exceptional journalist, collaborative leader, and forward-thinking media professional who can guide teams through an evolving, multi-platform media landscape while maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity.
The Director of News and Public Affairs will work closely with the Senior Director of Content to define and execute a strong editorial vision while leading a team of reporters, producers, editors, hosts, and student workers/interns. Key priorities include growing digital news audiences, working with the Senior Director of Content to develop platform-specific content strategies, as well as collaboration and innovation with other non-profit news providers in Arizona across broadcast and digital platforms.
This is a unique role in that provides a life-work balance in the news industry with generous paid time off for holidays and vacation as well as the added benefits of working at Arizona State University, which include: health, dental, and vision care coverage; retirement savings plans; and tuition reduction for employees and dependents.
To learn more and apply, please click here.
Position Closing Date: August 21, 2026 (this could change)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL: Executive Producers (click on ad)
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WXIA/WATL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 7/26/26)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/2/26)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/9/26)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/12/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/26/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, relisted 7/12/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 6/21/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 8/9/26)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 8/9/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (listed 8/2/26)
WFTV, Orlando, FL (Special Projects Producer, listed 8/2/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 7/26/26)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital EP, listed 7/26/26)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Multiplatform EP, listing revised 7/19/26)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/12/26)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 6/21/26)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 7/5/26)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/21/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/26/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 7/26/26)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 7/19/26, see ad above!)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 7/26/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 6/21/26)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (PM EP, listed 7/26/26)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/26/26)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/26)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 6/21/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 7/26/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 7/26/26)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 6/14/26)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 7/5/26)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/7/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Relisted 8/9/26:
Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs, see ad above!)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (General Manager)
Listed 8/9/26:
WGN-TV, Chicago, IL (Digital Media Director)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Executive Reporter)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Executive Reporter)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (Multi-Media Managing Editor)
Listed 8/2/26:
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (Story Desk Manager)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Story Desk Manager)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Story Desk Manager)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Director of Multiplatform Content)
Listed 7/2t/26:
E. W. Scripps, remote in any state where Scripps operates (SVP of News)
Listed 7/12/26:
KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX (Manager of Coverage and Content)
Listed 5/31/26:
Hubbard DC, Washington, DC (Market President)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
There was a TON of news this week about the industry and we’ll get to that in a moment. But here’s a story that caught my eye.
If you’ve worked at Raycom or Hearst, you may have worked with a programming executive who has a certain claim to fame.
MARY CLAIRE McDONNELL is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.
Here’s the story from Business Insider.
You almost certainly know by know that the FCC voted to repeal the congressionally approved 39% cap on broadcast ownership.
The President of the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council doesn’t think the FCC can do that.
Surprise! Sinclair CEO CHRIS RIPLEY ‘couldn’t be happier‘.
While the Nexstar-Tegna deal drags on, a Federal Judge in California says Nexstar can NOT appoint its executives to the board of Tegna, which it owns but can’t operate.
DAVID ELLISON, who is trying to acquire Warner Bros. and thus control both CBS News and CNN, wrote a guess essay in the New York Times defending the deal.
It didn’t take long for TOM JONES, writing in the Poynter Report, to poke holes in that essay.
Scripps CEO ADAM SYMSON announced a ‘refounding’ of how the company operates, which eliminated 268 jobs and will place the emphasis on streaming.
TVNewscheck explained the changes here.
Some items about CBS.
CJR has this lengthy profile of BARI WEISS‘ number two, TOM CIBROWSKI.
In at attempt to reverse its sinking ratings, The CBS Evening News is launching a occasional segment called The Big Question.
And some Names in the News.
LAUREN PETTERSON-MCMURRY has been promoted to EP at Tegna’s KVUE-TV in Austin, TX.
After ten years as a recruiter, first for Tegna and then Scripps (which eliminated his job last month) NEAL BENNETT has a new job at Florida Atlantic University.
Former news director JOHN BUTTE just wrapped up a 371 mile/10 day bike ride…at the age of 79. He shared the news on Facebook.
General Manager News and Notes:
To the best of my knowledge, no GM changes this week.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 9, 2026:
It’s unofficial, there may be others that are open, and some of these m have been filled. If you know of any in either category, please let me know: rick@rickgevers.com
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KGO-TV 900 Front St, San Francisco, CA 94111
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Road Sacramento, CA 95820-5299
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
WWL-TV 1024 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70116
WHBQ-TV 485 South Highland St. Memphis, TN 38111
WREG-TV 803 Channel 3 Drive, Memphis, TN 38103
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E. McKinley Ave., Fresno CA 93727
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
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
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Road, Charleston, WV 25301
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WMAZ-TV 1314 Gray Highway, Macon, GA 31211
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd., Monroe, LA 71201
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Dr., Sioux City, IA 51106
KNBN-TV 510 North Cambell Suite 8. Rapid City, SD 57701
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station