June 7, 2027
Greetings:
We’re a little early this week. Do not get used to it. (But if there was an IndyCar race in St. Louis every Sunday night like there is tonight…) 9:00 PM Eastern on Fox.
You can look for me in the stands but it would be easier to find Waldo. 🙂
TWO new news directors were named this week, with NO openings, to the best of my knowledge.
Our count of ND openings drops to 23.
There are TWO paid help wanted ads this week: one for an ND job in the Midwest and an unusual (and lucrative) job in DC.
And it was a busy week with lots of news.
- You may have missed CBS News’ fair coverage of the firing of SCOTT PELLEY.
- A veteran broadcaster assigns blame to both sides in the CBS turmoil.
- You can bet good money that the Editor at Large of TVNewscheck is not a fan of FCC Chair BRENDAN CARR.
- No surprise here: duopolies are growing (duh!) and stations are changing the way they are branding them.
- A former ND advances to the general election in a California Congressional primary, and has some thoughts about the difference between being on the ballot and covering ballots.
- We have an interesting look at Murrow awards and a change in the ownership of the winners.
- A retiring ND is honored with a proclamation from his local government.
- And we’ll tell you why it’s been a sad weekend at the world headquarters.
See you next week!
Newly Named News Directors:
Dahl
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA…our Tuesday UPDATE brought first word that JENNIFER DAHL would be the next ND for this Cox Media/CBS affiliate. (That might have been overshadowed by the SCOTT PELLEY firing moments after we posted.) Here’s the note from GM PAT NEVIN. Jen’s a former ND in Phoenix and Salt Lake City who’s been working as an agent and consultant for the last few years. She replaces LAURA EVANS who left in April after three years.
Fulmer
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY…according to his Linkedin page, BARRY FULMER has assumed ND responsibilities for this NBC affiliate. Barry’s been the ND for WDRB-TV (FOX) in Louisville. Gray, which owns WAVE, recently acquired WDRB from Block Communications. Barry’s in his second stint at WDRB, spending 17 years there before moving to WCPO-TV in Cincinnati in 2022. He returned three years later.
Updating last week’s story about WXXV-TV in Gulfport, MS: We told you that CASEY DUCRE has been promoted to ND for this Morris Multimedia operation: We did not know…at the time…who she replaced. Thanks to a tip from a loyal reader, we now know that Casey replaces GRANT CIGHIZOLA who had been an anchor there before his promotion. Grant’s bio is still on the station website, though, and his Linkedin page still lists him as news director.
New News Director Openings:
I am not aware of any new openings. Always happy to hear from you if you know about something I missed.
Help Wanted Ads:
Market President, Hubbard DC, Washington, DC:
Hubbard DC, which includes WTOP, Federal News Network and 2060 Digital, is committed to reporting relevant news for the DC region. Through continuously evolving brands, we connect consumers with advertisers across a growing number of distribution platforms including radio, podcasts, social media, and websites. We do this with a commitment to our community…while growing our people and profits.
Hubbard DC is looking for a new Market President to take the reigns after the incumbent retires later this year after over 30 years with the station group. We are looking for someone who can:
- Lead the market as its senior executive
- Champion uncompromising news integrity and public trust
- Lead a high‑performing executive team
- Own the market’s strategic plan
- Drive sustained revenue and profitability
- Maintain full P&L and financial management responsibility
- Oversee integrated market operations
- Ensure regulatory compliance and risk management
- Serve as the senior market representative
This highly compensated role has a salary range of $300,000 to $600,000 plus bonuses based upon experience. To see the full job description including qualifications and to apply for this unique opportunity, please follow this link:
To learn more about Hubbard Broadcasting, please follow this link:
News Director, KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS:
KAKE and KAKE.com, Wichita’s legacy ABC affiliate, has an immediate opening for a News Director to lead a dedicated team of journalists and photojournalists in one of America’s most livable cities. Our current News Director is relocating this summer, creating this rare opportunity with a family-owned broadcast company.
KAKE produces 40+ hours of local television news each week and embraces a screen-agnostic approach to coverage through our website, two mobile apps, streaming video channels, broadcast television stations, and social media platforms and, as a result, enjoys a leadership position in the market with digital audience engagement.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record of audience growth and will understand how to best utilize our social media and digital platforms to that end.
We are committed to excellence in journalism. The primary responsibility of the News Director is to oversee all aspects of our news operation and ensure all KAKE journalists are timely, accurate, and unbiased in their reporting on all platforms. We seek someone who shares that expectation of excellence and can demonstrate their ability to lead strong teams.
You’ll lead efforts to build, train, inspire and retain a top-notch staff of diverse, competitive, driven high-performers. You’ll need to be aggressive in adjusting resources to meet the demand of a shifting local news marketplace.
Interested candidates can apply to:
Mark Kurtz
Corporate Director of News
Lockwood Broadcast Group
mkurtz@lockwoodbroadcast.com
No telephone calls please
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (listed 5/25/26)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 6/7/26)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 5/25/26)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC listed 5/25/26)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 5/17/26)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (relisted 5/25/26)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/10/26)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH (Boston market) (listed 5/17/26)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 4/12/26)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 6/7/26)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 4/19/26)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 5/17/26)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Lifestyle Show EP, listed 6/7/26)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 5/17/26)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/17/26)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 4/19/26)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 5/17/26)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 5/17/26)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 5/17/26)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/7/26)
WBBH-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 5/17/26)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 5/17/26)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (relisted 5/17/26)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Morning EP, relisted 3/29/26)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 4/19/26)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 5/17/26)
WFXR/WWCW-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 6/7/26)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 5/25/26)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 5/17/26)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (Digital EP, listed 5/2/26)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/7/26)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 5/25/26:
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (General Manager)
Arizona PBS, Phoenix, AZ (Dir. of News & Public Affairs)
Listed 5/3/26:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Producer, Nighttime Newscast)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Newscast Producer)
Relisted 4/19/26:
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (Digital Director)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 4/12/26:
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (GM of Student Broadcast Media and Instructor)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Pelley
You likely know by now that CBS News fired SCOTT PELLEY this week, but (if the ratings are to be believed) you may not have seen its praiseworthy coverage of the issue on the CBS Evening News.
Veteran broadcaster HANK PRICE brings his perspective on the turmoil at CBS News, saying there’s blame on both sides, and points to the transition from Cronkite to Rather as a successful way to bring change.
TVNewsCheck Editor at Large HARRY A. JESSEL exorciates FCC Chair BRENDAN CARR, calling him a political hack and the master of the empty threat.
Here’s an interesting look at the growth of duopolies (which are only likely to increase with consolidation.) It suggests that stations are increasingly branding multiple stations with one name.
An example: Spokane, where Morgan Murphy’s KXLY-TV will operate FOX affiliate KAYU-TV under a common branding.
An interesting development from New Jersey, where Montclair State University will take over operations of four PBS stations in the state, saving them from a likely shutdown. The University’s news release is here, and Wikipedia has this long and detailed history of how this came about.
Cohen
Retired news director turned politician STEVE COHEN advanced in a primary this week in his bid for the Congressional seat in California’s 50th district. Democrat SCOTT PETERS received about 47% of the vote with Steve, running as a Republican, coming in second at 44% in the state’s jungle primary. They’ll face off in November. Before the election, Steve shared these thoughts about being ON the ballot as opposed to reporting on results.
Varner
Retired news director turned blogger KIRK VARNER (who may have more spare time on his hands than I do) put some of that time to good use with an interesting study on his TVND.com website. He analyzed the ownership of the stations who won Murrow Awards this year and found some interesting changes over the past. Check it out here.
Tucker
And retired (as of Friday) news director ELBERT TUCKER‘s 42 year long career in our industry ended Friday when he left Nexstar’s WKRN-TV (ABC) in Nashville. We told you in March that he was retiring. New this edition: Elbert received a proclamation from Nashville’s Metro Council. He was ND here for ten years, and earlier had been an ND in Indianapolis, Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati and worked in several other markets.
Finally, sorry to share that we lost one of the Associates this week. We made the always difficult decision to euthanize LOLA after she suffered what the vet believes was a cerebral issue Friday. We inherited Lola from my wife’s brother when he passed away in 2023, becoming the third member of the family to host her. No one is quite sure of her age, but we’re guessing between 15-18 years old. She was a mellow animal with the unusual habit of liking to drink from a bathroom faucet, which always resulted in her head becoming soaked!
General Manager News and Notes:
I’m not aware of any GM changes this week. As always, appreciate your tips.
Our List of Open News Director Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 7, 2026:
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
WPVI-TV 4100 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
KMGH-TV 2323 Delgany St, Denver, CO 80203
KSDK-TV 1001 Highlands Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
WKRN-TV 441 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St Baltimore, MD 21211
KOKH/KOCB-TV 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
WLKY-TV 1918 Mellwood Ave. Louisville, KY 40206
WGNO-TV 1 Galleria Blvd, Suite 850 Metairie LA 70001
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St Spokane WA 99223
KAKE-TV 1500 N. West St. Wichita, KS 67203 (see ad above!)
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
KKTV 3100 N Nevada Ave, Ste B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WHBF-TV 231 18th St. Rock Island, IL 61201
KNDU-TV 3312 W. Kennewick Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336
WCBI-TV 201 5th Street South Columbus, MS 39701
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KIFI-TV 1915 N Yellowstone Hwy Idaho Falls, ID 83401
KAVU-TV. 3808 N Navarro St. Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station