Rick Gevers & Associates

June 24, 2013

Tuesday, June 25, 2013 UPDATE:

Roth

News from Charlotte tonight, where WJYZ/WMYT-TV, the soon-to-be FOX o-and-o there, announced the hiring of GEOFF ROTH to be the VP of Local Content.

Geoff is currently an EP for another FOX o-and-o, KRIV-TV in Houston, and earlier in his career was the ND for KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City, which was owned by FOX at the time. He’s also been an ND in San Diego, Ft. Myers, for two stations in Fresno, and spent a year or so on the faculty at Hofstra. He’s also worked for CNN, and in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Denver, Miami, Jacksonville, FL, and Richmond.

WJYZ has been the CW affiliate in Charlotte. Fox bought the stations from Capitol Broadcasting earlier this year, and, as mentioned, takes over on Monday. WCCB-TV, which has been the FOX affiliate, will become the CW affiliate then.

There’s no word when the the station(s) might begin news programming.

Some other notes from our last newsletter.

DIANA BRODEUR will be the new ASSISTANT News Director at KXAS-TV in Ft. Worth/Dallas. Our mention of her hire omitted a key word, like, say, Assistant. SUSAN TULLY, who fortunately for me has a sense of humor, has been, is now, and will continue to be the ND for that NBC o-and-o.

I still can’t find the link to an AR&D research presentation on viewer’s attitudes to investigative reporting, but will post it here if/when it gets posted to the IRE website.

And the correct link for more information on an upcoming Poynter seminar for anchors is: www.poynter.org/13anchors

Our regular weekly report will likely be delayed this week by travel.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Wow.

That’s about all I can say about this year’s IRE Conference in San Antonio. There were easily several dozen news directors there, many, many more than I’ve ever seen in almost 30 years of attending what I’ve often called my favorite conference. There were three from Denver alone.

Kudos to Gannett (120 people there between print and broadcast), Scripps (80 people, print and broadcast combined), and the NBC o-and-o’s (more than 50 people). Apologies to any other broadcast group with a large contingent that I may have overlooked.

Obviously those groups see that investigative reporting is an important way to differentiate themselves in a crowded news marketplace. At the conference, AR&D presented research showing viewer’s feelings towards investigative reporting. (Those findings were to be posted on the IRE website but I couldn’t find them tonight. You might want to check the IRE website or my website, which I’ll update when I find the information.)

Next year’s conference will be in San Francisco, June 26-29. I hope to see you there.

On to our normal business…it’s been a busy week with FOUR new news director openings and ONE large market (think REALLY big market) news director named. That means there are now 20 openings. We have a paid ad for one of those new openings (it’s actually an anchor/news director position).

We also have an ad below for some upcoming TV seminars at Poynter.

In Names in the News, details about a longtime cable executive taking a GM job in Tampa, and some management moves around the country. And we have an obit for a former Dallas ND and anchor who covered the JFK assassination.

Finally, a moron alert: In my emailed update earlier this week, I managed to screw up affiliations of two of the stations mentioned. WTSP is CBS (not ABC, though it once was) and KOB-TV is NBC (and not ABC, as I told you.) Apologies, and thanks to those of you who kindly pointed that out.

Read on for this week’s news, hopefully with fewer mistakes.
.

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New News Director Openings:

Mercer

KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA…in one of several ND changes we shared with you with an UPDATE last Thursday, BRANDON MERCER has left this Tribune-owned FOX affiliate. Brandon was there for just about five years, and joined the station from a job as executive producer for cross-town rival KOVR/KMAX-TV. He’s also worked in Phoenix. As of this writing, Brandon’s bio is still on the KTXL website.

Fischer

XETV, San Diego, CA….JON FISCHER has left this Grupa Televisa owned station after less than a year as news director. XETV is now the CW affiliate but used to be the FOX station in San Diego. Jon’s a former ND in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Palm Springs, CA. He’s also worked for three Los Angeles stations (two as Assistant ND) and worked for ABC News for three years. His replacement will be the third news director in two years here.

Mason

KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM…after about six months as ND, JOHN MASON is stepping down for family reasons. Earlier in his career, John served as Managing Editor for this Hubbard-owned NBC affiliate. He’s also worked as an anchor and Assistant News Director for Hubbard’s KSTP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul. John’s replacement will be the sixth news director in just over five years there.

Parker

WUTR/WFXV/WPNY-TV, Utica, NY…JOEY PARKER has left this ABC/CW affiliate after almost two years as news director/anchor. He was the first ND for this cluster. Joey’s also worked in Gainesville, FL, Casper, WY, Hastings, NE, Montgomery, and Dothan, AL. You can learn more about this opportunity by checking out the paid help wanted ad below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Harmon

WNYW-TV, New York, NY…BYRON HARMON has been promoted to News Director for this FOX o-and-o, succeeding DIANE DOCTOR, who was promoted to Station Manager for sister station WWOR-TV after five years as ND for WNYW. She’s also been the ND for two other NYC stations. Byron joined the station last years as Senior Executive Producer. He’d previously worked for CNN and WNBC-TV.  He’s also written four books and is a Desert Storm veteran.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Anchor/News Director, WUTR/WFXV/WPNY-TV, Utica, NY:

WUTR, WPNY and WFXV in Utica, NY seeks a News Director/Anchor who is aggressive, forward thinking and a creative journalist. We produce news product on three different channels and have the market’s only high definition news operation.

The successful candidate must have an understanding of what “local” news is and how to engage our viewers with relevant content. He/she will anchor, producer, hire, mentor and lead a team of skilled professionals. Solid news judgment, great communication skills and exceptional storytelling techniques are a must. 5-10 years of experience as a primary news anchor preferred. Knowledge of eMedia, social media and mobile website journalism is required.

Please send a web link, resume, cover letter and news philosophy to: smerren@wutr.tv

or via mail to:

Stephen Merren
Vice President and General Manager
WUTR/WFXV/WPNY
5956 Smith Hill Road
Utica NY 13502

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/5/13)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 6/7/13)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listing revised 6/7/13)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 5/5/13)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (listed 6/16/13)
WBND/WCWW-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 5/5/13)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 6/16/13)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 5/10/13)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 5/17/13)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 5/17/13)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Morning EP, relisted 6/2/13)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/26/13)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (PM EP, listed 5/10/13)
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, relisted 4/26/13)
WRC-TV, Washington, DC (listed 5/10/13)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 5/10/13)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listing revised 4/13/13)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 5/10/13)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 6/7/13)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/5/13)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listing revised 6/16/13)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 6/7/13)
WTEV/WAWS-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, relisted 5/5/13)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM EP, relisted 6/16/13)

Obituary:

EDWARD “ED” HERBERT, a former news director, anchor, and general manager in a variety of markets, died last Monday (June 17) at the age of 82. He was an ND/Anchor in Dallas on November 22, 1963, an event about which he lectured around the country in later years.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News:

We told you earlier this week that ELLIOTT WISER was leaving his post as VP of Local Programming for Bright House Networks, a job he’s held for the last 5 1/2 years, to become President and GM of Gannett’s WTSP-TV (CBS) in Tampa. He was the startup ND for the company’s Bay News 9 news channel in the Tampa Bay area. Elliott’s a former ND for Northwest Cable News and also was an ND/Anchor in Richmond. Ironically, he’ll now compete against his former GM in Richmond, RICH PEGRAM, GM of WFTS-TV (ABC), who he’s called a mentor.

KXAS-TV in Dallas has hired DIANA BRODEUR as its next assistant news director. She’s currently an EP at WGN-TV in Chicago, and previously worked for WFLD-TV there. Diana also worked in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Winston-Salem, NC. She spent part of her childhood in Texas so its a return home for her.

ANDRE BROOKS is the new dayside EP for KSNV-TV in Las Vegas, where he’ll oversee the early and late evening newscasts. He’s been the morning EP at KGTV in San Diego.

Finally, LAURIN BARNES, the lead producer of the morning news at WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, has been promoted to AM Executive Producer for that NBC affiliate.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 23, 2013.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
KMSP/WFTC 11358 Viking Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Rd. Sacramento CA 95820
XETV 8253 Ronson Rd. San Diego CA 92111
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
WOAI-TV 1031 Navarro St. San Antonio TX 78205
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Dr. NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Road Oklahoma City OK 73131
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW Albuquerque 87104
WTVR-TV 3301 W. Broad St. Richmond VA 23230
KTUL-TV 3200 S. 29th West Ave. Tulsa OK 74107
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203
WEYI-TV 2225 W. Willard Road Clio MI 48420
KGUN-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Tucson, AZ 85710
KRIS/KZTV 301 Artesian St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCG-TV Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute IN 47808
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield, WV 24701
WUTR/WFXV/WPNY 5956 Smith Hill Rd. Utica NY 13502 (see ad above)
WLIO-TV 1424 Rice Ave. Lima OH 45805

* Spanish language station

June 17, 2013

Thursday, June 20, 2013 UPDATE:

Wiser

An interesting development today from Tampa/St. Petersburg, where ELLIOTT WISER has been named President and General Manager of Gannett’s WTSP-TV (CBS). Elliott is a longtime broadcaster who has been VP of Local Programming for Bright House Networks, headquartered in Tampa/ St. Pete, for the last 5+ years. He launched the company’s Bay News 9 in Tampa, and spent 11 years there as the VP/General Manager.

He previously was the ND for Belo’s Northwest Cable News, and also worked as an ND in Richmond.

Elliott replaces KEN TONNING who is retiring.

There have also been a number of top 50 market ND changes this week.

DIANE DOCTOR has been promoted to Station Manager of WWOR-TV in New Jersey. BYRON HARMON will replace her as ND of sister FOX station WNYW-TV in New York.

After five years as news director, BRANDON MERCER has left Tribune’s KTXL-TV (FOX) in Sacramento.

Also in California, JON FISCHER has left Grupa Televisa’s XETV in San Diego. That once was the FOX affiliate there but is now CW. He was there less than a year.

And after just six months on the job, JOHN MASON is leaving KOB-TV, the Hubbard owned NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, for family reasons. He had previously been the Assistant ND for sister- Hubbard owned KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Earlier in his career, John had been the anchor and managing editor at KOB.

We’ll have more on all these stories, as well as some other ND changes, in our full report later this week. We may be delayed by travel to the IRE conference in San Antonio, where I hope to see many of you.

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

You’ll learn about FOUR new news directors in this week’s report. And while we have NO new openings, we are returning a station to the list of openings for reasons I’ll explain below.

That leaves just 16 stations looking for a new ND.

But the biggest news of the week is the latest station deal, the largest ever, as Gannett is buying Belo.

The Dallas Morning News examines the deal, which will see former Belo Executive JACK SANDER head a new company that will own Belo stations in five markets where there are conflicts. And the New York Times looks at the financial reasons for such consolidations.

Also this week, RTDNA announced both the national and regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners. If you click on those links, you’ll see all the winners and links to the entires.

We have ads for two management positions in Sacramento and Kansas City, and we’ve also updated the list of Other News Management Openings.

And in Names in the News, a number of news managers on the move, and THREE veteran GMs are in the news for either a new job…or a retirement.

All that, and move, after this week’s openings.

New News Director Openings:

Apologies to JULIE JOHNSTON and KTUL-TV in Tulsa. We reported last week that Julie had been promoted to ND here.  She’s actually the interim ND, so we’ve reinstated the opening in our complete list below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Sanders

KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX…as we told you earlier this week in a mid-week UPDATE, TRISTON SANDERS is being promoted from another Belo station to become news director for this Belo-owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND for the company’s WWL-TV in New Orleans for less than a year. She earlier had been a news director in Tallahassee, a producer in Miami and Tampa, and also worked as an anchor/reporter in Ft. Myers and Tallahassee. She replaces KURT DAVIS who’s moving to New York as VP, New Services, for CBS News, after ten years as ND in San Antonio.

Shory

WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY…in another item we told you about earlier this week, veteran ND BILL SHORY will be the next ND for this Raycom Media-owned NBC affiliate. For the last few months, Bill’s been the Director of Production for Jupiter Entertainment in Knoxville, following an eight year run as ND for WBIR-TV there. He’s also been an ND in Huntsville, and has worked in Minneapolis, Charlotte, Birmingham, and Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX. At WAVE, he replaces KATHY HOSTETTER who left in May to return to Indianapolis at ND for WTHR-TV. Kathy spent three years as ND at WAVE.

KRDO-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…PETER JACOBUS moves from interim ND to permanent ND for this News Press and Gazette owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the interim ND there for the past few months after leaving WPTY-TV in Memphis. He’s also been an ND in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit and San Diego, and also served as a VP for ABC News and spent many years working for Magid. He succeeds MICHAEL SIPES who left the station late last year after five years as ND. He’s now the news director for KAKE-TV in Wichita.

Goodwin

KTXS-TV, Abilene, TX…JASON GOODWIN has been promoted to ND for this Bonten Media owned ABC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND there, and has also worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Tampa, and New York. GEORGE LEVESQUE, who’s been the ND here for the past six years, is adding the 10:00 PM news to his anchor schedule and will become the station’s Managing Editor.

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Assistant News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:

The E.W. Scripps owned NBC affiliate in Kansas City, MO, 41 Action News seeks an Assistant News Director who is a strong show doctor ready for the next challenge. You should be high-energy, aggressive with breaking news and know how to think big. You’ll run the day to day operations, guide coverage across 3 screens and create special coverage plans. You’ll need to be great at juggling multiple projects and collaborating with the team to ensure those projects are executed.

The successful candidate will possess 3 + years’ experience in newsroom management and television production desired. Must have proven and effective leadership skills; fosters open dialogue, empowers others, addresses conflict quickly and directly. Strong organizational and communication skills (verbal and written) required.

Send resume and a letter of introduction via email to: carrie.hofmann@kshb.com or via mail to:

Carrie Hofmann
News Director
KSHB-TV
4720 Oak Street
Kansas City MO 64112

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/5/13)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 6/7/13)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listing revised 6/7/13, see ad above!)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 5/5/13)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (new listing this week)
WBND/WCWW-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 5/5/13)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (new listing this week)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 5/10/13)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 5/17/13)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Morning EP, relisted 6/2/13)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/26/13)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (PM EP, listed 5/10/13)
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, relisted 4/26/13)
WRC-TV, Washington, DC (listed 5/10/13)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 5/10/13)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listing revised 4/13/13)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 5/10/13)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 6/7/13, see ad above!)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/13/13)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/5/13)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listing revised this week)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 6/7/13)
WTEV/WAWS-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, relisted 5/5/13)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM EP, relisted this week)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (AM EP, relisted 4/13/13)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/26/13)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

Names in the News:

AMY WALDMAN has been promoted from EP/Special Projects to Managing Editor for WPIX-TV in New York. Also at WPIX, CHRISTIAN TAUSSIG has been promoted to News Operations Manager.

KYANN LEWIS, who’s been the EP for the syndicated show The Daily Buzz, has been named Senior Executive Producer for KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco. She’s a former ND in Houston and Greenville, SC, and has also worked in Portland, OR.

MIKE WILHITE, a producer at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis for the past 16 years, heads to Albuquerque as the new PM Executive Producer for Hearst’s KOAT-TV. Mike’s also worked in Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, and Lexington.

Another longtime producer, SCOTT NAGEL, has been promoted to Morning EP for WRAL-TV in Raleigh. He’s been a producer there since 1999.

GM Notes:

PATRICK PAOLINI moves within FOX to become GM for WTTG-TV in Washington, succeeding DUFFY DYER who is retiring.

RENE LaSPINA has been named GM for LIN’s WIVB-TV in Buffalo.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 16, 2013.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
KMSP/WFTC 11358 Viking Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
WOAI-TV 1031 Navarro St. San Antonio TX 78205
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Dr. NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Road Oklahoma City OK 73131
WTVR-TV 3301 W. Broad St. Richmond VA 23230
KTUL-TV 3200 S. 29th West Ave. Tulsa OK 74107
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203
WEYI-TV 2225 W. Willard Road Clio MI 48420
KGUN-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Tucson, AZ 85710
KRIS/KZTV 301 Artesian St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCG-TV Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute IN 47808
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield, WV 24701
WLIO-TV 1424 Rice Ave. Lima OH 45805

* Spanish language station

June 8, 2013

Thursday, June 13, 2013 UPDATE:

In the latest surprising station deal, Gannett has purchased Belo.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013 UPDATE:

Congratulations to KYW-TV in Philadelphia and WVUE-TV in New Orleans, winners of the large and small market National Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence. And the award for network excellence went to a non-American network, Global of Canada. It’s the first time a non-U.S. network won that honor.

The entire list of national winners is here. And you can click here for the list of regional award winners. Of note: there is a link to every winning submission so you can watch some very good television.

Two quick news director notes:

Sanders

TRISTON SANDERS is being promoted within Belo to be the next ND for KENS-TV in San Antonio. For the last ten months, she’s been the Assistant ND for Belo’s WWL-TV in New Orleans.

Shory

And veteran ND BILL SHORY today was named ND for WAVE-TV, the Raycom-owned NBC affiliate in Louisville. He spent eight years as a news director in Knoxville, TN, and has also been a news director in Huntsville, AL.

Also, a quick correction from last week’s report. We told you that JULIE JOHNSTON had been promoted to ND for KTUL-TV in Tulsa. She’s actually the interim ND there.  Apologies to Julie, KTUL, and you for that error.

More on these stories and all the latest news in our full report later this week.

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

Greetings:

We have THREE  TWO new news directors to tell you about in this week’s report, and just ONE new opening. That brings our count of open ND positions to 19 20.

Also this week, new help wanted ads for management jobs in Sacramento and Kansas City, and a reminder that the deadline for applications for the Carole Kneeland Project is coming soon.

In Names in the News, new news managers for stations in New York and Indianapolis, and an interesting GM move in Indianapolis, where a GM left one station to join a competitor. Unfortunately, his new station welcomed him with a brief story on the 6:00 news and used a photograph of a Los Angeles meteorologist! Oops.

And we have obits for a Peabody Award winning news manager and a longtime Arkansas GM.

Read on for more details on all those items.

The Kneeland Project Accepting Applications Now.
Apply today!

You have only one week left to apply for The Kneeland Project’s next session, which will be held September 11-14, 2013 in Austin, Texas.

Thanks to Kneeland’s generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for 18 selected participants. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as hotel and several meals.

In a recent survey of Kneeland Fellows, 100% reported they still regularly use lessons learned at Kneeland, believe that time spent at Kneeland improved their career, and said they have recommended Kneeland to a friend or colleague.

This fall’s participants will be joined by some of the best and brightest leaders in the industry, but they won’t provide didactic, one-way lectures. On the contrary. Kneeland is seeking applications from news directors with high-level expertise, insight, and experience to make this a truly unique opportunity. Most importantly, journalists will leave the program with a solid plan to guide their leadership decisions starting the day they return to their newsroom. This isn’t theoretical information that news managers will put on a shelf and neglect. Every participant will walk away with concrete action items to implement immediately that will make a difference in their station…and their life.

It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. Journalists return to their stations refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges newsrooms now face.

Click here for more information and to apply. Remember – apply before next Friday, June 14th. Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply now!

New News Director Opening:

WLIO-TV, Lima, OH…after ten years, LON TEGELS is leaving to startup a news department for WXXV-TV in Gulfport/Biloxi, MS. He’ll oversee an operation with NBC and FOX affiliations there, an easy task for a man who oversaw one operation with four affiliations: NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX in Lima.

Newly Named News Director:

Morford

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX…BOB MORFORD has been promoted to VP/ND for this FOX o-and-o. Bob’s been the Assistant News Director here since last year, and has been the interim ND since TOM DOERR left in February to become ND for Fox’s WFLD-TV in Chicago. Bob’s previously been an ND in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati (two stations), Knoxville, Huntsville, and Ft. Pierce, FL. He’s also worked in Columbia, MO.

Updated 6/10/13:  Apologies for this error below…JULIE JOHNSTON is the interim ND at KTUL at this point, not permanent.

KTUL-TV, Tulsa, OK…JULIE JOHNSTON has been promoted to ND for this Albritton owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND there. Julie replaces CARLTON HOUSTON who left the station last month to become ND for KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City.

Tegels

WXXV-TV, Gulfport/Biloxi, MS…LON TEGELS will be the first ND for this startup news operation. As noted above, Lon’s been the ND at WLIO-TV in Lima, OH, for ten years. He’s previously worked as a news director in Rockford, IL, Des Moines, Sioux City, and St. Joseph, MO, and has also worked in Hartford, San Diego, Jacksonville, Richmond, Ft. Myers, Evansville, Boise, Cedar Rapids, and Kirksville, MO. WXXV is owned by Morris Multimedia and is affiliated with NBC and FOX. The local newspaper offers this look at the station’s plans.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Executive Producer, KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA:

CBS13, the CBS owned and operated station in beautiful Sacramento, has an opening for dayside Executive Producer.

We need an exceptional producer who knows how to guide, motivate and develop others. A strong leader who can guarantee the newscast vision is executed with consistency. Every day, every newscast.

Previous management experience is required.

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Search job number 14150BR under ‘keyword’ on cbscareers.com

Assistant News Director, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO:

The E.W. Scripps owned NBC affiliate in Kansas City, MO, 41 Action News seeks an Assistant News Director who is a strong show doctor ready for the next challenge. You should be high-energy, aggressive with breaking news and know how to think big. You’ll run the day to day operations, guide coverage across 3 screens and create special coverage plans. You’ll need to be great at juggling multiple projects and collaborating with the team to ensure those projects are executed.

The successful candidate will possess 3 + years’ experience in newsroom management and television production desired. Must have proven and effective leadership skills; fosters open dialogue, empowers others, addresses conflict quickly and directly. Strong organizational and communication skills (verbal and written) required.

Send resume and a letter of introduction via email to: carrie.hofmann@kshb.com or via mail to:

Carrie Hofmann
News Director
KSHB-TV
4720 Oak Street
Kansas City MO 64112

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 5/17/13)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/5/13)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted this week)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listing revised this week, see ad above!)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 5/5/13)
WBND/WCWW-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 5/5/13)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 5/10/13)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 5/17/13)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Morning EP, relisted 6/2/13)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/26/13)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (PM EP, listed 5/10/13)
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, relisted 4/26/13)
WRC-TV, Washington, DC (listed 5/10/13)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 5/10/13)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listing revised 4/13/13)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 5/10/13)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/13/13)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/5/13)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (2 jobs, AM & PM, relisted 6/2/13)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted this week)
WTEV/WAWS-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, relisted 5/5/13)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM EP, relisted 4/6/13)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (AM EP, relisted 4/13/13)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/26/13)

Obituaries:

Sutherland

JIM SUTHERLAND, a news manager who worked for local stations in Los Angeles, Tampa, and Atlanta, and for the Weather Channel and CNN, died May 27th of complications from a pulmonary embolism. He was 56. He was honored with a Peabody Award in 1983 for a series of stories on migrant farm workers in Florida. He left television in 2004 to start his own production company.

And we have an obituary for a well known GM:

Nicholson

DALE NICHOLSON, a longtime General Manager for KATV in Little Rock, died last Saturday at the age of 74. He spent 25 years at the helm of the station. This lengthy and interesting obituary includes (at the very end) the story the station aired on his passing.

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

This week, please meet MIKE CURTIS:

Curtis

I am a veteran award-winning broadcast journalist seeking a return to news management as an assistant news director or executive producer. I have more than 28 years of experience as an executive producer, producer, manager and reporter.

I believe in strong and creative storytelling and thrive on reporting stories that are meaningful to the viewer and engage the community. News should be more than just information: it should be a public service. Stories should matter. And they should be compelling.

I have worked as an executive producer in the #1 market (New Jersey Network News) where I helped establish a tradition of journalistic excellence and trust and as a content producer in Philadelphia. I offer of wealth of experience, fresh ideas and know how to motivate and mentor in the newsroom.

I am ready to help lead your newsroom toward further success and am available immediately.

Here’s a link to my resume.  My email is: Mdcurtis123@aol.com.  My phone is: 609-529-1011.

Names in the News:

SHARON VAN ZWIETEN starts Monday as the new Senior Executive Producer for WPIX-TV in New York. Her background includes stops at networks, both domestic and international, and local stations in Chicago, Seattle, Kalamazoo, and Dubuque, IA.

JANA SOETE, a longtime news manager for Scripps’ WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, moves west to become the Assistant News Director for the company’s WRTV in Indianapolis. She spent 20 years at WCPO, most recently as Managing Editor.

GM Note:

Delia

A surprise here in Indianapolis today, where WXIN-TV General Manager LARRY DELIA jumped across the street to WTHR-TV, the Dispatch owned NBC affiliate. Larry’s been the GM at that Tribune-owned FOX affiliate for the past two years, and had earlier been a GM for Tribune stations in Harrisburg, PA, and New Orleans. At WTHR, he’ll replace JOHN CARDENAS who left the station to return to Dispatch’s WBNS-TV in Columbus, OH, as GM. John spent ten years as ND there before taking the WTHR GM job three years ago.

In what must have been an OMG! moment, WTHR used a picture of KTTV (Los Angeles) meteorologist PABLO PEREIRA in reporting Delia’s hire in its 6:00 news. They ran a story with the correct picture at 11:00, with no mention of the earlier error.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Friday, June 7, 2013.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
KMSP/WFTC 11358 Viking Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
WOAI-TV 1031 Navarro St. San Antonio TX 78205
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Dr. NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Road Oklahoma City OK 73131
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WTVR-TV 3301 W. Broad St. Richmond VA 23230
KTUL-TV 3200 S. 29th West Ave. Tulsa OK 74107 (listing reinstated 6/10/13)
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203
WEYI-TV 2225 W. Willard Road Clio MI 48420
KGUN-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Tucson, AZ 85710
KRDO-TV 399 S. 8th St. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KRIS/KZTV 301 Artesian St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KCAU-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Sioux City IA 51101
KRCG-TV Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute IN 47808
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield, WV 24701
WLIO-TV 1424 Rice Ave. Lima OH 45805

* Spanish language station

June 2, 2013

Greetings:

There’s ONE newly named ND and ONE ND opening (at a top 20 network o-and-o) in our slightly delayed report this week.

That means our always unofficial list of ND openings remains at 20.

In Names in the News, we’ll tell you about another management shift at CBS News Services and a promotion at another network news operation. And we have details about a new job for a veteran ND turned GM.

Also this week, details about a management training program that’s nearly free (FREE!) for applications.

All that and more below!

The Kneeland Project Accepting Applications Now.
Apply today!

The Kneeland Project is currently accepting applications for their September 11-14 session in Austin, Texas. Applications are due two weeks from today – Friday, June 14 and applications are available at kneelandproject.org/apply

Thanks to Kneeland’s generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for 18 selected news directors. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as hotel and several meals. Participants cover only their transportation and a few meals — Kneeland takes care of the rest.
In a recent survey of Kneeland Fellows, 100% reported they still regularly use lessons learned at Kneeland, believe that time spent at Kneeland improved their career, and said they have recommended Kneeland to a friend or colleague.

This fall’s participants will be joined by some of the best and brightest leaders in the industry, but they won’t provide didactic, one-way lectures. On the contrary. Kneeland is seeking applications from news directors with high-level expertise, insight, and experience to make this a truly unique opportunity. Most importantly, journalists will leave the program with a solid plan to guide their leadership decisions starting the day they return to their newsroom. This isn’t theoretical information that news managers will put on a shelf and neglect. Every participant will walk away with concrete action items to implement immediately that will make a difference in their station…and their life.

It’s an intensive program unlike any other. It’s practical. It’s highly interactive. It produces long-lasting results. Journalists return to their stations refreshed and ready to tackle the sometimes overwhelming challenges newsrooms now face.

Click here for more information and to apply. Only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!

New News Director Opening:

Dallman

KMSP/WFTC-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…we reported earlier this week that BILL DALLMAN had been named VP/News Director for Fox Sports 1, the company’s new, national sports network which debuts in August. Bill’s been the news director at this Fox-owned duopoly since 2006, and earlier served as the start-up ND for Fox’s KDVR-TV in Denver. He’s also been a news director in Grand Rapids, MI, and worked in Sacramento and for another Minneapolis station earlier in his career. He’ll be based in Los Angeles.

Newly Named News Director:

WJTV, Jackson, MS…JASON STEVENS has been named ND for this Media General owned CBS affiliate. He’s been an EP for WLEX-TV in Lexington, KY.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KXAS-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth (listed 5/17/13)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/5/13)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 4/6/13)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/17/13)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 5/5/13)
WBND/WCWW-TV, South Bend, IN (listed 5/5/13)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 5/10/13)

EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:

WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 5/17/13)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (Morning EP, relisted this week)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/26/13)
KNTV, San Francisco/San Jose, CA (PM EP, listed 5/10/13)
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, relisted 4/26/13)
WRC-TV, Washington, DC (listed 5/10/13)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 5/10/13)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listing revised 4/13/13)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Dayside EP, relisted 5/10/13)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 4/26/13)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 4/13/13)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/5/13)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (2 jobs, AM & PM, relisted this week)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 3/29/13)
WTEV/WAWS-TV, Jacksonville, FL (AM EP, relisted 5/5/13)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (PM EP, relisted 4/6/13)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (AM EP, relisted 4/13/13)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/26/13)

Situations Wanted:

We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are out of work and looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.

There were no takers this week.

Names in the News:

BILL FELLING moves within CBS to become Executive Director/News Services for CBS News. He’ll report to newly appointed VP/News Services KURT DAVIS and will oversee the daily news gathering for affiliates. Bill’s been the National Editor for CBS News most recently and earlier served as Northeast Bureau Chief. He joined CBS in 1982.

Loris

PATSY LORIS has been promoted to VP of News for Univision. She’ll oversee the net’s evening and late night news, its weekend edition, news segments for “Despierta America” (Wake Up America) and the operations of Univision’s news division. She’s also work with ABC to launch Fusion, the joint venture between ABC and Univision. Patsy most recently served as senior news director for Univision News. She joined the company in 1989.

GM Notes:

Steuart

News Director turned General Manager HOLLY STEUART is joining WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, as GM. Here’s an item from the station’s website. Holly most recently was GM for WHP-TV in Harrisburg, PA, a position she left in December after Sinclair took over the station. She’s also been a GM in Las Vegas and Bismarck, ND. Holly began her career in news, worked as a news director in St. Petersburg, Rochester, NY, and for another station in Harrisburg. She also worked in Albany, NY, and Phoenix.

MICHAEL NURSE has been promoted to GM of WKBW-TV in Buffalo. He’s been the Station Manager and VP/Sales for this Granite Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate.

ALBERT GUTIERREZ moves from one Nexstar GM position to another. He’ll be the next GM for KTAB/KRBC-TV in Abilene, TX. He’s been the GM for KMID-TV in Midland, TX. It’s a return to KRBC for Albert, who earlier in his career worked in sales there.

Our Full List of ND Openings:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 2, 2013.

If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com

KWHY-TV 1201 West 5th St., # T-900 Los Angeles CA 90017 *
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77027
KMSP/WFTC 11358 Viking Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
KENS-TV 5400 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio TX 78229
WOAI-TV 1031 Navarro St. San Antonio TX 78205
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Dr. NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Road Oklahoma City OK 73131
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WTVR-TV 3301 W. Broad St. Richmond VA 23230
KTUL-TV 3200 S. 29th West Ave. Tulsa OK 74107
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203
WEYI-TV 2225 W. Willard Road Clio MI 48420
KGUN-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Tucson, AZ 85710
KRDO-TV 399 S. 8th St. Colorado Springs CO 80905
KRIS/KZTV 301 Artesian St. Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KCAU-TV 7280 E. Rosewood St. Sioux City IA 51101
KRCG-TV Highway 54 North Holts Summit MO 65043
WTWO-TV PO Box 9268 Terre Haute IN 47808
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield, WV 24701

* Spanish language station