Rick Gevers & Associates

June 25, 2017

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 UPDATE:

A two-time Los Angeles news director is back in the big chair, but this time in market 126.

Bauer

Late today NANCY BAUER (GONZALES) was named news director of KERO-TV, the Scripps owned ABC affiliate in Bakersfield, CA. The station announced the move in this report on its website.

She’s been an ND in San Diego and for two stations in Los Angeles: KNBC-TV from 1989-2001 and KCBS/KCAL-TV from 2001-2010. Most recently she’s been the ND for Spectrum News (formerly Time Warner Cable) in Palmdale, CA.

At KERO, she replaces LEEZA STARKS who left in May to become ND for sister Scripps station KGUN-TV in Tucson.

More on this story and all the week’s news in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Always good to see a growing number of news directors at this week’s IRE conference, held in the oven known as Phoenix. Attendance was announced at over 1,650: not a record but above expectations.

To our normal business…after a few weeks around a record low count, our list of open ND jobs bumps up again this week, as we have THREE new openings and just ONE filled position. Our count rises to 16: higher than it’s been, but still much lower than it’s been over the years.

We’re sorry to bring you the obituary of a longtime Los Angeles news manager. That’s below.

In Names in the News, we’ve got the list of National Edward R. Murrow Award winners. There’s a link to an article looking at ratings in Boston after the seismic affiliation changes there, we’ll tell you why an Albuquerque news director broke one of her long-time rules, and we’re using a photo strictly for the sake of using it…no new news value at all.

Of course there are some other items in Names in the News, and in GM News and Notes, details about a job change for a veteran large market ND turned GM.

Read on for the details.

New News Director Openings:

Volpicella

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA…this is NOT a recording, but there’s another news director change at this Meredith owned CBS affiliate, the seventh in nine years. FRANK VOLPICELLA left after less than a year. Since Frank has worked with GM MARK PIMENTEL before, many thought this would last. It did not. The Atlanta Journal Constitution has more in this story, including the list of Frank’s predecessors. And another AJC story tells us there were MORE changes after Frank left, including some managers. Frank was an ND in Austin for 16+ years, and in Huntsville. He’s also worked in Tampa, Jacksonville, FL, and Lexington.

WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA…DAVID JONES is leaving this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate after five years as ND and six at the station. He’s been named ND for WNYT-TV in Albany, NY. More on that below.

Jacoby

WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC…MARYBETH JACOBY will leave this Tegna owned CBS affiliate in early July to pursue new opportunities. She’s been the ND here for nine years, and earlier in her career was the Assistant ND at WLTX…with a stop in between at sister Tegna station WTLV-TV in Jacksonville, FL, as Assistant News Director. She’s also worked in Dallas, Charlotte, and Milwaukee.

Newly Named News Director: 

Jones

WNYT-TV, Albany, NY…we told you above that DAVID JONES will be the next ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate. David’s spent six years at WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, PA, the last five as news director. He’s worked in assignment desk roles in Pittsburgh and Charlotte, for the Sinclair Broadcasting Washington bureau, and as a reporter in two small Pennsylvania markets. David replaces ERIC HOPPEL who’s been ND here for seven of his 30 years at the station.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Assistant News Director, KOIN-TV, Portland, OR:

KOIN-TV 6 is looking for a dynamic assistant news director to help grow the station into the leading choice for news and information in Portland, Oregon. The successful candidate will be able to help develop a proactive assignment desk, work with reporters and photographers to craft compelling stories, and build relationships with producers and anchors, all with the goal of creating content that viewers will search out on the air and online.

You’ll get to do it all in a city that’s become one of the most popular in the country, with easy access to the ocean and the mountains, and to one of the most vibrant food scenes in the U.S.

Apply online here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 5/29/17)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 6/18/17, see ad above!)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 6/4/17)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/4/17)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (relisted 6/4/17)
WICS-TV, Springfield, IL (listed 5/29/17)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 4/30/17)
KION-TV, Salinas, CA (listed 6/4/17)
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS (relisted 5/21/17)
KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, LA (listed 5/14/17)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior AM Producer, relisted this week)
WTVD-TV, Raleigh/Durham, NC: (listed 5/14/17)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/29/17)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 6/4/17)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted 6/4/17)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/21/17)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (AM EP, listed 4/30/17)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 5/29/17)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 6/4/17)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 4/23/17)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 5/14/17)
WLBT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 6/11/17)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 4/23/17)

MISCELLANEOUS JOBS:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX: Exec. Planning Editor (listed 6/4/17)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI: Social Media Mgr. (listed 6/4/17)

Obituary:

O’Keefe

PAT O’KEEFE, news operations manager at Tribune’s KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, died suddenly this week at the age of 64. He worked there 13 years and spent five years at sister-Tribune station WGN-TV in Chicago. KTLA remembered him in this poignant on-air tribute.

Names in the News:

RTDNA’s National Edward R. Murrow Award winners were announced this week. KXAS-TV in Dallas and WWBT-TV in Richmond scored the large and small market Overall Excellence honors. The news release is here, and the complete list is here.

What happens to viewership when a new NBC affiliate launches and the old NBC affiliate becomes an independent? The Boston Herald has some numbers from Beantown.

Longtime News Director MICHELLE DONALDSON (now at KOB-TV in Albuquerque) broke one of her longtime rules this week…after a station news vehicle was stolen in downtown Albuquerque.

One-time Yakima and Colorado Springs News Director CRAIG ALLEN has a new job at the Arizona State Univeristy. He’s been appointed Associate Dean of the Honors College and ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus. Details here.

Horner

TV news departments (for years) have been accused of using gratuitous video, just for the sake of having video. This week, I’m using a gratuitous photo. Last week, in reporting BOB HORNER‘s retirement from NBC NewsChannel, I didn’t have a photog to accompany the story. Now, I do, and here it is.   Bob’s impact on our industry warranted it, in my opinion.

Two minor corrections from last week’s Names in the News section: We erred in telling you that KATIE HAMNER had worked on-air in Redding, CA. In fact her on-air stint was in Fargo, ND. And ROY ORTEGA is retiring in El Paso, not RAY, as we told you. Apologies to both Katie and Roy.

General Manager News and Notes:

Sechrist

Veteran broadcaster MIKE SECRHIST will leave Nexstar’s WOWK-TV in Charleston-Huntington, WV, when his contract expires next month. Mike told me he’s looking for the next opportunity in broadcasting or digital. He’s been a GM in several markets and a news director in Dallas, Miami, Pittsburgh, and others. Mike’s Linkedin page tells the whole story.

DOUG HOLROYD is retiring as GM of KAYU-TV, the FOX station in Spokane, WA. He’ll be replaced by head of sales DAVID LOCKHERT.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 25, 2017:

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

WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
KMGH-TV 123 E Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
KMBC-TV 6455 Winchester Ave. Kansas City, MO 64133
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street Harrisburg, PA 17110
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14202
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917
WLTX-TV 6027 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, SC 29209
KWTX-TV 6700 American Plaza, Waco, TX 76712
KFSM-TV 318 N 13th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506
KERO-TV 321 21st St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
WSAW-TV, 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KTVA-TV 1001 Northway Drive St. 202. Anchorage, AK
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32653
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, Montana, 59403

June 18, 2017

Tuesday, June 20th, 2017 UPDATE:

Two items for you this morning: a surprising news director change in Atlanta, and RTDNA announces the National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Volpicella

FRANK VOLPICELLA has left WGCL-TV in Atlanta after less than a year as ND. He spent 16 years as ND for KVUE-TV in Austin, TX, before taking a buyout offer in early 2016. He’s also been an ND in Huntsville, AL, where he worked for MARK PIMENTEL, who hired him at this Meredith owned CBS affiliate last year and is still the GM there.

Frank’s also worked in Tampa, Jacksonville, FL, and Lexington.

His replacement will be the seventh ND there in 12 years.

I hope to have more on this story in our full report later this week.

And congratualtions to KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth and WWBT-TV in Richmond, VA, honored today by RTDNA as winners of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in large and small markets. The full story is here, and you can find the complete list of winners here.

By the way, I’ll be at IRE in Phoenix later this week and hope to see some of you there.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Much like my weight, the number of open ND jobs creeps slightly higher this week, to 14.

That’s because we have TWO new ND openings, with just ONE newly named ND. And all of those involved are veteran newspeople.

We have a new Paid Help Wanted ad this week for an Assistant ND in an attractive top 25 market.

And we have lots of items in Names in the News.

• NBC Newschannel’s BOB HORNER is retiring…and news of his replacement brought a standing ovation.
• Some surprising changes in Denver TV ratings.
• We’ll tell you how a station handled a situation when a murder suspect called its reporter while surrounded by police.
• Another ND honored for his role in alerting police to a threat.
• LOTS of items about former News Directors.
• And an EMMY winner in my household…but not the guy who works in TV!

All that and more below.

Brown

New News Director Openings: 

KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO…we were the first to report Friday night that SHERRIE BROWN will leave this Hearst/ABC affiliate at the end of the July book. She’s been a Hearst news director for almost 17 years: 9 1/2 years here, six years at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, and just over a year at KHBS/KHOG-TV in Ft. Smith, AR. General Manager SARAH SMITH and Sherrie distributed these emails to the staff. Sherrie’s also worked for two other Oklahoma City stations and in Lawton, OK.

Cummings

KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR…another veteran news director, BILL CUMMINGS, will leave this Tribune owned CBS affiliate at the end of the July book. Bill told me he’s looking for news opportunities. He’s been the ND here for almost 2 1/2 years. GM VAN COMER told the staff in this laudatory email. Bill’s been an ND in Erie, PA, Yuma, AZ, Tallahassee, Evansville, Johnson City TN, Tucson, and Huntington/Charleston, WV. He’s also worked in sales for several vendors.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Ryan

KVUE-TV, Austin, TX…we told you Friday night that TIM RYAN would be the next news director for this Tegna/ABC affiliate. Tim’s a longtime Tegna employee, having worked at KUSA-TV in Denver for 25 years, the last 17 as Assistant ND. More on Tim and his background here. He’s also worked in Wichita, Ft. Smith, and Columbia, MO. He replaces MIKE REDDING who left last April after less than a year as ND. Mike needed to return to the East Coast for family reasons and is still working for Tegna at WUSA-TV in Washington.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Assistant News Director, KOIN-TV, Portland, OR:

KOIN-TV 6 is looking for a dynamic assistant news director to help grow the station into the leading choice for news and information in Portland, Oregon. The successful candidate will be able to help develop a proactive assignment desk, work with reporters and photographers to craft compelling stories, and build relationships with producers and anchors, all with the goal of creating content that viewers will search out on the air and online.

You’ll get to do it all in a city that’s become one of the most popular in the country, with easy access to the ocean and the mountains, and to one of the most vibrant food scenes in the U.S.

Apply online here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 5/29/17)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 6/4/17)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/4/17)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (relisted 6/4/17)
WICS-TV, Springfield, IL (listed 5/29/17)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 4/30/17)
KION-TV, Salinas, CA (listed 6/4/17)
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS (relisted 5/21/17)
KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, LA (listed 5/14/17)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior AM Producer, listed 4/16/17)
WTVD-TV, Raleigh/Durham, NC: (listed 5/14/17)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/29/17)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 6/4/17)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted 6/4/17)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/21/17)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (AM EP, listed 4/30/17)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 5/29/17)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 6/4/17)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 4/23/17)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 5/14/17)
WLBT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 6/11/17)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 4/23/17)

MISCELLANEOUS JOBS:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX: Exec. Planning Editor (listed 6/4/17)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI: Social Media Mgr. (listed 6/4/17)

Names in the News:

Horner

BOB HORNER, who’s had a huge impact on improving relationships between NBC News and its affiliates, is stepping down as president of the NBC News Channel at the end of the month. Bob has been there 27 years, earlier worked in Atlanta and the CBS bureau, and in Mobile. His note, and one from NBC executive DAVID VERDI, are here.

Houston

SHARON HOUSTON, who’s worked with Bob at both NBC and CBS, was quickly named to replace Bob. I’m told the newsroom responded with a standing ovation. Congrats to both Bob as he explores the next chapter of his life, and to Sharon on her new responsibilities.

KATIE HAMNER moves to KHBS/KHOG-TV in Ft. Smith, AR, as Assistant News Director. She’s been an EP in Dallas and Minneapolis, and has worked on-air in Redding, CA Fargo, ND. (corrected 6/19/17)

Schrader

What do you do when a triple murder suspect in on the telephone with one of your reporters while in a house surrounded by police? WOIO-TV (Cleveland) General Manager ERIK SCHRADER (himself a former ND) shared the station’s decision making process with viewers.

In San Angelo, TX, KLST/KSAN-TV News Director DAVID WAGNER was honored by police for his role in stopping a threat against first responders.

The Denver Post looks at some surprising changes in the ratings wars in Denver as digital becomes more of a factor in our business.

We have items about several former news directors:

Fischer

Veteran news director JON FISCHER has been named Managing Director for MGN Online. What that is…and what he’ll do there…is in this news release.

Former Yakima, WA, News Director and General Manager CHRISTINE BROWN is running for Congress. She’s running as a Democrat and will take on incumbent DON NEWHOUSE.

Aubrey

One-time KOAA-TV (Colorado Springs) News Director CINDY AUBREY is the new CEO of the Pikes Peak United Way. She had been the interim CEO there.

Longtime El Paso newsman RAY ORTEGA is stepping down as Community Relations Manager for an El Paso non-profit. He served as ND for KINT-TV and KTSM-TV in El Paso, and earlier as a reporter for KVIA-TV there.

Winner!

Finally, we don’t often report on regional EMMY wins in this space. but in the interest of insuring domestic tranquility, I thought it would be smart to report a win this week by my wife, KAREN BURNS, the Executive Vice President of the Indianapolis Zoo. Karen, zoo colleagues JUDY PALERMO and MELANIE LAURENDINE, Mays Entertainment Director and Producer MATT MAYS, and WTHR-TV’s CYNDEE HEBERT were honored for Saving Species: The Indianapolis Prize Special. You can watch the program here, and note the introduction voiced by actress SIGOURNEY WEAVER.

And, if you’re counting, that’s one EMMY for Karen, and none for me.

General Manager News and Notes:

I’m not aware of any general manager changes this week.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 18, 2017.

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

WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
KMGH-TV 123 E Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
KMBC-TV 6455 Winchester Ave. Kansas City, MO 64133
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14202
WNYT-TV 715 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12204
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917
KWTX-TV 6700 American Plaza, Waco, TX 76712
KFSM-TV 318 N 13th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506
KERO-TV 321 21st St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
WSAW-TV, 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KTVA-TV 1001 Northway Drive St. 202. Anchorage, AK
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32653
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, Montana, 59403

June 11, 2017

Friday, June 16, 2017 UPDATE:

Greetings from Cleveland, where I’ll be attending tomorrow night’s Lower Great Lakes region EMMY ceremony. I hope to see some of you there.

Two moves of note late today promoted this UPDATE.

Brown

Longtime Hearst News Director SHERRIE BROWN announced today she’ll leave KMBC-TV in Kansas City at the end of the July rating period. General Manager SARAH SMITH and Sherrie told the staff in these memos.

She’s been ND for this ABC affiliate for 9 1/2 years. KMBC is Sherrie’s THIRD Hearst ND job, following six years in Oklahoma City and just over a year in Ft. Smith. She’s worked at two other Oklahoma City stations and in Lawton, OK.

Ryan

Another longtime employee, TIM RYAN of KUSA-TV in Denver, is leaving after 25 years. (the last 17 as Assistant News Director). Tim’s been named News Director of sister-Tegna station KVUE-TV in Austin, TX. More in this story posted to KVUE’s website.

Tim’s also worked in Wichita, Ft. Smith, and Columbia, MO. He replaces MIKE REDDING at this ABC affiliate. Mike left last April after less than a year as ND to return to the East Coast for family reasons. He’s now working at Tegna’s WUSA-TV in Washington.

More on these moves, and all this week’s changes, in our full report later this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Judging by my emails, many of you pay attention to the total number of open ND jobs, which inches ever so slightly higher this week to 13.

That’s because we have FOUR new ND openings, with just THREE newly named NDs.

And there’s a Blind Box ad for news director among our THREE help wanted ads.

Also this week…obits for a past RTNDA chair and a longtime local cable news executive.

We have details about a second generation broadcaster moving up the management ranks, a trade of news managers among two Scripps stations, and details about an honor for a former ND and GM and a new contract for a local ND turned national radio host.

We’re a few hours early his week…but there’s a lot of content so happy you have more time to consume it.

Newly Named News Directors: 

McDaniel

WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO…in one three moves we told you about earlier this week via UPDATES, DANA McDANIEL will be the next news director for this Tribune (for now) owned FOX affiliate. (As you know, Sinclair has announced plans to buy Tribune). She’s a former ND for Fox o-and-o’s in San Francisco/Oakland, Washington, and Detroit, and first worked for Tribune in Chicago at CLTV. Dana told me the move gets her closer to her ailing mother and her 20-something son and daughter. Dana replaces TRACY BROGDEN-MILLER who was promoted to GM, and sent this note to her staff. And here’s the official news release.

Olsen

WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC…congratulations to ERIC OLSEN who gets his first news director job at this Bonten Media Group owned (for now) ABC affiliate. (Sinclair has also announced plans to buy Bonten.) Eric’s spent the last 13+ years at WGHP-TV in Greensboro-High Point as EP and later Assistant ND. He’s also worked in Toledo. At WCTI, Eric replaces SCOTT NICHOLS who left last October to become ND for WSET-TV in Lynchburg/Roanoke, VA.  (Updated 6/12/17:  Earlier in his career, Eric was ND at WWAY-TV in Wilmington, NC)

Jacobsen

KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN…KEVIN JACOBSEN is being promoted to news director for this Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate, effective August 14th. He’s worked for the station for nine years, first as the evening anchor, and, since last year, as Assistant News Director. His station bio tells the entire story. At KBJR, Kevin replaces BARBARA REYELTS who is retiring after 38 years at the station and nine as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Radford

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…LINDSAY RADFORD will leave her job as News Director for this Scripps owned ABC affiliate in early July. She’s been the ND here since March, 2015, in her second stint in Denver, where she has family. Lindsay spent more than seven years as ND for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul and 12 years at that ABC station in all. She’s also worked in Hartford and Colorado Springs.

Glover

WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY…in a surprise move earlier this week, KATE GLOVER left this Tegna/NBC affiliate this week after just seven months as news director. Here’s the note from GM JIM TOELLNER, combined with Kate’s very brief note to the staff, and here’s the article from the local newspaper. Kate’s a former ND in Portland, OR. A Buffalo native, she’s worked there earlier in her career as well as in Washington, DC, and San Diego.

Jennings

WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN…MARTHA JENNINGS returns to WRAL-TV in Raleigh as the new Managing Editor for that NBC affiliate. (She produced there earlier in her career). Martha’s been the news director for this Tegna owned NBC affiliate since April, 2015, when she was promoted from assistant news director. Martha’s also worked in Tampa (where she was a Nightside EP) and Charleston, SC.

Fries

WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL…KEVIN FRIES has left this Gray TV owned ABC affiliate after just over 2 1/2 years as News Director. He’s held a variety of positions in his career, and you can learn more about them by checking out his Linkedin page.

“Kneeland will exceed your expectations.
Guaranteed.”

Applications are due June 16.

Applications are due this (next) Friday for The Kneeland Project’s next session, which will be held September 6-9, 2017 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.

You’ll join this session’s faculty and 17 other outstanding journalists to explore the exciting challenges that face our industry, and you’ll leave the program with a solid plan to guide your leadership decisions starting day one. This isn’t theoretical information that you 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 newsroom…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. www.kneelandproject.org

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Blind Box Ad, News Director:

Local New York DMA TV News Station is looking for a successful News Director to join our Company.

The right candidate will be well rounded and an experienced News Director who will manage a multi-shift operation and oversee all news department functions. Preferably have in market news management experience, have a passion for news, a proven track record for developing staff, implementing corporate journalistic strategy, and managing within budget.

Send your resume to colinjobs12@gmail.com

Executive Planning Editor, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV (EOE) is looking for an Executive Planning Editor to organize our day to day coverage on all KPRC platforms including television, digital, mobile, and social media.

This manager will use their experience to make important content decisions at a speed appropriate for Market #8, all while supervising and training assignment desk personnel. Other job duties include: working with the management team to plan for major news and special events, monitoring websites and social media sources, setting up stories, dispatching crews, and responding quickly to breaking news.

We expect this position to be filled by a person with at least five (5) years’ experience in local and network television news (at least two years in television news management). S/he should have the ability to demonstrate basic journalistic judgement, and be available by phone and email to handle breaking news and staffing decisions during non-traditional office hours.

Email Mike Friedrich, Assistant News Director: mfriedrich@kprc.com to apply.

Social Media and Digital Content Manager, WKOW-TV, Madison, WI:

If you’re passionate about the power of social media, winning breaking news and delivering other engaging content to customers, when – and where they want it, here’s your chance. We’re looking for a leader, a coach and a hands-on social media expert to build audience engagement and referral traffic from Facebook to television and to our digital platforms. This newsroom management position will also lead our news, sports and weather teams in publishing great content to our website and apps in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin, consistently rated one of the best places to live in the Midwest.

The successful candidate must have solid news judgment, exceptional news writing skills, as well as strong creativity, planning, leadership and communication abilities. The Social Media and Digital Content Manager will also work closely with our marketing and sales teams to help them create and execute effective campaigns across all of our digital platforms.

This job isn’t about coding. It’s about telling great stories with accuracy and immediacy. It’s about seizing opportunities to conceptualize and create entirely new kinds of content. It’s about setting new standards for quality control. And it’s about building teamwork. Degree in social media/journalism and 2 years of newsroom experience preferred. Knowledge of Facebook best practices for journalists, Social NewsDesk, Frankly Media/Worldnow CMS, Google 360 analytics and iNews are preferred.

WKOW is part of Quincy Media, Inc., a family owned company.

If you have the drive to succeed, send resume, cover letter, and writing samples to:

Ed Reams
News Director
WKOW-TV
5727 Tokay Blvd.
Madison, WI 53719

ereams@wkow.com

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 5/29/17)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 6/4/17)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/4/17)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (relisted 6/4/17)
WICS-TV, Springfield, IL (listed 5/29/17)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 4/30/17)
KION-TV, Salinas, CA (listed 6/4/17)
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS (relisted 5/21/17)
KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, LA (listed 5/14/17)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior AM Producer, listed 4/16/17)
WTVD-TV, Raleigh/Durham, NC: (listed 5/14/17)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/29/17)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 6/4/17)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted 6/4/17)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital EP, listing modified 4/16/17)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/21/17)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (AM EP, listed 4/30/17)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 5/29/17)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 6/4/17)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 4/23/17)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 5/14/17)
WLBT-TV, Jackson, MS (new listing this week)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 4/23/17)

MISCELLANEOUS JOBS:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX: Exec. Planning Editor (listed 6/4/17, see ad above!)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI: Social Media Mgr. (listed 6/4/17, see ad above!)

Obituaries:

Splitstone

A memorial service for DICK SPLITSTONE will be held at 1:00, Saturday, June 17, at Brightwater Center in Woodinville, WA, Dick died Sunday, June 4th, of esophageal cancer at the age of 64. He spent many years working for Northwest Cable News in Seattle. Dick was inducted into NATAS’s Silver Circle just before he died, and, too sick to attend, watched the ceremony via a live stream. His former boss, longtime NWCN News Director WAYNE LYNCH kindly sent me this tribute. Dick began in radio (using the name DICK STONE) and moved to TV in 1988 when I hired him as a producer at WTOL-TV in Toledo. He also worked in Buffalo and Norfolk and for another station in Seattle.

Frawley

TOM FRAWLEY, a longtime news director at WHIO-TV in Dayton who later founded Cox Broadcasting’s Washington, DC bureau, died this week at the age of 87. He’d been in failing health. Tom served as president of (then) RTNDA in 1975. The organization remembered him in this obituary.

Names in the News:

Anthony

Second generation broadcaster CAMI MARSHALL-ANTHONY was one of several managers promoted at Tegna’s WFMY-TV in Greensboro this week. Cami, the daughter of jack of all trades (he’s anchored, done sports, weather AND been an EP in Houston, Detroit, Miami, Hartford, and Phoenix) KHAMBREL MARSHALL, becomes the Assistant ND here as outlined in this memo from News Director KIM BALLARD.

Miller

In an inter-company move, BRITTANY MILLER has been traded from Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland to KJRH-TV in Tulsa where she’ll be the Assistant News Director. WEWS ND JEFF HARRIS told his staff what his station will get in return. The move reunites Brittany with KJRH ND WARREN STEWART: they worked together in Cleveland. She’s also worked in Atlanta.

Burdick

MARCI BURDICK was inducted into the Missouri Broadcasters Hall of Fame yesterday. She is currently serving as a Senior Advisor to Schurz Communications where she spent many years as Senior Vice President and VP for Television. Marci’s been a GM and ND, and was the first female chair of RTNDA, the NAB TV Board and the NBC Affiliate Board. Read more about her great career here.

Noory

Finally, former local TV ND GEORGE NOORY has signed a new long term deal with Premiere Networks to continue hosting the overnight radio program Coast to Coast AM. He’s hosted that show since replacing ART BELL. George began in radio in Detroit, switched to TV at WJBK-TV there, and then worked as a news director at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis and KSDK-TV in St. Louis, where we worked together: (Full disclosure: while ND there, George eliminated my job as Executive Producer-Operations.)

General Manager News and Notes:

Nexstar hired JULIE BRINKS as General Manager for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.

Gray Television promoted four employees to General Manager jobs at four of its stations.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 11, 2017.

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

WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
KMGH-TV 123 E Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Ave., Austin, TX 78757
WGRZ-TV 259 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14202
WNYT-TV 715 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12204
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917
KWTX-TV 6700 American Plaza, Waco, TX 76712
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506
KERO-TV 321 21st St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
WSAW-TV, 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KTVA-TV 1001 Northway Drive St. 202. Anchorage, AK
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32653
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, Montana, 59403

June 4, 2017

Thursday, June 8, 2017 UDPATE:

It’s been a busy week with UPDATES on THREE consecutive days, but this one contains good news as a veteran news director returns to the job.

McDaniel

This afternoon DANA McDANIEL was named news director of Tribune’s WDAF-TV in Kansas City. She replaces TRACY BROGDEN-MILLER who was promoted to General Manager and sent this note to the staff. And we have the official news release here.

Dana was most recently ND for Fox’s KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco. She’s also been the ND for Fox o-and-o’s in Detroit (WJBK-TV) and Washington (WTTG-TV). It’s also a return to Tribune for Dana, who was part of the management team that started the company’s CLTV, a 24 hour news channel in Chicago.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

More on all this week’s changes in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Wednesday, June 7, 2017 UPDATE:

Another news director change today, this time impacting an ND who’d been on the job for than a year.

Glover

KATE GLOVER has left Tegna’s WGRZ-TV in Buffalo. She’s a Buffalo native who joined this NBC affiliate last September after two years as ND for KOIN-TV in Portland. She worked in Buffalo earlier in her career and has also worked in Washington and San Diego.

General Manager JIM TOELLNER sent two emails to the staff (which we’ve combined into one), one announcing the change and the other a very brief note from Kate.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Tuesday, June 6, 2017 UPDATE:

One news director change and an update on some items from last week’s full newsletter in tonight’s UPDATE.

Radford

Late this afternoon, KMGH-TV (Denver) News Director LINDSAY RADFORD told her staff that she will leave her position at this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate in early July. Her departure comes shortly after a new general manager joined the station.

She’s been the ND here March, 2015 in her second stint in Denver, where she has family. Lindsay spent more than seven years as ND for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul and 12 years at the station in all. She’s also worked in Hartford and Colorado Springs.

More on this move in our full report later this week.

One note: two of the help wanted ads in last week’s newsletter contained incorrect email address for applications. (In my defense, neither were my fault.)

The correct address for the Blind Box News Director ad is: colinjobs12@gmail.com

And the correct email address for the WKOW-TV Social Media Manager job is: ereams@wkow.com

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

And the answer to last week’s question is. 12.

The question, for those who’ve forgotten (and who could blame you?) was: How low can it go?

It, of course, being the number of open news director jobs.

With just ONE job filled this week, and no new openings, 12 is the new number of open ND jobs.

Not included in that list, of course, is ONE of our SEVEN SIX (one job was filled) Paid Help Wanted Ads this week, that for a blind box news director position.

But there’s more of course in our report…just read on to learn more.

Newly Named News Directors: 

Isaacs

WJAR-TV, Providence, RI…SCOTT ISAACS is the new news director for this Sinclair owned NBC affiliate. All the details are here. Scott’s spent the last 13 years at WCVB-TV in Boston in a variety of roles. He’s also worked in Albany, NY, Syracuse, and Binghamton. Scott replaces CHRIS LANNI who left in February after six years as ND and ten years in all at the station.

New News Director Openings:

For yet another week, I am not aware of any new news director openings.

However, please note the Blind Box News Director ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Blind Box Ad, News Director:

Local New York DMA TV News Station is looking for a successful News Director to join our Company.

The right candidate will be well rounded and an experienced News Director who will manage a multi-shift operation and oversee all news department functions. Preferably have in market news management experience, have a passion for news, a proven track record for developing staff, implementing corporate journalistic strategy, and managing within budget.

Send your resume to colinjobs12@gmail.com

Executive Planning Editor, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC-TV (EOE) is looking for an Executive Planning Editor to organize our day to day coverage on all KPRC platforms including television, digital, mobile, and social media.

This manager will use their experience to make important content decisions at a speed appropriate for Market #8, all while supervising and training assignment desk personnel. Other job duties include: working with the management team to plan for major news and special events, monitoring websites and social media sources, setting up stories, dispatching crews, and responding quickly to breaking news.

We expect this position to be filled by a person with at least five (5) years’ experience in local and network television news (at least two years in television news management). S/he should have the ability to demonstrate basic journalistic judgement, and be available by phone and email to handle breaking news and staffing decisions during non-traditional office hours.

Email Mike Friedrich, Assistant News Director: mfriedrich@kprc.com to apply.

Social Media and Digital Content Manager, WKOW-TV, Madison, WI:

If you’re passionate about the power of social media, winning breaking news and delivering other engaging content to customers, when – and where they want it, here’s your chance. We’re looking for a leader, a coach and a hands-on social media expert to build audience engagement and referral traffic from Facebook to television and to our digital platforms. This newsroom management position will also lead our news, sports and weather teams in publishing great content to our website and apps in beautiful Madison, Wisconsin, consistently rated one of the best places to live in the Midwest.

The successful candidate must have solid news judgment, exceptional news writing skills, as well as strong creativity, planning, leadership and communication abilities. The Social Media and Digital Content Manager will also work closely with our marketing and sales teams to help them create and execute effective campaigns across all of our digital platforms.

This job isn’t about coding. It’s about telling great stories with accuracy and immediacy. It’s about seizing opportunities to conceptualize and create entirely new kinds of content. It’s about setting new standards for quality control. And it’s about building teamwork. Degree in social media/journalism and 2 years of newsroom experience preferred. Knowledge of Facebook best practices for journalists, Social NewsDesk, Frankly Media/Worldnow CMS, Google 360 analytics and iNews are preferred.

WKOW is part of Quincy Media, Inc., a family owned company.

If you have the drive to succeed, send resume, cover letter, and writing samples to:

Ed Reams
News Director
WKOW-TV
5727 Tokay Blvd.
Madison, WI 53719

ereams@wkow.com

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Senior Producer, KRIV-TV, Houston, TX:

Fox 26 KRIV, the Fox O&O in Houston, TX is seeking a Senior Producer to join our morning news team. This candidate will be responsible for oversight of the daily production of multiple newscasts. Key responsibilities and duties include, the final product on all news and information platforms being used during the assigned work shift. Make editorial decisions and/or changes in the control room while the newscast is on the air. Supervise and oversee the associate producers assigned to the shift. Assign writing ideas to Associate Producers. Edit Associate Producer scripts and provide feedback. Attend and participate in department meetings. Provide suggestions for news related stories and participate in post-production critiques. Thorough knowledge of social media and how to manage social media engagement. Must possess a superior command of grammar and broadcast news-writing style. Must have exceptional editorial judgment; strong writing, copy editing, and video editing skills. Must be innovative, finding new ways to present information in a creative and compelling manner. Must be able to work under pressure and strict deadlines. Ideal candidate must be able to use newsroom computer systems, including AVID iNews and AVID search, video editing and graphics programs. Must be able to solve problems and make decisions. Must be flexible and able to handle pressure and meet deadlines.

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or related field required. Minimum of 5 years’ experience producing on a local or national news broadcast, management experience preferred.

To apply, click here:

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. EOE/M/F/Veteran/Disabled

Executive Producer, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:

WSLS 10, the Graham Media Group, Inc. owned / NBC affiliated station in Roanoke, VA is seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic and results oriented Executive Producer to join our News Team.

The ideal candidate will oversee production of all newscasts and will work closely with anchors, reporters and producers on day-to-day and special project coverage.

The Roanoke Valley is home to over 300,000 residents and is located between the beautiful Blue Ridge and Allegheny Highland mountains in southwest Virginia. The area boasts endless outdoor activities as well as a mix of arts, culture, and events. And Roanoke is only a short drive to major cities and beaches along the east coast.

If you want to work hard, and play hard, here’s your opportunity.

Please apply by clicking here.

Senior Executive Producer, WKOW-TV, Madison, WI:

Energized by new and innovative ways to present news content?

If you want to expand your creative influence beyond a single newscast, our Senior Executive Producer position at WKOW-TV in Madison, Wisconsin is for you. We want a strong newsroom leader with a creative flair for style and presentation. The leading candidate will have a strong producing background, know how to inspire and will find ways to improve our product by creating meaningful and memorable moments in newscasts. Madison, Wisconsin is a very competitive news market and it’s consistently rated one of the best places to live in the Midwest.

Proven creativity with in-studio presentation, newsroom technology (LIVE U., Drone, GoPro, etc.) and graphics presentation will make you a top candidate. A strong eye for video and a desire to create something that helps the viewer “feel” the story is a top skill for our next EP.

If you have a desire to win every day, we want to talk with you. Three years of strong news producing and writing experience as well as sound editorial and ethical judgment is required. Management experience is a plus. Come work with a dynamic and growing newsroom just named “Station of the Year” by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.

WKOW is part of Quincy Media, Inc., a family owned company.

If you have the drive to succeed, send your reel, writing samples, a resume and something surprising that will set you apart to:

Ed Reams
News Director
WKOW – TV
5727 Tokay Blvd.
Madison, WI 53719
ereams@wkow.com

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 5/29/17)
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN (new listing this week)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (relisted this week)
WICS-TV, Springfield, IL (listed 5/29/17)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 4/30/17)
KION-TV, Salinas, CA (new listing this week)
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS (relisted 5/21/17)
KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, LA (listed 5/14/17)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Senior AM Producer, listed 4/16/17)
WTVD-TV, Raleigh/Durham, NC: (listed 5/14/17)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 5/29/17)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted this week)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, relisted this week)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital EP, listing modified 4/16/17)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/21/17)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (AM EP, listed 4/30/17)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 5/29/17, see ad above!)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (new listing this week)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 4/23/17)
WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 5/14/17)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 4/23/17)

MISCELLANEOUS JOBS:

KPRC-TV, Houston, TX: Exec. Planning Editor (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI: Social Media Mgr. (new listing this week, see ad above!)

Obituary:

Scanlan

TOM SCANLAN led an interesting life. He build and owned three television stations in Michigan and served as general manager for stations in Florida, Mississippi, and North Carolina. He also pioneered live overseas transmissions, starting with the moon landing. Tom died Thursday in Tucson, three days short of his 77th birthday. You can learn more about his life here.

Names in the News:

RICK JEFFERSON has been named Vice President of News Operations for CBS News.

At Telemundo Arizona in Phoenix, NOE GONZALEZ has been promoted to Assistant News Director.

ANGIE BIERLEY is the new EP at Raycom’s WBRC-TV in Birmingham.  She joined WBRC in 2001 and has held a variety of roles for that Raycom Media owned FOX affiliate.

We have more details about a new TV news operation in Lafayette, IN. We told you last week that CHRIS MORISSE VIZZA, who spent ten years as ND at WLFI-TV there, was running this new operation.

General Manager News and Notes:

The long planned leadership transition at Tegna was completed this week with the ascension of former news director DAVE LOUGEE to the top spot. Details here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, June 4, 2017.

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

WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit St. Kansas City MO 64108
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WNYT-TV 715 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12204
KWTX-TV 6700 American Plaza, Waco, TX 76712
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Drive New Bern, NC 28560
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506
KERO-TV 321 21st St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
WSAW-TV, 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KBJR-TV 246 South Lake Ave. Duluth MN 55802
KTVA-TV 1001 Northway Drive St. 202. Anchorage, AK
KRTV P.O. Box 2989, Great Falls, Montana, 59403