April | 2018 | Rick Gevers & Associates

April 29, 2018

Greetings:

We’ve been producing this newsletter for more than 22 years, and, to be best of my memory, this is the FIRST week with no ND openings or hires to share with you. So our list of open ND jobs stands at 32.

But please read on as we have some items of interest.

There’s ONE paid help wanted ad. We have TWO obituaries of notable people in our business, and we have 785 regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners to tell you about. And there are a handful of news managers on the move.

This is a good opportunity, perhaps to remind you that we rely on your tips about changes, both news director and news managers. Send ’em our way via email and we’ll extend your subscription by a week. 🙂

Newly Named News Directors:

None that I know about. Send any YOU know about to me at: rick@rickgevers.com

New News Director Opening:

This is a recording: None that I know about. Send any YOU know about to me at: rick@rickgevers.com

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

WKOW_Logo_revise_v2

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. Five 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 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: ereams@wkow.com

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

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

Spectrum News, Los Angeles, CA (listed 3/18/18)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 4/22/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 3/25/18)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (listed 3/31/18)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (relisted 3/31/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 4/22/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 4/22/18)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 3/25/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted this week)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, listed 4/22/18, see ad above!)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (AM EP, listing revised this week)

Obituaries:

JOAN KONNER, who won dozens of awards as a documentary producer and later became the first woman to lead the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, died Wednesday, April 18th, at the age of 87. Her life and impressive career were profiled in this obituary from the New York Times.

AL SWIFT, a long-ago news director at KVOS-TV in Bellingham, WA (north of Seattle) died April 20th at the age of 82. He went on to become a Congressman and served for 16 years. An interesting obituary is yours by clicking here.

Names in the News (and other items):

RTDNA announced the winners of 785 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards this week. You can read if your former station was honored (since I assume you’d know if your CURRENT station had won) by clicking this link.

KSBW-TV in Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz has hired KIM PINCKNEY ELLER as its new Assistant News Director. She most recently was an EP at WBTV in Charlotte, and has also worked in Roanoke as a producer and EP.

MIKE SHARP is the new PM Content Manager (think executive producer) at Scripps’ KIVI-TV in Boise, ID. He’s spent the last four years working for a local foodbank but earlier had been a reporter for KIVI and another Boise station.

General Manager News and Notes:

We’re a few weeks late in reporting that JAMES HANNING is the new GM for Sinclair’s WNWO-TV in Toledo. More here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 29, 2018:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WBBM-TV 22 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WBTS-TV 160 Wells Avenue Newton, MA 02459
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Drive. Dedham, MA 02026
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr. West Sacramento, CA 95605
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1. Roanoke, VA 24019
WNEM-TV 107 N. Franklin St. Saginaw, MI 48607
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
WLBT/WDBD-TV 715 South Jefferson Street Jackson, MS 39201
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WTVO/WQRF-TV P.O. Box 470 Rockford, IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Hwy, Oak Hill, WV 25901
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
WETM-TV 101 E Water St, Elmira, NY 14901
WNKY-TV 325 Emmett Ave # N, Bowling Green, KY 42101
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701

**: Spanish language station

April 22, 2018

Greetings:

Just ONE new news director opening in our report this week, with TWO new news directors…though neither are really new…just at new stations. That brings our list of open ND jobs to 32.

ONE of those ND openings is featured in one of our TWO paid help wanted ads this week. The other ad is a for a news management job in Wisconsin.

In our GM News and Notes section, details about a promotion for a Boston general manager and the retirement of a longtime Pittsburgh GM.

We have an obituary for a longtime Oregon news director and anchor. And just TWO items in Names in the News: a new EP in Nashville and the retirement of a longtime University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty member (and former KOMU-TV news director)…and details about a fund established in his honor.

Read on!

Newly Named News Directors:

Bell

KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV…our Monday UPDATE brought you the details about TOM BELL joining the Meredith owned FOX affiliate. He’s spent the last five years as the ND for CBS o-and-o KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento. (More on his term there below, including the GM’s memo to the staff and Tom’s past with Meredith.) Tom’s been an ND in Detroit, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio, and also worked in St. Louis. At KVVU, he replaces CRISTI JESSEE who left the station in February after two years as ND.

Jacoby

WVLT-TV, Knoxville, TN…that same Monday UPDATE reported that MARYBETH JACOBY is the new ND for this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate. The station posted this story on its website. Marybeth spent nine years as ND for WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC, before leaving last July. She’s also worked in Dallas, Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville, FL. She replaces TONY BERNHARDT who left in December after 2 1/2 years.

New News Director Opening:

KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA…as noted above, TOM BELL is headed to KVVU-TV in Las Vegas. GM JAY HOWELL sent this note to the staff. While you might wonder about a 20 market drop , Tom has a home in Vegas, family there, and used to work for KVVU owner Meredith when he was the ND at KPHO-TV in Phoenix.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

WKOW_Logo_revise_v2

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

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: ereams@wkow.com

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

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Director of News and Digital Content, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS-TV, Central Ohio’s News Leader, has a rare and unique opportunity as it seeks a dynamic visionary to be its’ next Director of News and Digital Content. 10TV is one of the last family-owned power houses in the industry. We are nationally recognized as an industry leader with a focus on journalistic excellence. We are never satisfied at being #1 as we continue to seek ways to grow our dominance.

The Director of News and Digital Content will oversee a large news operation that is focused on enterprise and investigative reporting, creative storytelling, and compelling content. Must have the track record and skillset to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have a strong digital acumen and knowledge of how and where the audience consumes content and how to best optimize the opportunities to capture their attention and loyalty. Will collaborate with the General Manager and Director of Digital Strategy on digital strategy and innovation.

Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback with the team. Quality drives our success and we’re eager to have a leader join us and lead this exceptional news team. Minimum 7 years experience in news management and proven track record in audience growth on all screens. Please include your news philosophy when applying.

Apply online at www.10tv.com

WBNS 10TV is an equal opportunity employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

Spectrum News, Los Angeles, CA (listed 3/18/18)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted this week)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 3/25/18)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (listed 3/31/18)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (relisted 3/31/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted this week)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted this week)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 3/25/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 2/25/18)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (2 openings, AM & PM, listed 3/11/18)

Obituary:

Doyle

The man some call the Father of Television News in Eugene, OR, JOHN DOYLE, died April 14th. He was 93 years old. He worked at KVAL-TV in Eugene for almost 40 years, where he served as both news director and anchor. The local newspaper reported this detailed story, and here’s the obituary from the station.

Names in the News (and other items):

ERIN ZIEGLER has been promoted to Executive Producer at Scripps’ WTVF-TV in Nashville. She’s worked for that CBS affiliate for the past seven years, most recently as the 10:00 producer.

Collins

Finally, former KOMU-TV news director STACEY WOELFEL helped organize a gathering for retiring Missouri Journalism Professor KENT COLLINS. Kent retires at the end of June after 35 years at Missouri. He has impacted the careers of hundreds, perhaps even thousands of journalists….if not you, likely someone you work with. Thanks to SHANNON BURKE-KRANZBERG for recording Kent’s remarks….and here’s Stacey’s report on the celebration of Kent’s career:

Former students and colleagues from as far away as Alaska, California and Maryland gathered Saturday night (4/21) to celebrate the retirement of Kent Collins at the campus hangout Heidelberg restaurant in Columbia. Collins was visibly moved by the turnout and by recorded and written messages from many more who could not be there. Organizers announced more than $27,000 had been raised in Kent’s honor to successfully establish a new endowment called the “Kent Collins Student Enhancement Fund.” The endowment will generate income to provide funds to pay for student reporting projects.

You can honor Kent and contribute to that fund by clicking on the link above.

General Manager News and Notes:

Magnes

PAUL MAGNES, General Manager of WHDH-TV (independent) in Boston has been named executive VP and general manager of parent company Sunbeam Television. Sunbeam also owns FOX affiliate WSVN-TV in Miami. Magnes replaces longtime Sunbeam exec BOB LEIDER who will remain with the company as a consultant. Paul will be replaced as GM of WHDH by JIM ROGERS who has been the sales manager there.

Pike

CHRIS PIKE, who’s been GM of CBS’s KDKA/WPCW-TV in Pittsburgh for the past 14 years, announced his retirement this week. More from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Chris has been a GM in Washington, DC, Harrisburg, and Norfolk, VA. He’ll stay on the job until his successor is named. He’s the second CBS o-and-o GM to retire this spring, following MARTY WILKE at WBBM-TV in Chicago.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 22, 2018:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WBBM-TV 22 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WBTS-TV 160 Wells Avenue Newton, MA 02459
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Drive. Dedham, MA 02026
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 KOVR Dr. West Sacramento, CA 95605
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215 (see ad above)
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1. Roanoke, VA 24019
WNEM-TV 107 N. Franklin St. Saginaw, MI 48607
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
WLBT/WDBD-TV 715 South Jefferson Street Jackson, MS 39201
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WTVO/WQRF-TV P.O. Box 470 Rockford, IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Hwy, Oak Hill, WV 25901
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
WETM-TV 101 E Water St, Elmira, NY 14901
WNKY-TV 325 Emmett Ave # N, Bowling Green, KY 42101
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701

**: Spanish language station

April 15, 2018

Monday, April 16, 2018 UPDATE:

Dear Rick:

A busy Monday, with TWO new news directors to tell you about.

A veteran news director fills the open ND job at Meredith’s KVVU-TV in Las Vegas.

Bell

TOM BELL will be the new ND for that FOX affiliate. He’s spent the last five years as ND for the CBS o-and-o in Sacramento, KOVR-KMAX-TV. Here’s the email from GM JAY HOWELL to the staff.

While on the surface this may seem like an unusual move, Tom owns a home in Las Vegas, has family there, and used to work for Meredith. He was ND of the company’s Phoenix station, KPHO-TV, from 2003-2008. Tom’s also been an ND in Detroit, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio, and has also worked in St. Louis.

At KVVU, he replaces CRISTI JESSEE who left the station in February after about two years as news director.

Jacoby

And in Knoxville, another veteran ND, MARY BETH JACOBY, takes over at Gray’s CBS affiliate, WVLT-TV. She’s a former ND in Columbia, SC, a job she left after nine years. She’s also worked in Dallas, Charlotte, Milwaukee and Jacksonville.

She replaces TONY BERNHARDT who left the station in December after 2 1/2 years. We told you in yesterday’s report that he is now the Assistant ND for KUSI-TV in San Diego.

More later.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Indiana Pacers 98, Cleveland Cavaliers 80.

80!

Sorry…I was distracted.

THREE new ND openings in our report this week, TWO in top 20 markets. And just ONE ND job filled this week (also in a top 20 market) so our list of open ND jobs increases to 33.

ONE of those ND openings is featured in our only Paid Help Wanted ad this week.

But we have many interesting items in Names in the News, including TWO local stations nominated for Peabody Awards, honors for TWO longtime journalists, new jobs for a handful of news managers, and we’ll tell you about an Ohio station that’s hired a ‘comics journalist’. And it’s no joke.

And there’s ONE new GM for a Tegna station.

All that…and more…below.

Newly Named News Director:

Frank

WTSP-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL…you learned in our UPDATE on Thursday that KELLY FRANK had been named News Director for this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. Click here for both the news release and the email to staff. Kelly will finish her almost three years at WBNS-TV at the end of May. She’s also worked in Atlanta, Washington, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and for Columbus station. Kelly replaces BOB CLINKINGBEARD who quit last October after two years here.

New News Director Openings:

Plotnik

WBTS-TV, Boston, MA…KENNY PLOTNIK‘s last day as News Director for this relatively new NBC owned station was Friday. He helped launched this operation when it started a little over a year ago. He’d been the ND for NBC’s New England Cable News before that. Kenny spent most of his career at WABC-TV in New York, including ten years as ND, ending in 2012. He’s also worked in Philadelphia and Buffalo.

Donnellan

WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH…our Wednesday UPDATE brought you the news that BRENNAN DONNELLAN is leaving this Tegna owned NBC affiliate after the May ratings period. Here’s the email from GM MICKI BYRNES to the staff. Brennan told me he couldn’t go into too many details about his future plans but that he was excited. He’s been ND since December, 2012, was Managing Editor before that, is a former ND in Cincinnati and Syracuse, and worked in Boston, Atlanta, Columbus, OH (two stations) and Norfolk.

Pickey

WOAY-TV, Beckley-Oak Hill WV…SCOTT PICKEY is out as the news director for locally owned Thomas Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate after about 18 months. Scott and his GM, DENNIS ADKINS, were both released about the same time. Scott’s a former ND for two stations in Wilmington, NC, and in Fayetteville, AR. He’s also worked in El Paso, Huntsville, Raleigh, Richmond, and Syracuse.

And while not a new opening, please note the paid help wanted ad just below for the news director opening at WBNS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Columbus, OH.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Director of News and Digital Content, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

Apply online at www.10tv.com

WBNS 10TV is an equal opportunity employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted this week)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listing revised 2/18/18)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 3/25/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 2/25/18)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (2 openings, AM & PM, listed 3/11/18)

Names in the News (and other items):

Congratulations to KXAS-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth and WVUE-TV in New Orleans, the only two commercial stations to be honored with Peabody Awards. Here’s the entire list of winners.

Reynolds

SHAWN REYNOLDS has joined AccuWeather as Director of Network Programming. Shawn says that means he’ll be editorial lead for the AccuWeather Network. He most recently was an EP for WGCL-TV in Atlanta, news director for WTVM/WXTX-TV in Columbus, GA, and has worked in Indianapolis, for the Weather Channel, and for another Atlanta station.

Bernhardt

TONY BERNHARDT joins KUSI-TV (an independent station in San Diego) as its next Assistant News Director. He most recently spent three years as the news director for WVLT-TV in Knoxville, and has worked in Washington, Orlando, Hartford/New Haven, for NBC News, and in Colorado Springs.

CAROL MORGAN, a former EP at Bay News 9, has joined WTXL-TV in Tallahassee, FL, as an EP. She’s also worked in Orlando, Milwaukee, Huntsville, and Greenville, SC.

Miller

Let’s take a moment to pay tribute (as did his station) to JACK MILLER, who’s retiring after a remarkable 17 years producing the morning news at WWNY-TV in Watertown, NY.

Poynter’s AL TOMPKINS profiles a ‘comics journalist’ hired by Cincinnati’s WCPO-TV…and it’s no joke, he’s a serious newsman.

Honors for two former longtime news managers, (one now a general manager):

Vann

One time news director turned multi-market general manager LES VANN will be honored tomorrow (Monday, April 16th) as the Outstanding Journalism Alum of Illinois State University’s School of Communication.

York

And longtime Kentucky newsman STEVE YORK, who spent 13 years as the Assistant News Director for Louisville’s WAVE-TV, has been inducted into the University of Kentucky Journalism School Hall of Fame. Steve also worked in Lexington.

Post

We told you last September that longtime KXLY-TV (Spokane) News Director JERRY POST was leaving news to operate a ‘Mathnasium’ franchise in Spokane. The Spokane Journal of Business followed up to see how it’s going.

Finally, TED CANOVA, a former news manager in Boston (PBS station WGBH-TV), Minneapolis (WCCO-TV) and Providence (WJAR-TV) offers his thoughts on how to make TV news relevant again.

General Manager News and Notes:

MARTY SCHACK, who’s been the interim GM of Tegna’s Little Rock station, KHTV, has been promoted to GM there. Where he’s been, and why is there an opening? Answers here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 15 2018:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WBBM-TV 22 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WBTS-TV 160 Wells Avenue Newton, MA 02459
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Drive. Dedham, MA 02026
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215 (see ad above)
KVVU-TV 25 TV 5 Dr. Henderson, NV 89014
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1. Roanoke, VA 24019
WNEM-TV 107 N. Franklin St. Saginaw, MI 48607
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
WLBT/WDBD-TV 715 South Jefferson Street Jackson, MS 39201
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WTVO/WQRF-TV P.O. Box 470 Rockford, IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
WOAY-TV 7113 Legends Hwy, Oak Hill, WV 25901
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
WETM-TV 101 E Water St, Elmira, NY 14901
WNKY-TV 325 Emmett Ave # N, Bowling Green, KY 42101
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701

**: Spanish language station

April 8, 2018

Thursday, April 12, 2018 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Frank

The ‘soon-to-be-announced’ new job for ‘soon-to-be-former’ WBNS-TV News Director KELLY FRANK was just announced.

We told you last week that Kelly was leaving Columbus, OH, to be closer to her mother who is ill. And she’s achieved that goal with today’s news that she’ll be the next news director for Tegna’s WTSP-TV (CBS) in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Here are both the staff notice and the press release in one easy click.

Kelly’s been the ND at WBNS (Dispatch/CBS) for almost three years, worked in Atlanta at WGCL-TV and at CNN, and has worked in Washington, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and at another Columbus station, where she began her career as a producer.

At WTSP, she replaces BOB CLINKINGBEARD who resigned last October after two years as news director.

It’s been another busy week, and, as we have for more than 20 years, we’ll recap all the activity in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Wednesday, April 11, 2018 UPDATE:

A second large market Ohio news director in less than a week is leaving his station, in this case to pursue new projects.

Donnellan

Late this afternoon WKYC-TV in Cleveland, the Tegna owned NBC affiliate, announced that BRENNAN DONNELLAN will leave the station after the May book. General Manager MICKI BYRNES explained Brennan’s plans in this email to staff.

Brennan shared with me via email that he couldn’t talk too much about those plans but he had some ‘exciting projects’ in the works.

He was promoted to news director here in December, 2012…and spent 18 months as Managing Editor, News and Digital Content there before that. He’s a former ND in Cincinnati and Syracuse, and worked in Boston, Atlanta, Columbus, OH (two stations) and Norfolk.

Plotnik

On another matter, our schedule at NAB yesterday prevented me from alerting you to KENNY PLOTNIK’s upcoming departure from WBTS-TV, branded as NBC Boston. He oversaw the startup of the station after NBC pulled its affiliation from WHDH-TV there a little more than a year ago. The Boston Globe covered the change.

Kenny worked for 25 years at WABC-TV, the ABC o-and-o, ending a ten year run as ND in 2012. He also worked at another ABC owned station, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, and in Buffalo.

Great to see some of you at NAB. We’ll be back with our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

If you’re in Las Vegas for NAB, I hope our paths cross. I will be at the annual RTDNA event at the Parasol Down bar at the Wynn Tuesday night. That event, a chance to meet fellow news directors and RTDNA leaders, features a cash bar and gets underway at 9:00 PM.

This week, there are FOUR newly named news directors, with just ONE new opening

So, our count of open ND jobs drops to 31.

ONE of those jobs is featured among our TWO paid help wanted ads.

In Names in the News, a former New Orleans news director returns to the Big Easy, and a Houston ND is honored as employee of the year by her company.

And there are THREE new GMs to tell you about, including one at a network owned station in Chicago.

All that…and more…below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Sierra

KDEN-TV, Denver, CO…GRISELLE SIERRA has been promoted to news director for this Telemundo station. Media Moves has more here. Griselle joined the station earlier this year. She’s worked in New York, San Juan, Orlando, and for CNN. She replaces ALFREDO SANCHEZ who left the station last month for a teaching job in Denver.

Zak

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…an internal promotion within Scripps brings SARAH ZAK to this FOX affiliate as its next news director. She’s been the Assistant ND for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. Here’s what WCPO ND CHIP MAHANEY posted on Facebook about her promotion. She’s a Tampa native and has also worked for the Scripps’ station there, WFTS-TV. She replaces ERIC MAZE who left earlier this year for a hospital PR job in his native Missouri.

Terrell

KLTV/KTRE-TV, Tyler/Lufkin/Longview, TX…longtime station employee JOE TERRELL ascends to the ND job for these Raycom Media owned stations, succeeding the late KENNY BOLES whose passing we reported in February after more than 20 years as ND. GM PAT STACEY shared the news with the staff. Joe’s also been at the station for more than 20 years and has also worked in Shreveport and Evansville.

Avery

KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, Montana…CHRIS AVERY returns to his native Montana as news director for these Sinclair owned NBC affiliates which are branded as NBC Montana. Chris has been an EP for KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City for almost five years, and worked for KTVX-TV in Salt Lake for almost ten years before that. He’s also worked in Medford, OR. Chris replaces JULIE WEINDEL who left last fall after 2+ years as news director.

New News Director Opening:

Frank

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH…we first told you earlier this week that KELLY FRANK is leaving this Dispatch owned CBS affiliate for family reasons. Both her mother…and her wife, KATHERINE GREEN‘s mother, are battling serious health issues. Here’s the memo from GM JOHN CARDENAS to the staff. Kelly’s worked in Atlanta and at CNN, and has also worked in Washington, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and at another Columbus station, where she began her career as a producer.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

WtvoLogo

News Director, WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL:

WQRF/WTVO-TV in Rockford, IL, (DMA 138) is seeking a news director.

Responsibilities include managing daily on-air and on-line news content; hiring, training, and mentoring producers, reporters and anchors; overseeing special projects and executing day-to-day operations in the newsroom. Excellent time management skills, the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and working within a defined budget are key.

We are looking for someone who knows news, how to motivate and guide a combination of young reporting and producing staff and works well and directs more seasoned anchors. Must espouse a digital-first mentality. We need someone who gets and drives social media, knows the importance of marketing, community involvement, and works well with sales.

A degree in journalism, mass communications or a related field is preferred. Prior newsroom experience in producing, reporting or anchoring is required.

Please email resume and cover letter to VP/GM Kelly Lattimer at klattimer@wtvo.com

WandLogo

Assistant News Director, WAND-TV, Decatur, IL:

WAND-TV (DMA#88) in Decatur, IL has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director.

We are looking for a candidate with an ardor for local news. The Assistant News Director will need to leverage the staff, stories, contacts, and resources available daily to generate informative and evocative news while making sure the individual pieces reinforce our station’s core philosophies and branding.

WAND-TV’s DMA is a tri-phenated market with dozens of vibrant communities in addition to the three major cities. It is essential to have an Assistant News Director who can communicate efficiently with staff that will often be working in communities across our DMA.

The successful candidate must also fit into the culture we have created at WAND-TV. We are looking for someone who will be a coach and a motivator. It is equally important that they can be a positive force in the newsroom while also pushing our staff to fulfill their potential.

WAND-TV is the perfect place to build a solid career. Decatur is centrally located in a tri-phenated market with the Illinois capital to the west and the world-renowned University of Illinois to the east. The cost of living is low, recently ranked 3rd most affordable city in the country. It has great schools and a low crime rate. Decatur’s central location means it’s a short drive to Chicago, St. Louis or Indianapolis.

Qualified candidates must have experience working as an Assistant News Director, Executive Producer or an equivalent position.

To apply, rush your resume to Morgan Schaab at Morgan.Schaab@wandtv.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

Spectrum News, Los Angeles, CA (listed 3/18/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/25/18)
WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL (relisted 3/25/18)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (listed 3/31/18, see ad above!)
KSBW-TV, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, CA (relisted 3/31/18)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (Evening EP, relisted 2/4/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, listing revised 2/18/18)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 3/25/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, listed 2/25/18)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (AM EP, listed 3/18/18)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (Nightside EP, listed 3/11/18)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (2 openings, AM & PM, listed 3/11/18)

Names in the News (and other items):

Slaughter

Congratulations to CHRIS SLAUGHTER who returns to his native New Orleans as the EP of Investigative for Hearst’s WDSU-TV. He had been the Assistant News Director (and, before that, Executive Producer of Investigative) for six years at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge before his job was eliminated last December. He spent 34 years at WWL-TV in New Orleans, including three as ND.

Ramirez

SALLY RAMIREZ, news director of Tegna’s KHOU-TV in Houston, was named Tegna’s employee of the year. She…and her soon-to-be-departing general manager, SUSAN McELDOON were honored for their leadership roles during Hurricane Harvey which flooded the station, which is now operating out of temporary facilities while a new station is being built.

General Manager News and Notes:

Dalton

WBBM-TV in Chicago is getting a new general manager. DEREK DALTON heads west from Rochester, NY, where’s he’s been GM for Hubbard’s WHEC-TV. More details in this story from Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER and this one from the Chicago Business Journal. It’s a return to Chicago for Derek, who once was national sales manager at WGN-TV. He’s also been a GM in Denver and San Diego, and replaces MARTY WILKE who announced her retirement last month.

Pimentel

We told you earlier this week that MARK PIMENTEL was named GM for KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs. Here’s the story from station owner News Press & Gazette. Mark most recently was GM for WGCL-TV in Atlanta. He’s also been a GM in St. Louis, Louisville, Richmond, Lexington, and Huntsville. Mark came up the news ranks, and was an ND in Atlanta, Baltimore. and Charleston, SC. He replaces TIM LARSON who left the station last month after eleven years as GM.

Corrente

WAFB-TV, the Raycom Media owned CBS affiliate in Baton Rouge, LA, has named RONNA CORRENTE as its next general manager. The company sent out this news release. She’s been the GM at WDKY-TV in Lexington, KY, for the past five years and worked there for 22 years. At WAFB, she replaces LEE MEREDITH who announced his retirement last month. Lee, as you know, also began in news.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 8 2018:

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

WABC-TV 7 Lincoln Square, New York, NY 10023
WBBM-TV 22 West Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Drive. Dedham, MA 02026
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WTSP-TV 11450 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WFSB-TV 333 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT 06067
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Drive Columbus OH 43215
KVVU-TV 25 TV 5 Dr, Henderson, NV 89014
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1. Roanoke, VA 24019
WNEM-TV 107 N. Franklin St. Saginaw, MI 48607
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St, Columbia, SC 29201
WLBT/WDBD-TV 715 South Jefferson Street Jackson, MS 39201
KTVB-TV 5407 West Fairview Ave. Boise, ID, 83706
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WAOW-TV 1908 Grand Ave. Wausau WI 54403
WTVO/WQRF-TV P.O. Box 470 Rockford, IL 61105 (see ad above!)
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260
KCAU-TV 5993 Gordon Drive Sioux City, IA 51106
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
WETM-TV 101 E Water St, Elmira, NY 14901
WNKY-TV 325 Emmett Ave # N, Bowling Green, KY 42101
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701

**: Spanish language station