December 1, 2019
Saturday, December 7, 2019 UPDATE:
THREE top 30 market news director departures…and a top 35 ND addition…in this brief UPDATE.
Waggoner
The newest happened today as MATT WAGGONER was named ND for Scripps’ KSHB-TV (NBC) in Kansas City. That means he’s leaving Nexstar’s WTTV/WXIN-TV (CBS/FOX) after just one year as news director and shortly after the ownership change from Tribune to Nexstar. Here’s the memo from KSHB General Manager KATHLEEN CHOAL.
Parcell
Earlier this week it was announced that MATT PARCELL is retiring after 7+ years as ND for WFTV in Orlando. That ABC affiliate is part of the pending Cox-Apollo deal. Orlando Sentinel TV writer HAL BOEDEKER has more. Matt”s been the ND there since 2012 and has worked at the station since 1997.
Finally, MIKE TOMKO is leaving Sinclair’s WBFF-TV in Baltimore at the end of the year for a job outside of television. He’s been the ND there since 2012, and first joined that FOX affiliate in 2002 as an EP. (For a one time MMJ, he appears to be camera-shy: I could not find a photo.) 
We’ll have more on those changes and lots of other news in our full newsletter later this weekend.
regards,
gevers
**** **** ****
Greetings:
I hope your Thanksgiving was relaxing and all you hoped it to be.
It was a good week for THREE people named to new ND jobs this week. ALL of them were promoted at their current stations. And we have just ONE new opening, bringing our list of open ND jobs to 25.
ONE of those openings is among our TWO paid help wanted ads this week.
There are TWO obituaries, one for a long ago South Carolina news director and anchor, and we have more details on the death of a longtime big market general manager.
Speaking of general managers, we’ll tell you about a former ND and news executive who is leaving her job as a GM in North Carolina. And we have TWO items in Names in the News, both involving former news directors.
Have a great week.
Newly Named News Directors:
Nickels
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH…we first told you that Columbus native JENNIFER NICKELS has been promoted to ND for this Tegna owned CBS affiliate earlier this week. She has been the Assistant ND there since September 2016 and served as the interim ND since STEVE KOLES left in March after eight months. (He’s now the ND at WROC-TV in Rochester, NY. Jen has also worked in Louisville, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbia, MO.
Achladis
Also at WBNS, TED ACHLADIS has been named Director of Digital Content, coming from a similar role at WFXT-TV (FOX) in Boston. Ted spent much of his career in Ohio, working at three stations in Cleveland and in Youngstown, He’s also worked in New York and Syracuse, where he began his career as a photographer, reporter and sports anchor.
Weinrich
WSIL-TV, Carterville, IL…another promotion finds JEFF WEINRICH ascending to the news director job for this Quincy Media owned ABC affiliate. He’s been here for eleven years, and served most recently as the Assistant ND and interim ND since MIKE SNUFFER left in August after 16 years as ND. Jeff’s also worked in Columbia, MO where he was graduated from the University of Missouri.
WABI-TV, Bangor, ME…lots of changes at this Gray Television owned CBS affiliate. JIM MORRIS who’s been ND and anchor since 2000 is retiring. JON SMALL will replace him as ND, and CATHERINE PEGRAM will replace him as the Assistant ND. Both Jon and Catherine will continue their anchor roles. The full story, with more background on Morris’ career, is here.
New News Director Openings:
Broadway
KIDY/KXVA-TV, San Angelo/Abilene, TX…these Tegna owned stations have posted a job for news director. Both stations are FOX affiliates. My records show that CODY BROADWAY has been the ND there since March, 2018, when he moved from sister Tegna-station KUSA-TV in Denver where he worked as a ‘visual producer’.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA:
WCAV in Charlottesville, VA is seeking a highly motivated News Director to lead our talented staff.
Duties:
Plan, staff and train news department
Develop news coverage for station and digital platforms
Quality control news stories to correct errors and improve content
Develop strategy for news content to meet station goals while collaborating with Creative Services and Sales departments to ensure those goals are met.
Skills:
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Able to use Microsoft Office
Ability to meet deadlines and priorities (prioritize) assignments
Ability to work as a team leader for news staff
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Requirements:
5 years working in a newsroom
2 years working as a news director or assistant news director
Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism or related field or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience
The ideal candidate will possess excellent news judgment, motivational skills, and the ability to find and develop talent.
Send resume to: John Cochrane at jcochrane@lockwoodbroadcast.com
Lockwood Broadcast Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Pre-employment drug test is required along with a background screen as allowed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Executive Producer, Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO:
Rocky Mountain Public Media is looking for an experienced Executive Producer to join our duPont-winning investigative team, based in Denver.
We are looking for a passionate investigative journalist with the ability to be a strong leader to join our Insight with John Ferrugia program and build on the team’s successful record of in-depth investigations presented on various platforms that truly impact our community. See our work at rmpbs.org/insight
Rocky Mountain Public Media, Inc. is the parent company of Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO Jazz and The Drop Hip-Hop and R&B radio station.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience with in-depth investigations and data journalism, creating strategies around storytelling and raising awareness, identifying story ideas, and leading a team of highly-skilled journalists to execute a strategy. Candidates with some level of supervisory experience are preferred.
Apply by clicking here:
Rocky Mountain Public Media is an equal opportunity employer.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown, MD (listed 11/3/19)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/10/19)
WACH-TV, Columbia SC (listed 11/10/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 11/17/19)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/20/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 11/24/19)
KXMA-TV, Bismarck, ND (listed 10/20/19)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 11/17/19)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 11/17/19, see ad above!)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 11/10/19)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 10/20/19)
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (listed 11/24/19, see ad above!)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 10/20/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 11/17/19)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted this week)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/20/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (2 openings, EP and Digital EP revised 11/17/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 9/8/19)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/29/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (AM EP, listed 10/13/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (relisted 10/13/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 10/6/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 9/8/19)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 11/10/19)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/3/19)
WJTV, Jackson, MS (2 openings, EP & Digital EP, revised 11/17/19)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 10/27/19)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 11/10/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted 10/20/19)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 10/13/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 11/17/19)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
KNSD-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 10/13/19)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 11/17/19:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Howard
We have more details about the passing of former general manager ALLAN HOWARD (legal name ALLAN HOWARD ESPESETH) which we reported briefly last week. Allan died November 20th at the age of 81. During his long career in our business, he ran TV stations in Tulsa, Sacramento, and Houston. And he continued to do voice over work until recently. More details on his life and career here.
Moon
Longtime South Carolina broadcaster DAN MOON will be remembered at a memorial service next Sunday, December 8th in Moncks Corner, SC. He served as news director for WUSN-TV (now WCBD-TV) in Charleston, SC in the 60’s before going on to a long career in radio. More details of his career in this tribute from the WCBD website.
Names in the News (and other items):
This week’s version could be called Life after TV News.
#1 Longtime news director DAN DENNISON will be speaking in Maui on December 9th (sounds good as much of us battle bad weather.) Dan is now the senior communications manager for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
#2 Former KVRR-TV (Fargo, ND) news director JIM SHAW has been honored (again) as the Best Newspaper Columnist in the Red River Valley.
General Manager News and Notes:
Collura
DEBORAH COLLURA, a former news director and news manager turned General Manager will leave Tegna’s WCNC-TV (NBC) in Charlotte at the end of the year. Deb shared the note she sent her staff. She’s been an ND in several major markets and held a corporate news role at Post-Newsweek. Her complete bio is on her Linkedin page.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 1, 2019:
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
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WVEC-TV 613 Woodis Ave Norfolk, VA 23510
KJRH-TV 3701 S. Peoria Tulsa, OK 74105
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA 24017
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Road Madison, WI 53719
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
KLKN-TV 3240 S 10th St, Lincoln, NE 68502
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave, Medford, OR 97504
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Road West Monroe, LA 71292
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WDTV 5 Television Dr, Bridgeport, WV 26330
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (See ad above!)
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
**: Spanish language station