October | 2020 | Rick Gevers & Associates

October 25, 2020

Thursday, October 29, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A top 10 market network owned station has a new news director today. That’s one of two changes in this update.

Bradley

JESSI MILLER BRADLEY has been promoted to news director for CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston. She’s a 23 year veteran of the station, having joined as a producer in 1997. More in this post. Most recently she’s been the EP for CBSN Boston, the station’s streaming service.

She replaces JOHHNY GREEN, Jr., who was promoted to VP of News Services for CBS News last July.

Sinn

And one more promotion makes MATT SINN the next ND for WISN-TV, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Milwaukee. Details here. He’s been the Assistant ND there since 2015 and earlier worked for 10 years in Tampa as a producer and EP. He replaces BEN HART who was promoted to GM for Hearst’s WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA.

We’ll have a few smaller market ND hires in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

After a quiet week last issue, we have lots of movement and lots of news.

There are THREE newly named news directors and TWO new openings. Thus, our count of open ND jobs is 25. TWO of those openings are among our THREE paid help wanted ads.

And that THIRD ad is for a senior management position at a large cable news operation.

We have TWO obituaries, both of multi-time news directors who left the business a few years ago. Sadly, both were only in their 60’s.

Lots of news managers on the move, and, for some reason, there are no GM changes again…that’s a multi-week streak.

All that and more, below.

Newly Named News Directors:

WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL…STEPHEN GALLIEN joins this Allen Media Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate as its next news director. Here’s the news release from the station. Gallien has been the Assistant ND for WBMA-TV in Birmingham for the last three years and has spent most of his career in Alabama. He replaces MATT STEIN who left earlier this month after four years as ND.

Maliska

WEEK/WHOI-TV, Peoria, IL…veteran newsman GAVIN MALISKA is joining this Quincy Media owned NBC/ABC duopoly as ND. Details in this news release. Gavin’s been an ND in Orlando and Indianapolis among others, has worked in management positions in Chicago and Detroit, and began his career in newspapers. He replaces LON LUCAS who left in September and is now ND for WLFI-TV in Lafayette, IN.

Grissom

WETM-TV, Elmira, NY…STONE GRISSOM gets his first ND job at this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He’s a former lawyer who moved to TV and has anchored at News 12 Long Island for the last 10 years. Stone’s also anchored in Baton Rouge. At WETM, he replaces MARK SILBERSTEIN who left in August and is now ND at KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi.

New News Director Openings:

Martinez

KAKW-TV, Austin, TX…ISMAEL MARTINEZ has left this Univision owned and operated station. He’s been ND there for the last 4+ years, his second stint as news director, the first coming from 2007-2014. Ismael spent 17 year there during his career. He also served as an executive producer, news operations supervisor, and assignment director.

DeLeon

WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL…this ABC/FOX duopoly is looking for a new news director to replace ALEX DeLEON, who held the job for the last three years. He also was an EP there before being promoted. WQRF is owned by Nexstar, which operates Mission Broadcasting-owned WTVO under a shared services agreement. Learn more about the opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Vice President/News, Altice USA’s News 12- New York region:

This is a dream job for a digitally minded television executive who thrives on all facets of content and who aspires to do it on a network in the fast paced media capital of the world. Seven newsrooms, three states and hundreds of journalists with one mission: leveraging the hometown hyperlocal connection our audience of almost five million viewers and digital users expect from a brand that keeps them safe and connected in an uncertain world.

You would be a key decision maker and innovator on a corporate team that’s also backed by the significant resources of Altice USA, America’s fourth largest cable company, and its live streaming financial news network, Cheddar. The expectation is that you will bring know-how and passion to evolve and execute a multi-platform brand in key areas such as breaking news and weather, investigative news and audience targeted efforts to help them through these Covid challenged times.

Your executive skills in administration are vital as you navigate all facets of this network from budgets, HR and legal areas to the constant need to find, grow and promote the best journalists with a commitment to diversify staff. Your demonstrated teamwork with our creative partners in marketing and design are core to success.

If you have lead a big brand digital and/or television news operation and have ideas that generate audience and/or revenue and that can catapult News 12, this could be your job.

Apply by clicking here!

News Director, KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA:

KION News Channel 5, located in beautiful Monterey County, California, is seeking an extraordinary journalist to lead a growing news team. In addition, to CBS we produce news daily on CW and Telemundo.

Our News Director will be a visionary coach who understands how to produce compelling and distinctive content on all multi-media platforms. Must have proven skillset to maximize content and customer engagement on digital and social media platforms. Must demonstrate a passion for the product with strong oversight and consistent communication and feedback.

The successful candidate will be called upon to provide strategic direction for daily news coverage as well as working closely with the General Manager on long-range planning, special news coverage and station projects.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:

Previous experience
Creative approaches to building and innovating news brand
Digital and social strategies
Effective use of social media in a broadcast environment
Previous experience managing financial, technical and people resources

KION was acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company in December 2013, and has recently made significant capital investments to build a strong local news organization.

Candidate must pass a drug test and background check. A valid driver’s license is required.

Please apply online by submitting brief cover letter that includes resume, and source of referral.

Learn more and apply here.

News Director, WTVO-TV, Rockford, IL:

Nexstar Nation has an immediate opening for a News Director in Rockford, IL (Mkt #138.)

The ideal candidate knows news, loves to lead, and is a natural born coach. Our News Director will oversee more than 40 hours of news a week at WQRF (FOX) and WTVO (ABC.) This is an exceptional opportunity to join the nation’s largest media company. We offer more news and locally produced programming than any other station in the market as well as unmatched digital delivery on https://www.mystateline.com/.

The Rockford market is just a stone’s throw from Chicago, settled along the banks of the Rock River and the serene rolling green hills of Northern Illinois.

We have all the amenities of a big city, but with a “small town” feel.

Ready for your next challenge?

Then click here and apply!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/27/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 9/6/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (relisted 10/4/11)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/11)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Entertainment EP, listed 10/11/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listing 9/27/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, listed 9/13/20)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (Dayside EP, new listing this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 9/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, new listing this week)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 9/27/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 9/20/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (listed 9/6/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 10/11/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, listed 10/4/11)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 10/4/11)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/27/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 9/27/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 9/20/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (new listing this week)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Digital EP, listed 10/11/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted this week)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 10/18/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 10/11/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted this week)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

Vice President/News, Altice USA’s News 12- New York (see ad above!)

Relisted this week:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 10/4/20:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 9/6/20

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)

Relisted 9/6/20

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Sorry to share the news of the passing of two former news directors, both of whom left our business a number of years ago.

Hulnick

ERIC HULNICK died this week in Florida after a very short battle with lung cancer. He was 69. During his career, he was an ND in San Francisco (KNTV/NBC) Indianapolis (WRTV/ABC) and two stations in Las Vegas. He also worked in San Diego and Reno. Eric left TV and moved to Florida where he worked in advertising and marketing. His friend and former co-worker ADAM BRADSHAW shared these memories.

Hadwal

And we were just alerted this week to the passing of another former ND, DREW HADWAL. Drew was 62 when he died in April. He worked as an ND in a few small Texas markets after beginning his career as a reporter. After leaving TV he worked as a voice over artist. More details about this life and career in this obituary.

Names in the News (and other items):

Lake

HILLARY LAKE heads up I-71 to Columbus, OH, where she’s been named Executive Producer of Innovation for Tegna’s WBNS-TV (CBS). She’s spent the last four years at WCPO-TV (Scripps/ABC) in Cincinnati, first as an investigative reporter. She also added the tile of Manager of Investigative Content in 2018. She’s also worked in Portland, OR, Knoxville, TN, and Medford, OR.

They’ve been busy at Scripps, filling a number of news management positions.

Hall

PANSY HALL joins KNXV-TV (ABC) in Phoenix as an EP. She’s currently an EP for KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City, and has also worked in Memphis (three stations), Little Rock and Macon, GA.

MICHAEL DORIA, who’s reported in several markets, is the new Content Manager for WFTX-TV (FOX) in Ft. Myers.

At WGBA-TV (NBC) in Green Bay, MATT JARCHOW moves from an MMJ role into a newly created EP position. He’s also worked in Syracuse.

And OLIVIA DICKINSON is the new Assistant News Director for KOAA-TV (NBC) in Colorado Springs. She most recently was an EP at KCPQ-TV in Seattle and has also worked in Greensboro and Lubbock.

Thus endeth the Scripps news. 🙂

Smith

Bill Smith is the new Digital Director for KARK/KLRT-TV (Nexstar) in Little Rock, AR. He joins the team from KCTV in Kansas City. Smith has an extensive history on digital platforms at KPTV in Portland, OR; KSHB-TV in Kansas City; and KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO.

General Manager News and Notes:

No changes, again, this week to my knowledge.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 25, 2020:

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

KCBS-TV 4200 Radford Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
WISN-TV 759 N. 19th St. Milwaukee, WI 53233
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd. Waco, TX 76711
WSYM-TV 600 W. Saint Joseph St. Suite 47, Lansing, MI 48933
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
WTVO/WGRF-TV P.O. Box 470. Rockford, IL 61105 (see ad above!)
KMID-TV 1550 West I-20. Odessa, TX 79763
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

October 18, 2020

Greetings:

For one of the few times in the 24+ year history of this publication, I have NO new news directors or news director vacancies to report.

That leaves our count of open ND jobs at 26. One of those openings if featured in our only Paid Help Wanted ad below.

What we may lack in news director movement, we make up for (I hope) in items in Names in the News. There are FIVE items below, including the retirement of a four time ND, another retirement of a former ND who continued to anchor at his station for 22 years after giving up the ND job, and other items.

Those are all below.

Have a great week.

Newly Named News Director:

If there was a new news director named this week, I missed if. Please set me straight with an email! rick@rickgevers.com

New News Director Openings:

To the best of my knowledge, there are NO new openings this week. If you know of a vacancy that I don’t have listed below, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WAAY-TV, Huntsville, AL:

WAAY-31 News is looking for a competitive, organized and motivational individual to lead the News Department of WAAY TV, Channel 31 (ABC) in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, Huntsville, Alabama (DMA Market 78).

A background check and pre-employment drug screen are required.

Lead a team of dedicated individuals who will join their leader in focusing on development of the region’s premiere newsroom, rooted in journalistic integrity, at North Alabama’s ABC network affiliate. WAAY-TV is a legacy station with a history of service to the region, one of the most recognized local television brands in need of a strong, positive leader. Huntsville is known as “Rocket City,” home to space exploration, past and future with a heavy NASA presence, the U.S. Army’s highly respected Redstone Arsenal, high-tech development and ingenuity and home to the second-largest research park in the country. U.S. News and World Report designated Huntsville as the “best affordable place to live in the U.S.”

You can learn more and apply by clicking here.

Or you can apply by emailing a cover letter, resume, and references to Jobs@waaytv.com

Or by mail to:

News Director Applicant
WAAY-TV
1000 Monte Sano Blvd.
Huntsville, AL 35801

No phone calls accepted. WAAY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our company expects top performance and results and provides the support and culture to win. WAAY believes that local television is rewarding and fun in a market that is rocket science! Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and 401K plans!