Rick Gevers & Associates

November 29, 2020

December 1, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

The first news director change after the November rating book has happened.

LaVelle

RHONDA LaVELLE has left Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC) after about 4 1/2 years as news director. She will stay on until mid-January.

Here’s her station bio which was still on the station’s website when I sent this UPDATE.

Before WXYZ, Rhonda was the news director for KPRC-TV (Graham Media/NBC) in Houston. A Michigan native, she worked for Graham’s WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit for 15 years, finishing as executive producer. Rhonda also worked for WKBD-TV in Detroit and began her career as a producer at WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw.

I hope to have more on this story and all the week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

I hope you had a good holiday.

Not surprisingly, not much action today on the news director hiring front: NO new openings and NO jobs were filled, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 18.

But we do have ONE new paid help wanted ad for one of those 18 jobs…check that out below, along with a Blind Box ad for an assistant ND job.

We have ONE obituary, that for a longtime Nevada newsman.

A longtime GM is elected Mayor of Honolulu. He quit his last TV job to run for that office. And we have new news managers in Orlando and Tulsa.

I’m guessing this next week will provide more news for next week’s edition.

Newly Named News Directors:

As you might expect on a holiday-shortened weekend, there are no news director hires this week. Please let me know if you’re aware of something I may have missed.

New News Director Openings:

No new openings this week. But please check out the new paid ad below for the ND job at WSLS-TV in Roanoke, VA. We told you last week that veteran ND RICK MOLL is retiring.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:

WSLS-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Roanoke, VA seeks a strategic thinking and assertive News Director. Successful candidate will lead, manage/hire/ train/supervise/motivate news department personnel, prepare operating and capital budgets, and negotiate talent contracts. Must have excellent news judgment, a passion for coverage of breaking news, and have strong leadership, organizational, and visionary skills. Successful candidate will have proven track record of growing audience through content and marketing; converting audience research into actionable and measurable results and monitor all of our platforms for accurate editorial content while keeping the brand vision on track.

TOP REASONS TO JOIN WSLS:

Growth, experience, and training. At WSLS, we will work with you to help you reach your full potential through ongoing career development programs. We are also committed to ongoing training throughout your career and to hiring from within – across the GMG family of companies.

Our culture and benefits package. Our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative and recognize and reward achievement. Graham Media offers a generous benefits package that includes 401K and healthcare on day one!

You will live and work in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, plus you`re only a short drive to major metropolitan areas as well as beaches.

Are you ready to join the team? We encourage you to submit your resume for consideration.

Learn more about the job by clicking here.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to: VP & General Manager, Jaimie León, jleon@wsls.com

No phone calls please

Assistant News Director, market 85-100, Southern U.S.:

Aggressive news operation seeks Assistant News Director. Vacancy has not been announced to staff. Opening created as current Assistant News Director plans to fill retiring News Director’s position.

Market 85-100, southern United States. Great college town. Competitive local news market with big market coverage. Bold production. Station needs dynamic leader to take reins of owning breaking news, digital and be a mentor to young reporters.

Station is part of great, small ownership group. Local owners care about journalism and investigative reporting. Station does about 45 hours of local news each week. Candidates should have knowledge of Gulf Coast with 2-4 years’ experience in mid or senior-level news management roles.

Make connection with the hiring manager: Email resume to gulfcoastANDopening@yahoo.com.

Hiring ASAP to start in January.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, new listing this week)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Listed 9/27/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
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, listed 10/25/20)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 10/4/11)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 9/27/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (relisted 11/22/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (listed 11/15/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 10/11/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 11/15/20:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

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

Listed 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/4/20:

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 9/6/20

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

Obituary:

Boynton

Longtime Reno anchor and news manager BRENT BOYNTON died Tuesday of Covid-19. He was 64. Brent anchored at both KTVN-TV and KOLO-TV in Reno, where he worked twice, and was the assistant news director at KOLO during one of those stints. He also anchored in Odessa, TX. Brent held a number of non-TV jobs, as you’ll learn in this story.

Names in the News (and other items):

Blangiardi

We’re a little late in reporting some election results from Hawaii, where former general manager RICK BLANGIARDI was elected Mayor of Honolulu. He most recently was GM for Gray’s duopoly there, KGMB/KHNL-TV. His Wikipedia page has more details about his career, which included GM jobs in San Francisco and Seattle, and others.

Zac P.

WOFL-TV, the FOX o-and-o in Orlando, has hired ZAC PRUDHOMME as its next executive producer. Zac’s a former executive producer for KTNV (Scripps/ABC) in Las Vegas, a job he left in October, 2018, when he went to work for the Southern Nevada Transportation Commission. He’s also worked as a producer and senior producer for KLFY-TV in Lafayette, LA, where he began as an editor.

SHAWN KIRKPATRICK joins KOKI-TV (FOX/Cox Media Group) in Tulsa as the AM Content Manager. Shawn will start next month.

General Manager News and Notes:

See our Names in the News section for details about longtime GM RICK BLANGIARDI’s new job. Hint: you might need to call him “Your Honor.”

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 29, 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

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
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
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
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011 (see ad above!)
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
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
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

November 22, 2020

Greetings:

Another burst of news director hiring with THREE jobs filled this week, with ONE new opening.

That brings our list of open news director jobs to 18. (If that trend continues, I may get my Sunday nights back.)

There’s a rare blind box ad for an attractive Assistant News Director job in a medium market. (Puh-leeze don’t ask me what station…every time I run a blind box ad, someone does.)

We have an obituary for a former EP of America’s Most Wanted who started in local news before moving on to CBS.

There’s another national news network in the works. Details on that are below, in our Names in the News segment, along with a new EP at a Florida station and more news about job cuts in Buffalo.

And there’s a GM opening in a top 20 market, with a GM job filled in market 163.

That’s all below, of course.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Newly Named News Directors:

Parquet-Taylor

KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, CA…our Friday UPDATE brought word of the appointment of ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR as the next ND for this CBS owned station. Details here. She’s currently station manager at CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth, where she began as the news director, and has been an ND in Detroit, Baltimore, and for two stations in Raleigh. She replaces TARA FINESTONE who left last month. Tara returned to Seattle as ND for KIRO-TV after 2 1/2 years as ND for KCBS.

Sakai

KION-TV, Monterey/Salinas, CA…STACY SAKAI will be the next news director for this News Press & Gazette owned operation. More in this email to me from NP&G’s Director of News and Marketing, MICHAEL FABAC. She replaces RON KELLER who left in September to become an executive producer for KVVU-TV, Meredith’s FOX affiliate in Las Vegas.

Wood

KMID-TV, Midland, TX…TERRY WOOD moves from market #2 to market 145 but gets his first ND job as he takes over at this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. He’s also worked in Boston, Phoenix, Las Vegas (twice) and Albuquerque. Terry replaces veteran ND DAVID LOWELL who left last month after three years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Moll

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA…longtime news director RICK MOLL is retiring next February after 30 years as an ND and 40 years in the business. His GM at this Graham Media owned NBC affiliate, JAIMIE LEON, told the staff in this email. He’s also been a news director in Peoria, Ft. Wayne, Columbus, GA and Wausau, WI.

Blind Box Ad:

Assistant News Director, market 85-100, Southern U.S.:

Aggressive news operation seeks Assistant News Director. Vacancy has not been announced to staff. Opening created as current Assistant News Director plans to fill retiring News Director’s position.

Market 85-100, southern United States. Great college town. Competitive local news market with big market coverage. Bold production. Station needs dynamic leader to take reins of owning breaking news, digital and be a mentor to young reporters.

Station is part of great, small ownership group. Local owners care about journalism and investigative reporting. Station does about 45 hours of local news each week. Candidates should have knowledge of Gulf Coast with 2-4 years’ experience in mid or senior-level news management roles.

Make connection with the hiring manager: Email resume to gulfcoastANDopening@yahoo.com.

Hiring ASAP to start in January.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted this week)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/27/20)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted this week)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (Dayside EP, listed 10/25/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Listed 9/27/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted this week)
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, listed 10/25/20)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 10/4/11)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/27/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 9/27/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (relisted this week)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (listed 11/15/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 10/11/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 11/15/20:

KTXV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

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

Listed 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/4/20:

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)

Obituary:

Heflin

LANCE HEFLIN died last Sunday, 11/15, six days before his 68th birthday. Lance had a great career, beginning at KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri’s NBC affiliate. He went on to Miami, where worked for two stations, then to CBS where he was a founding producer of 48 Hours. But he may best be known as the EP for FOX’s America’s Most Wanted. Many more details about his life, career (and post-TV career) in this obituary. He’s survived by his wife, JAN EVANS, a former TV reporter, and their two sons.

Names in the News (and other items):

Another week, another story about job consolidations and cuts at a Spectrum news operation, this time from Buffalo.

Gutierrez

JOE GUTIERREZ heads south to West Palm Beach, FL, where he’ll be an executive producer for Scripps’ WPTV (NBC) there. He spent the last two months at the Black News Channel and earlier worked as an assistant news director for a station in Tallahassee. His Linkedin page has his complete background.

There could be another national news network in our future. The owner of WISH-TV here in Indianapolis has partnered with Cox Media Group and plans to launch the Multicultural News Network (MNN), which is described as a non-partisan, national news network. Learn more in this story from the WISH-TV website.

General Manager News and Notes:

Levy

CBS’s WFOR-TV in Miami is looking for a new general manager following what some would say is the the somewhat sudden departure of ten year veteran GM ADAM LEVY. The station announced earlier this week that he was leaving, and his last day was Friday. More from The Miami Herald. He also worked for eight years at CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Joyce

For the second consecutive week, we can tell you about another new general manager for a Scripps station. This time it’s BRIAN JOYCE, who will take over at KPAX-TV (CBS) in Missoula MT. He’s been the sales director at Scripps’ Denver station, KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 22, 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

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
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
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
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
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
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

November 15, 2020

November 20, 2020 UPDATE:

A veteran newswoman has been named VP/News Director of KCBS-KCAL-TV in Los Angeles.

Parquet-Taylor

ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR becomes the fourth news director in the last five years at this CBS owned duopoly. She’s currently Station Manager for CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas, where she had earlier been the news director. She’s also been an ND in Detroit, Baltimore and two stations in Raleigh.

More in this news release.

Andrea replaces TARA FINESTONE who left in October to return to Seattle as ND for Cox Media’s KIRO-TV (CBS). Tara was ND at KCBS/KCAL for about 2 1/2 years.

We’ll have a number of other ND hires…and news of the retirement of 30 year ND… in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

We have a lot of news this week in Names in the News, along with ONE new ND opening and ONE newly named news director (technically Managing Director of New).

That takes our list of open ND jobs to 20, still a relatively low number if you look at the history of two decades we’ve been publishing.

There are TWO obituaries, one of a veteran GM who ran stations in several large markets, including THREE in Ohio. And the other obit is for a former ND and anchor who ran an Alabama newsroom during the Civil Rights era.

In Names in the News, we’ll tell you about a large market Assistant ND who’s blogging about his cancer battle. There’s a new EP in Wisconsin, job cutbacks at a cable news operation. and we’ve got honors and awards. Finally, interesting news from two former NDs, one with an interesting new job, and one who’s retiring from his interesting post-TV job.

Speaking of post-TV jobs, if that’s something you’re considering. check out the ad just below from a former ND who can help you make that jump.

Newly Named News Directors:

Speight

Spectrum News Charlotte, Charlotte, NC…KERWIN SPEIGHT is the new Managing Director for this 24 hour cable news operation. It’s a return to North Carolina for Kerwin, who worked at WRAL-TV earlier in his career. He’s been the EP for WPIX-TV in New York for the past 18 months. His entire career history is found here.

New News Director Openings:

Campbell

WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN…JEREMY CAMPBELL left this Tegna owned NBC affiliate on Friday after about 14 months as news director. He’s also worked for Tegna’s WXIA-TV in Atlanta as a reporter. Jeremy has also worked in Tampa, Birmingham, and Lafayette, LA.

Also, the ND opening at Tegna’s KIDY-TV in San Angelo, TX, is now listed as a news director/anchor opening.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week. If you and your station want to reach a targeted audience better than any other website, send me an email for details.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/27/20)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (new listing this week)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted this week)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised this week)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Entertainment EP, listed 10/11/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (Dayside EP, listed 10/25/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, new listing this week)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, new listing this week)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Listed 9/27/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
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, listed 10/25/20)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 10/4/11)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/27/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
WNEM-TV, Flint/Saginaw, MI (listed 9/27/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (listed 9/20/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 10/18/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA (new listing this week)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted this week)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 10/11/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this Week:

KTXV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

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

Listed 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/4/20:

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:

Robinson

GARLAND ‘GARY’ ROBINSON, who worked as a general manager at several larger market stations, died last Sunday, November 8th, at the age of 79. This detailed obituary provides an accounting of the many markets where he worked, but seems to have a few details wrong, (i.e. referring to WCMH-TV as News Channel 5 in Columbus, OH).

Caton

CHARLES “SKIP” CATON also died Sunday at the age of 81. He was a news director and anchor at Montgomery’s WSFA-TV for about ten years during the Civil Rights Era. He earlier and worked at WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. WSFA remembers him in this obituary which includes some historic photos.

Names in the News (and other items):

Wilgoren

Please join me in wishing the Assistant ND for Los Angeles’s FOX o-and-o, KTTV, PETER WILGOREN well in his fight against bladder cancer. He’s been telling his story in this blog. Like many illnesses, early detection is a key as you’ll learn. Peter’s also worked for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and for WBZ-TV in Boston.

Spectrum, which operates cable news channels in a number of markets, is cutting some jobs and consolidating others in some of its New York state markets. Details here.

If my math is correct, EIGHT local commercial TV stations are among the finalists for the 2021 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards. It’s the first time finalists have been named.

RTDNA has named the winners of two of its biggest awards. ABC’s BYRON PITTS and PBS’s YAMICHE ALCINDOR will be honored with the Paul White Award and the John Hogan awards, respectively.

ANDREA AZZO joins WLUK-TV (Fox/Sinclair) in Green Bay, WI, as an executive producer. She’s been working as a producer for WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, and has also worked in Austin, Rockford, IL, and for another Green Bay station.

Akins

A multi time news director has been elected Mayor of Ashland, OR. JULIE AKINS, who’s been on the City Council there, won by about 600 votes, defeating another city council member. Julie’s a former news director for two stations in Medford, OR, as well as working as a news director in both Las Vegas and Fresno.  She also worked in San Francisco.

Lewis

Former News Director PAUL LEWIS, who ran newsrooms in Hartford (WTIC-TV) and Albany, NY, (WNYT-TV) before leaving our business in 2009, is retiring. In this note he sent me, he outlines the interesting job he’s held since then, and reflects on his career. Old friends can reach out to him via his email contained in his note.

General Manager News and Notes:

Hanson

MERRI HANSON is being promoted to General Manager for Scripps’ KIVI-TV in Boise, ID at the start of 2021. She’s currently the station manager at this ABC affiliate, and will replace KEN RITCHIE who’s retiring after 40 years at the station.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 15, 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
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
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
WBIR-TV 1513 Hutchinson Avenue Knoxville, TN 37917
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905
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
KMID-TV 1550 West I-20. Odessa, TX 79763
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

November 8, 2020

Greetings:

Even though you might expect NO hires during a week with an Election Day Week, there were TWO new news directors hired in the last seven days. And there are NO new openings, so our list of open ND jobs drops to a low 20.

We have FOUR new GMs to tell you about, THREE from the same company, and ONE of those is s former news director.

There are TWO new EPs in Seattle among THREE items in Names in the News.

And we have ONE obituary for the head of EWTN News.

All that and more below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Williams

WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI…JESSIE WILLIAMS will be the ND hired to oversee the buildup of a news department at this Scripps owned FOX affiliate. She’s currently an EP for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee. It’s a return to Lansing for Jessie, who earlier worked as producer at WLNS-TV. She also worked for Scripps as a producer in Detroit. (When we teased this hire last week, we incorrectly reported that the job was in Syracuse, NY, at a station with similar call letters. Apologies.)

Logan

KGWN-TV, Cheyenne, WY…we’re a little late in reporting that TIFFANY LOGAN has been promoted to ND at this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate. She was promoted in July. Tiffany’s a five year veteran of the station, joining as a reporter, moving to weekend anchor, then evening anchor, and now adds ND to the business card. She’s also worked in Paducah, KY.

New News Director Openings:

As far as I know, there were no new news directors hired this week.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week. If you and your station want to reach a targeted audience better than any other website, send me an email for details.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 9/27/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (listed 9/6/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Entertainment EP, listed 10/11/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 9/6/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted this week)
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL (Dayside EP, listed 10/25/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 9/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (Listed 9/27/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (new listing this week)
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, listed 10/25/20)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 10/4/11)
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 9/27/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
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 (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 11/1/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
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 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 11/1/20:

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

Listed 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/25/20:

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

Relisted 10/4/20:

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)

Obituary:

Walther

ANDREW WALTHER, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN (which stands for Eternal Word Television Network) News, died last Sunday (November 1, 2020) at the age of 45. He suffered from leukemia. More about his life and career in this story from The Catholic News Agency.

Names in the News (and other items):

Ayers

CHRISTIN AYERS has been promoted to executive producer for Tegna’s KING-TV in Seattle. As you’ll learn in this email from ND PETE SAIERS, she will create a permanent Facing Race unit, building on something she began in September. Christin had been the Tacoma Bureau Chief and spent almost nine years as a reporter in San Francisco.

McIntrye

Another Seattle station, another executive producer hire. KCPQ-TV (FOX) has hired JESSAMYN MCINTYRE as an EP. As you can read here, she’s been working as an on-air personality and producer for the 710 ESPN radio station in Seattle. Jessamyn previously worked as a producer for ESPN radio.

James

One time Providence, RI news director (WLNE-TV) and consultant SCOTT JAMES has written a new book. Trial by Fire examines the fire at The Station night club in Providence, among the nation’s deadliest night club fires. 100 people died there. Learn more about the book here. Scott’s also an occasional contributor to the New York Times.

General Manager News and Notes:

Frierson

KEN FRIERSON will be the next VP/General Manager for Meredith’s WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw, Michigan. He’s been the General Sales Manager for this CBS affiliate. Ken’s also worked in Peoria, IL, Syracuse, NY, Detroit, MI, and Troy, MI.  More details in this company news release.

Morgan

Quincy Media has promoted three people to Vice President and General Manager roles at their current stations, where each was a station manager. Among the three is one time news director JOSH MORGAN at the company’s WREX-TV in Rockford, IL. Learn more about Josh and the other two who were promoted by clicking here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 8, 2020:

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
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
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
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905
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
KMID-TV 1550 West I-20. Odessa, TX 79763
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903

**: Spanish language station