January 3, 2021
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Minium
The family of the late STEVE MINIUM has set up a web page with memorial and funeral information. Click here.
The family promises to record what is described as a small graveside service which it will load to the site after Saturday’s service.
We told you Monday that Steve died after a battle with cancer. He was 70.
As we told you earlier, Steve was a news director in Cincinnati (WKRC-TV), Birmingham (WBRC-TV) and Las Vegas (KTNV). While in Cincinnati he was promoted to VP/News for Clear Channel and then to SVP of News and Marketing for the company.
He later joined his former GM from Cincinnati, DON PERRY, at KPSP-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Palm Desert, CA, as Executive Director of News, New Media and Brand. Later, Steve worked for Broadcast Image as Director of Special Projects and Recruitment.
What we didn’t tell you on Monday was that Steve started in broadcasting as a motorcycle courier for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. In the pre-iPhone, pre-WiFi, pre-satellite trucks, pre-microwave truck days, stations in large markets would hire couriers to move newsfilm (look it up, kids!) to the station more expeditiously. Often the couriers used cars but Steve (and/or his superiors) realized motorcycles could move through traffic more quickly.
Our sympathy to Steve’s family and many friends.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
We have news of TWO new news directors…one a veteran, and one a first time ND.
Kiernan
JEFF KIERNAN heads to Detroit to be the next news director for Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC). We have the note from GM MIKE MURRI. Jeff’s currently Senior Director of Local Content for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee in his second tour of duty there. He’s also been an ND for CBS owned stations in Chicago, Boston, and Minneapolis. At WXYZ, he replaces RHONDA LaVELLE who left in November after 4+ years as ND.
Nevalga
Meanwhile, JEIMMIE NEVALGA has been named News Director for KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate in Columbia, MO. She is currently the executive producer there. More on her promotion here. Jeimmie (pronounced Jay-mee) has also worked in Chicago and Milwaukee. She replaces RANDY REEVES who remains at the station. Longtime newsman STEVE ACKERMANN has been serving as the news director since Randy stepped down in March.
Finally, a private funeral service for longtime newsman STEVE MINIUM will be held this Saturday. There will be a link available later this evening for people to leave comments and pictures. When that link is available I will post it to my website: www.rickgevers.com
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, January 4, 2021 UPDATE:
I’m sorry to share news of the death of a longtime news director and broadcaster.
Minium
STEVE MINIUM died today at his Cincinnati home after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
He was a news director in Cincinnati (WKRC-TV), Birmingham (WBRC-TV) and Las Vegas (KTNV). While in Cincinnati he was promoted to VP/News for Clear Channel and then to SVP of News and Marketing for the company.
He later joined his former GM from Cincinnati, DON PERRY, at KPSP-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Palm Desert, CA, as Executive Director of News, New Media and Brand. Later, Steve worked for Broadcast Image as Director of Special Projects and Recruitment.
I’ll have more details on Steve’s career and memorial arrangements later this week.
Finally, TWO news director jobs will be filled tomorrow. I plan an UPDATE after both jobs have been announced, likely sometime tomorrow afternoon.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
I hope your holidays were safe, healthy, and pleasant, and that 2021 is everything we all hope it will be.
As anticipated, it was a slow holiday season for news management changes, with just ONE open ND job filled. That brings our list of opening to just 14!
We have ONE paid ad for a morning EP job at a midwest station.
Sadly, THREE obituaries, TWO for former NDs and ONE for the wife of a long-time group head.
And we have THREE items in Names in the News: new managers at TWO Scripps stations, departures of TWO news executives at Spectrum Cable operations, and we’ll update the search for a new kidney for a longtime broadcaster…and how you could help him or someone else in need.
Have a great 2021, but not before reading on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Cifuentes
WUVG-TV, Atlanta, GA…GIANNCARLO CIFUENTES, the regional news director for Univision, will assume ND duties here. He’s already based at the station. As best I can tell, he replaces…himself. He was promoted to the regional job in 2017, and, if the station replaced him as ND, I haven’t been able to find any proof of that.
New News Director Opening:
There are no new openings to the best of my knowledge. Please let me know if there’s something I’ve missed.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Morning Executive Producer, KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE:
Channel 8 News in Lincoln, Nebraska is looking for an Executive News Producer to lead the morning team.
It’s a high quality of life combined with a low cost of living all surrounded by the satisfaction of a unique job challenge. We’re looking for someone who thrives on breaking news, can get content out on multiple platforms with lighting speed and has an entrepreneurial spirit with an investigative drive.
If you question everything and don’t pitch story ideas that come from the headlines, we should talk. You need to have 2 year of line producing or reporting/anchoring experience. Send your resume and news philosophy to: jhardy@klkntv.com.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WPTV, W. Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 12/13/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/13/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WGN-America/News Nation, Chicago, IL (new listing this week)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM ‘Content Producer’, new listing this week)
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)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (new listing this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 12/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (new listing this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 12/13/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 12/20/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 12/20/20)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 12/13/20)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 11/15/20:
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Heil
PAUL HEIL, who spent two years as news director at WGAL-TV in Lancaster, PA, died last Sunday (12/27/20) of a heart attack. He was 73. You’ll learn here that after leaving WGAL after serving as news director from 1977-1979, he went on to a new career and founded The Gospel Greats radio program. Paul is survived by his wife and two sons.
Nahley
A longtime Columbus, GA, broadcaster, DON NAHLEY, died in his sleep on Christmas Day at the age of 90. He spent 27 years at WRBL-TV as an anchor, and, for some of that time, as news director. This obituary fills in his post-WRBL life which included time at another station and working for the city. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, one daughter, and three sons.
Chapman
KAREN CHAPMAN, wife of longtime station executive GARY CHAPMAN, died December 17 at the age of 75. She was working in real estate in recent years and had earlier served as a pediatric nurse. Gary served as CEO of LIN Television in its various forms for 18 years and was active in the industry serving on many boards. Most recently he has been consulting in television.
Names in the News:
Two management promotions at Scripps’ stations. ALLISON HUNTER is the new Content Manager at WCPO-TV (ABC) in Cincinnati, while GUSTAVO AGUIRRE joins KRIS-TV (NBC) in Corpus Christi, TX, as executive producer. He has been producing in El Paso.
Staff reductions have cost two Spectrum news directors their jobs. RON LOMBARD posted this note on social media after leaving the compamy’s Syracuse operation. And ED BUTTACCIO turned to Facebook with his farewell.
Weiner
Former ND and current CBS Director of Professional Development MARC WEINER’s continuing search for a new kidney received coverage last week on CBS This Morning as part of a story on the National Kidney Registry, which records donors and those in need of a new kidney. For example, you might not be a match for someone but the registry will find someone one who does match…and then find a kidney for the person you want to help.
Smith
It works: Among the people who’ve benefited from the Kidney Registry is SmithGeiger CEO DAVE SMITH. His second (!) kidney transplant came through the registry after his daughter, noted photographer HARPER SMITH, wanted to donate hers but she wasn’t a match. (I asked Dave if I could mention this and here’s his reply: Absolutely YES, love to make everyone aware of the options available.)
General Manager News and Notes:
To my knowledge, no GM moves today. Please let me know if I’ve missed one: rick@rickgevers.com
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 3, 2021:
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
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral FL 33172
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
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
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***
**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor