August 1, 2021
Greetings:
FIVE new news director openings in this week’s report, only ONE of which was created by the incumbent getting a promotion. And that move was one of our THREE new ND hires, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 42!
I don’t know if that’s a record in the 25 years we’ve been bringing you this report, but it’s dang close.
FOUR of those 42 jobs are advertised among our FIVE paid help wanted ads.
One obituary this week, that of a former GM in several midwest markets who retired more than 25 years ago.
In Names in the News, a new ‘interim’ EP for the CBS Evening News, a new Assistant ND in New York, and a handful of news manager moves.
And a Tennessee news director adds a new title (Station Manager) which will change to General Manager next year.
It’s a busy week…read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Cronan
WCVB-TV, Boston, MA…our update on Thursday brought you first word of MARGARET CRONAN’s appointment as ND for this ABC affiliate. It’s a return to Hearst as she had earlier been the ND for company stations in Baltimore and W. Palm Beach. Most recently, she was ND at KYW-TV (CBS) in Philadelphia. At WCVB, she replaces PAIGE HARRISON who’s been named VP/News for Hearst.
Lopez
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA…GERARDO LOPEZ moves from one Scripps station to another as he’s been named news director for this CBS affiliate. Since January, 2020, he’s been the ND for KJRH-TV (NBC) in Tulsa. The number of places he’s worked is too long for this space! At WTKR, he replaces ERIC OLSEN who is now ND for WHBF-TV in Rock Island, IL.
Parsons
WCHS-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…WADE PARSONS is being promoted within Sinclair to be the next ND for this CBS/FOX operation. Here’s the staff email, which includes quotes from Wade. He’s currently the assistant ND for Sinclair’s KSNV-TV (NBC) in Las Vegas. Wade’s also worked in Providence, Orlando, and Greenville, SC. At WCHS, he replaces CHRIS SWOPE who requested a transfer to WCTI-TV in New Bern to be close to family.
New News Director Openings:
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK…we told you above that GERARDO LOPEZ is moving to another Scripps station, WTKR-TV in Norfolk. His replacement will be the fifth ND in about four years.
Walker
KATC-TV, Lafayette, LA…LETICIA WALKER has left this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate after almost 20 years at the station and 14 years as news director. More in this story which includes a quotes from both Leticia and GM SEAN TRCALEK. She began at the station as a reporter and fill-in anchor in 2002 and earlier and worked at KLFY-TV in Lafayette.
Sakai
KION-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA…is looking for a new news director. My records show that STACY SAKAI was named news director of this News Press and Gazette station last September, replacing RON KELLER. You can learn more about this opportunity by checking out the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Baxter
WJET-TV, Erie, PA…after 17 years as news director, and more than 40 years at the station, LOU BAXTER is retiring from the day to day operations of the newsroom. But, as you’ll learn in this article, he’s going to stay on coordinating special projects for both the station and its website. He began at the station as a reporter and anchor.
Kirby
KREX-TV, Grand Junction, CO…this Nexstar owned CBS and FOX operation has a news director opening. I believe that JOHN KIRBY had been the news director since March, 2019. His background was unusual for a news director.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KION-TV, Monterey/Salinas, 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 by clicking here.
NPG of Monterey-Salinas, CA LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Posting closes when position is filled.
News Director, KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA:
TOP 10 OPPORTUNITY- Nexstar Media Inc.’s KRON 4 is seeking a news director to lead a team of top-notch journalists in San Francisco, Market #6 – a world class city and the 10th best place to live in the country, according to U. S. News & World Report.
The Bay Area’s Local News Station delivers the most news coverage in our DMA – over 120 LIVE hours – across KRON 4, kron4.com and KRONon, our 24/7 local news app.
The News Director will lead daily on-air and online news coverage; hire, train, and mentor producers, reporters and anchors; oversee special projects and execute 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. Must be able to lead and motivate both experienced, seasoned pros and those who are new to the media industry.
The news director must have a track record of successful collaboration with department head peers and value the importance of community involvement. A degree in journalism, mass communications, or a related field is preferred.
Prior newsroom leadership experience is required.
News Director, KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN:
We’re looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.
KBJR Television in Duluth, MN seeks a News Director to grow our news team and advance our news products.
The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests.
Reporting to the General Manager, the News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 3 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and needs, as well as sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic, ethical and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence and a burning desire to lead what can become the best local broadcast news operation in Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, we want to hear from you.
Send your cover letter and resume to:
Todd Wentworth
246 South Lake Ave
Duluth, MN 55802
twentworth@kbjr6.com
Throughout QMI, positions are available for candidates with all levels of experience and the advancement you are seeking.
Visit https://quincymediacareers.com/ for links to all stations and opportunities.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
KBJR 6 & CBS 3 is an EEO/AA Employer
News Director, WREX-TV, Rockford, IL:
13 WREX is looking for a dynamic, innovative journalist committed to leading a group of talented journalists into the future of our industry.
Our news operation is content-focused and thrives off of journalists willing to think outside the box. We don’t just document what happened — we are storytellers.
WREX is committed to telling important, impactful stories that make a difference in our local communities. Our next news director must have a passion for seeking the truth and help identify important stories.
WREX has been named Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Assoc., Outstanding News Operation by the Illinois AP and the regional winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. We’re looking for a candidate who strives for excellence in everything they do.
Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The news director works closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 4 years of TV news management experience and a degree in broadcast journalism is preferred. You must demonstrate a strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles with fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence, and a desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Rockford, Illinois, we want to hear from you.
Please send resume & cover letter to:
Ed Reams
General Manager
13 WREX
P.O. Box 530
Rockford, IL 61105
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 6/13/21)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/4/21)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 6/27/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21, see ad above!)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (listed 6/18/21)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (relisted 7/25/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, relisted 7/25/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/27/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 6/13/21)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 6/13/21)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/25/21)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro-High Point, NC (AM EP, relisted this week)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/6/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital EP, listed 6/13/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, relisted 6/13/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted 7/18/21)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 7/25/21)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 6/27/21)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 7/11/21:
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (Senior Manager of Investigative)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Real Time Desk Manager)
Relisted 6/27/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 6/20/21:
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital Content Director)
Obituary:
Herbst
RICH HERBST, who ran stations in Milwaukee (WTMJ-TV) and Cedar Rapids, IA (KGAN-TV) before retiring at age 57, died this week at the age of 83 at his home in Tennessee. More in this obituary. After retiring, Rich worked as a consultant and continued his work with several non-profit organizations. Services will be held later this month.
Names in the News:
Ortiz
CBS veteran AL ORTIZ has been named interim executive producer of The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell. He held the same job when the program was called The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. For the past seven years, he’s been the vice president of standards and practices for CBS News.
Adams
SAUL ADAMS gets a promotion at Nexstar’s WPIX-TV in New York. He’ll be the next Assistant News Director there. Saul had been Managing Editor for the CW affiliate. He’s in his second stint at ‘PIX, interrupted by three years at WNBC-TV. He’s also worked for WNYW-TV, the FOX station in New York.
Wilson
WOIO-TV (CBS), the Gray owned CBS affiliate in Cleveland, has named ERICA WILSON as its news morning executive producer. She joins from WHDH-TV (Sunbeam/independent) in Boston where she had been the 5:30 producer.
And at another Gray station in Ohio, MEGAN LAIRD moves from 10:00 producer to EP at WXIX-TV in Cincinnati.
Murrell
GROVER MURRELL returns to his native Baltimore, joining CBS o-and-o WJZ-TV as the dayside executive producer. He’s leaving Cox Media Group’s WJAX/WFOX-TV in Jacksonville, where he was the managing editor. His GM there, BOB LONGO, sent this nice note to the staff. Grover’s also worked for another Baltimore station at in Nashville.
General Manager News and Notes:
Starnes
Congratulations to WRCB-TV (Chattanooga, TN) News Director CALLIE STARNES who’s adding station manager duties to her job, part of a plan that will make her GM next year. She’s been the ND for this Sarkes Tarzian owned NBC affiliate since 2016. She first joined the station in 2008 as a reporter and was later promoted to Assistant News Director.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 1, 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