February 23, 2025
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 UPDATE #2
Greetings:
Two news director moves of note today.
Nadell
SUZANNE NADELL will leave Cox’s WSB-TV (ABC) in Atlanta when her contract expires in July. This note from WSB General Manager MARIAN PITTMAN details Suzanne’s next move. Suzanne has been the ND here since 2019 and had previously worked as a news director at Cox stations in Pittsburgh (WPXI-TV/NBC) and Tulsa (KOKI-TV/FOX). She’s also worked in Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Myers, and Johnson City, TN, where she began her career as a producer/reporter.
Fulmer
In a surprise move (at least to me) BARRY FULMER is returning to WDRB-TV (Block Communications/FOX) in Louisville as Vice President/News. That’s the job Barry held for more than 17 years before leaving three years ago to become Senior Director of Local Content (a job known to many of you as news director) for Scripps’ WCPO-TV (ABC) in Cincinnati. He’s also worked in Philadelphia and starts in Louisville in early March.
One correction from last weekend’s newsletter. We misidentified the owner of WXXV-TV in Biloxi, where RICK BOONE worked before his move to KIRO-TV in Seattle as Managing Editor. WXXV is owned by Morris Multimedia, and not Morgan Murphy as we mistakenly reported. Apologies.
Finally, thanks to many of you who passed along a kind word about LOU PRATO whose passing we reporting in an UPDATE earlier today. No word yet on arrangements but will share them when I know more.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 UPDATE:
Greetings:
I’m sorry to report the passing of a legendary figure in our industry.
Prato
LOU PRATO died unexpectedly in his sleep early this morning. He was 87 years old.
Lou had several careers: as a news director in Detroit and Dayton, as the head of the Washington Bureau for Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, as the longtime treasurer of RTDNA, and as the author of several books on his beloved Penn State Athletics and the founding director of the Penn State All Sports Museum.
In this interview from a Penn State student media website, Lou describes himself as a sportswriter: that’s how he began, and RTDNA offers the Lou and Carole Prato Scholarship to a student pursing a career in sports.
Lou is survived by his wife, CAROLE and several children. Lou and Carole were married for almost 66 years. (I believe their anniversary is in early March.)
Arrangements are pending. I’ll share them when I know more.
Sadly,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Our list of stations with open ND jobs continues to drop, this week to 37.
That’s because TWO jobs have been filled, with NO new openings.
We do have THREE paid help wanted ads, ONE for a news director job, ONE new ad for an Assistant ND position, and ONE for an executive reporter position. And NONE of those ads are from stations owned by the biggest group owners.
There are a number of changes in our GM sections: a CBS executive is off to Tegna, NBC names a new GM at a top five market o-and-o, Scripps promotes TWO GMs, and a Louisiana ND adds GM duties to his job…but will remain as ND.
In Names in the News, a judge orders Nexstar to write a BIG check to DirectTV, and a new Managing Editor in Seattle.
Read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Carl
WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…VP/News AL CARL will resume news director duties at this Circle City Broadcasting CW affiliate. In that role, he replaces BRADY GIBSON who left the station in December after ten months as ND and seven years at WISH. The station also promoted ERICA FACEY to assistant news director. She had been the News Brand Manager since 2023 and had joined in 2019 as Content Manager.
Hendrix-Beach
KWES-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX…this Tegna owned NBC affiliate has hired a new news director whose name will be revealed soon. Whoever gets the job will fill ONE of THREE news director openings in Odessa and replace MELISSA HENDRIX-BEACH who left last summer after six years as ND. She was the Assistant News Director at KWES before her promotion to ND.
New News Director Openings:
No openings this week!
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
Job Summary:
WINK News is seeking an experienced and dynamic Assistant News Director. This position will oversee daily news operations, ensuring the highest standards of journalism and multi-platform content delivery. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for local news, strong editorial judgment, and proven leadership skills.
Key Responsibilities:
· Ensure consistent, high-quality coverage across all platforms, including broadcast, digital, and social media.
· Foster collaboration between news and digital teams to enhance multi-platform storytelling and audience engagement.
· Supervise and mentor producers, reporters, and newsroom staff, providing regular feedback and coaching.
· Oversee story selection, script approval, and editorial decision-making to uphold the station’s standards of excellence.
· Contribute to long-term strategic planning for news content and special projects.
· Champion a culture of teamwork, accountability, and journalistic integrity.
Qualifications:
· Minimum of 5 years of newsroom leadership experience, preferably in a medium-to-large market.
· Strong editorial judgment with a deep understanding of journalistic principles and ethics.
· Proven ability to lead and inspire a diverse team in a fast-paced environment.
· Experience with multi-platform content strategies and audience engagement.
· Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
· Proficiency with newsroom systems, digital platforms, and social media.
WINK News is locally owned and operated for more than 70 years. We are committed to delivering impactful local journalism IN Southwest Florida. Join a newsroom that values innovation, collaboration, and journalistic excellence.
Click here to learn more and apply!
News Director, KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN:
KAAL-TV (Hubbard Broadcasting) in Rochester, Minnesota is looking for a News Director to lead our team.
You will work with a great mix of experienced and young journalists who cover Southeastern Minnesota and Northern Iowa.
We pride ourselves in covering LOCAL news and LOCAL sports in our larger and smaller communities in the 12 counties we serve.
Home to the Mayo Clinic, the world’s foremost medical center, Rochester has been rated America’s most livable city over and over. With beautiful parks, great schools, easy and quick transportation, reliable public safety, a world class arts culture and a second to none foodie scene, Rochester is the place to work and live.
We are located just 1.5 hours from Minneapolis and St. Paul and 3 hours from Des Moines.
If you are an experienced News Director or an Assistant News Director or Executive Producer looking for your first ND position, this could be a perfect fit for you.
If interested in this role, please apply directly on our website at: www.hubbardbroadcasting.com
To learn more about the city of Rochester, Minnesota, please see this short video: Experience Rochester, MN
Executive Reporter, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:
Are you an experienced journalist with a passion for storytelling? Do you aspire to break into coaching and teaching leadership?
WSLS 10 invites you to join our team as an Executive Reporter, where you’ll lead a group of reporters/MMJs in crafting impactful stories that resonate with our audience.
In this behind-the-scenes role, you will spearhead and elevate storytelling efforts within our newsroom. This position blends strategic storytelling oversight with mentorship responsibilities, focusing on content development and guiding MMJs and reporters.
Situated in the scenic Blue Ridge region of Virginia, this opportunity at the NBC affiliate serving the Roanoke-Lynchburg market allows a seasoned news professional to shape coverage, nurture reporting talent, and develop leadership skills. The ideal candidate will provide direct guidance to field staff while enhancing the station’s storytelling strategy.
The full job description is here.
Interested applicants should submit their applications and resumes to News Director Scott Flannigan at sflannigan@wsls.com.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 1/26/25)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 1/26/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 2/16/25)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 2/23/25)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 1/19/25)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 1/12/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 1/5/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/9/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 2/16/25)
KTVB-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 2/23/25)
WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/12/25)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 1/19/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, relisted 1/12/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/25)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, released 12/22/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 1/12/25)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listing modified 1/12/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC (listed 2/16/25)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listed 2/16/25)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (listed 2/23/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 2/23/25, see ad above!)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 1/26/25)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 1/26/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (listed 2/16/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 2/16/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 2/16/25)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, listed 2/23/25)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (listed 2/23/25)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 2/16/25:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)
Listed 2/9/25:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter, title change this week)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA: (Executive Reporter, see ad above!)
Listed 1/19/25:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (News and Content Manager)
WJET-TV, Erie, PA: (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 1/5/25:
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
A New York court ordered Nexstar to pay DirectTV $26.6 million dollars in a dispute over retransmission payments.
Boone
UPDATED 2/24/25: RICK BOONE is returning to Seattle as Managing Editor for Cox Media’s KIRO-TV (CBS). He has been the ND at WXXV-TV in Biloxi but might have lost that gig when owner Morgan Murphy Morris Multimedia restructured a few weeks ago. I’ve reached out to Rick and WXXV General Manager DON MOORE but haven’t heard back yet. Rick responded saying he’d left WXXV in mid-February. Here’s Rick’s Linkedin page with his other stops.
General Manager News and Notes:
Roark
The second of this week’s UPDATES reported that ADRIENNE ROARK is leaving CBS to become Chief Content Officer for Tegna. Adrienne worked at CBS for just over 3 1/2 years, the last six months as VP of Editorial and Newsgathering for CBS News and Stations. She’s a former GM and ND at several local stations as detailed in her Linkedin account.
Davis
The first of our two UPDATES this week told you that JOEL DAVIS is off to Philadelphia as GM for NBC’s WCAU-WSSI-TV (NBC/Telemundo). He’s been GM for WRAL-WRAZ-TV (NBC/FOX) for the last seven years, is a former GM (and ND) in San Diego and a former ND in Fresno and Bakersfield. The move reunites Joel with NBC’s Chairman of NBCUniversal Local, VALARI STAAB. They worked together in Fresno.
Scripps has promoted TWO General Managers to new roles as Regional VPs of Local Media. Both MERRI HANSON (GM of KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City) and MIKE MURRI (GM of WXYZ/WMYD-TV in Detroit) will remain as GMs of those stations. Both stations will eventually name station managers to help in the oversight.
Parker
JIM PARKER adds additional duties as General Manager for Allen Media’s KADN/KLAF-TV (FOX/NBC/MyNetwork) in Lafayette, LA. He’ll continue to serve as the station’s Executive News Director, a job he’s held since August, 2022. Jim sent me this note with details. (Full disclosure: I hired Jim for his first TV job, as a morning producer in Toledo MANY years ago…so long ago it’s not even on his extensive Linkedin page.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 23, 2025:
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
WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22209
WKMG-TV 4466 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WRCB-TV 900 Whitehall Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KINT-TV 5426 North Mesa Street El Paso, TX 79912
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd. East; Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MM 55902 (see ad above!)
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station
Tegna has disbanded its national VERIFY team, putting about 18-20 people out of work. The company says the franchise will continue at its local stations. VERIFY started in 2015 as an attempt to combat misinformation. We have links to stories from 
Morris Multimedia is undergoing a restructuring, naming RUSS GELLER News Operations Manager for the company, overseeing news at its six stations, with a local news content manager at each station (though the ND title has gone away.)
