September 14, 2014
Greetings:
A very busy week. SIX news director departures doing the week, with THREE open jobs being filled.
Our list of open ND jobs balloons to 28.
We have paid help wanted ads for TWO of those openings, along with an ad for a job in sunny Orlando.
In Names in the News, a new EP in Chicago, a former ND leaves the business to teach yoga, and a one-time ND takes an Assistant ND job in the market where her career started. And check out a picture from a RTDNA dinner where a lot of past leaders of the organization gathered.
All that and the rest of this week’s news is below.
New News Director Openings:
Culver
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC…DOUG CULVER left this newly-acquired-by-Sinclair-ABC affiliate on Sunday after a little more than two years as ND. I’m told that Managing Editor DAN PATRICK left the station as well. (GM BILL LORD, a former ND, left the station after Sinclair took over.) Doug’s been an ND in Tampa, and a news manager in Seattle and Los Angeles, where he also worked with Bill Lord.
Beck
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ…CAMERYN BECK is joining Scripps as a Senior Director of News Strategy, one of two such positions as Scripps. She’ll report to VP/News SEAN McLAUGHLIN. (Here’s the company’s news release.) Cameryn’s been ND here for about 18 months, spent eight years at KOVR-TV in Sacramento (five as ND) and also worked for ten years at KCRA-TV in Sacramento. As you know, KTVK has recently been purchased by Meredith, which also owns KPHO-TV in Phoenix, and no decision has been made on how or whether to replace Cameryn.
Roth
WJZY/WMYT-TV, Charlotte, NC…we told you earlier this week that GEOFF ROTH was returning to Houston as Managing Editor at KRIV-TV. Geoff was working at KRIV when FOX (which owns both stations) dispatched him to Charlotte last summer to begin the news operation at WJZY-TV. His family remained in Houston. Geoff’s been an ND for KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City (when FOX owned that station). He’s also been an ND in San Diego, Ft. Myers, for two stations in Fresno, and spent a year teaching at Hofstra. He’s also worked for CNN, and in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Denver, Miami, Jacksonville, FL, and Richmond.
KCTV, Kansas City, MO…in another move we shared with you via an UPDATE earlier this week, LARRY PERRET is headed from one Meredith station to another, WGCL-TV in Atlanta. More on that below.
Cartwright
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY…this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate is losing News Director ROB CARTWRIGHT to a new opportunity. Rob tells me he and his family are headed to Texas to be closer to family, and promises more details soon, so stay tuned. Rob’s previously worked as an Assistant ND in Dallas (KDAF-TV), an EP at WJLA-TV in Washington, and as a producer in Dallas and San Antonio. You can learn more about this opportunity in the paid ad below.
WLTZ-TV, Columbus, GA…this SagamoreHill owned NBC affiliate is looking for a new news director.
And while we first reported the vacancy last week, I wanted to call your attention to the paid help wanted ad below for the opportunity at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL.
Newly Named News Directors:
Plotnik
New England Cable News, Boston, MA…KENNY PLOTNIK returns to a newsroom as VP of this Comcast/NBC owned cable news operation. Kenny’s spent 25 years at WABC-TV, the ABC o-and-o, ending a ten year run as ND in 2012. He’d also been the Assistant ND and Managing Editor there. Kenny’s also worked at another ABC o-and-o, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, and in Buffalo. At NECN, he replaces NANETTE HOBSON who left in early May after 2+ years as ND.
Perret
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA…LARRY PERRET has been named News Director for this Meredith owned CBS affiliate. He joins the station from another Meredith owned CBS affiliate, KCTV where he’d been ND for less than a year. Interestingly, GM TREY FABACHER left the station the same day as Larry’s hire was announced. Larry’s background is long and varied: his Linkedin page has the full story. He replaces LANE MICHAELSEN who left the station earlier this summer and is now working as a regional news executive for Sinclair.
Ryan
WKTV, Utica, NY…JEREMY RYAN is the new ND for this NBC affiliate owned by Heartland Media. He’s been the ‘news resource manager’ for WSYM/WTVH-TV in Syracuse, where he’s worked since 2007. This item on the station’s website points out that Jeremy worked as a director at WKTV before. He replaces STEVE McMURRAY who’s been both GM and ND (and anchor of the 6:00 news) since he was promoted to GM last March.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY:
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is searching for a dynamic and forward thinking News Director to lead our local news operation at NewsChannel 9 WSYR-TV, the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, NY.
Serious candidates must have a proven track record of success of developing and coaching talent, consistent execution of fiercely competitive product, strategic thinking and planning, high ethical standards and effective newsroom management. Must have the ability to effectively deliver product on multi-media platform and make it relevant to the next generation of news viewers. This is a unique opportunity to take an award winning product to the next level.
To be considered, you must have a minimum of 5 years experience as a news manager and more than 10 years experience in a news operation. Prior experience with on-line and social media is required. A degree in journalism is preferred.
You need to apply online by clicking here.
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
News Director, WMBD/WYZZ=TV, Peoria, IL:
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is searching for a forward thinking and aggressive journalist for the position of News Director at WMBD/WYZZ-TV, the CBS/FOX affiliates, in Peoria-Bloomington, IL.
Located in central Illinois, Peoria is midway between Chicago and St. Louis. Through leading local medical institutions, companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Bradley University in Peoria and Illinois State University in Bloomington, significant education, science and arts advancements have been made through various community alliances in Peoria. Hosting a large manufacturing and agriculture community that is home to the international headquarters for Caterpillar and State Farm Insurance, Peoria and Bloomington are dynamic Midwestern communities known for their values, popular lifestyle, and ease of travel to major metropolitan areas and wonderful communities in which to work and live.
The successful candidate will be a hands on news manager who has a proven track record for coaching and developing talent, solid journalism skills, own the big news story and weather philosophy, and a passion for breaking news. Our coverage of Central Illinois is a priority, so a vision for unique coverage, storytelling and programming is a must.
To be considered, you must have a minimum of 5 years experience as a news manager and more than 10 years experience in a news operation. Prior experience with on-line and social media is required. A degree in journalism is preferred.
Apply online by clicking here.
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
Assignment Manager, Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL:
You have probably visited Orlando, how about working here full-time?
News 13 is looking for a new Assignment Manager.
We’re a 24-hour local news channel serving Central Florida.
We’re owned by Bright House Networks, the dominant cable company in the area.
We’re an hour from the ocean and 90 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.
You’ll supervise a team of 5 assignment and planning editors. You’ll work with the news staff on building great content to share on our TV channel, as well as our web and mobile screens. Breaking news is a big deal for us, but so is coverage of key stories across the nine counties we call home.
For more specifics on duties and to apply, you have to click here.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/27/14)
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 8/23/14)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (new listing this week)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 8/3/14)
KRCR/KCVU-TV, Redding, CA (listed 7/6/14)
WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL (relisted this week)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (lsited 8/31/14)
WWSI-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 8/31/14) *
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/23/14)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 8/23/14)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listed 8/31/14)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (AM EP, relisted 8/31/14)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (PM EP, relisted 8/31/14)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI, (AM EP, PM EP & Spec. Projects, post revised this week)
KOKH-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (PM EP, listed 8/3/14)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (Dayside EP, relisted 8/23/14)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 8/31/14)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Nightside EP, relisted 8/3/14)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 8/31/14)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (Nightside EP, listed 7/20/14)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (listed 9/7/14)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (PM EP, listed 7/13/14)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (listed 7/27/14)
WCTI-TV, Greenville/New Bern, NC (listed 8/31/14)
KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK (relisted 7/13/14)
ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (listed 8/31/14)
Central Florida News 13, Orlando, FL (listed 9/7/14, see ad above!)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 7/13/14)
NEWS OPERATIONS MANAGER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA: (listed 8/31/14)
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 7/20/14)
* Spanish language station
Situations Wanted:
We offer a free situations wanted ad to news managers who are looking for a new opportunity. If you’d like to state your case to a well targeted audience, email me an item (max. 150 words). You may include a link to a website, an email address, and a photo. You must include your name. I’ll run it for one week. I don’t represent or endorse those listed, but merely trying to help.
Names in the News…and other things:
JENNIFER VANDER SANDEN has been promoted to Executive Producer at FOX o-and-o WFLD-TV in Chicago. She’s been the Morning Senior Producer there and has worked at two other Chicago news operations, as well as in Rockford, IL.
Petterson
ROBERTA PETTERSON, one time Nashville ND and current Assistant ND at WSMV-TV, is heading out on her own. She tells me she’s going to pursue her dream of teaching yoga. Roberta spent more than 2 1/2 years as ND of WZTV in Nashville, and has also worked in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Tulsa.
McManus-Faye
KATIE McMANUS-FAYE is headed back to Savannah as Assistant ND for WTOC-TV, the Raycom owned station. She began her career as an anchor/reporter at WSAV-TV there. She most recently was an ND in Springfield/Champaign, IL, has also been an ND in Jackson, TN, and Sarasota, and has worked in Nashville, Miami (two stations), Tampa, and Dallas.
GM Notes:
For the record, as we reported above in our report on the new News Director at Meredith’s WGCL-TV in Atlanta, GM TREY FAYBACHER left the station this week.
Our Full List of ND Openings:
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Sunday, September 14, 2014.
WPIX-TV 220 E. 42nd Street New York NY 10017
KWHY-TV 4975 W. Pico Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90019 *
WFDC-TV 101 Constitution Ave. NW Washington DC 20001 *
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. Arlington VA 22209
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place Atlanta GA 30324
KCEC-TV 777 Grant St. #110 Denver CO 80203 *
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
KMGH-TV 123 Speer Blvd. Denver CO 80203
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr. Charlotte NC 28217
WJZY/WMYT-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte NC 28214
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway KS 66205
KEYE-TV 10700 Metric Blvd. Austin TX 78758
WBMA/WCFT/WJSU-TV 800 Concourse Parkway, # 200, Birmingham, AL 35244
WTLV/WJXX-TV, 1070 E. Adams St. Jacksonville FL 32202
WIVB-TV 2077 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo NY 14207
WEAR-TV 4990 Mobile Highway Pensacola FL 32506
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 (see ad above!)
KVEO-TV 394 N. Expressway Brownsville TX 78521
WBTW-TV 101 McDonald Court Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
KVRR-TV 4015 9th Ave S Fargo ND 58103
WMBD/WYZZ-TV 3131 N. University Peoria, IL 61604 (see ad above!)
KLFY-TV 1808 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette LA 70506
WLTZ 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WICU/WSEE 3514 State St. Erie PA 16508
KTAB/KRBC-TV 4510 S. 14th St. Abiliene, TX 79605
KLDO/KXOF-TV 226 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo TX 78040
WBUP/WBKP-TV 1705 Ash Street Ishpeming MI 49849
KAVU-TV 3808 N. Navarro Victoria, TX 77901
* Spanish language station