August 18, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings, again:
A second UPDATE in the same day usually means big news, and I think this falls into that category.
Fowler
Three time Chicago news director CAROL FOWLER is leaving the Windy City to become news director for Tegna’s KSDK-TV in St. Louis.
She’s spent eleven years as a news director in Chicago at three different stations. Her Linkedin page has her history, including what she’s been up to since leaving her last ND job 7 1/2 years ago.
Carol replaces TIFFANI LUPENSKI at this NBC affiliate. She left in March after fewer than 18 months as ND. Ironically, Tiffani now works in Chicago as the Director of Content at WBBM-TV, one of the stations for which Carol had once been ND.
It’s a small business, as you already know.
Who knows what surprises lie ahead for the rest of the week?
regards,
gevers
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 UPDATE:
Greetings:
We have changes in two top 35 markets to share with you today.
Knutsen
In Los Angeles, veteran LA newswoman KRIS KNUTSEN has left Fox’s KTTV after about three years as news director. She had been the Assistant ND for Tribune’s KTLA-TV for five years before moving to KTTV. She’d earlier spent about 30 years working at KNBC-TV and the Local News Service.
Her replacement will be the FOURTH ND for this FOX o-and-o since longtime ND JOSE RIOS was promoted to the corporate staff in 2011.
Eck
And at WCMH-TV in Columbus, OH, DENISE ECK returns to Ohio and Nexstar as she joins this NBC affiliate as ND. Here’s the email from General Manager KEN FREEDMAN.
Earlier in her career, Denise was a news director in Dayton (WDTN-TV) and an Assistant ND for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. Most recently, she’d been the ND for WSMV-TV in Nashville, a job she left earlier this year. She’s also been an ND in Topeka, and worked as an anchor, reporter, and investigative reporter in a number of markets.
She replaces DAVE CILIBERTI who was promoted last month to become ND for sister Nexstar NBC affiliate WFLA-TV in Tampa.
More on both these stories…and all the week’s news…in our full report later this weekend.
regards,
gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
We start tonight with breaking news.
(Hey, way too many newscasts I watch start that way…why can’t I?)
Late this afternoon word came that Verizon;/FIOS will close its hyper local New York area cable news operation later this year, costing 150 people their jobs. Details here.
Turning to other news (another cliche!) it’s been a busy week, despite my late Friday comment in an UPDATE that it had been slow.
There are FOUR new news directors, except that:
None of them are really NEW, they’ve all been ND’s before in top 30 markets, and
ALL of them had been out of a newsroom for more than a year.
There are also TWO new ND openings bringing our list of ND openings to 30. THREE of those openings are in Columbus (TWO the Ohio one, ONE in the Georgia one) and TWO of them are in Bluefield/Oak Hill (BOTH, of course, are in West Virginia).
And TWO of those ND openings are among our FOUR paid help wanted ads this week, while the other two are for Morning EP openings in top 20 markets.
No obituaries, thankfully, just ONE new GM to tell you about, and a handful of times in Names in the News.
We’ll be back with more after this commercial break. (Still another cliche!)
Newly Named News Directors:
Dahl
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ…late Friday, JENNIFER DAHL was announced as the next ND for this Meredith owned CBS/Independent duopoly. GM KEVIN JAMES told the staff in this email. It’s a return to KTVK for Jennifer, who was a producer there. She most recently was a regional ND for Sinclair, a job she left in late 2016, and a news director in Salt Lake City. She replaces DAN WILSON who exited in June after 3 1/2 years as ND.
Brady
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL…JON BRADY will be the next ND for this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. Jon’s most recent ND job was at XETV in San Diego which ended when the station shut down its news department. His background is extensive: you can check it out on his Linkedin page. At WPEC, he replaces ADAM HENNING who left earlier this summer and is now ND for WHBQ-TV in Memphis.
Szulczewski
WAFF-TV, Huntsville, AL…another veteran newsperson returns to the job as JULIE SZULCZEWSKI is the new ND for this Gray Televsision owned NBC affiliate. Julie’s a former ND for WSOC-TV in Charlotte, a job she left last year after seven years in her second tour of duty there. She’s also been an ND in Albuquerque, and has worked in Orlando, Miami, St. Louis and Ft. Myers. Julie replaces BOB MORFORD who retired after three years as ND here and 40 in our business.
Snead
KCBD-TV, Lubbock, TX…BENJI SNEAD returns as the news director for this Gray Television owned station after a 4+ year hiatus working in marketing for a local bank. Benji worked here for 20 years in a variety of positions, the last 12 as ND before changing careers. KCBD is an NBC affiliate.
.
New News Director Openings:
Zeller
WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL…our Friday UPDATE brought news that JEFF ZELLER had resigned as VP/News for this FOX owned station after almost ten years at the helm. The Orlando Sentinel’s tv writer HAL BOEDEKER has more. Jeff was the Assistant ND for 3 1/2 years earlier. He’s also worked in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Tampa, Cincinnati, and Dayton. The move comes less than a month after former ND turned GM MIKE McCLAIN become the GM here.
White
WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV…KEN WHITE is leaving this Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate to concentrate on his cancer battle. Ken’s a former ND at WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington and at WCCB-TV in Charlotte where he started the news department and worked there for 14 years. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad just below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WVVA-TV, Bluefield, WV:
Here’s your chance to lead an award-winning newsroom!
NBC affiliate WVVA TV in Bluefield, WV, has a newsroom loaded with talent! We are committed to strong journalism and community service. If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead the number one television news team in the Bluefield/Beckley WV market, we want to hear from you.
As News Director you are coaching, guiding and mentoring on a continuous basis. An excellent opportunity to join our team, we are looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.
WVVA is a continuous local news source with an immediate deadline mentality. The News Director directly oversees all involved in our news gathering and distribution processes.
You will work closely with the Social Media Manager and Content Manager to ensure that our customers are being served on all platforms.
A minimum of 5 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Successful candidate must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and needs. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.
WVVA Television is a Quincy Media station. Learn why our family-owned company has a reputation as one of the best to work for in the industry today at www.quincymediacareers.com.
Please send your resume and cover letter with references to:
WVVA-TV
Human Resources
3052 Big Laurel Highway
Bluefield, WV 24701
or email to: asluss@wvva.com
WVVA is an equal opportunity employer.
Morning Executive Producer, KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO:
Are you interested in working in Denver, Colorado — one of the best cities in America – with the Rocky Mountains in your backyard, and all the hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and excitement you can handle?
Are you a show doctor who oversees a morning newscast filled with urgent, impactful news?
Do you LOVE to win the day, every day, on all platforms?
Are you looking for a rare opportunity to take your creativity to the next level and work in a fast-paced and fun newsroom with some of the most creative storytellers in the nation?
KDVR/KWGN, the Fox and CW affiliate in Denver, Colorado, is looking for a creative and aggressive Executive Content Producer to lead us on the morning shift — delivering news on multiple platforms including five and a half hours of morning news on FOX31.
The Executive Producer must be a proven newsroom leader who embodies an audience-first approach to delivering news. This individual will excel under tight deadlines and bring bold, creative ideas to our newsroom.
This is your chance to take risks, get creative, and take the helm of a strong morning show with a great team behind you in a place where everybody wants to live.
Click here to apply and send your resume/reel to brian.gregory@kdvr.com
Morning Executive Producer, KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA:
KPIX5 San Francisco is recruiting for an Executive Producer to lead our morning news team.
This is a terrific opportunity to join a legacy news operation in one of the most dynamic markets in the country. The successful candidate will craft compelling, urgent newscasts while leading a veteran editorial team. Demonstrated success developing and integrating content across multiple platforms is essential.
We’re looking for a risk taker who understands the audience demands more than the expected formula. The Morning Executive Producer collaborates with other news managers and assists in developing and executing editorial strategies for all dayparts. Must be a mentor who knows how to inspire the team.
Minimum 4 years experience as a producer with management background preferred.
To learn more about this great opportunity and to apply, just click here.
News Director, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:
WDIO-TV is seeking a News Director ready to take a powerful market leader to new heights. This leader oversees all news, weather and sports content and delivery channels and is responsible for directing and managing the news department — seeing that the station’s vision and community mission is understood by the entire news organization.
WDIO-TV, News Channel 10/13 is the award-winning ABC network affiliate for Northeastern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. Part of Hubbard Broadcasting, WDIO-TV is committed to excellence in all that it does-broadcast news with hyper-local coverage, important public service that deals powerfully with today’s issues, and now, more than ever, top-notch digital content, to reach our viewers and followers with information the way they want to receive it.
When you work for WDIO-TV, you will find yourself among dedicated, passionate people who work hard every day to improve our product and our community. If you have the qualifications, and you are a person of talent and integrity, we invite you to apply!
To learn more about the day to day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please visit our web site by clicking here:
News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/14/19)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/7/19)
KSPR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 7/17/19)
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN (relisted 7/14/19)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (relisted 8/11/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Special Projects EP, listed 7/7/19)
KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA (AM EP, listed 8/11/19, see ad above!)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (Dayside EP, new listing this week)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (AM EP, relisted this week)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted this week, see ad above!)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (PM EP, listed 8/11/19)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (new listing this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Senior EP, relisted 7/14/19)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 8/4/19)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, relisted 7/21/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 6/23/19)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (Dayside EP, new listing this week)
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, AL (PM EP, relisted this week)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, relisted 7/7/19)
WBRE-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 7/14/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (AM EP, listed 7/21/19)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (AM EP, listed 7/28/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (new listing this week)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 6/23/19)
WFXG-TV, Augusta, GA (relisted this week)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital Executive Producer, relisted 6/23/19)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
Other News Management Openings:
Listed 8/4/19:
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (Digital Content EP)
Listed 7/28/19:
WBRE-TV, Wilkes/Barre/Scranton, PA (Digital Content EP)
Relisted 7/28/19:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Enterprise Executive Producer)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 7/21/19:
E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH, (Senior Director of Content)
E.W. Scripps, Denver, CO (Senior Director of National Content)
Listed 7/7/19:
KMTV, Omaha, NE (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/30/19
KGET-TV, Bakersfield, CA (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 6/23/19:
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (Digital Content Manager)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/16/19:
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (Investigative Producer)
Names in the News (and other items):
Meier
LEE MEIER stays within the FOX family as she returns to Texas as the new Assistant News Director for KRIV-TV in Houston. She’s been the Managing Editor at sister FOX o-and-o WTXF-TV in Philadelphia. Earlier in her career she worked for two stations in El Paso, and she’s also been an EP for WDAF-TV in Kansas City. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more.
Zelkind
Longtime newsman MATTHEW ZELKIND is the new EP for Sinclair’s KATU-TV in Portland, OR. Matthew’s a former ND in Nashville (twice), Las Vegas, and Wichita, worked as a station manager in Richmond, VA, and has worked in Los Angeles, Denver, San Luis Obispo, and Medford, OR. He’s spent the last year as an EP in Colorado Springs.
ANGIE BIERLEY is the new Digital Content Director at Birmingham’s WBRC-TV. She had been the dayside EP for this FOX station. She’s been with the station in a variety of roles for 18 years over two different stints.
VERONICA PLACENCIA returns to a newsroom as she’s been named Assistant News Director at KERO-TV, the Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate in Bakersfield. She is a former ND at KTSM-TV in El Paso and also worked for the Univision station there.
Sederstrom
NOEL SEDERSTROM, who’s retiring after 11 1/2 years as ND for KTTC-TV (Rochester MN) was profiled by his soon-to-be-former station. He also served as ND for WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids, MI, for seven years. We told you earlier this month that MICHELE GORS would replace Noel. KTTC is a Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate.
General Manager News and Notes:
Just one item this week: Sinclair has named JASON WILDENSTEIN general manager for WJAC-TV in Johnstown, PA.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 18, 2019:
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
KTRK-TV 3310 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KUSA-TV 500 E Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80203
WOFL-TV 35 Skyline Dr, Lake Mary, FL 32746
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KSDK-TV 1000 Market St. St. Louis MO 63101
KFMB-TV 7677 Engineer Road San Diego, CA 92111
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64112
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
WCMH-TV 3165 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43202
KOCO-TV 1300 East Britton Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73131
WBIR-TV 1513 Bill Williams Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
WTOL-TV 730 N. Summit St. Toledo OH 43604
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
KXXV-TV 1909 S New Rd, Waco, TX 76711
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WWAY-TV 1224 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WJFW-TV 3217 County Rd G Rhinelander, WI 54501
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Rd, Duluth, MN 55811 (see ad above!)
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WOAY-TV P.O. BOX 3001 Oak Hill, WV 25901
WVVA-TV 3052 Big Laurel Highway Bluefield WV 24701 (see ad above!)
KRTV 3300 Old Havre Hwy. Black Eagle, MT 59414
KXLF/KZBK-TV 1003 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901
**: Spanish language station