February 12, 2023
Greetings:
I am sure many of you had a super weekend, especially those who rooted for Kansas City,
Certainly the TWO people who got new news director jobs this week did. Along with TWO new openings, our list stations looking for a new ND remains at 29.
ONE of those openings is among FOUR Paid Help Wanted ads, including ads for an EP job in Washington, producers (from remote locations!) for a national news magazine, and a new ad for an EP job in West Virginia.
There are way too many items in the obituary section. We’ll tell you about the deaths of a former ND, the mother of a well known former ND, as well as a well respected legend in the Seattle market, and new information about the death of an ABC network EP and the sad sidebar about the arrest of his wife.
FIVE local stations won DuPont Columbia Awards..we have the link to the news releases on each winner. And a well-travelled EP gets a new job, but in this case well-travelled as a different meaning.
All this and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Kay
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA…as it often does, Hearst filled the open ND job here from within, promoting KRISTIN KAY. She’s currently the Assistant ND for another Hearst NBC affiliate, WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. She’s also worked in Minneapolis, Seattle, San Diego and Bakersfield. Kristin replaces ERIC NAZERENUS whose 23 year career here (the last two as ND) ended at the end of 2022. He’s now the ND for WBRE/WYOU-TV in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA.
Chu
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX…he’s BACK. I speak of HENRY CHU, who’ll be the next ND for this Nexstar operation. I say he’s back because the last time Henry was mentioned here, it was an April 2021 item noting his retirement from WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, KY, after 14 years as news director, one of four ND jobs he held. Henry replaces ADAM P. BRADSHAW who died suddenly earlier this year at the age of 62.
New News Director Openings:
Glover
KCTV, Kansas City, MO…the ever spinning merry go round at this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate kicked out another ND this week, as KATE GLOVER left after just one year. Her replacement will be the TENTH ND in just 13 years. (As we’ve noted before, most of the changes came under Meredith ownership.) Kate’s a former ND for Gray’s South Bend, IN, station WNDU-TV where she spent four years. And she was an ND in Portland, OR, and Buffalo. Here’s more on her career.
Franklin
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC…AKILI FRANKLIN moves within Hearst to become the company’s first director, news management recruitment. She’s been the ND for this NBC affiliate since 2020, earlier was the ND for Hearst’s WDSU-TV in New Orleans, and worked for Hearst stations in Birmingham and West Palm Beach. This job essentially fills the void left by the retirement of TOM DOLAN, whose firm, Dolan Media Managment, helped Hearst with management recruiting.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KMIZ-TV, Columbia-Jefferson City, MO:
KMIZ-TV, in Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo., has an immediate opening for a news director. This is your chance to work for a family-owned company committed to doing news the right way and live in one of the nicest cities in the Midwest.
The ABC 17 News team is a well-oiled machine driven by an aggressive, focused brand. We invest in top tier consulting, research and talent development. The company provides the staff resources and support to succeed in this competitive market. We need a hands on news director who is crazy about coaching both veteran and young journalists.
Columbia offers a tremendous quality of life as a college town in the heartland. It is also a short drive from Kansas City, St. Louis and Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. There’s a terrific trail system here and tons of options for the active lifestyle. We have the draw of big-time college athletics, the popular culture of world renowned film and music festivals plus the cultural opportunities a major university provides. Dining and nightlife are top notch for a city this size.
The News-Press Gazette Company (NPG) is family-owned with a steep tradition in serving its community through various newspaper and broadcast holdings. It is a diverse company with an eye to the future that includes maintaining its portfolio of 10 television markets. It is large enough to provide its stations the latest industry services to keep them competitive but small enough to offer a great degree of autonomy at its individual stations.
Producers, Gray Television, Remote Locations:
Gray Television has an opportunity for producers who are creative writers and big thinkers looking to break out of the mold of daily news. We are launching a new national daily news magazine and we’re looking for producers to join our team. This is a new show being developed by Gray Television and a chance to join a team producing the next wave of syndicated programming for the company.
The daily show will include elements from InvestigateTV as well as original editorial content and stories culled from Gray stations. This new M-F show will air on all 113 Gray television stations.
The ideal Producer candidate will be a creative writer with a strong editorial background and a knack for showcasing.
This will NOT be a newscast. No breaking news. No weather. You will focus on journalism and showcasing long-form storytelling. We see the show as a journey across America through the lens of in-depth storytelling focusing on holding the powerful accountable, informing consumers and profiling the American experience.
Want to learn more? Follow this link!
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WTVD-TV, Durham, NC (listed 1/29/23)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/12/23, see ad above!)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (relisted 1/15/23)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 1/15/23)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (listed 12/18/22)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
News 12 Long Island, Bethpage, NY (listed 1/15/23)
News 12 Edison, NJ (Spec. Projects. Prod., listed 1/15/23)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listing revised 1/8/23)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 1/29/23)
WTTG-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/5/22, see ad above!)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 2/12/23)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 12/26/22)
KXTV. Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/23)
WTVD-TV, Durham, NC (listed 1/29/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 1/22/23)
WRTV, Indianpolis, IN (relisted 1/15/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 1/22/23)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 1/15/23)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 1/15/23)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 12/4/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 1/15/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 1/15/23)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital EP, listed 2/12/23)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/23)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 1/15/23)
WWL-TV, New Orleans (AM EP, listed 1/15/23)
WNYT-TV, Albany, NY (listed 2/12/23)
WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (AM EP, listed 2/12/23)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 1/22/23)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (Digital EP, listed 2/12/23)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (PM EP, listing modified 1/15/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 12/11/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (relisted 1/15/23)
KTAL-TV, Shreveport, LA (Digital EP, listed 1/15/23)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 12/11/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 1/22/23)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, relisted 1/15/23)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 12/11/22)
KETK-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 1/29/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (listed 1/29/23)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 1/15/23)
KSNT-TV, Topeka, KS (Digital EP, listed 1/22/23)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (listed 1/22/23)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/15/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 2/5/23:
Gray Television, Remote (Producers for Magazine Program, see ad above!)
Listed 1/9/23:
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Livestream Producer)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Assignment Desk Manager)
Obituaries:
Shafer
Former News Director DON SHAFER died February 4th at the age of 74. He had suffered from diabetes and other ailments. Don was twice an ND for different stations in San Diego, and also ran newsrooms in Peoria, Flint, and Oklahoma City and worked in a number of other markets. After his 2015 retirement, he returned to his native Colorado where he worked as Supervisor of Video Productions for the Pueblo school system, A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Throndsen
A beloved Seattle newsman, BOB THRONDSEN, died in his sleep February 4th. Bob was 75. He worked at KOMO-TV for 34 years, first as a reporter before becoming Managing Editor and finishing as ND for KOMO Radio. The TV station aired this eight minute obituary, well worth your time to learn more about a terrific story teller and mentor to many. After retirement, Bob wrote for a local (Edmonds, WA) online news site which remembered him in this nice column.
Tejera
There’s new information on the death of ABC News’ THIS WEEK EP DAX TEJERA, whose passing we told you about a few weeks ago. He died December 23 of what was reported to have been a heart attack. Now a report from the New York medical examiner’s office shows he choked while intoxicated. And his wife was arrested on child endangerment charges for leaving their children in a hotel when she went to the hospital where Dax was being treated.
Ginny Ginther
GERRY GINTHER, mother of MARK GINTHER, died last Sunday at the age of 78. Mrs. Ginther worked a a nurse and is survived by her husband of 58 years, DENNY GINTHER, in addition to Mark and four siblings. We told you just a few weeks ago that Mark was joining SmithGeiger after four years as Director of News Content and Operations for Sinclair. He’s a former ND in Dallas, Seattle, and Des Moines and also worked in Minneapolis. Your kind note would reach Mark here.
Names in the News:
Five local stations were honored with DuPont Columbia Awards this week.
Here’s the news release from each of the winners:
KXAS-TV, Dallas for Paper Tag Nation, a report on security lapses at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle.
Tegna had two winners, WXIA-TV in Atlanta for The Reveal, a look at Georgia’s Child Welfare system, and KARE-TV in Minneapolis for The Gap: Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect…a year long series of stories about suspects deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial are released without proper supervisioin. Learn more about each in this news release.
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN for Revealed, a look at politics on Tennessee Capitol Hill
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA for Hidden Evidence, an investigation into misconduct at the Louisiana State Police.
Great journalism by each of the winners.
Nelson
WDJT-TV, Weigel’s CBS affiliate in Milwaukee, has a new executive producer. It’s BEN NELSON, who last held the same position for KOAT-TV (Hearst/ABC) in Albuquerque, a job he left last September after five plus years. He’s had a very unusual journey since then, as you’ll learn in this note to staff from WDJT ND JESSIE GARCIA. Ben’s also worked in Cedar Rapids, Rochester, MN, and began in radio in Everett, WA.
General Manager News and Notes:
Gray Television promoted ROBBY THOMAS to GM for its Columbia, SC, NBC affiliate, WIS-TV. He’s been the GM for Gray’s WTVY-TV in Dothan, AL. VALERIE RUSSELL will replace Robby at WTVY, where she has been the General Sales Manager. More on both moves here.
Mennie
Updating an item from last week, when we told you that ROB MENNIE had left his job as GM for Tegna’s WTLV-WJXX-TV in Jacksonville. Social media posts report that Rob retired last November and moved to Maryland. You’ll remember that Rob was once ND for Tegna’s WUSA-TV in nearby Washington, DC and was a longtime employee of Tegna (nee Gannett).
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 12, 2023:
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
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KIRO-TV 2807 3rd Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
KMGH-TV 123 E. Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
WOIO/WUAB-TV 1717 E. 12th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr. Columbus, OH 43215
KCTV 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy. Fairway, KS 66205
KVUE- TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St. Greenville, SC 29609
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719
WJRT-TV 2302 Lapeer Rd. Flint MI 48503
KHGI-TV 1078 25 Road Axtell, NE 68924
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201 (see ad above!)
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa TX 79763
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
WGFL/WNBW/WMYG-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire. Quincy, IL 62301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd North, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station
**: Spanish language station