April 30, 2023
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A veteran broadcaster returns to the news director’s office!
Wordlaw
GARY WORDLAW has been named news director for Gray’s WNDU-TV (NBC) in South Bend, IN. Details in this news release from the station. Gary most recently worked for the Black News Channel. Many of you know Gary, who’s been an ND in Washington, Baltimore, and Baton Rouge, LA, and a general manager in Seattle, New Orleans, Syracuse, and Tallahassee. He has also worked in his native Chattanooga.
At WNDU, Gary replaces KENT HARRELL who is leaving the station and is moving to Colorado to care for his aging parents.
The large market ND job I keep teasing is now likely to be announced next week.
If it happens sooner, of course, we’ll let you know.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A busy week, with TWO top twenty market ND jobs filled, among THREE stations which received new NDs this week. And there are THREE stations with new ND openings, TWO created by inter-company promotions.
That leaves 43 stations on our list of open ND jobs. Please note that we have removed KUSA-TV (Denver/Tegna) from our list of open ND jobs at the request of the company. The job has not been posted and Director of Content TIM RYAN is overseeing the newsroom.
TWO ads this week, including an ad for a big management job at a Los Angeles o-and-o.
We have an obituary for a two time Tupelo news director who died earlier today.
There are TWO new GMs, including ONE who’s currently a news director.
And in Names in the News, Sinclair eliminates local newsrooms in three more markets, NewsNation goes 24/5, a promotion to digital news director for a Florida newswoman, and why on earth is a retired group head (and one time GM of a Chicago o-and-o) buying a small newspaper group?
All that and much more as you read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Evans
KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA…LAURA EVANS returns to Seattle as ND for this Cox owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the ND for the company’s WHIO-TV (CBS) in Dayton, OH, but earlier worked for KING-TV in Seattle as its Assistant ND. We have the staff memo from GM PAT NEVIN and a note from Cox’s MARIAN PITTMAN. A bit of an overachiever :), Laura has a bachelor’s, master’s and is working on a doctorate. Her career trajectory is on her Linkedin page. Laura replaces TARA FINESTONE, who left in February after 2 1/2 years as ND.
Megan J.
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO…our Tuesday UPDATE told you that MEGAN JURGEMEYER had been named ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. This memo details her hiring AND that of a new GM for KMGH, (more on that below). Megan…as you know…had been the ND for Tegna’s KUSA-TV down the street in Denver. At KMGH, she replaces HOLLY GAUNTT who is retiring after six years as ND here and 41 years in our business.
Stone
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA…KATHY STONE gets her first news director job at this Nexstar owned NBC/FOX duopoly. She’s been the assistant ND for Nexstar’s WKRN-TV (ABC) in Nashville and has also worked for two stations in Lexington, KY. In Norfolk, Kathy replaces SARAH ZAK who left the stations in February after about 18 months as news director.
New News Director Openings:
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH…we told you above that LAURA EVANS is being promoted with Cox to become ND for KIRO-TV (CBS) in Seattle.
WDBJ-TV, Roanoke, VA…congratulations to ERIC WALTERS who is being promoted with Gray to become GM for KMVT/KSVT-TV in Twin Falls, ID. Eric’s been ND here for more than three years, and spent about three years as ND for WBTW-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC, where he worked for more than 25 years.
Fickett
KTIV, Sioux City, IA…KIM FICKETT, who joined this Gray owned station last September as digital content manager, and was promoted to news director three months later, is no longer the news director. According to her station bio, she is now the assignment editor. KTIV is an NBC affiliate.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director-Mornings, KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, CA:
Be at the center of the biggest news expansion in Los Angeles in decades with the talent and resources to win. KCBS/KCAL is looking for a proven leader with a strong basis in content and execution to oversee the production of eight hours of morning news. The ideal candidate is a current news director in a medium or large market who can plot and execute the strategic big picture, but misses the fun of playing in the sandbox every day.
Responsibilities:
-Coordinating a team of more than three dozen in the planning, producing, newsgathering, and executing of newscasts from 4am-12pm
-Crafting a planning strategy with your team for future stories and guest segments on multiple newscasts and streaming
– Growing and developing producers, associate producers, writers, reporters, and anchors
-Lead all aspects of the aggressive coverage of breaking news while retaining focus on enterprise stories that reflect the communities we serve
-Using data, research, and gut to strategically execute the newscasts
-A champion of brand through content, culture, and community
Learn more about the great opportunity and apply by clicking here:
Assistant News Director, WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:
WBRZ is seeking an innovative, energetic newsroom leader to join the journalism team as Assistant News Director. This position mentors and coaches young journalists and works closely with MMJs and reporters on daily assignments and investigations.
Previous experience as a reporter/MMJ or anchor is helpful.
This is a great opening for a reporter who is looking to move into a newsroom manager role. WBRZ owns investigative journalism and breaking news. This newsroom thrives on urgency. Catapult your career by joining the WBRZ News management team.
WBRZ prides itself on being authentically local and is the area’s only locally owned and operated TV news station. It has been so since signing on in 1955.
Like the cypress knees of the nearby swamps, Baton Rouge is knee-deep in history and activities to keep you busy year-round. Experience Saturday tailgating at LSU or Southern football or hike the trails in one of the 170 public parks available across the city. As a locally owned station, news and programming decisions are made in-house and with viewers and team members at the forefront of business operations.
Send resume, brief cover letter and an outline of your news philosophy to Jonathan Shelley, Director of News, jshelley@wbrz.com or mail to WBRZ-TV, P.O. Box 2906, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
Pre-employment drug screening required. EOE.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, LA (listed 4/30/23, see ad above!)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/30/23)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 4/16/23, see ad above!)
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 (relisted 3/26/23)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (Morning EP, listed 3/19/23)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM/Special Projects EP, relisted 4/23/23)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/23/23)
KTVU-TV, Oakland/San Francisco, CA (Nightside EP, listed 3/26/23)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 4/23/23)
WRTV, Indianpolis, IN (relisted 3/26/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 3/26/23)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 3/26/23)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 3/26/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 3/26/23)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 3/26/23)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 3/26/23)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital EP, listed 4/2/23)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 2/25/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/30/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 2/19/23)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP listed 4/23/23)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (Digital EP, relisted 3/26/23)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (relisted 2/19/23)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital EP, listed 4/23/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 4/23/23)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/23)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 4/16/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 4/30/23:
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (Director of Digital Content)
Listed 3/12/23:
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Manager of Enterprise Content)
Listed 3/5/23:
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital News Manager)
Listed 2/5/23:
Gray Television, Remote (Producers for Magazine Program)
Obituary:
Davidson
ROBERT DAVIDSON, twice a news director for two different stations in Tupelo, MS, died in hospice care today after a long illness. He was only 59 years old. During his career, Robert was ND for WTVA-TV and WCBI-TV in Tupelo, In between he was the ND at WBBJ-TV in Jackson, TN. He retired from WCBI in 2020. More in this obituary from the WTVA website.
Names in the News:
Sinclair continues to eliminate local news in some markets, generally replacing local newscasts with The National Desk. This week, the axe fell in Toledo, as well as in Medford, OR, and Sioux City, IA. These moves come after dramatic cuts in Mobile, AL, and Flint, MI.
Some Nexstar news. The company’s News Nation cable network has now gone 24 hours a day, Monday-Friday, with plans to expand on the weekend. And it opened a new studio in New York. Details from The Hollywood Reporter.
WINK-TV in Ft. Myers, FL, has promoted CAROLYN DOLCIMASCOLO to Digital News Director. She’s been the Managing Editor and EP of Special Projects. More on Carolyn via this note from ND TOM DOERR and her LinkedIn page.
Here in Indianapolis, WISH-TV and its owner Circle City Broadcasting are appealing a federal court ruling dismissing its discrimination suits against DirecTV and DISH Network.
And why would a former group president and top three market network o-and-o GM want to buy a newspaper group? It’s about news and journalism. More here.
General Manager News and Notes:
Joyce
In addition to a new news director (reported above) Scripps’ KMGH-TV in Denver got a new general manager this week, as BRIAN JOYCE returned to this ABC affiliate. Brian’s been the GM for Scripps’ KPAX-TV in Missoula, MT but previously served as sales manager at KMGH and, earlier in his career, was a sports reporter. He replaces DEAN LITTLETON who’s been promoted to Senior VP of Local Media overseeing all Scripps local stations.
Walters
And…for those of you with short memories…we told you above that ERIC WALTERS is the new GM for Gray’s KMVT/KSVT-TV in Twin Falls, ID, Eric’s currently the news director for Gray’s WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, VA, a job he’s held since early 2020.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 30, 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
KNBC/KVEA-TV 100 Universal City Plaza, #2120 Universal City, CA 91608
KTLA-TV 5800 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KTVT/KTXA-TV 5233 Bridge St. Fort Worth, TX 76103
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324
WZDC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 **
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
WJZ-TV 3725 Malden Avenue Baltimore, MD 21211
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06115
KVUE- TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WWL-TV 1024 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70116
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
KFTV 3239 W Ashlan Av. Fresno, CA 93722 **
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave. Fresno, CA 93727
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic, PA 18507
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK 74129
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St. Dayton, OH 45409
KITV 801 So. King St. Honolulu, HI 96813
KWCH-TV 2815 E. 37th Street North. Wichita, KS 67219
WDBJ-TV 2807 Hershberger Road. Roanoke, VA 24017
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719
WTVG-TV 4247 Dorr St. Toledo, OH 43607
KNWA-TV 609 W. Dickson St. Suite 300, Fayetteville AR, 72701
WNDU-TV 54516 Indiana State Route 933. South Bend, IN 46637
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, Illinois 61265
KHGI-TV 1078 25 Road Axtell, NE 68924
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr.Yakima, WA 98901
KSBW-TV 238 John St. Salinas, CA 93901
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa TX 79763
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Dr. Sioux City, IA 51108
WGFL/WNBW/WMYG-TV 1703 NW 80th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
WBKO-TV 2727 Russellville Road. Bowling Green, KY 42101
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