June 18, 2023
Friday, June 23, 2023 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Very sad news this morning from Evansville.
Schlaerth
JOE SCHLAERTH, news director for Gray’s WFIE-TV (NBC), died Thursday night.
He’s been ND there since 2015 but spent 30 years at WIVB-TV in Buffalo in a variety of roles, the last ten as news director.
Gray’s VP of News Services, JAMES FINCH, sent this email to other Gray news directors..
Our thoughts and prayers to Joe’s family, friends, and colleagues at WFIE.
Sadly…
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
For the second consecutive week, TWO ND jobs were filled and just ONE job opened. Our list of open jobs remains at 35.
There are THREE Help Wanted ads, TWO of which are paid. We’ll explain why the third is free.
A rare flurry of GM changes this week, most in larger markets.
And FOUR items in Names in the News, including a new job for a longtime news executive and a revolt from within at a Michigan station after a staff memo about news coverage.
Finally, I hope to see many of you at this week’s IRE Conference in Orlando. (I’ll be the one shaking hands and kissing babies to drum up votes for my candidacy for the IRE Board of Directors.)
Have a great week.
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, arranges 1-on-1, broadcast-quality interview opportunities with articulate scientists.
Reporters can book 15 mins with these via Zoom or request a SciLine interview clip for your use. SciLine also hosts media briefings and runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters to scientist-sources on deadline.
Experts available for Zoom interviews:
- June 21: Overdose prevention & naloxone (Dr. Brandon Marshall, Brown U.)
- June 27: Heat, Humidity, and Health (Dr. W. Larry Kenney, Penn State U.)
- July 13: 988 and suicide prevention (Dr. Emmy Betz, U. Colorado)
- July 26: Short-staffed nursing homes (Dr. Jasmine Travers, NYU
- Aug. 3: Home heat pumps & indoor air quality (Dr. Theresa Pistochini, UC Davis)
Media briefing, live and on the record:
- June 21: Reproductive health care access, ft. experts from: Ohio State U., UT Austin, and UCSF.
New expert videos available for download/use in stories:
- Food insecurity on the rise (Dr. Hilary Seligman, UCSF)
- Over-the-counter hearing aids (Dr. Nicholas Reed, Johns Hopkins U.)
- E-bikes (Dr. Jennifer Dill, Portland State U.)
- Urban forestry (Dr. Vivek Shandas, Portland State U.)
Newly Named News Directors:
Smith
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY…JENNIFER SMITH will be the next news director for this Scripps owned NBC affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND here and has twice served as interim ND. More in this note from GM ANDREW SHENKAN. She replaces BRIAN NEAL who will leave in August and explained his decision in this memo to staff. Brian told me a recent promotion for his wife influenced his decision.
Cleary
WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY…after ten years of producing for two stations (WNEP-TV and WBRE-TV) in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market, TANYA CLEARY gets her first ND job at this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate. Details in this memo from General Manager. ROBERT KRUMMENACKER. Tanya replaces ASTRID RESSLER who is leaving to join the Gray corporate recruiting team.
New News Director Opening:
Shriner
WAVE-TV, Louisville, KY…JENELLE SHRINER is leaving this Gray TV owned NBC affiliate after about 18 months as news director. You’ll learn WHY she’s leaving in this note that she sent to her fellow Gray news directors. WAVE was Jenelle’s third ND job with Gray, after stints at KOLD-TV (CBS) in Tucson and KPLC-TV (NBC) in Lake Charles, LA (though Raycom owned KPLC at the time before Gray acquired Raycom.)
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Managing Editor, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL
WINK News, a leading television news station in Fort Myers, Florida, seeks a talented and experienced Managing Editor to join our dynamic team. If you desire to lead a high-performing newsroom, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
The Managing Editor is crucial in setting the content agenda and shaping daily news coverage. You will have the chance to showcase your editorial expertise by overseeing the production of 13+ hours of local news on weekdays. We are a fast-paced organization, and we need someone who thrives in a high-pressure environment and can effectively manage a team of reporters and producers.
Our resources and staff size will surprise you–120 journalists technically equipped to compete. Newsrooms are shrinking. WINK is expanding. We have exciting plans in the works. Collaborative opportunities exist with our company magazines and newspaper.
Here’s what we are looking for a take-charge individual to lead the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, set and prioritize the coverage agenda, and allocate resources accordingly. WINK managers lead, coach, teach and mentor the staff. We promise our colleagues WINK is a place for professional growth.
The best candidates will have and apply high journalistic standards, ethics, and practices. Plus, help maintain a positive, healthy, inclusive culture in the newsroom. Candidates must have 3 to 5 years of newsroom leadership experience in a broadcast news television operation.
Qualified candidates should apply by clicking here.
The hiring manager is Rich Garcia, WINK’s News Director.
No phone calls, please.
Executive Producer, WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH:
The #1 news station in Cincinnati is looking for its next great leader!
Cincy is a vibrant, amazing city. From sports like the red-hot Bengals to festivals almost every weekend to amazing museums, nightlife, and restaurants, Cincinnati rocks… and so does the news at Fox19!
We win with aggressive journalism, compelling storytelling, and high-energy newscasts. We are looking for an Executive Producer with a knack for showcasing and making newscasts sizzle! At least 4 years producing experience required.
Prior news management experience preferred.
Click here to learn more and apply.
Free Help Wanted Ad:
(Repeating this in the interest of domestic harmony.)
First, don’t get any ideas.
People are always asking for a free ad, and the answer is always no.
Always. Not fair to those who’ve supported this newsletter by paying.
But the answer is different when my wife asks.
Last person before her who asked said “But I’m a long time subscriber.” Yeah, but she’s a longer time subscriber.
The person who gets this job will report to my wife, KAREN BURNS, who is the Executive VP/External Relations for the Indianapolis Zoo.
And the person leaving the job (after ten years) is a long time TV type.
JUDY PALERMO is off to DC to become Chief Communications Officer for American Humane and Global Humane. Judy’s a former EP in Dallas and Indianapolis, who also worked in Columbus and Dayton, OH.
And the job?
Director of Public Relations, Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN:
Click here to learn more and apply.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, LA (listed 4/30/23)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/4/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/30/23)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (listed 5/21/23)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 5/29/23)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM/Special Projects EP, relisted 4/23/23)
WDCW-TV, Washington DC (listed 6/11/23)
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA (relisted 4/23/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, ND (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/21/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 5/29/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 5/14/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP, listed 6/4/23)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listed 5/14/23)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WXIX-TV Cincinnati, OH (EP, listed 5/29/23, see ad above!)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 5/21/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 4/30/23)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/11/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (Digital EP, listed 5/29/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 4/23/23)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (listed 5/13/23)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 6/11/23, see ad above!)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 6/11/23:
Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Public Relations)
Listed 5/14/23:
Voice of America, Washington, DC (Standards Editor)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (Assignment Manager)
WWTI-TV, Watertown, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 5/7/23:
U. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Multimedia News Manager)
U. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Technical News Producer)
Listed 4/30/23:
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (Director of Digital Content)
Names in the News:
Spessard
Longtime Oklahoma newsman TODD SPESSARD starts a new job tomorrow…a marketing role at an Oklahoma City company. Todd explained it in this note to me. He spent the last 12 years with Griffin there, first as ND for KWTV and then Corporate VP of Content for the company. He’s also been an ND in Tulsa (two stations), Wichita, and Columbia, MO, and worked in Kansas City and Grand Rapids, MI, where (full disclosure) he worked for me at WOOD-TV.
Speaking of WOOD-TV, news management at that Nexstar owned NBC affiliate is under fire from within for a staff memo about coverage of Pride activities. Two stories for you, the first from The Detroit Free-Press and the second from The Desk.
Speaking of Nexstar, THREE of its affiliates in top 15 markets will become CW network affiliates. Nexstar, of course, owns the CW.
Finally, veteran broadcast manager EMILY BARR offers her thoughts on the staff letter we shared with you a few weeks from Scripps CEO ADAM SYMSON. Adam outlined Scripps’ plan to reimagine local news coverage. Emily’s column is here, and if you missed Adam’s original post when we shared it originally, you can find it here. Both are worth your time.
General Manager News and Notes:
Longtime FOX executive DENNIS WELSH is retiring after 40 years in TV and 26 with FOX. For the last ten + years, he’s been the SVP and general manager for WFLD-TV in Chicago. More in this news release from the company. Dennis’s background is in sales and you’ll learn in that news release that he worked in a number of places before his first GM job at FOX’s WOFL-TV in Orlando.
In Cleveland, former ND DAVID HUGHES gets his THIRD GM job within Gray, as he takes over WOIO/WUAB-TV (CBS/CW). He’s currently the GM for Gray’s WSAZ/WQCQ-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV and previously ran WVIR-TV (NBC) in Charlottesville, WV. David first joined the company as ND for WDBJ-TV (CBS) in Roanoke, VA.
JOEL SWISHER will replace David as GM of WSAZ. He’s had sales management roles there since 2016.
Finally, STEFAN SCHELLHAS was promoted to GM for Sinclair’s WKRC-TV (CBS) in Cincinnati, replacing the retiring JON LAWHEAD.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 18, 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
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WZDC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 **
WCCO-TV 90 S. 11th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95818
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06115
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
KFTV 3239 W Ashlan Av. Fresno, CA 93722 **
WIVB-TV 2077 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14207
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
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, IL 61265
KHGI-TV 1078 25 Road Axtell, NE 68924
WTAJ-TV 5000 Sixth Avenue Altoona, PA 16602
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
KMIZ-TV 501 Business Loop 70 E., Columbia MO 65201
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WIBW-TV 631 SW Commerce Place. Topeka, KS 66615
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa TX 79763
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
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