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June 25, 2023

Sunday Jun 25, 2023

Thursday, June 29th, 2023 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A West Michigan news director, his Assistant ND, and TWO producers were apparently fired today over an ill-advised memo over news coverage of Pride events.

Tang

STANTON TANG, the ND for Nexstar’s WOOD-TV (NBC) in Grand Rapids, was dismissed today, according to this story from The Desk. Also dismissed were the station’s Assistant ND, AMY FOX, and two producers.

Tang had been ND there since late 2021 and earlier in his career ran the news department for WZZM-TV (ABC) in Grand Rapids. He also spent seven-plus years as an ND in Reno. Stanton’s also worked in Phoenix, Sacramento, and Las Vegas.

Veteran newsman STEVEN ACKERMANN will be the interim news director there, starting tomorrow, while the station searches for Tang’s replacement.

It’s been a busy week. We’ll have all the news in Sunday’s newsletter, though publication my be delayed by travel.

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A big change in Phoenix where a long time news director is retiring…and his replacement has already been appointed. And we have information on streaming of the services Thursday night for longtime ND JOE SCHLAERTH.

Bannard

DOUG BANNARD, who’s been the VP/News for Fox’s KSAZ-TV in Phoenix for 26 years, announced his retirement today. He joined the station in 1990 as a producer, advanced to executive producer, assistant news director, and then ND. He announced his retirement today, and his replacement starts next week.

That, of course, is often the case when the replacement comes from within, as is happening at KSAZ.

Levi

STEVE LEVI will replace Doug as Vice President/News Director for FOX 10, as it is branded. He’s also a long time employee. Steve joined the station in 1994. He’s been an assignment editor, associate producer, producer and executive producer and has been the assistant news director for the last eight years. More details on both Doug’s sudden retirement and Steve’s ascension in this article.

Saunders

The changes in Phoenix are the latest in a number of immediate moves at large market FOX owned stations. Earlier this week, KATHY SAUNDERS announced her retirement as GM of FOX’s KDFW-TV in Dallas. She’s been there since 1997 and her last day will be….Friday. Kathy’s departure comes just two weeks after DENNIS WELSH‘s retirement as GM for WFLD-TV in Chicago. His last day is also Friday.

Schlaerth

Finally, details about a live video streaming of the funeral for JOE SCHLAERTH, news director for Gray’s WFIE-TV (NBC) in Evansville, who died last week.

The funeral is tomorrow, Thursday, June 29th, at 7:00 PM Eastern.

Details about how you can access the stream is at the bottom of this updated story about Joe, who was ND at WFIE for more than nine years, and also spent 30 years at WIVB-TV, ten as ND, in his hometown of Buffalo.

We’ll have all the week’s changes in our full newsletter sometime Sunday, possibly delayed by travel.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

Our list of open news director jobs shrinks again this week as THREE jobs have been filled, and ONE opened up

That means our list of open jobs drops to 33. That ONE new opening is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad.

Sadly, THREE obituaries this week, including ONE for a current ND and ONE for a current GM. Those are below.

To my knowledge, just ONE GM move this week.

And lots of quick items in Names in the News.

Finally, it was good to see many of you at the IRE Conference. in Orlando. A tip of the hat to Gray Television which sent more than 200 people to the conference, including many news directors, part of the total attendance of just under 1,400. Gray and several other groups also had recruiting booths there.

FOUR incumbents were re-elected to the Board of Directors, along with TWO newcomers to the board.

I was not elected but am grateful to those of you who encouraged me to run, offered kind words, and voted for me. Thanks.

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:

New expert videos available for download/use in stories:

Newly Named News Directors:

Rosengard

WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT…DANA ROSENGARD has been promoted to news director for this Tegna owned FOX affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND there for nine months. Dana’s interesting career has alternated between commercial TV and education for many years. At WTIC, he replaces RICHARD WASHINGTON III who announced in April he’d leave the station when his two year contract ended to try to move closer to family.

Cowan

WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH…an inter-Cox Media Group transfer sends JOE COWAN to this CBS affiliate as its next ND. COX EVP MARIAN PITTMAN sent out this note. Joe’s been the Managing Editor for Digital at Cox’s WSB-TV (ABC) in Atlanta. He’ll start in Dayton next month where he will replace LAURA EVANS who was also promoted: in her case, to ND for Cox’s KIRO-TV in Seattle.

KMID/KPEJ-TV, Midland/Odessa, TX…this Nexstar operated duopoly has hired a new ND. For reasons unknown to me, the full announcement will come sometime in July. We’ll share when it’s official. Whoever gets the job will replace TERRY WOOD, who left earlier this year to be the Assistant ND for Scripps WGBA-TV in Green Bay. Nexstar owns KMID (ABC) and provides services to Mission owned Fox affiliate KPEJ.

New News Director Opening:

Finnigan

KIEM-TV, Eureka, CA…MARK FINNIGAN has left this Imagicomm Communications owned operation after less than a year. He’s also worked in Los Angeles, Louisville, and Bakersfield. KIEM is an NBC affiliate.You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, KIEM-TV, Eureka, CA:

Redwood News in beautiful Eureka, California is seeking a News Director.

California has a moderate climate, immense redwoods, the pacific ocean and everything outdoors. It’s a great place to start a news director position or wind down your career.

News Director experience preferred: however experienced executive producers or assistant news directors looking to move into the News Director role are also welcomed to apply.

It’s also a great place for someone who wants to restart their career. This is a hands on situation and not for someone who wants to sit in the office behind a desk.

We are looking for someone who:

  • Can oversee the daily operations of the television newsroom.
    Is tech savvy with attention to website content and social media.
    Hire, train, and coach news staff
    Review stories to make sure they are fair and accurate before they go on the air.
    Ensuring adherence to journalistic and legal standards Mentor and guide the team

Salary: $58,000-$70,000 commensurate with experience.

Send resume to General Manager JENNY OLSZEWSKI by clicking here.

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)
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)

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)

Obituaries:

Schlaerth

Funeral services for WFIE-TV (Evansville, IN/Gray TV-NBC) ND JOE SCHLAERTH will be held Thursday at 7:00 PM at Methodist Temple in Evansville with a reception following. Joe died Wednesday, a month or so after he was diagnosed with a heart condition. He spent nine years as ND there and worked for 30 years at WIVB-TV in his native Buffalo, the last ten as ND. Joe is survived by his wife, VICKI, and twins, 15 years old AURORA and JOE.

Walker

DANNY WALKER, general manager of Tupelo’s WTVA-TV, died this morning (Sunday, June 25th) after a long illness. He was just 59 years old. Danny was named GM of this (now owned by Allen Media Broadcasting) NBC and ABC affiliate in 2020, after working at the station in sales. He also worked for another Tupelo station, for one in Jackson, MS, and owned his own advertising agency. Here’s the station’s report on his passing.

Smith

Another longtime Mississippi broadcaster died this week. DENNIS SMITH served more than 23 years as news director of Jackson’s WLBT-TV, which reported on his passing and career here. Dennis also worked in New Orleans and Lafayette, LA, as well as for another Jackson station. This long and interesting obituary includes how he shamed businesses and other locations for flying American flags that were in poor condition.

Names in the News:

No personnel moves in Names in the News this week, but a few quick items of note:

TWO stories this week on burnout in TV news. Poynter reported on one of them, while RTNDA has statistics from its annual survey.

Former CNN producer JOHN GRIFFIN was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for luring a nine year old girl into sex acts.

There’s an interesting partnership between Gray’s WNDU-TV (NBC) in South Bend and the local newspaper, The South Bend Tribune.

And NBC’s CATHERINE KIM will be honored with the LOREN TOBIA LEADERSHIP AWARD at September’s RTDNA conference in Minneapolis.

General Manager News and Notes:

Hanson

MERRI HANSON moves within Scripps to become GM for KSTU-TV (FOX) in Salt Lake City. She’s been the GM for Scripps’ KIVI-TV (ABC) in Boise, ID, for the last 2 1/2 years. Merri is a one time anchor and reporter for another Idaho station before she moved into sales and marketing. More in this news release.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 25, 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
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
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
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
KIEM-TV 5650 S Broadway St Eureka, CA 95503 (see ad above!)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101

**: Spanish language station

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