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August 6, 2023

Sunday Aug 6, 2023

Thursday, August 10, 2023 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A news director departure at a CBS o-and-o leaves a big hole for its new GM.

 Kerri C.

KERRI CAVANAUGH has left her job as ND for CBS owned WFOR-TV in Miami. She’s been there a little over two years. Kerri had been a news director in Grand Rapids and Fort Lauderdale before becoming ND for WTTV/WXIN-TV  in Indianapolis, a job she left to become a consultant for Magid…which allowed her to return to Florida. She left Magid after almost three years to take the job at WFOR. Kerri’s history is on her LInkedin page.

Voet

Presumably finding a new news director will be near  the top of the ‘to-do’ list for new WFOR GM KIM VOET. Kim starts this month (if she hasn’t already begun) after a long run as ND for Graham Media’s WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit.

I hope to have more on this story in this weekend’s newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, August 7, 2023 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A longtime Indiana newsman heads west for his next job.

Rosetti

JEFF ROSETTI, a former news director for WTHR-TV, Tegna’s Indianapolis NBC affiliate, will join Sinclair’s KSNV-TV (also NBC) later this month as ND. Here’s the note to the staff from GM LARRY STRUMWASSER.

Jeff spent almost 12 years at WTHR, the last 3+ as news director, a job he left in June, 2022. He’s also worked for CNN, and in a number of markets as a producer and EP. His Linkedin page has more.

Wheatley

Jeff replaces STEPHANIE WHEATLEY who left in May after almost five years as ND and a total of eight years at the station. She’d earlier worked for KVVU-TV in Las Vegas. Stephanie left for a PR job with Clark County saying she wanted to spend more time with her two sons.

All the week’s news in our full report this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Always fun to see so many friends at a conference like NABJ this past week in Birmingham. Sorry if you were there and we did not connect. It was a strong turnout. NABJ executive director DREW BERRY told me the number was around 3,500, in the top three of stand-alone NABJ conferences.

Perhaps because of that strong attendance, it was a slow week for moves for this newsletter.

TWO jobs opened up, one when a large market ND moved to a GM job at a sister o-and-o. And to the best of my knowledge, NO new NDs were hired this week, leaving 35 stations are on our list of open ND jobs. THREE of those jobs are featured in Paid Help Wanted ads below.

TWO obituaries, including one of a groundbreaking general manager who took over a station in a most unusual circumstance.

And our only Names in the News items is a link to a HANK PRICE column wondering how AI might find its way into your newsroom.

SciLine is back with lots of link to stories and interview opportunities for your newscasts, and Stringr’s new ad (just below) can help your weather coverage.

We’ll be back next week with another full report.

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 them via Zoom or request a SciLine interview clip for your use. SciLine also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.

Media Briefings:

Experts available for Zoom interviews:

Professional training opportunity:

New expert videos – available for download/use in stories:

Newly Named News Directors:

To the best of my knowledge, I don’t believe there were any news directors hired this week. If you know otherwise, please let me know!

New News Director Openings:

Eikel

KTVU-TV, Oakland, CA…Wednesday’s UPDATE told you that AMBER EIKEL was leaving this FOX o-and-o…where she’s been ND since 2017…to become GM for FOX’s KCPQ-TV in Seattle. Amber was the Assistant ND here before her promotion, and has also worked in Seattle earlier (she was an EP at KIRO-TV). Also on her resume: stops in Las Vegas, Milwaukee, and Palm Springs. She replaces SHEILA OLIVER who went to Chicago as GM for FOX’s WFLD-TV.

Sadiwskyj

WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…LENA SADIWSKYJ is retiring as ND for this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate to return to teaching. Lena told me she’s going to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. Talk about full circle: Lena left the CBC in her native Canada 34 years ago for her first teaching job in another Columbia (Missouri) where she taught at the University of Missouri for almost four years. There’ve been a number of other stops along the way, including several ND jobs, two in Orlando. Follow her career path here.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID:

Live in the closest metropolitan destination to Yellowstone National Park
Lead a team of journalists in the market’s #1 multi-platform newsroom
Work for a family-owned company with terrific employee-focused benefits
Outdoor enthusiasts love the proximity to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, relaxing natural hot springs, and fly fishing on the Snake River

NPG of Idaho, including the legacy stations for the Idaho Falls-Pocatello-Jackson DMA, the dominant news leader in Eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming, has an exciting opportunity to lead our news team as News Director. A year-round tourist destination with world-class recreational activities, including a quality of life few cities can match. News Press & Gazette is a family owned, diversified company committed to its people and successful news organizations.

The News Director will oversee and provide strategic direction to the station’s news operation consisting of broadcast and digital platforms. We are looking for a strong newsroom leader who considers coaching a priority.

The ideal candidate will be a visionary coach, and an effective communicator with a passion for the news business. Degree in Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, or related field is preferred. A minimum of four years of newsroom or related managerial experience is a must.

We provide a benefit package that includes Health, Dental, Vision, FSA, HSA, Company-paid Life & AD&D, 401(k) with employer match.

Successful candidates must pass a background check, drug test, and provide proof of vehicle insurance.

Click here to learn more and apply!

NPG of Idaho is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

No Phone calls please.

News Director, WBND-TV, South Bend, IN:

ABC57 News seeks a News Director to lead our newsroom as we innovate and grow. We are committed to storytelling, investigating and viewer advocacy. This award winning newsroom requires a hands-on leader who can grow ratings and grow our content on all platforms. Our managers work as a team in a collaborative environment. We seek a dynamic team leader who is comfortable in a fast-paced environment, who brings excellent judgment, high ethical standards and practices, and who has demonstrated success in driving coverage of breaking news and severe weather. If you want to add to your collection of Emmy and Murrow awards, this is the newsroom to lead.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Other duties, as assigned.

Requirements:

Candidate needs 7-10 years of professional journalism experience with at least 5 years in a progressive management capacity.
Must be a driven individual able to plan strategically, manage and nurture people, handle hiring, contracts and budgets.
Candidate should be passionate about social media and skilled in using it to complement our broadcast and digital offerings.

Our Perks & Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance Package
Long Term Disability Insurance
HSA Plan
401k with Company Match
Vacation/PTO/Sick/Paid Holidays
Paid Qualified-FMLA Leave

Learn more by clicking here.

News Director, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

WRAL, home of the award-winning, ratings leading WRAL News team has a rare opportunity for a dynamic, progressive, innovative News Director to lead our newsroom.

We are looking for a news professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for local news. WRAL takes extreme pride in our content and our ratings. Our team is experienced and committed to serving our local audience. We achieve about 2/3 of the news viewership in the market and have the dominant local media digital platforms in the state.

This position is really a CEO of news in one of the best newsrooms in the country, overseeing a staff of more than 150 people and an enterprise team of more than 20 reporters and editors. We have an outstanding reputation throughout the community and have a history of stability in leadership roles. Our current news director has been at the station since 1995 and just announced his plans to retire next spring.

WRAL is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, a city ranked consistently as one of the best places to live in America. WRAL is locally owned and privately held by industry renowned Capitol Broadcasting Company. WRAL and CBC also provide some of the best benefits in the business and a campus and culture of inclusivity and support.

For a full description of the position and job responsibilities and to apply, please click here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 7/9/23)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (listed 7/30/23)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/4/23)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (relisted 7/9/23)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 7/2/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul (listed 7/30/23)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, ND (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/6/23)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Nightside EP, listed 7/9/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/6/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/6/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP, listed 6/4/23)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WXIX-TV Cincinnati, OH (EP, listed 5/29/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 7/9/23)
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY listed 7/2/23)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (AM EP, listed 6/4/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 7/30/23)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 6/11/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (Digital EP, listed 5/29/23)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 7/2/23)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KGW-TV, Portland, OR (listed 7/23/23)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 6/11/23)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 7/9/23:

WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (Assignment Manager)

Listed 5/7/23:

U. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Multimedia News Manager)
U. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Technical News Producer)

Obituaries:

Williams

We’re a bit late in reporting the death of LINDA WILLIAMS, a longtime producer for KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis. Linda died suddenly last May at the age of 70. KSDK remembered her here, while this obituary has more, including her love of all things Scottish. After she left KSDK, she joined Webster University as an academic instructor and instructor. Linda also produced for KOMU-TV (NBC) in Columbia, MO, where we worked together while she was getting her master’s degree.

Dilday

WILLIAM DILDAY, the first black general manager of a commercial TV station, died July 27th at the age of 85 of complications from a fall. He was working in Boston when he was hired in Jackson, MS, to run WLBT-TV, an NBC affiliate whose FCC license had been turned over to a non-profit group because of its egregious history. It was a landmark case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. This New York Times obituary is worth reading.

Names in the News:

What’s the future of artificial intelligence in TV newsrooms? Check out this HANK PRICE column from TVNewsCheck.com

General Manager News and Notes:

Gurley

The move of FOX o-and-o KTVU-TV (Oakland/San Francisco) ND AMBER EIKEL to GM of its Seattle station, KCPQ-TV (reported above), was one of TWO new FOX GM’s named this week. At KDFW-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth, JEFF GURLEY moves from Sales Manager to GM. Jeff replaces KATHY SAUNDERS who retired in June after 26 years as GM there.

Daugherty

Former news director turned GM DAN CATES is retiring as GM for Gray Television’s WCSC-TV (CBS) in Charleston, SC, and is being replaced by BRIAN DAUGHERTY. He’s been the general sales manager there. Dan retired after a long career that began as a reporter, then news director in Mobile, AL, and Spartanburg, SC, and a general manager job in Johnson City, TN before moving to WCSC in 2016.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 6, 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

KCBS-TV 4200 Radford Av. Studio City, CA 91604 (VP/ND for AM news)
KTVU-TV 2 Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA 94607
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WZDC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 **
WDIV-TV 550 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
WCCO-TV 90 S. 11th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606 (see ad above!)
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas, NV 89101
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
KFTV 3239 W Ashlan Av. Fresno, CA 93722 **
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Rd. Schenectady, NY 12309
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917
WVLT-TV 6450 Papermill Drive. Knoxville, TN 37919
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia, SC 29201
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WBND-TV 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635 (see ad above!)
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, IL 61265
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
KIFI-TV 1915 N. Yellowstone Hwy. Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (see ad above!)
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
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KTVH-TV 100 W Lyndale Ave. Ste A. Helena, MT 59601
KNOP-TV 402 S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101

**: Spanish language station

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