September 17, 2023
Greetings:
A surfeit (I sneak that word in every year or two) of ND hires this week leads our report. SIX new news directors, with just THREE openings.
Our list of stations with open ND jobs drops to 35. One of those 35 stations is among our TWO Paid Help Wanted ads this week.
Just TWO items in Names in the News, ONE new GM in a top 20 market, and NO obituaries.
And be sure to check out the ad just below.
She’s been a news director (in Dallas), a GM (in Sacramento) and now MARIA BARRS adds author to her resume. It’s a mystery with a reporter (another job Maria had in her career) as the protagonist. Learn more about the book and how to buy it by clicking on the ad.
Hope to see many of you this week at the annual RTDNA conference in Minneapolis.
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.
Experts available for Zoom interviews:
- Sept. 19: Four-day school weeks with Dr. Paul Thompson (Oregon State U.)
- Sept. 27: Municipal trash incineration with Dr. Sintana Vergara (Cal State Polytech, Humboldt)
- Oct. 19: Fall lawn care and leaf management with Dr. Susan Barton (U. of Delaware)
New expert videos – available for download/use in stories:
- School start time
- Waterway restoration and management
- Xylazine in street drugs
- Mosquitoes, diseases, and control strategies
- Wildfire smoke and outdoor air quality
- Home heat pumps and indoor air quality
Media Briefings available for viewing:
Newly Named News Directors:
Goldberg
KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, CA…MATT GOLDBERG will be one of TWO VP/NDs here. This news release explains how CBS believe that will work. Matt joins MIKE DELLO STRITTO as a VP/ND. A past president of IRE, it’s a return to KCBS/KCAL for Matt who worked as an investigative producer there before going to NBC, where he spent the last 20 years, including time at KNBC-TV as the assistant ND.
Nemitz
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…it was a busy week at CBS which named BRAD BRIAN NEMITZ as VP/ND here (the only one with that title as far as I know.) Brian’s spent the last eight years at WLOS-TV (ABC) in Asheville, NC, the last five as ND. He’s also worked in Miami, Grand Rapids, Pensacola, and Eau Claire, WI and replaces KARI PATEY who becomes VP/Producer Development for the CBS owned stations
Stevens
WBTV, Charlotte, NC…assistant ND JASON STEVENS ascends to the ND job at this Gray owned CBS affiliate replacing MOLLY KELLEHER who’s off to Gray’s KCTV (CBS) in Kansas City as Assistant ND. Molly told me she’s excited about the growth at KCTV and hopes to help ND JOSH MORGAN continue the progress there. She’s a nine year veteran of WBTV who spent the last 18 months as ND.
Kessie
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…longtime Biloxi, MS, newsman BRAD KESSIE will be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He sent 35 years at WLOX-TV, the last 14 as ND. We have the memo from WOOD GM JULIE BRINKS as well as the note to staff from WLOX GM RICK WILLIAMS. The move gets Brad closer to family in Chicago. He’s also worked in Columbia, MO.
Cannon
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…CELESTE CANNON is the news news director for this Sinclair Broadcasting FOX affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director there for the past two years but first joined the station eight years ago as a director, a job she held at two other places. Celeste replaces LENA SADIWSKYJ. We told you last month that Lena was leaving to return to teaching.
Jirasek
WBND-TV, South Bend, IN…we now know the name of the new ND for this Weigel Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. It’s MOLLY JIRASEK who began her career in the market and most recently has been a producer for NewsNation in Chicago. More here. She also worked as the Assistant ND for WEEK-TV in Peoria. At WBND, she replaces KYLE FOBE who left in July to become ND for WISC-TV in Madison, WI.
New News Director Openings:
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC…you learned in our item just above (as well as our Wednesday UPDATE) that BRIAN NEMITZ is leaving this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate to become the next VP/News Director for CBS’s WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Brad spent more than five years as ND here and 3 1/2 as the Assistant ND before his promotion.
Good
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA…JOSH GOOD has left this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate after not quite three years as news director. Before moving to Roanoke, Josh had been the news director for KADN/KLAF-TV (FOX/NBC) in Lafayette, LA for about two years. He’s also worked in Fort Wayne, IN, Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN.
WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS…we told you above that BRAD KESSIE‘s 35 year career at this Gray owned ABC/CBS affiliate is ending with his upcoming move to the ND job at WOOD-TV (Nexstar/NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI. Brad began there as a reporter and has been ND for the last 14 years.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Morning Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:
WIVB/WNLO in Buffalo, NY is searching for a hands-on, passionate journalist for the position of Morning Executive Producer.
WIVB-TV is stationed between historic downtown Buffalo and beautiful Niagara Falls. To those who are unfamiliar with Western New York, Buffalo may just be another “rising” city. But to all of us at WIVB-TV, we know it’s much more than just chicken wings and beef on weck. It’s the City of Good Neighbors, the Queen City, or simply – home.
From the ever-growing Waterfront development, the changing seasons, wine country, and pro sports (with passionate fans like you’ve never seen before) and the flavorful food, it’s pretty tough to beat the unique, local feel!
Our brand is “We’re 4 Buffalo” and we live it every day with local news coverage by our enthusiastic news team. We offer factual news and locally produced programming with market-wide digital delivery on https://www.wivb.com
We are looking for a creative leader who can teach and execute the importance of showcasing and tight, concise writing. The successful candidate will work closely with reporters on daily story development and script approval; with newscast producers on story selection, showcasing, meter management and tease writing; and with the assignment desk to help dispatch crews efficiently and aggressively. The successful candidate also will be required to line produce as needed, help manage producer staff schedules, give regular feedback to members of the news team, and work with other news managers to constantly refine and improve the entire newsroom operation.
Click here for more information and to apply.
News Director, WQAD-TV, Moline, IL:
WQAD, the TEGNA-owned ABC affiliate in the Quad Cities, is looking for a passionate news director with experience motivating teams, growing talent and creating an inclusive culture.
The Quad Cities is nestled on both sides of the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois. These cities offer a refreshing combination of low cost of living in a community with world-class museums, universities, four season outdoor activities for the whole family and excellent school systems. It also hosts a PGA Tour event, the John Deere Classic, each July that raises more money for charity than most other tournaments, proving the friendliness connection and pride of its Quad Citizens.
At WQAD, we have our eyes firmly fixed on the future, always looking for new ways to engage, educate and inform our audiences. We are looking for a leader who embraces creative storytelling and investigative journalism as key components of newscasts, as well as digital, streaming and social platforms.
If you want to make a significant mark in your career, this is the steppingstone for you.
WQAD encourages our journalists to pursue their purpose, find and tell truths, listen, amplify diverse voices, and filter out disinformation to create understanding, accountability, enlightenment, and empathy.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (listed 9/3/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 8/20/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 8/20/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (relisted 9/10/23)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (relisted 9/10/23)
WNEP-TV, Scranton, PA (listed 8/20/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (listed 9/10/23)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (relisted 7/9/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 8/13/23)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/10/23)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Special Projects EP, listed 8/28/23)
KDAF-TV, Dallas, TX (Digital EP, listed 9/17/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 8/20/23)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul (listed 7/30/23)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 8/20/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/6/23)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/6/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 9/10/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/10/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/6/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 9/10/23)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/10/23)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listing modified 9/17/23, see ad above!)
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 7/2/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 8/20/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 7/30/23)
WTOL-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 8/20/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (Digital EP, relisted 8/20/23)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 8/30/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse-Eau Claire, WI (listed 9/3/23)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 7/2/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 9/10/23:
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 8/20/23:
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Obituaries:
Always pleased when there are no obituaries to report.
Names in the News:
THOMAS BONI joins Nexstar’s WKRG-TV (CBS) in Mobile, AL, as Digital Content Manager. He has experience working with both newspapers (on the digital side) and other sites.
Friends and colleagues of longtime NBC executive DON BROWNE are establishing a scholarship program at the University of South Carolina which he attended. We told you two weeks ago that Don had died. You can find more details about the scholarship effort (and contribute) by clicking here. Questions? Reach out to RANDY COVINGTON, Director of Special Project at the University via email.
General Manager News and Notes:
Just ONE GM move this week.
Nexstar named CATHY GUNTHER general manager of its Sacramento FOX affiliate, KTXL-TV. She most recently had been GM for KOKI-TV in Tulsa, OK, but earlier in her career worked for KTVU-TV in Oakland/San Francisco as local sales manager. More in this news release.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 17, 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
KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77027
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
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral, FL 33172
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Drive Charlotte, NC 28217
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803
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
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1 Roanoke, VA 24019
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, IL 61265 (see ad above!)
WFIE-TV 1115 Mt. Auburn Road Evansville, IN 47720
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
WDIO-TV 10 Observation Road Duluth, MN 55811
KIFI-TV 1915 N. Yellowstone Hwy. Idaho Falls, ID 83401
WLOX-TV 208 DeBuys Road, Biloxi, MS 39531
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
KTVH-TV 100 W Lyndale Ave. Ste A. Helena, MT 59601
KNOP-TV 402 S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station