October 1, 2023
Greetings:
TWO new news directors named during this week, with NO new openings.
33 stations have news director openings, according to my admittedly unofficial list. There’s ONE Paid Ad this week, for an EP job in New York state.
We welcome the return of Octopus as an advertiser. The company is promoting their appearance at the upcoming NAB show in New York where it will be exhibiting its latest version of its news production system. Check out their ad just below to learn more.
One of America’s oldest journalism organizations, The Society of Professional Journalists. is facing some pretty severe financial issues. We have that story below, along with details about a change at the top of Voice of America and news about a longtime West Michigan reporter who is now the interim Assistant ND at his station.
And TWO new GMs to tell you about, both in Atlanta!
Newly Named News Directors:
Rozman
WKTB-TV, Atlanta, GA…this Telemundo station has named MARIA ROZMAN to be its next news director. She’s been working in Spain for the last five years with her most recent job in the Canary Islands. Maria is a former ND for Telemundo stations in Washington, DC, and Denver, and previously worked for CNN and for the Univision station in Denver. More details in this story from Media Moves.
Erikson
WFIE-TV, Evansville, IN…EMILY ERIKSON heads north (and stays with Gray Television) and becomes the next ND for this NBC affiliate. She’s worked at Gray’s WTOK-TV in Meridian, MS for the last four years, since March 2022 as the ND and anchor. At WFIE, Emily will succeed the late JOE SCHLAERTH who died last June after seven years as ND here. He also worked in his native Buffalo for 30 years.
New News Director Openings:
WTOK-TV, Meridian, MS…you learned above that EMILY ERIKSON is headed to sister Gray TV station WFIE-TV in Evansville as ND.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
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.:
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)
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)
WJHL-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (listed 10/1/23)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/10/23)
WDIO-TV, Duluth MN (listed 9/24/23)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Special Projects EP, listed 8/28/23)
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)
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 10/1/23:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 9/10/23:
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)
Listed 8/20/23:
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
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:
New expert videos – available for download/use in stories:
- Four-day school weeks
- 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:
Obituaries:
No obituaries this week.
Names in the News:
The Society of Professional Journalists is facing what this story calls a dire financial situation due, in part, to a decline in membership numbers. One impact: the organization has cancelled next year’s conference, scheduled to be held here in Indianapolis.
Changes at the top of Voice of America. YOLANDA LOPEZ is stepping down as the acting director for a new job which has not yet been revealed. She’ll be replaced by JOHN LIPPMAN. Both are former news directors: Yolanda for Univision in Chicago, and John for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and KIRO-TV in Seattle. More here.
LaFurgey
JOE LaFURGEY, who’s been a reporter for Nexstar’s WOOD-TV (NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI, for more than 30 years, has a new role. He’ll be the interim Assistant News Director there. BRAD KESSIE joins the station in November as ND. Full disclosure: Joe and I worked together when I was the ND there from 1993-95. Here’s his station bio with more details.
General Manager News and Notes:
Gonzalez
KRISTIE GONZALEZ is being promoted within Tegna to become President and GM for WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta. She’s currently holding that same job for KVUE-TV (ABC) in Austin, TX, and will continue to serve as VP/Media Operations for Tegna, where she has oversight of some smaller market Tegna stations in Texas. Kristie’s background is in marketing and promotion as you’ll learn in this release about her new job.
PRISCILLA RODRÍGUEZ BODDIE returns to WKTB-TV (Telemundo) in Atlanta as GM. She’s a former sales manager there.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 1, 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
WFIE-TV 1115 Mt. Auburn Road Evansville, IN 47720
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
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
WTOK-TV 815 23rd Ave. Meridian, Ms. 39301
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