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December 3, 2023

Sunday Dec 3, 2023

Friday, December 8, 2023 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A very sad update today with news of the deaths of two veteran newswomen, both far too young.

Garza

SARAH GARZA, who held management positions at several stations in both Seattle and Dallas, and was married to longtime news director and consultant MARK GINTHER, died unexpectedly yesterday at a Dallas area hospital. Sarah was just 55 years old. Mark posted this on Facebook this morning. Sarah left TV about four years ago. Her complete work history is detailed on her LinkedIn page.

Smith

And AURORA NELSON-SMITH died unexpectedly November 18th at the age of 46, just seven weeks after marrying what this obituary calls her best friend, ROB. Aurora, who friends called RORY, had just started a new job as an EP for WTTG-TV (FOX) in Washington after a career that took her to stations across the country. Each of those stops is outlined on her LinkedIn page.

Our sympathy to family and friends of both Sarah and Rory.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

The post-holliday week was a busy one, with FOUR new openings and FOUR newly named news directors.

Our list of stations with ND openings stays at 31.

There’s a new ad for an open ND job in New York state, one of TWO of those open ND jobs that are advertised below, among with an ad for an EP position in Oregon.

TWO CBS o-and-o have new Assistant NDs, and an Indianapolis station has a new Senior EP with an unusual charge to implement a different approach to news.

And Scripps is making big changes to how it runs some of its station. I’ve tried to piece it together as best I could.

Are you unclear about covering science? Sciline has an upcoming crash course for you.

All that and more below.

 

SciLine briefing: Loneliness and longevity in older adults

December 18th from 1-2 p.m. ET

  • A quarter of Americans aged 65 and older are socially isolated, and those over age 50 are at greater risk of becoming lonely. Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory calling loneliness and isolation urgent public health threats. SciLine’s next briefing will cover the latest research on the links between social connections and physical and mental health for older adults, including studies that show loneliness in this age group can adversely affect heart function, cognitive health, and even lifespan. Three panelists will make short presentations and then take questions on the record. 
  • Panelists:
  • Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Brigham Young University
  • Dr. Ashwin Kotwal, University of California, San Francisco
  • Dr. Karen Fingerman, University of Texas at Austin
  • SciLine Director Rick Weiss will moderate the briefing.

REGISTER TODAY

Upcoming expert-interview availability (Zoom):

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.

Newly Named News Directors:

Fowler

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA…our Monday UPDATE told you that CAROL FOWLER will be the next Director of Content here. She’s spent the last 4+ years with the same title at sister Tegna NBC affiliate KSDK-TV in St. Louis. WXIA GM KRISTIE GONZALES sent this note to the staff, the news release is here, and Carol’s extensive career history is here. Much of that, as you know was in Chicago, where she ran the news department at THREE stations.

Zugasti

WLTV, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, FL…YOLANDA ZUGASTI returns to Univision as the next news director here. Complete details about her hire AND her career history in this story from Media Moves. Yolanda worked for Univision from 1999-2011 before being laid off during cutbacks. The WLTV job has been open since March, when SAMUEL BELILTY left after six years as the ND.

Barlow

KKTV, Colorado Springs, CA…JOSH BARLOW will be the next ND for this Gray owned CBS affiliate. It’s a return to the Springs for Josh, who worked at KKTV for about a year earlier in his career. He’s had a number of jobs before and after KKTV, including, most recently, Assistant News Director at CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas. I believe he replaces LAURI MARTIN at KKTV.

Luca

KALB-TV, Alexandria, LA…this Gray TV NBC affiliate has hired CARLI LUCA from sister Gray station WNDU-TV (also NBC) in South Bend, IN. Her current title there is investigative reporter, but when you read her Linkedin profile you’ll see she’s also an EP and news operation manager. Carli replaces ALLIE PURSER who resigned after a little more than two years.

New News Director Openings:

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO…we reported above that CAROL FOWLER is moving with Tegna for the same job at sister-NBC WXIA-TV in Atlanta. She spent 4+ years here. ART HOLLIDAY remains the news director at KSDK.

WOLF-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA…this Sinclair operated FOX affiliate is looking for a news manager to lead this operation. The person hired will oversee a staff of eight with anchors and producers working from the Sinclair station in South Bend, IN.

KGWN-TV, Cheyenne, WY…there’s a news director opening at this Gray TV owned CBS. affiliate. TIFFANY LOGAN has been the ND for the past three years, after first joining eight years ago as a reporter.

KGNS-TV, Laredo TX…another Gray TV owned station, and another ND opening. KGNS is affiliated with both NBC and ABC. JERRY GARZA has been the ND here since 2016.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WHEC-TV, Hubbard Broadcasting, Rochester, NY:

Opportunity for an experienced news leader with history of success in leading broadcast and digital news operations. We emphasize in depth and investigative reporting, first to alert weather coverage, overwhelming response to breaking news, and growing digital services.

A strong leader is sought to help grow our leadership position and work with some of the most talented investigative reporters anywhere. If you join us, you will direct execution of our news strategic plan and continue to improve the plan while working with talented and supportive fellow department heads. The successful candidate must motivate and inspire high performers and be an effective teacher — this is the first TV news job for some team members.

Rochester was high-tech before the term was coined. Intellectual capital that once drove Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch and Lomb has created hundreds of new tech enterprises. Today Rochester is the optics industry capital of America. Two large research universities, smaller colleges, and superior health care are the foundation of a mid-sized city with attributes of larger cities. Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes are the core of recreational gems. Surprisingly, the cost of purchasing housing is among the lowest in the Northeast.

Yes, there is snow. We know what to do with it.

To learn more about Rochester and News10NBC, please watch this 1:20 video:

To learn more about this remarkable opportunity and to apply, please see the full job description here:

Questions? Please contact Michael Hammond, Recruiting Manager, Hubbard Broadcasting: mhammond@hbi.com

News Director, KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA:

Ready to escape the big city for a lower cost of living?

Ready to escape the traffic and noise for the great outdoors and fresh air?

We’ve got a News Director opening in Washington State!

Are you ready to take the next leap in leadership? Is journalism in your blood?

Here’s your chance to lead a dominant locally-focused newsroom in a family-owned media company. It’s a place filled with sunshine, talent, and cutting-edge modern journalism. It’s more than the NBC network and more than just a TV station. It’s NonStop Local, and it’s a place a place you’ll be proud to call home.

The KNDU/KNDO News Director will lead our top-rated award-winning newsroom. You’ll help develop and supervise the news department staff, providing direction in story selection, storytelling, and coverage. You’ll coach, critique, and motivate. And you’ll win. If you’re considering newsroom leadership and being selective about where you want to take your talent – let’s talk.

This is a beautiful part of the Pacific Northwest, recognized again and again for its incredible quality of life. Rivers, mountains, vineyards, breweries, and farmers markets – it’s all here.

And then there’s our company. We believe in partnership. We believe in unshackling your creative instincts, investing in your success as a leader, and supporting your work/life balance. If you’ve worked for the big guys, you already know what you’re missing. Good thing you’ve found this post!

Drop me a note at: jeff.hite@nonstoplocal.com

KHQ Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KNBC/KVEA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/8/23)
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN (listed 10/22/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 10/22/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 11/5/23)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 11/12/23)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/5/23)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 11/12/23)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 11/5/23)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 11/12/23)
WJHL-TV, Tri-Cities, TN (listed 10/1/23)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/5/23)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Special Projects EP, relisted 10/29/23)
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Sports EP, listed 12/3/23)
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 10/22/23)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (PM EP, listed 12/3/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 10/8/23)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 11/12/23)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 10/22/23)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 11/5/23)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (listed 11/12/23, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 10/22/23)
WRTV, Indianapolis IN (Digital EP, listed 11/12/23)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 10/8/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 10/8/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/5/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 11/5/23)
WTNH-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (listed 11/5/23)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Digital EP, listed 11/12/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (relisted 11/12/23)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 11/12/23)
WNEP-TV, Wilkes-Barre, PA (listed 11/5/23)
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 11/12/23)
WKEF-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 12/3/23)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (listed 10/22/23)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 10/22/23)

MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL, NEW MEDIA:

WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 11/12/23)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted 11/5/23:

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)

Names in the News:

There are new assistant news directors at TWO CBS owned stations.

Turner

At WFOR-TV in Miami, ELIZABETH TURNER returns to local news after almost eleven years at CBS News, most recently as the Senior Broadcast Producer for the CBS Evening News. WFOR ND MIGUEL FERNANDEZ shared the news with his staff. Before moving to CBS, Elizabeth worked for local stations in Atlanta, West Palm Beach, and Reno, NV.

Roberson

And at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, PERNA ROBERSON joins this CBS owned station as the Morning Assistant News Director. Perna most recently was the ND for Sinclair’s WRGB-TV (CBS) in Albany, NY, a position she left earlier this summer. She was the Ass’t. ND at WRGB for two years before moving up, and has also worked in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Little Rock.

Bassett

TALOR (cq) BASSETT has been named Senior Executive Producer for WISH-TV, Circle City Broadcasting’s CW affiliate in Indianapolis. The second paragraph of the station’s news release has, shall we say, an interesting description of her duties. Talor is currently the EP of WISH’s 4:00 news, which that same news release calls ‘a lite fare news show that is less hard news and more of an entertainment and feature-driven broadcast.’

General Manager News and Notes:

Scripps continues to try different ways to run TV stations. We told you a few weeks ago about ‘Scrippscast’, a mostly anchor less newscast. Now comes word (via this internal memo) of the elimination of GM jobs at a number of stations, replaced by station managers who will also serve as a department head.

The station managers report to regional VPs.

TWO existing GMs (in Lansing and Omaha) will transitions to titles of sales managers and station managers.

SEVEN stations will see their GMs leave, replaced by station managers. At least TWO of those GMs are former news directors, MATT BROWN in Tallahassee and ED CHAPUIS in San Luis Obispo. And RYAN SCOTT, ND at WGBA-TV in Green Bay, has assumed additional duties as a station manager.

One source says as many as 14 of Scripps’ approximately 40 or so stations are operating under this new model.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 3, 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

News 12 Bronx/Brooklyn, 930 Soundview Ave. Bronx, NY 10473
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Boulevard, Ft. Worth, TX, 75155
WDIV-TV 550 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
KOVR/KMAX-TV 2713 Kovr Dr West Sacramento CA 95605
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Cntr. Dr. Charlotte, NC 28217
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606
KSDK-TV 1000 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63101
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803
WJAX/WFOX-TV 11700 Central Pkwy 2, Jacksonville, FL, 32224
WBMA-TV 800 Concourse Pkwy Ste 200. Hoover, AL 35244
WRIC-TV 301 Arboretum Pl. Richmond, VA 23236
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Rd. Schenectady, NY 12309
WHEC-TV 191 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604 (see ad above!)
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WKBN/WYTV 3930 Sunset Blvd. Youngstown, OH 44512
KLKN-TV 3240 South 10th Street Lincoln, NE 68502 (Exec. ND)
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 (see ad above!)
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Avenue Medford, OR 97504
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
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station

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