December 31, 2023
Thursday, January 4, 2024 UPDATE:
Greetings:
Our first UPDATE of the new year brings news of the retirement of a veteran Pittsburgh newsman.
Parsons
JIM PARSONS, who’s been the news director for Hearst’s WTAE-TV (ABC) since 2016, will retire at the end of February. Jim first joined WTAE as an investigative reporter in 1998, transitioned to Assistant ND in 2013, and earned the top job in 2016 when JUSTIN ANTONIOTTI was promoted to GM for Hearst’s WPTZ/WNNE-TV in Plattsburgh, NY/Burlington, VT.
More on Jim’s retirement from TribLive’s ROB OWEN.
Jim began his TV career in Rochester, NY, and also worked in Buffalo and Indianapolis.
Best wishes to him for a long and happy retirement.
I hope your holidays were great and that you escaped the bad cold that I found.
We’ll see you Sunday with our full newsletter.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Our best wishes for a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year to everyone.
As you might expect, not much action during this holiday week, with NO news director changes and just ONE item in Names in the News.
We do have ONE new paid ad for a terrific ND opportunity at a family owned station. Check it out if you’re looking for a new challenge.
Sadly, we close the year with FOUR obituaries. Details below.
Have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week.
Newly Named News Directors:
Nothing to see here! Please move along. 🙂
New News Director Openings:
And nothing to see here as well, thought we do have a new ad just below for an attractive opportunity at a well regarded family owned TV station. Check it out!
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:
WBRZ has an incredible opportunity for a charismatic newsroom leader, show doctor and content innovator to lead our breaking and investigative journalism team as DIRECTOR OF NEWS.
We need a leader who can mentor our team, launch new concepts and own the day’s big stories.
The family-owned television station makes the rules and breaks them. Like any other news station, the news director at WBRZ oversees the journalism operation but must be willing to get their hands dirty, try new things and use research to drive coverage and viewership growth.
WBRZ is renowned for its dogged investigative journalism. A knack for navigating complex stories, creativity and a passion for coaching is a necessity. Newsroom management experience is required. Equally important is understanding the audience and knowing how to manage expectations. A producing background is ideal.
Knowledge of managing a budget, resources and mentoring a larger staff are crucial.
Email cover letter and resumes to: hr@wbrz.com
Pre-employment drug screening is required. EOE.
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)
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)
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)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 12/10/23)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (PM EP, listed 12/17/23)
Nexstar DC Bureau, Washinton, DC (listed 12/24/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 10/22/23)
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)
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 12/24/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 12/24/23)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 12/17/23)
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, relisted 12/10/23)
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)
WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN (listed 12/17/23)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (listed 10/22/23)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital EP, listed 12/17/23)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (listed 10/22/23)
KTVE/KARD-TV, W. Monroe, LA (12/17/23)
MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL, NEW MEDIA:
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 11/12/23)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 12/10/23:
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Director of Digital Content)
Relisted 11/5/23:
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Obituaries:
FOUR obituaries to end the year.
ADAM PETLIN died December 23 at the age of 58 after a long illness. Adam was the Director of Operations for Fox News’ Chicago bureau.
Longtime Alaska newsman MONTE BOWEN also died on December 23rd. He retired in 2011 as ND for KTVF-TV in Anchorage and had worked in news in Alaska since 1984.
LEW COLBY died at the age of 86. He began at WCSH-TV in Portland, ME, as a weathercaster and held several management positions before rising to GM. This story from WCSH has more details about his career and impact on the station.
Finally, a legendary Spanish language broadcaster in Texas lost her battle with brain cancer on December 26. REBECCA MUĂ‘OZ-DIAZ was 65. She was a GM at several stations and an executive at Univision. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more.
Names in the News:
Rowles
DEREK ROWLES, who spent 23+ years in a variety of roles for ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, NC, ending as the Assistant ND there, is the new AND for Nexstar’s WNCN-TV (CBS) in Raleigh. Derek’s been working in real estate since leaving WTVD just over a year ago. He’s also worked in Toledo and Grand Junction, CO.
General Manager News and Notes:
No GM moves this week either.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 31, 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 **
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 East Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
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 (Director of Content)
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
KOB-TV 4 Broadcast Plaza SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104
WRIC-TV 301 Arboretum Pl. Richmond, VA 23236
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (news manager)
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Rd. Schenectady, NY 12309
WHEC-TV 191 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WBRZ-TV 1650 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (See ad above!)
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
KLKN-TV 3240 South 10th Street Lincoln, NE 68502 (Executive ND)
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
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
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