March 10, 2024
Greetings:
Lots of content this week!
There are TWO ND openings.
And there are TWO new NDs to tell you about.
That means 34 stations remain on our list of openings, with ONE of those openings among our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads. The other ads inlcude a Station Manager job in Texas and a Senior EP ad in a desirable place to live.
We also welcome the return of Octopus which will be exhibiting at next month’s NAB convention. Check out its ad just below.
We have details about services for former news executive TOM BECHERER whose passing we reported last week.
A longtime anchor turned ND turned GM is retiring. We have details AND some photos he shared from his career. And Telemundo is expanding duties of some GMs, putting them over stations in multiple markets.
In Names in the News, an Iowa anchor loses discrimination lawsuit. New jobs for TWO managers at NBC owned stations. A veteran ND and GM is OUT of two hospitals after a six week stay, and a news director turned author has a new book.
Newly Named News Directors:
Vogel
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY…AARON VOGEL has been named ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned NBC affiliate. Aaron’s spent the last 5+ years as ND for KHSL/KNVN-TV in Chico, CA. He’s also been an ND in Decatur, IL, and has worked in several other markets. At WHEC, he replaces DAVE OVERACKER who left in November after more than four years as ND and 31 years at his hometown station.
Brown
KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN…PAUL BROWN has been promoted to news director at this Gray TV owned NBC/ABC operation. He’s been anchoring there for the past two years, and earlier served as news director and anchor for KTXS-TV in Abilene, TX, where he also worked for Spectrum. Paul replaces MATT McCONICO who left the station earlier this year after not quite two years as ND.
And apologies to new KBLR-TV (Las Vegas/Telemundo) News Director JOHALI CARMONA and Telemundo’s new EVP/News GEMMA GARCIA. We managed to misspell both their last names last week.
Talent Training Workshop
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
THE OMNI HOTEL-LAS COLINAS, IRVING TEXAS
We’re hosting a high energy, interactive workshop to help you or your team maximize storytelling impact and enhance viewer connection. Work with a team of experienced talent development experts to expand on-air performance and delivery, and off-air communication skills.
BONUS: All participants are given direct access to their workshop leaders for one month following the workshop for questions and support via email, texts, phone and video conferencing.
Great communication starts in the newsroom- let’s energize your team not newsroom leaders and invigorate the vision for your newscasts.
Maximum enrollment is 25. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Have a question about the event or would like to speak with our performance strategists on the agenda?
Email Gary Brown to set up a call and learn more.
Early bird registration: $495.00
After March 31st: $550.00
To Register: www.talentdynamics.com/dallas-workshop
New News Director Openings:
KHSL-TV, Chico, CA…you learned above that AARON VOGEL is leaving this Allen Media Broadcasting owned CBS/NBC operation. He’d been there more than five years.
KESQ-TV, Palm Springs, CA…this News Press & Gazette operation is looking for a new news director. KESQ is the ABC affiliate, and the company also runs CBS/FOX/CW and Telemundo affiliates on digital sub channels. REBECCA JOHNSON has been ND here since late 2016. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Station Manager, KXXV/KRHD-TV, Waco/Bryan, TX:
KXXV/KRHD, the Scripps ABC stations in Waco, and Bryan, Texas, is searching for a Station Manager to lead local operations.
The Station Manager will report into and collaborate with the Regional VP/GM to oversee local market operations and execute local media strategic initiatives in an assigned station. Oversee department head leaders and manage day-to-day operations of the station while serving as a functional leader in own area of expertise.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Lead and implement the local media strategic plan, including the content & brand strategy, for assigned station.
Act as co-leader in generating ratings and revenue, including developing strategic plans and operational plans for the station’s growth in multi-platform content delivery and revenue generation.
In partnership with the Regional VP/GM, support development of and ensure responsible financial stewardship to the station operating and capital expense budgets.
Continue to serve as the leader and subject matter expert for one of the station’s functional areas, while overseeing a team of department head leaders of other functional areas.
Lead a culture consistent with Scripps values, with a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and developing employees at all levels.
Responsible for all aspects of financial statements and ensuring station compliance with Scripps policies.
Enforcing all FCC, EEO, SOX and other appropriate rules and regulations.
Other duties as may be assigned.
News Director, KESQ-TV, Palm Springs, CA:
A rare opportunity has come up to lead the news team for the top TV station group in the Palm Springs market, Gulf California Broadcast Company, a division of News Press and Gazette.
KESQ NewsChannel 3 and its sister stations KPSP CBS Local 2, KDFX Fox 11 and KUNA Telemundo 15 is seeking a News Director for its multi-language newscasts. The person who will take over this operation will work with a talented team of 50, many of whom have much local experience in the market.
We’re seeking an extraordinary journalist with experience in television newsroom productions – broadcast and digital – who excels with both breaking news opportunities and in-depth stories.
The successful candidate will be called upon to provide strategic direction for daily news coverage and work closely with the General Manager and other Department Managers on long-range planning, special news coverage and station projects.
Pay Range: $110k-$140k annually (includes bonus). Based on experience.
Aside from living and working in the beautiful Coachella Valley, Gulf California Broadcast Company offers employees a wide range of benefits consisting of medical, dental, vision, life and disability, holidays, PTO, and a generous 401k plan.
To learn more or apply online, click here.
All applicants must apply through the website. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background and drug screenings. Finalists must furnish evidence of employment authorization and identification.
Gulf California Broadcast Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Senior Executive Producer, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
The WINK Senior Executive Producer will oversee the development and training of producers and Executive Producers at Southwest Florida’s leading news operation.
WINK is looking for a leader capable of teaching and mentoring producers, as well as developing Executive Producers on our dayside team. Passion is important for this role, but more important is a sense of purpose.
The top candidate will be someone who demonstrates the ability to lead and teach. Creativity, strong news judgment, superb writing skills and excellent showcasing and production skills are a must.
The Sr. EP oversees all activities that go into the creation of the on-air product, which includes Executive Producers, Producers and Associate Producers.
Integrating social media into the newscasts is an emerging growth area in which the Sr. EP must embrace and lead by example. The Sr. EP must be able to step in and actually produce a newscast. The Sr. EP is the chief advocate for the practical execution of research strategies designed to meet audience expectations. This senior leadership position will help lead a team of experienced journalists that produce more than 70 hours of local news a week.
Click here to learn more and apply.
Southwest Florida is often praised as being one of the healthiest and happiest places in the world with miles of white-sand beaches and a dynamic community. Broadcast Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we are a drug-free and smoke-free environment.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WDCW-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/11/24)
WRC-TV, Washington, DC (listed 3/10/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/24)
KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/11/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 1/7/24)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/21/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 2/25/24)
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 1/14/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 1/7/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 2/11/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 2/25/24)
WCIV-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 1/14/24)
KBOI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 1/14/24)
WGXA-TV, Macon, GA (listed 1/14/24)
KVII-TV, Amarillo, TX (listed 1/14/24)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 1/7/24)
KTVO-TV, Kirksville, MO (also PM anchor, listed 1/14/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 1/7/24)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (PM EP, relisted 1/14/24)
The Hill, Washington, DC (Rising Program, listed 1/21/24)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/3/24)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 1/7/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/24/25)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 1/7/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (2 openings, AM and Digital, modified 2/4/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 2/25/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 2/5/24)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (Supervising Producer, listed 2/4/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 1/7/24)
WTNH-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 3/3/24)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/4/24)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 1/14/24)
KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/14/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 2/25/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 1/7/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (listed 2/4/24)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, listed 1/28/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 3/10/24, see ad above!)
WRGB-TV, Albany, NY (listed 1/14/24)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 1/28/24)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/4/24)
KETV, Omaha, NE (listed 2/4/24)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Digital EP, listed 2/18/24)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 2/25/24)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX (listed 3/3/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, listed 2/25/24)
WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN (relisted 1/14/24)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 2/4/24)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (relisted 1/7/24)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 1/14/24)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital EP, relisted 2/18/24)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/14/24)
WRDW/WAGT-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 1/14/24)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/24)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/21/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 1/28/24)
SciLine has several 1-on-1, Zoom interview opportunities with scientific experts coming up in the next few weeks:
- Mar. 25 (1-3 p.m. ET): Childcare costs (Dr. Taryn Morrissey, American U.)
- Apr. 1 (11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET): Pollinator gardens (Dr. Rachel Mallinger, U. of Florida)
- Apr. 4 (3-5 p.m. ET): Cicadas (Dr. Chris Simon, UConn)
- Apr. 10 (1-3 p.m. ET): Lead pipes (Dr. Mary Jean Brown, Harvard)
- Apr. 16 (3-5 p.m. ET): Wildlife crossings (Dr. Nicki Frey, Southern Utah U.)
- Apr. 17 (1-3 p.m. ET): Syphilis on the rise (Dr. Ina Park, UCSF)
Recent video (free for download and use in your stories):
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.
More News Management Openings:
Listed 3/10/24:
KXXV/KRHD-TV, Waco/Bryan, TX (Station Manager, See ad above!)
Listed 3/3/24:
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (News Operations Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Assignment Desk Manager)
Relisted 1/7/24:
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Obituary:
Becherer
Funeral and memorial services will be held next weekend for longtime newsman TOM BECHERER whose passing we first reported last weekend. Tom died Saturday, March 2nd, at the age of 84. He’d suffered from a series of small strokes over the past few years. Tom was an ND in several major markets and ran CONUS for many years. Details about his funeral, memorial services, and more about his life in this obituary.
Names in the News:
Sonya H.
In Des Moines, SONYA HEITSHUSEN has lost her age discrimination suit against WHO-TV and its owner, Nexstar Media Group. Sonya had anchored at the station for 17 years when the station did not renew her contract. She sued, claiming a pattern of age discrimination. Nexstar said it was due to a reduction in work force. Details in this story from competitor KCCI-TV.
TVNewsCheck is back following what was apparently a successful subscription campaign. Details here.
Sean M.
And it introduced a new columnist, recently departed Scripps SVP of Local News, SEAN McLAUGHLIN. It’s called Reinventing Local News.
Changes for TWO managers at NBC owned stations:
JAMIE NOVOGROD has been named the Assistant ND for KNBC-TV and KVEA-TV (Telemundo) in Los Angeles. Details about his new job..and his old one…in this post from the station.
And WRC-TV (Washington, DC) News Director MATT GLASSMAN has been named VP of Regional Editorial for NBC News. This article explains what that means. WRC VP/News MIKE GOLDRICK tells me the station is hiring an Assistant ND to replace Matt.
Vann
Old friend LES VANN checked in to report that he’s out of the hospital following a six week stay at two different facilities to battle appendix issues. Regular readers will also remember that Les has been battling Parkinson’s Disease. He’s a former GM and ND in multiple markets. Here’s his note to me, which included good wishes for something that’s already happened. (There is NO bandwagon I can not jump on.)
Former ND turned author ANTHONY KNOPPS shared that his new book, The Roofus Rules, is coming out this month. Anthony says the book contains 12 ways to better live your life through the eyes of a … chihuahua. More details in his email to me, which includes a way to buy the book.
General Manager News and Notes:
Audas
Anchor turned News Director turned several time General Manager LARRY AUDAS will retire late next month. He’s currently the GM for TWO Tegna stations, WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC, AND WZDX-TV in Huntsville, AL. Larry sent me the note he sent to both of his staffs and also included a number of photographs from different states of his career. Check them out here.
MediaMoves reports that Telemundo has broadened the job duties of TWO general managers, putting them in charge of several stations.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 10, 2024:
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
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Boulevard, Ft. Worth, TX, 75155 **
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 East Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
WZTV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37228
KUTV 299 South Main Street, #150 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WXIX-TV 635 W 7th. Cincinnati, OH 45944
WHP-TV, 2300 N Cameron St Harrisburg PA 17110
WVTM-TV 1732 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209
WBMA-TV 800 Concourse Pkwy Ste 200. Hoover, AL 35244
WBRE/WYOU-TV, 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WTOC-TV 1511 Chatham Center Dr. Savannah, GA 31405
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WAND-TV 904 W. South Side Drive. Decatur, IL 62526
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WFXG-TV, 3933 Washington Rd., Augusta, GA 30907
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
KESQ-TV 31276 Dunham Way Thousand Palms, CA 92276 (see ad above!)
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
KPLC-TV, 320 Division St., Lake Charles, LA 70601
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
**: Spanish language station