August 4, 2024
Greetings:
Always a pleasure to see some of you at a convention, including this week at NABJ in Chicago, which welcomed record attendance. And before you ask, I did not attend Wednesday’s session with former President Trump which generated so much news coverage.
Perhaps because of the convention, it was a slow week for ND changes.
Just ONE job was filled while ONE position opened up. So, our list of open ND jobs stays at 38.
We have TWO ads for very similar…but different…jobs in Houston. Check the ads out below.
A reminder, too, if you’re going to the TAB show outside Austin this week, visit the Octopus display to learn more about the latest innovations in newsroom technology. More in the ad below.
TWO obituaries this week, one of a man who went from a reporter-commentator role to become the longest serving mayor in Seattle, and another of a man who spent a remarkable 53 years at one station in a variety of roles.
Sinclair and Scripps both named new GMs in to 40 markets this week.
Perhaps the biggest TV news this week was the new anchor lineup for the CBS Evening News. We have new stories on that change. Also in Names in the News, Nexstar has asked a judge to dismiss lawsuits filed by TWO former news managers, and we have an interesting column on the challenges facings GMs in 2025.
All that and more below.
August SciLine events
Zoom – All events are free
EXPERT INTERVIEWS (15-minute, 1-on1 Zoom interviews):
August 13th (2-4 p.m. EDT): Electric school buses with Dr. Sara Adar (U. Of Michigan)
August 15th (1-3 p.m. EDT): School cell phone policies with Dr. Jacqueline Nesi (Brown University)
NEW CRASH COURSE! Social science essentials for local reporters
Monday, August 19th (2-3 p.m. EDT)
This free one-hour “crash course”—designed for local and general assignment reporters—teaches basic principles about how social science works and ways it can be used to strengthen virtually any news story with a human element, especially this election season.
MEDIA BREIFING: Resisting misinformation in your election reporting
Wednesday, August 28th (1-2 p.m. EDT)
Journalistic accuracy during election season is especially difficult in the face of sophisticated efforts to sow voter confusion and new technologies that can generate synthetic “truths”. This briefing will offer research-backed strategies and tools to help reporters recognize and verify material of questionable validity and correct misinformation without inadvertently amplifying it.
Panelists:
- Dr. Cuihua (Cindy) Chen, UC Davis
- Dr. Kate Starbird, University of Washington
- Dr. Briony Swire-Thompson, Northeastern University
MORE 2024 ELECTION RESOURCES
To strengthen journalists’ election season reporting with research-backed evidence and context, SciLine offers 2024 election resources with full videos and transcripts of recent briefings and tip sheets. Learn more:
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Newly Named News Director:
Fuller
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN…ZACH FULLER has been promoted to ND for this Gray TV owned NBC affiliate. He’s been a digital anchor/reporter and also anchors a 9:00 newscast on FOX. He joined the station in 2019 as an MMJ. Zach replaces MICHAEL ODER who transferred to sister Gray station WTOC-TV (CBS) in Savannah, GA, earlier this year after about 18 months as ND here.
New News Director Opening:
Scott
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…RYAN SCOTT is stepping down at this Scripps owned NBC affiliate where he was Station Manager AND oversaw the news department. Ryan joined WGBA as ND in late 2021 and added Station Manager responsibilities last December. He spent 20 years at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee where he started as a director, became production manager, and then content operations manager.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Morning Broadcast Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC 2, a leader in innovative news broadcasting, is seeking a Morning Broadcast Executive Producer. This dynamic role is ideal for a leader passionate about enhancing newscasts and nurturing talent.
As the Executive Producer, you will guide the broadcast team to deliver engaging content across platforms, ensuring alignment with our brand pillars. Collaborating with News Managers, you will set the editorial direction, foster a strong newsroom culture, and leverage new technology to keep our content innovative.
You will oversee the onboarding and training of new producers, aiding them with script writing and newscast crafting. By using showcasing skills, you will help create compelling newscasts and ensure cohesive content delivery across all platforms. Your news judgment will be critical in reacting to breaking news and adjusting coverage priorities seamlessly. You will advocate for content that resonates with our diverse audience and addresses community issues, ensuring active community engagement from our content and talent.
The ideal candidate has experience as a producer in a large-market TV news operation, creative writing skills for news promos and teases, and strong copy-editing abilities. Familiarity with Augmented Reality and proficiency in Edius and other editing programs are essential. Exceptional leadership, creative and editorial judgment, and strong communication skills are required.
Preferred qualifications include experience as an Executive Producer and a degree in Journalism or Communications.
To apply: Please send your resume to: Managers of Content and Coverage, MCCKPRC@kprc.com
Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.
Evening Broadcast Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC 2, a leader in innovative news broadcasting, is seeking a Evening Broadcast Executive Producer. This dynamic role is ideal for a leader passionate about enhancing newscasts and nurturing talent.
As the Executive Producer, you will guide the broadcast team to deliver engaging content across platforms, ensuring alignment with our brand pillars. Collaborating with News Managers, you will set the editorial direction, foster a strong newsroom culture, and leverage new technology to keep our content innovative.
You will oversee the onboarding and training of new producers, aiding them with script writing and newscast crafting. By using showcasing skills, you will help create compelling newscasts and ensure cohesive content delivery across all platforms. Your news judgment will be critical in reacting to breaking news and adjusting coverage priorities seamlessly. You will advocate for content that resonates with our diverse audience and addresses community issues, ensuring active community engagement from our content and talent.
The ideal candidate has experience as a producer in a large-market TV news operation, creative writing skills for news promos and teases, and strong copy-editing abilities. Familiarity with Augmented Reality and proficiency in Edius and other editing programs are essential. Exceptional leadership, creative and editorial judgment, and strong communication skills are required.
Preferred qualifications include experience as an Executive Producer and a degree in Journalism or Communications.
To apply: Please send your resume to: Managers of Content and Coverage, MCCKPRC@kprc.com
Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 7/21/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/1/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/21/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 7/28/24)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 7/21/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 6/2/24)
KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/7/24)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/28/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/14/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 6/16/24)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (relisted 7/21/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/28/24)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP/Special Projects, listed 6/16/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24 (see ad above!)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Evening Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24) (see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 7/28/24)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 6/23/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 7/21/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/16/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 7/21/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24)
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/1/24)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 7/1/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/21/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/21/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/21/24)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 7/1/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/21/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 7/21/24:
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Director)
Relisted 7/21/24:
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)
Obituaries:
Two broadcasters who were legends in their markets have died.
CHARLIE ROYER, a former reporter and commentator at KING-TV in Seattle, died at 84. But he’s perhaps better known as the longest serving mayor in Seattle’s history. More in this detailed obituary from The Seattle Times.
And SEAN O’FLAHERTY died this week, losing his battle to cancer at the age of 74. He spent 53 years working for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee where he began as a reporter and then transitioned to a behind the scene role. That lead a former colleague to say that Sean could do everything from turning the transmitter on to reporting breaking news. WTMJ honored him with this story.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Our Thursday UPDATE brought many of you (from what I was told at NABJ) the first word of the new anchor lineup at the CBS Evening News. If you missed the story, here’s the link. NEW THIS EDITION: A message from WENDY McMAHON, President and CEO of CBS News and Stations explaining the move, and another one from BILL OWENS who will be the supervising producer of the new broadcast.
Lawyers for WOOD-TV (NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI, and its parent company, Nexstar Media, have asked a federal judge to dismiss lawsuits filed by former news director STANTON TANG and former assistant ND AMY FOX. The two were fired last year over a memo about coverage of Pride Week.
In his latest column for TVNewsCheck, former general manager and consultant HANK PRICE says 2025 will be a tough year for General Managers and says it’s important for them to demonstrate their leadership qualities. There are lots of challenges ahead for TV stations next year. Hank’s column is worth your time.
General Manager News and Notes:
DEAN DITMER, a one-time GM for Tegna’s KPNX-TV (NBC) in Phoenix, is headed north to Portland, OR, where he’ll take over as GM for Sinclair’s KATU-TV (ABC). It’s a return to Sinclair for Dean, who earlier in his career ran the company’s WKEF/WRGT-TV (ABC/FOX) in Dayton.
Cook
Scripps has named JOHN COOK VP/GM of its Las Vegas station, KTNV-TV (ABC). He’s been senior director of sales for the company’s WXYZ-TV (also ABC) in Detroit for three years and earlier worked in a variety of sales positions for Graham Media’s WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 4, 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
WXTV 500 Frank W Burr Blvd Ste 6. Teaneck, NJ 07666
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
Spectrum News Texas (based in Austin, TX)
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64112 (Station Mgr. & ND)
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WJAR-TV 23 Kenney Drive Cranston, RI 02920
WATN-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WGBA-TV 1391 North Rd Green Bay, WI 54313 (Station Mgr and ND)
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KATC-TV, 1103 Eraste Landry Road in Lafayette, LA 70506
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX, 79765
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Ave. Missoula, MT 59801
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
**: Spanish language station