August 11, 2024
Friday, August 16th, 2024:
Greetings:
Terribly sad news this afternoon.
Lansing
Veteran broadcaster JOHN LANSING died earlier this week at a vacation home in Wisconsin.
He was 67. No cause of death has yet been reported.
Details in this lengthy story from NPR where John last worked.
We’ll have more details in our full report this weekend, also with some much happier news…a new news director in Detroit.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
It may not be the busiest week of ND changes, but we have a few and some very interesting items in Names in the News.
NO jobs were filled this week, while ONE new position opened up. And we can now tell you the new job for a Green Bay ND whose departure we reported last week. Our list of open ND jobs increases to 39.
We have TWO ads for very similar…but different…jobs in Houston. Both Steven Arnold Music and Octopus have ads this week. To explore more about Octopus Newsroom and their cutting-edge NRCS showcased at TAB 2024, visit their ad below for in-depth information and updates.
And Sciline has a number of briefings and interview opportunities, all FREE.
NO obituaries this week and NO GM changes (that I know of).
But leave it to CBS News and Stations to provide fodder for Names in the News with a whole raft of promotions. Also in Names in the News, a legendary industry publication is going away, CNN loses its media writer, who’s starting a newsletter (imagine that) and a veteran New Orleans newsman is leaving after 42 years but his farewell note is worth a read.
All that and more below.
Newly Named News Directors:
NO hires this week, to the best of my knowledge.
New News Director Opening:
Scott
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI…we first reported last week that RYAN SCOTT is leaving this Scripps owned NBC station but we now know he’s staying within Scripps and returning to WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee as Managing Editor. Here’s the note from ND TIM VETSCHER. Ryan joined WGBA as ND in late 2021 and added Station Manager duties last December. But he’d earlier spent 20 years at WTMJ in a variety of roles, beginning as a director.
Ryan becomes the FOURTH former (or current ND) housed at WTMJ. In addition to current ND Tim Vetscher, former WTMJ ND JEFF KIERNAN’s office is at WTMJ in his new role as VP/News for Scripps, and former WITI-TV (Milwaukee/FOX) ND JIM WILSON is the executive reporter at WTMJ.
Marshall
KTVZ/KFXO-TV, Bend, OR….CATHY MARSHALL will leave this News Press and Gazette owned NBC/FOX duopoly once her replacement has been hired. She’s been ND here since December, 2022 and first joined the station as a morning anchor in early 2022. Cathy’s worked for CNN, and for stations in Boston, Seattle, New Haven and for KGW-TV in Portland, OR, for eleven years before joining KTVZ.
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.
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)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (listed 8/11/24)
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 8/11/24)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (relisted this week)
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, relisted 8/11/24)
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)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 8/11/24)
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)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 8/11/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 8/11/24)
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)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/11/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 8/11/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/21/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, listed 8/11/24)
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 (relisted 8/11/24)
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)
WMTM-TV, Portland, ME (listed 8/11/24)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (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:
None that I know of.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Another week, and another list of changes at CBS News.
Roark
Former News Director and General Manager ADRIENNE ROARK becomes President of Editorial and News Gathering for CBS News and Stations and will also oversee CBS owned stations in New York and Boston. JENNIFER MITCHELL has been named Presdient of Stations and Digital for CBS News and Stations and will oversee the rest of the owned stations.
But wait! There’s MUCH more as you’ll learn in the CBS news release.
Readers of a certain age will remember anxiously waiting every week for the print edition of Broadcasting to arrive in the (postal!) mail. In the pre-internet and email eras, THAT’s how you found about job changes and openings.
No more.
The company announced this week that it is closing its (no longer a weekly but monthly) magazine (now Broadcasting and Cable) and emailed newsletter and introduce some new products.
CNN’s media writer and author of its Reliable Sources newsletter, OLIVER DARCY, has left the network and is launching his own newsletter.
But he’s going to charge for his. 🙂
(Subtle, right?)
TOM PLANCHET is leaving WWL-TV in New Orleans after 42 years and a variety of jobs, most recently launching its digital operation. It’s New Orleans, so he saw a lot of remarkable stories during his tenure there. Take a minute (or two) to read his recap and farewell note.
General Manager News and Notes:
I’m not aware of any. Please let me know if I missed something.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 11, 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
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B. Riley Rd. Bend OR 97703
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