September 29, 2024
Greetings:
Just ONE new opening and ONE newly named news director in our report this week, so our list of open ND jobs remains at 35.
But we have LOTS of news about changes at Scripps, CNN, and Sinclair, and more!
Those stories are in our Names in the News Section below, along with the National News Emmys, a column from HANK PRICE expressing concern about the network affiliate partnerships. You’ll also find details about a judge allowing a defamation suit against a Nexstar station to proceed.
We’ll also tell you about THREE new Assistant News Directors in markets from large to small.
A former news director turned GM is retiring…we have his Linkedin farewell note.
Spectrum has new ads for a National EP opening and a local EP job, in different cities in Florida.
And we welcome the return of supporter BARRY NASH AND COMPANY whose VerbAItim Research is using AI to understand what today’s viewers really value in news talent — and how coaching can help drive real progress.
If you’re headed to NAB in New York, stop by the Octopus booth and meet former ND SCOTT FITZGERALD who can tell you good things about their system, And Sciline has an interesting interview opportunity.
As promised in Friday’s newsletter, it’s a busy week. Read on!
Newly Named News Director:
Larson
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…JACE LARSON is moving within Scripps to become news director for this FOX affiliate. Here’s the note from WXMI general manager KIMBERLY KRAUSE. Jace has been the director of news gathering for the soon to be defunct Scripps News but he has years of investigative reporting experience. He’s replacing DAN BOERS who left in July after three years as ND.
New News Director Opening:
St. Peter
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID…KEITH ST. PETER is leaving this Scripps owned ABC affiliate for a new job within Scripps. He’ll be the Director of Newsroom Artificial Intelligence. More on his new role in this staff memo from station manager LAURIE ASIN. He was ND here for about 1 1/2 years. Keith’s a former ND in Wilkes-Barre, and has worked in Phoenix, Dayton, and Jacksonville, FL.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
National Executive Producer, Spectrum News. Tampa, FL:
As a National Executive Producer, you’ll lead your team through story creation to produce compelling, timely, and accurate content for Spectrum News +, our National News product. You’ll be responsible for building a positive team culture, while working with the team to generate story ideas that impact our communities.
WHAT OUR NATIONAL EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ENJOY MOST :
- Oversee coverage of national and international news stories
- Work with reporters to shape and approve package scripts
- Approve national news stories for distribution across Spectrum Networks
- Oversee live special reports and breaking news on national news events for all Spectrum stations
As a part of Spectrum News, you’re creative, highly technical, and ready to bring the character-driven stories of those in your community to life in our newsroom. You value accuracy and want to leverage your curiosity and storytelling abilities to share inspiring news across multiple platforms. Each day is a fast-paced and constantly evolving work environment with new stories to tell and perspectives to uncover.
We are focused on fostering a healthy, inclusive, and people-first team culture to effectively address challenges together. If you’re a nimble, passionate team player, you’ll find a home on our team.
To apply please visit the website below!
Spectrum News – National Executive Producer – Tampa, FL
Executive Producer, Spectrum News, Orlando, FL:
As Executive Producer, you’ll own the vision for the newscast. You’ll lead your team through story creation to produce compelling, timely, and accurate newscasts. You’ll be responsible for building a positive team culture, while generating story ideas that reflect your local community. You’ll make data-informed decisions to connect your audience with the stories that matter.
WHAT OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ENJOY MOST:
Uniting a team of storytellers
Overseeing projects start to finish, including breaking news coverage and issue-driven special programming.
Hands-on management and training opportunities involving graphics, cameras, and cross-newsroom workflow.
As a part of Spectrum News, you’re creative, highly technical, and ready to bring the character-driven stories of those in your community to life in our newsroom. You value accuracy and want to leverage your curiosity and storytelling abilities to share inspiring news across multiple platforms. Each day is a fast-paced and constantly evolving work environment with new stories to tell and perspectives to uncover.
We are focused on fostering a healthy, inclusive, and people-first team culture to effectively address challenges together. If you’re a nimble, passionate team player, you’ll find a home on our team.
To apply please visit the website below!
Spectrum News – Executive Producer – Orlando, FL
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 9/8/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 7/28/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 9/15/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/8/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 9/22/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (relisted 8/11/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Evening Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 9/2/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, listed 9/29/24, see ad above!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 7/28/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (listed 9/29/24, see ad above!)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (listed 9/22/24)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 8/11/24)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Lifestyle show EP, listed 9/15/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 9/15/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/18/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 9/29/24)
WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 8/11/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 8/11/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 9/15/24)
WPBF-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 8/11/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 9/29/24)
WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 9/29/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 8/11/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, listed 8/11/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 9/29/24)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 9/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 8/11/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 9/29/24)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 9/2/24)
KOLR/KRBK-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 9/8/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 9/29/24)
WMTM-TV, Portland, ME (listed 8/11/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, relisted 9/29/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 9/15/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (listed 9/29/29)
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT (relisted 9/2/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 9/2/24)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 9/29/24:
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital Director)
Relisted 9/29/24:
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Director)
Listed 9/22/24:
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital Director)
Listed 9/15/24:
Spectrum News, Austin, TX (Managing Director)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (Digital Media Director)
Interview an Expert
Zoom – All SciLine events are free
October 3 (2-4 p.m. EDT)
Has your community authorized dental therapists to help bridge the gap in oral health care for tribal or other underserved populations? Want to help your viewers understand how these professionals are different from dentists, and the types of care they can provide?
Book a 15-minute, 1-on-1 Zoom interview with Dr. Donald Chi (U. of Washington School of Dentistry).
He can discuss:
- Which populations in the United States lack access to dental care, and the effects of poor oral health;
- Information about dental therapists, including the training they receive and the types of care they do—and don’t—provide;
- His research in Alaska—the first state to authorize dental therapists to practice—on the effects of individuals in a tribal community gaining access to dental therapists; and
- Other lessons learned from states that have authorized dental therapists to practice.
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Our Friday UPDATE told you that Scripps was closings its national Scripps News effort, eliminating about 200 jobs. And President of News, KATE O’BRIAN, is leaving after less than a year in that role. NEW THIS EDITION: Stories from Variety and from Axios. About 50 people will remain in Washington, DC, to provide stories for Scripps’ local stations.
CNN will institute a ‘metered’ paywall for its website, allowing a few views before requiring payment.
Sinclair has rebranded its national newscasts. Going forward, they will be called The National News Desk. Those newscasts were formerly known as The National Desk.
Price
Former GM and consultant HANK PRICE observes that some stations are paying more in reverse compensation charges than they receive in retransmission fees from cable and other companies. And he think the networks need to rethink their demands before stations start becoming unprofitable. Here’s his latest column from TVNewsCheck.
A federal judge has ruled that a defamation suit filed against Nexstar and its Grand Rapids, MI, station, WOOD-TV, can proceed. Former News Director STANTON TANG and Assistant ND AMY FOX, are suing for defamation over their firings after a controversial memo regarding coverage of gay pride events.
The National News EMMYs were awarded this week. Here’s the list to the REALLY LONG list of winners. And if you go the to very end (page 31!) you’ll see that two local stations, Sinclair’s WBFF-TV (FOX) in Baltimore and Hearst’s WDSU-TV (NBC) in New Orleans were recognized (though I don’t think that includes an actual EMMY).
RONNIE LOVE, who’s been an EP at Scripps’ WXYZ-TV in Detroit, has been bumped up the food chain to Assistant ND. He’s a 14 year veteran of the station who’s also worked in Toledo.
KWES-TV (Tegna/NBC) in Midland, TX, has promoted MONIQUE BRAND to assistant ND.
An unusual move at KAIT-TV (Gray/ABC) in Jonesboro, AR, where meteorologist AARON CASTLEBERRY is giving up his on-air job to become the Assistant News Director.
General Manager News and Notes:
Longo
BOB LONGO will retire as General Manager of WJAX-WFOX-TV (CBS/FOX) in Jacksonville at the end of the year. Bob’s a former ND in Orlando, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Binghamton and was ND at WJAX/WFOX before his promotion to GM in 2017. He posted this farewell note on Linkedin. (Cox owns WJAX and operates WFOX for Hoffman Communications.)
Lockwood’s WFXG-TV in Augusta, GA, has named BRAD HARGROVE its next GM. He’s been the National Sales Manager for WDAF-TV (FOX) in Kansas City and replaces CHASTITY SCOTT.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 29, 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
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, Texas 77057
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N.Seattle, WA 98109
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WJXT-TV 4 Broadcast Pl, Jacksonville, FL 32207
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
WDTN-TV 4595 S Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45439
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25301
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
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
WTRF-TV 96 16th St, Ste 2, Wheeling, WV 26003
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101
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