March 9, 2025
Greetings:
A busy week!
SEVEN newly opened news director jobs, including ONE in the number ONE market. And FOUR positions were filled.
Our list of openings increases, and now stands, by my count at 43 (if my three years of sophomore math paid off).
We have a Paid Help Wanted AD for a General Manager’s job, along with ads for two other news positions.
There are TWO new obituaries, though both the former NDs died a few months ago. And ONE, who was also on the faculty at Missouri, had a huge impact on this students, including me.
A longtime GM exited a top 20 market station in January. It slipped below our radar until this week. We’ll fill you in, tell what created the GM opening whose ad we mentioned before, and Sinclair names a new GM
And we’ll introduced you to a California News Director who’s talking about her fight against cancer, and it appears that ALLEN MEDIA is going ahead with plans to outsource some local weather casts to its co-owned Weather Channel.
An UPDATE on our report last week that BARRY FULMER was returning to Block Communications WDRB-TV (FOX) in Louisville. We did not account for JENNIFER KEENEY who replaced Barry there when he left for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. She’s taking a job with Louisville’s Metro Police Department after 25 years at WDRB, which aired this tribute to her. And she wrote this interesting editorial about the job she’s leaving…and the job she’s going to.
There’s lots more as you read on.
Newly Named News Directors:
Delancey
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA…ANDY DELANCEY gets his first ND job at this Nexstar owned CW affiliate. Here’s the memo from GM LLOYD BUCHER. The move reunites Lloyd and Andy, who worked together at WPTV in West Palm Beach. Andy went to Cincinnati, and then WCCO-TV in Minneapolis where he’s been the Assistant News Director-Mornings for the last 16 months. He replaces MARQUES WHITE.
Williams
KWES-TV, Midland-Odessa, TX…NATASHA WILLIAMS has been named news director for this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. She most recently was the Assistant News Director and Anchor for Allen Media’s WSIL-TV in Carterville, IL, a job she left in October according to her Linkedin page. At KWES, she replaces MELISSA HENDRIX-BEACH who left last summer after six years as ND.
And just before publishing, we got a few more updates from Gray with little time to go into more details.
KSFY-TV, Sioux Falls, SD…ANNDREA (cq) ANDERSON has been promoted to ND here.
WMBF-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC…JEN BLAKE moves within Gray to become ND here. She had spent the last 3 1/2 years as ND for Gray’s KOTA-TV in Rapid City, SD.
New News Director Openings:
Matthews
WABC-TV, New York, NY…you learned in our Thursday UPDATE that SCOTT MATTHEWS is returning to cable news as Senior VP of News Gathering for MSNBC as is nears its divorce from NBC News. He’s been the VP/News Director here since October, 2022. He’d also spent nine years as ND for three FOX owned stations in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and Scott’s worked for CNN, CNBC, and served as an EP for Investigative Reporting for stations in New York City and Phoenix.
Adkins
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH…JONATHAN ADKINS has left this Tegna owned NBC affiliate after less than two years as ND and 17 at the station. He was promoted to ND in 2023 after serving as News Content Director for five years. He first joined WKYC in 2009 and held a variety of other management positions. He also worked for WJW-TV (FOX) in Cleveland for eight years and in Rochester, NY.
Darrah
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN…just a few months after MIKE DARRAH was named news director for this Tegna owned ABC/CW duopoly, the job is open again. Mike started here in December after working outside of a TV newsroom for three years. He previously had been a news director in Honolulu, and worked in management in Las Vegas and Orlando.
Buehler
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI…after a remarkable 38 years at the station, and 30 years as news director there, JULI BUEHLER is retiring from this Sinclair Broadcasting owned FOX affiliate. More from the station’s website. She spent eight years as an EP before her promotion, has also worked in New Haven and earlier worked in Eau Claire, WI, and Rochester, MN, as an anchor and producer.
Fuller
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL…SABRINA FULLER is leaving this Gray Media owned CBS affiliate after almost five years as news director. She earlier spent five years as a producer and then executive producer for Gray’s WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, VA. The station spent five minutes on air on this farewell video, though it did not tell us where she is going, though it appears she is leaving the business.
Truitt
WMDT-TV, Salisbury, MD…SARAH TRUITT is stepping away after a long career at this Marquee Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. She’s been the ND there for 14 years and worked there for more than 20 years.
And, as noted above, KOTA-TV in Rapid City now has an opening with the departure of JENNIFER BLAKE who’s moving within Gray to be ND at WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Vice President/General Manager, WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN:
WDIO-TV News Channel 10/13, the award-winning ABC affiliate of legendary Hubbard Broadcasting in Duluth, MN needs a Vice President and General Manager with a history of success in leading broadcast, multi-media news operations and/or TV advertising sales.
We emphasize investigative style news and original hyper-local reporting. This position requires a strong leader to help keep this station at the top of the market while generating revenue in an ethical manner. Being community-service oriented is also key for success in this role.
This position is also responsible for defining and maintaining ethical, editorial, artistic and technical standards for broadcast news programs on WDIO and content on digital and social media platforms.
The successful candidate must motivate, inspire, engage and lead both an experienced, high performing team as well as green talent. We are looking for a leader who can build off WDIO’s legacy, creating a vision for the future, and supporting our ‘with you for life’ brand.
Set on beautiful Lake Superior, Duluth is in a vast region that is an outdoor paradise surrounded by pristine nature. The community is a combination of college town, tourist mecca, shipping/manufacturing, and regional healthcare center. A safe community with low cost yet high standards of living. WDIO is proud to be part of this community and we actively support community initiatives that help create positive change.
To learn more about the day-to-day duties and qualifications for this remarkable opportunity please see the full job description here:
Any questions? Please reach out to Hubbard Broadcasting’s Recruiting Manager, Michael Hammond at mhammond@bhi.com
Morning Executive Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:
WRAL is searching for a dynamic morning Executive Producer to lead content strategy, presentation, and innovation across all WRAL platforms, including newscasts.
We are looking for a “news director of the mornings,” who is passionate about breaking news, significant stories, weather coverage, and original, enterprise reporting.
This role involves overseeing daily news operations, collaborating with reporters, photographers, producers, editors, digital teams, graphic designers, promotions, and other news management staff.
WRAL is based in Raleigh, home to the Research Triangle. The region is consistently ranked as one of the best to live in the country.
WRAL is locally owned and operated, featuring a dynamic newsroom that includes a documentary team, investigative team, consumer and health teams, a climate change reporter and an award-winning political unit.
If you are interested in the role, please apply here:
Multiplatform Managing Editor, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:
Job Summary:
WINK News is seeking an experienced and dynamic Multiplatform Managing Editor. This position will oversee daily news operations, ensuring the highest standards of journalism and multi-platform content delivery. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for local news, strong editorial judgment, and proven leadership skills.
Key Responsibilities:
· Ensure consistent, high-quality coverage across all platforms, including broadcast, digital, and social media.
· Foster collaboration between news and digital teams to enhance multi-platform storytelling and audience engagement.
· Supervise and mentor producers, reporters, and newsroom staff, providing regular feedback and coaching.
· Oversee story selection, script approval, and editorial decision-making to uphold the station’s standards of excellence.
· Contribute to long-term strategic planning for news content and special projects.
· Champion a culture of teamwork, accountability, and journalistic integrity.
Qualifications:
· Minimum of 5 years of newsroom leadership experience, preferably in a medium-to-large market.
· Strong editorial judgment with a deep understanding of journalistic principles and ethics.
· Proven ability to lead and inspire a diverse team in a fast-paced environment.
· Experience with multi-platform content strategies and audience engagement.
· Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
· Proficiency with newsroom systems, digital platforms, and social media.
WINK News is locally owned and operated for more than 70 years. We are committed to delivering impactful local journalism IN Southwest Florida. Join a newsroom that values innovation, collaboration, and journalistic excellence.
Click here to learn more and apply!
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 1/26/25)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 1/26/25)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 2/23/25)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 1/19/25)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 1/12/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (relisted 3/9/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/9/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 2/16/25)
KTVB-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 2/23/25)
WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/12/25)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 1/19/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, relisted 1/12/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/2/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 1/12/25)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 3/9/25)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (AM EP, listed 3/2/25, see ad above!)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listing modified 1/12/25)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 3/2/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 3/9/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville, SC (listed 2/16/25)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, relisted 3/9/25)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listed 2/16/25)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (listed 2/23/25)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (Nightside EP, listed 2/16/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (Digital EP, listed 3/2/25)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 1/26/25)
WPTZ-TV, Burlington, VT (listed 2/16/25)
WAPT-TV, Jackson, MS (listed 2/16/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 2/16/25)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, listed 2/23/25)
WVNS-TV, Ghent, WV (listed 2/23/25)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 3/9/25:
Tegna, Temple TX: (Texas Digital Director, overseeing five stations)
Relisted 3/9/25:
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Listing Revised 3/7/25:
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Multiplatform Managing Editor, see ad above!)
Relisted 2/16/25:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)
Listed 2/9/25:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter, title change this week)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA: (Executive Reporter)
Listed 1/19/25:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (News and Content Manager)
Obituaries:
Wilson
LEIGH WILSON made an incredible difference in the lives of many students, including me, during his short time in the mid-1970’s as news director of the University of Missouri’s KOMU-TV in Columbia. Word of his death from cancer in late November in Thailand just reached us over the weekend. My classmate JOHN FERRUGIA posted this notice on Facebook with more details. Leigh was a photographer by training, working much of his time for networks and encouraged many students to embrace photojournalism as a career.
Brown
MARK BROWN, a long ago news director and reporter at KOBI-TV in Medford, OR, died in December at the age of 79. After leaving KOBI, he went to work for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a videographer. More details in this story from KOBI and his full obituary.
Finally…RTDNA posted this remembrance from friends of LOU PRATO, who died late last month. Some good stories are included, including the time he threw a VHS cassette across the room during a heated discussion about a category into the Edward R. Murrow Awards judging.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
After announcing a plan to replace local meteorologists with forecast from co-owned The Weather Channel, and then quickly reversing it after outcries, Allen Media is apparently moving forward, again, at least in some markets. A meteorologist at the Allen station in Evansville posted on Facebook. And while not widely reporter, WHAS-TV (ABC) in Louisville is airing weekend weather segments from sister Tegna station WXIA-TV in Atlanta.
Placencia
VERONICA PLACENCIA is the news director for Scripps’ KERO-TV (ABC) in Bakersfield, CA. She is also battling stage 3A endometrial cancer. Veronica spent time discussing her battle as part of the station’s Teaming Up Against Cancer. You can watch that segment here. Veronica has been ND here for three years, was the executive producer for three years before that, and is a former news director in EL Paso.
General Manager News and Notes:
Hoffman
We are tardy in reporting that JEFF HOFFMAN left WKMG-TV (Graham Media/CBS) in Orlando back in January after almost ten years as GM there. More details from the station’s Linkedin account. Before Orlando, Jeff was a GM in Norfolk and Huntsville, held station manager positions in Columbia, SC, and Louisville, where he had earlier been the ND. And if memory serves, he worked in news in his native Philadelphia.
DEB MESSER, GM for Hubbard’s WDIO-TV in Duluth, MN, is retiring in June and the company is looking for her replacement. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad above.
DAVID BANGURA moves within Nexstar, from GM at WDVM/WDCA-TV to the same tole at WHTM-TV in Harrisburg. His job in Washington has been combined to a GM/VP Sales job for WDVM and Nexstar owned The Hill.
JOSEPH TRACY is the new GM for Sinclair’s KDSM-TV in Des Moines and KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids. The news release has more on his background and the two stations.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 9, 2025:
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
WABC-TV 7 Hudson Square, New York, NY 10013
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WSB-TV 1601 W. Peachtree St., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30309
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22209
WKMG-TV 4466 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 N. Shelby Oaks Dr., #101 Memphis, TN 38134
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WLUK-TV 787 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WRCB-TV 900 Whitehall Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KINT-TV 5426 North Mesa Street El Paso, TX 79912
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WMDT-TV 202 Downtown Plaza, Salisbury, MD 21801
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
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
KAAL-TV 1320 Salem Road SW, Rochester, MM 55902
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802
KOTA-TV 2001 Skyline Drive Rapid City, SD 57701
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station