March 16, 2025
Greetings:
Apologies for the tardy posting but travel interfered.
This week: TWO newly opened news director jobs, and THREE jobs were filled.
Our list of openings remains at 43.
Once again, we have a Paid Help Wanted AD for a General Manager’s job, along with ads for two other news management positions.
As NAB approaches, several vendors are hoping you’ll stop by, including Trint, a new supporter of this newsletter. Trint is helping newsrooms all over the world turn interviews, speeches and news conferences into content faster than ever.
And our friends at Octopus return as an advertiser…Innovate Your Newsroom with Octopus 12 – See It in Action at NAB 2025!
We have ONE obituary for a former ND turned GM turned President of a broadcasting group. That’s below.
There are TWO new GMs, including ONE in a top 20 market.
There are a lot of news managers on the move. Those are covered in our Names in the News (and other stuff) section below.
Also there: Could a new FCC impact affiliate relations payments to networks, and could THAT impact the Paramount/Skydance deal? Read on for one veteran’s observer’s take. Sinclair sold a few small stations, a former Chicago ND publisher her THRIDchildren’s book, and a well known media critic heads to an ivory Tower.
Read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Cabieses
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA…as if often does, Hearst moved quickly and filled an open ND job here from within. NATALIE CABIESES has been the Assistant ND for this CBS affiliate, and, remarkably, is only the FIFTH news director in the station’s 70+ year history. Natalie’s also worked in Milwaukee, Orlando, and Ft. Myers. She replaces ALLISON SMITH, promoted to GM for Hearst’s KETV in Omaha.
Pace
WRCB-TV, Chattanooga, TN…PERRY PACE returns to Chattanooga as the ND for this Sarkes-Tarzian owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the ND for Tegna’s WOI-TV (ABC) in Ames, IA. Perry explained the move to me in this email. He’s worked in Indianapolis (twice), Birmingham, and Houston. At WRCB, he replaces MEGAN ROBERTS who left in January after three years as ND.
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT…DON HUDSON is the new news director here. He’s been anchoring in Knoxville and earlier worked for six years in Salt Lake City.
Correction: In one of the two instances last week where we mentioned a new news director in Myrtle Beach, we transposed the call letters. JEN BLAKE is the ND at WMBF-TV.
New News Director Openings:
WOI-TV, Ames, IA…you learned above that PERRY PACE is leaving to return to Chattanooga as ND for WRCB-TV. WOI is an ABC affiliate owned by Tegna.
Ryan H.
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO…Scripps owns this NBC affiliate and apparently has an ND opening. My records (and his Linkedin page) show that RYAN HAZELWOOD has been the news director for the last 7 1/2 years and has also been an ND in Amarillo. He began his career as a photojournalist working in several small Texas markets.
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 3/16/25)
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 (relisted 3/16/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/25)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/2/25)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 3/16/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (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!)
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)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WYXZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 3/16/25)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 3/16/25:
Scripps, anywhere Scripps has a station (Senior Dir. of Digital News)
Listed 3/9/25:
WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN (VP/GM, see ad above!)
Tegna, Temple TX: (Texas Digital Director, overseeing five stations)
Relisted 3/9/25:
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)
Obituary:
Keelor
JIM KEELOR was a reporter turned producer turned NBC Cleveland bureau chief turned news director turned GM who eventually ran Cosmos (aka Liberty) before the stations were sold to Gray in 2006. Jim died earlier this week of complications from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. He was 83. More details here. One of his three children followed him into the business: daughter KIM KEELOR anchored in Dallas, Tampa, and several smaller markets.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
My alma mater, the University of Missouri, received a ten million dollar gift from an alum for its documentary program. Details here.
SPOILER ALERT: I was NOT the donor.
Quick hits:
Gibson
BRADY GIBSON took I-70 west from Indianapolis to Kansas City, where he’s the new Assistant ND for Nexstar’s WDAF-TV (FOX). He most recently was the ND at WISH-TV in Indianapolis and earlier spent many years at WRTV (ABC) there.
TWO hires from Scripps:
JAMES DEERING joins WTVF-TV in Nashville as EP. He’s been a producer in Boston and Houston.
WSYM-TV in Lansing has hired ISSAC TAYLOR as its Assistant News Director. He moves from WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV, where he started 3 1/2 years ago as a master control operator and has been the station’s Digital Content Manager.
CODY CRAWFORD has been promoted to Assistant News Director for Tegna’s KREM-TV in Spokane. He had been the morning EP.
One-time Chicago ND PHYLLIS SCHWARTZ has released her third children’s book.
Former GM and consultant HANK PRICE wonders if the change in FCC leadership may impact affiliate payments to networks…and also thinks it could impact the pending Skydance/Paramount deal.
Sinclair is selling five of its smaller stations.
Deggans
ERIC DEGGANS, longtime media critic and observer, is turning to teaching. He’s been named the Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University. He’ll continue to serve as a critic at large for National Public Radio.
General Manager News and Notes:
Trevino
Tegna promoted JOHN TREVINO to General Manager at its Cleveland NBC affiliate, WKYC-TV. He’s been running KBMT-KJAC-TV in Southeast Texas and previously was a GM for KDAF-TV in Dallas. Here’s the news release with more. In Cleveland, Josh replaces MICKI BYRNES. We told you in late January that Micki was retiring after almost ten years as GM and 28 years at the station.
Sinclair tabbed DAVID TODD BAILEY to run KTXS-TV in Abilene. More here.
NEIL MIDDLETON has returned to his radio roots as President and CEO of the Forscht Radio group which manages 26 stations in nine markets in Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. He most recently was GM of WYMT-TV in Hazard, KY, where he spent 12 years as GM and 38 at the station.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 16, 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
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266
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 **
KOAA-TV 2200 7th Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003
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