March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 14, 2012 UPDATE:
Figueroa
WTVJ-TV in Miami will name MIGDALIA FIGUEROA as VP/News tomorrow morning.
In a memo to staff late today, GM MANUEL MARTINEZ described her as having a passion for news, a wealth of knowledge and a strong understanding of the South Florida market. Migdalia is currently Senior Vice President of Local Content for the Telemundo Station Group. Before taking that job in 2010, she was ND for WSCV-TV, the Telemundo station in Miami. She’s also worked in New York and for the Univision station in Miami.
At WTVJ, she replaces LANE MICHAELSEN who left the station last month and was named ND for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati earlier this week. Lane was ND at WTVJ for about 2 1/2 years.
As always, all the week’s developments in our regular newsletter later this week.
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Monday afternoon, March 12, 2012, UPDATE:
Stoldal
Updating our earlier story…we know now more about the ND job opening posted on the website for KSNV-TV in Las Vegas. When we distributed the newsletter over the weekend, we didn’t know what that meant for longtime Vegas newsman BOB STOLDAL, who’s been the ND there.
I heard from Bob a few minutes ago. He’s fine and tells me that due to news expansion at both the company’s Las Vegas and Reno operations, he’ll be spending more time on his corporate responsibilities so they are going to hire a news director for Las Vegas.
Thanks to Bob for filling us all in.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday morning, March 12, 2012 UPDATE:
Longtime newsman LANE MICHAELSEN didn’t take too long to ‘see what’s out there.’
Michaelsen
He was named ND this morning for Scripps’ WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, the ABC affiliate there. Lane just left NBC’s WTVJ-TV in Miami last month, saying he was going to explore other options. His decision came two days after a new GM was named. Lane’s also been an ND in Washington, DC, Tampa, and Little Rock, served as VP/News for Ganettt, and spent some time at Poynter. He began his career as a photographer and spent eight years as Director of Photography at KARE-TV in Minneapolis.
The move reunites Lane with WCPO GM STEVE THAXTON: they worked together at KARE when Steve was the VP of Promotion and Production there, and also when Lane was a Corporate VP/News for Gannett and Steve was GM of the company’s Portland, ME, station.
At WCPO, he replaces longtime ND BOB MORFORD who announced his retirement from the station in January. Bob turns 55 next month and qualified for retirement with Scripps. He plans to take some time off and then explore his next opportunity.
Also, in last week’s report, we told you about a posting for an ND opening at KSNV-TV in Las Vegas, but admitted we didn’t know if longtime ND BOB STOLDAL was leaving the station or concentrating on his corporate responsibilities.
I still don’t.
But I’ll update this website when I do.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
It’s been an interesting week. FOUR new ND openings. TWO newly named NDs, both in top ten markets. A new corporate news executive. A former ND turned GM moves to the number four market.
Those changes bring our list of open ND jobs to 29.
We have a paid ad for one of the those ND openings, and three other help wanted ads, including a position at the AP, an Assistant ND opening in Tennessee, and a producer opening in Ohio.
There’s an obituary for a long-ago Chicago ND who’s the father of a well known actress.
And we’ll tell about ERIC LERNER’s new job in Names in the News, along with one other news manager on the move.
All that and more after this week’s changes:
New News Director Openings:
Brogan
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL…we told you in an emailed update yesterday that JEFF BROGAN is leaving this Scripps owned NBC affiliate to take a corporate position in Cincinnati. He’s been named Senior Director of News Operations and Strategy, joining LANA DURBIN SCOTT in that role. For Jeff, it’s a return to his hometown and the place where he started his career at Fox affiliate WXIX-TV. He later joined Scripps’ WCPO-TV there as a producer, and was later promoted to EP and then Assistant ND, before taking the WPTV ND job two years ago. Please see the advertisement below for more information on this opportunity.
Stoldal
KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…this Intermountain West Communications Company owned NBC affiliate has a posting for an immediate opening for a news director. But I don’t know what the means for the status of BOB STOLDAL, the veteran Las Vegas newsman who’s been ND there since August 2009 (in addition to a long term as ND for KLAS-TV and at WTVF-TV in Nashville). Bob also held some corporate responsibilities, so I don’t know if he’s concentrating on those or if he has left the station. I’ll update this listing here when I find out, so you can check back.
KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA…in another move we reported via a mid-week update, TRACEY WATKOWSKI is leaving one ABC o-and-o for another. She’s been named ND for KGO-TV in San Francisco. (More on that below).
Picken
KGAN/KFXA-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA…SCOTT PICKEN is leaving this Sinclair-owned CBS/Fox duopoly. Scott will be there through the end of April and assist in the search for his successor. He’s been the ND there since the summer of 2010, and previously was an ND for KMTV in Omaha and KIVI-TV in Boise, and has also worked as an ND in Honolulu, Rockford, IL, and Fort Smith, AR. His successor here will be the fifth news director in six years.
Newly Named News Directors:
Jacobson
New York 1, New York, NY…DAN JACOBSON has been promoted to news director for this Time Warner Cable all news operation. He most recently has been the Assistant News Director here, and has worked there for a long time in a variety of roles. He began his career in print journalism and replaces BERNIE HAN who was promoted to VP/News for all the TWC cable news operations last July. She had been ND there since 2003 and has worked for the company since 1992.
Watkowski
KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA…as mentioned above, TRACEY WATKOWSKI is returning to this ABC o-and-o as news director. She’s been the ND for sister o-and-o KFSN-TV in Fresno for the last six years, but had been the Assistant ND here for seven years before that. She’s also worked in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and for CNN in Atlanta. At KGO, she replaces her former boss there, KEVIN KEESHAN, who left in January after eleven years as ND to become the ombudsman for NBC News.
Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, WPTV/WFLX-TV, West Palm Beach, FL:
Our current News Director has just been promoted into a Scripps corporate position. That opens up an extraordinary opportunity for the right person to lead the newsroom of Florida’s highest rated station.
We are part of the cutting edge Scripps organization and produce news on a number of platforms for both WPTV, the #1 station in the West Palm Beach market, as well as for the local Fox affiliate, WFLX. We are seeking a leader, not just a manager.
If this speaks to you, apply at: Scripps.com Job Number: 4618
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Producer, WTVG-TV, Toledo, OH:
WTVG-TV 13abc in Toledo seeks a news producer to join our #1 news team. We are looking for a leader who writes exceptional stories and demonstrates creative thinking. You must be able to communicate quickly and efficiently. Two years of newscast previous news producing are preferred.
If you are looking for a great place to learn and advance professionally, send your resume, writing and newscast samples to:
Brian Trauring
Executive News Director
WTVG-TV 13abc
4247 Dorr Street
Toledo OH 43607
or via email to: wtvg.hr@13abc.com
EOE.
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Product Coordinator, Associated Press, Washington, DC:
The Associated Press seeks a Product Coordinator for its Washington, D.C. location.
The Product Coordinator ensures that our text, video and graphics products meet and exceed customer needs. The Product Coordinator will serve as a key conduit between customers, editorial, marketing, technology and all other departments to ensure smooth delivery of our award winning content.
In particular, this role will be focused on the day to day needs of AP’s new domestic video portal for US broadcasters (AP Video-US).
Responsibilities:
- Primary responsibility is to work with customers to maximize the usage of AP’s US video portal
- Works with editorial teams to keep track of AP’s video portal output
- Executes on-going marketing of content on the US video portal, to make sure customers are aware of new and relevant content
- Works with customers and customer support team to address editorial and product questions
- Works with marketing to promote video products, including the development and execution of email marketing campaigns
- Travel required – approximately 15%
Qualifications:
- Exceptional people skills. Ability to communicate effectively with different stakeholders and external customers.
- Very resourceful. Ability to identify, react to and resolve issues quickly.
- Familiarity with local TV news production and newsroom workflow strongly desired
- Product development, product management experience and/or familiarity strongly desired
- Familiarity with online production and workflow, a plus
- Familiarity with Photoshop and content management systems a plus.
- For consideration, apply via the following URL https://careers.ap.org
The Associated Press is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Assistant News Director, WMC-TV, Memphis, TN:
Rare opportunity at NBC powerhouse: WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee seeks dynamic journalist to lead team as Assistant News Director.
Must have executive producer experience and love day-to-day news. Work to refine stories, showcase newscasts and oversee the best breaking news team in the Mid-South. Be ready to run, not walk, to the desk when the big story breaks.
The successful candidate will function as chief deputy to the News Director with supervisory responsibility for all news broadcasts. The AND will work closely with fellow managers and producers to implement the Action News 5 focus and philosophy. This person will assist with employee schedules, oversee budgetary aspects of operation, on-going evaluation of personnel and broadcast standards. Ability to function under deadline pressure is a must. Ability to nurture the creativity of the team and the capacity to offer constructive criticism will win us over.
Send your resume to:
Tammy Phillips
News Director
WMC-TV
1960 Union Ave.
Memphis TN 38104
or via email: tphillips@wmctv.com
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Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 2/10/12)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 1/20/12)
WITI-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/17/12)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted this week, see ad above!)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 2/10/12)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 1/27/12)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (listed 2/10/12)
KTVM-TV, Bozeman, MT (listed 12/16/11)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KDFW-TV, Dallas, TX (Morning EP, listed 1/20/12)
KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth. TX (dayside EP, listed 2/10/12)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (relisted 12/16/11)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listing revised 1/20/12)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted 2/10/12)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 2/10/12)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Dayside EP, listed 1/27/12)
WSMV-TV, Nashville, TN (AM EP, relisted 2/10/12)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (AM EP, new listing this week)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (PM EP, listing modified this week)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (AM EP, relisted 2/17/12)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (relisted 12/31/11)
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, listed revised this week)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
WHIO-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 1/27/12)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (listed 2/10/12)
WCYB-TV, Bristol, TN (listed 2/17/12)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 12/9/11)
KHBS/KHOG-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (Digital Media Mgr., listed 2/17/12)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/17/12)
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Obituary:
One time WBBM-TV (Chicago) News Director JOHN MADIGAN died earlier this week at the age of 94. He suffered complications from a stroke. John began his career in newspapers, moved to Newsweek Magazine, and returned to Chicago in the early 1960s as ND for WBBM. He later moved to WBBM Radio. He’s survived by his wife, one daughter, actress AMY MADIGAN, and sons Jack and Jim. More on his interesting life in this obituary from the Chicago Tribune.
Names in the News:
Lerner
Congratulations to newsman turned general manager ERIC LERNER, who moves cross country to become GM for NBC’s WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. Eric’s spent the last six years as GM for KIRO-TV in Seattle, and previously served as GM for ABC owned KFSN-TV in Fresno, where he succeeded VALARI STAAB, when she was promoted to GM of ABC’s KGO-TV in San Francisco. Valari now will be his boss in her role as head of the NBC owned stations division. Eric’s a former ND in Chicago, Seattle, and Wichita, and worked in Providence, Rochester, NY, Buffalo, Greensboro, NC, and Des Moines. He began his career as a consulting associate for the late LARRY POND at Magid.
Ford
CHRIS FORD returns home to Tampa as the new assistant ND for Gannett’s WTSP-TV (ABC). For the last five year’s he’s been the Assistant ND for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, and he’s also worked in Chicago, Orlando and West Palm Beach, where he worked with PETER ROGHAAR, now the ND at WTSP. Chris grew up in Tampa, began his career at WTSP, and later worked for WTVT-TV there.
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Our Full List of News Director Openings:
Here is my list of stations with open ND jobs, as of Saturday, March 10, 2012.
If you know of any additions/deletions/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
KNBC-TV 3000 W. Alameda Ave. Burbank CA 91523
WTVJ-TV 1500 SW 27th Ave. Miramar, FL 33027
KXTV 400 Broadway Sacramento CA 95818
XETV 8253 Ronson Rd. San Diego CA 92111
WCPO-TV 1730 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati OH 45202
WPTV 1100 Banyan Blvd. W. Palm Beach FL 33401 (see ad above!)
KSNV-TV 1500 Foremaster Lane Las Vegas NV 89101
WBRE-TV 62 S. Franklin Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
KFSN-TV 1777 G Street Fresno CA 93706
KSNW-TV 833 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203
KITV 801 South King St. Honolulu HI 96813
KMTV 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens St. Columbia SC 29201
KGAN-TV 600-2 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids IA 52402
KWQC-TV 805 Brady Street Davenport, IA 52803
WBTW-TV 3420 N. TV Road Florence, SC 29501
KHGI-TV 13 S. Highway 44 Kearney NE 66848
WTXL-TV 1620 Commerce Blvd. Midway, FL 32343
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
KNOE-TV 1400 Oliver Rd. Monroe, LA 71211
KTUU-TV 701 E. Tudor Rd. #220 Anchorage AK 99503
KTAB/KRBC-TV, 4510 S. 14th St. Abiliene, TX
WTVY-TV PO Box 1089 Dothan AL 36302
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St. SE Charlottesville VA 22902
KKCO-TV 2325 Interstate Ave. Grand Junction CO 81505
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001
KSAX-TV PO Box 189 Alexandria MN 56308
WYIN-TV 8625 Indiana Place Merrilville IN 46410
** Spanish language station