Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

July 21, 2024

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Big changes today at the CBS owned station in Detroit (which also resulted in a big change at Scripps’ ABC station there, WXYZ-TV.)

Lyons

JENNIFER LYONS, who been serving as the interim GM for WWJ-TV, has been named Regional General Manager for both WWJ and WBBM-TV in Chicago. She’s been the GM there for almost three years after a long career at WGN-TV (now owned by Nexstar, long owned by Tribune) where she twice served as news director and spent just over a year as VP/News for Nexstar’s News Nation.

Oliphant

Her first move in her new role was to name KENNAN OLIPHANT as VP of News AND Station Manager for WWJ. Kennan won’t have to move, as he has been serving as “Senior Director, News” for WXYZ-TV (Scripps/ABC) for the last two years (and was the Assistant ND before that.) Kennan is a Detroit native, began his career as a writer at WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit before working in several other markets in a variety of roles..

PAUL PYTLOWANY, who’s been running the news department at WWJ, moves to a new role as VP/Director of News Content and Special Projects.

All these changes are detailed in two memos, the first from JENNIFER MITCHELL, President of CBS Stations, and the second from Jennifer Lyons.

Because I am “Working for You” and “On Your Side” and…well, that’s enough…I have thoughtfully combined both memos into one document for your convenience.

You can thank me when next we meet.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

ONE of the TWO Chicago ND openings has been filled, cutting YOUR chances of working in the Windy City in half. 🙂

Whitmire

DOUG WHITMIRE has been promoted to Vice President of News for ABC o-and-o WLS-TV. He’s a 20+ year veteran of the station who’s been the Assistant News Director since December 2021 and was the executive producer for 14 years before that. Doug first joined the station in 2003 as a newswriter, coming from WTVG-TV in Toledo, which, at that time, was owned by ABC.

At WLS, Doug replaces the only ND he ever had there, JENNIFER GRAVES, who retired earlier this year after 22+ years as ND there.

The other remaining Chicago ND opening is at FOX’s WFLD-TV, where MATT PIACENTE left in February and has yet to be replaced.

We’ll see you this weekend with our full report.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

TWO news directors jobs were filled this week, while we’ve added THREE stations to our list of open ND jobs.

Our list of open ND jobs moves to 40. ONE of those openings is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Two noteworthy and new ads this week.

You probably know that Scripps is pioneering a new approach to community-focused reporting, and you’re invited to get a behind the scenes peek. This Thursday, July 25, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11a.m. PT Scripps is hosting a live, virtual event. Check out the ad below to learn more and register for this event.

The Texas Association of Broadcasters convention is nearing. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness the latest innovations in newsroom technology with Octopus Newsroom at TAB 2024. Check out the ad just below to learn more.

And if you’re a manager looking to improve your weather coverage, look at the ad for Heller Weather below.

FOUR obituaries this week, including ONE for a current news director, TWO for former NDs, and ONE for a former radio ND who served as President of (then) RTNDA.

No GM changes, and TWO items in Names in the News, including a cutback in local news production at a duopoly in America’s 23rd largest city (though its 91st biggest market.)

Guessing it will be a busy week for news coverage given today’s big announcement by the President. Good luck with your coverage.

Newly Named News Directors:

Isaacs

WFXT-TV, Boston MA…SCOTT ISAACS returns to Boston as ND for this Cox Media Group FOX affiliate. He’s been the ND for Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence for the last seven years. Before that, he worked at Boston’s WCVB-TV (ABC) for 13 years. More in this news release. He may have his hands full: check out this Boston Globe story that ran a few days before he was named. Scott replaces SARAH BURGESS who left in April after 19 years, six as the ND.

Hatten

WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY…KEITH HATTEN joins this Tegna owned ABC affiliate as ND. He’s been the ND for KPAX-TV in Missoula, MT, since late 2021. Here’s the note from GM LISA COLUMBIA. The move gets Keith closer to Indiana: he worked at three stations there for 14 years (and went to Purdue). At WHAS, he succeeds CHRIS GEGG who left for WXIX-TV in Cincinnati earlier this year.

New News Director Openings:

WJAR-TV, Providence, RI…you learned above that SCOTT ISAACS is leaving this Sinclair owned NBC affiliate after seven years as ND to return to Boston as ND for WFXT-TV.

KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT…and, since you LIVE for this type of information, you also know that KEITH HATTEN is leaving this Scripps owned CBS affiliate to become ND for WHAS-TV (Tegna/ABC) in Louisville. Keith was here almost three years.

We’re also adding KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT, to our list of open ND jobs. We told you last week that KEEGAN HARSHA was being promoted to a new job as Statewide ND for Montana. We did not know at the time that he would be replaced as ND at KTVQ.

Finally, please note just below the Paid Help Wanted ad for the ND job at Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI. We told you three weeks ago that DAN BOERS had left the station after three years as ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI:

WXMI, the E.W. Scripps FOX affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan is searching for an experienced News Director to keep our station moving forward to new heights of success.

This is a newsroom that needs a proven leader who can exceed and grow our high levels of investigative and enterprise journalism.

The right candidate will be someone who understands deep impact local content and can help teach and develop our talented group of journalists into stronger emotional storytellers. We seek someone who can foster a positive, innovative and hard charging newsroom into a digital now mindset. We are looking for a candidate who can effectively plan a news strategy for a continuous measurement world, while still being able to coordinate breaking news, weather and large event coverage.

You must be a digital powerhouse, leveraging the web, OTT, and all social platforms to make sure that local audiences are seeing, talking about and sharing stories generated by our newsroom. You must be a risk taker and someone ready to adapt, change and think out of the box.

If this sounds like you, we would like for you to apply.

Apply Here:

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)
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)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/14/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 6/16/24)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (relisted 7/21/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP/Special Projects, listed 6/16/24)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/5/24)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 6/23/24)
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)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24)
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/1/24)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 5/5/24)
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)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/21/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/21/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24)
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)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24)

Sciline’s expert interview opportunities:

This week – Zoom

SciLine has three scientific expert Q&A opportunities this week. Reporters can book a 15-minute 1-on-1 Zoom slot to speak with experts on the following topics:

Tuesday, July 23: Basic income with Dr. Daniel Brisson (U. of Denver)

Wednesday, July 24: Latin American immigrant experience with Dr. Edelina Burciaga (CU Denver)

Thursday, July 25: Landslide risks with Dr. Daniel Sturmer (U. of Cincinnati)

To strengthen journalists’ election season reporting with research-backed evidence and context, SciLine is hosting a series of media briefings on the science behind hot-button topics at the top of the political agenda.

Reporters can register for the next two briefings below:

July 23 (1-2 p.m. EDT): Jobs, the economy, and wealth inequality

July 25 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Voter demographics, access, and turnout

For recordings and transcripts on topics like climate change and the green energy transition, reproductive health and abortion, immigrants in U.S. communities, and crime, safety, and policing, click here.

SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.

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:

Duff

SCOTT DUFF, news director for Gray’s KHNL-TV in Honolulu, lost his battle with tongue cancer this week. Scott was 59. New this edition: KHNL remembers Scott who worked there for two years. He spent 16 years as ND for WSFA-TV in Montgomery, AL, which also paid tribute to him here. Scott began as a newspaper sports reporter, moved to TV in Columbus, OH, (two stations) before moving to Kansas City and his first ND job in Topeka. Our sympathy to his wife, Kathy, and family, friends and co-workers in Honolulu.

Cupp

Longtime WVIR-TV (Charlottesville, VA) News Director and Anchor DAVE CUPP lost his battle with Alzheimer’s this week. The station posted this story. Dave, a true gentleman ib my interactions with him, left WVIR-TV in 2005 and taught for almost ten years at the University of North Carolina before retiring to Texas, though he did continue some voiceover work. Dave was 74 and donated his body to science.

CURTIS BECKMAN, a longtime ND for WCCO-AM radio in Minneapolis and a one-time President of what was then RTNDA, died July 13 at the age of 83. This detailed obituary describes a full life well lived.

And KEN KLAGES, who spent two years as ND for KVOS-TV and radio in Bellingham, WA, in the 50s, died July 8th. Ken, who was 93 when he died, moved into jobs as Sports Information Director, first at Utah State and later at Purdue University.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Sinclair is making big changes to its two El Paso, TX, stations, KDBC-TV and KFOX-TV, the CBS and FOX affiliates there. Not surprisingly, it’s not MORE news and job eliminations are ahead. Details here.

RTDNA’s annual salary survey is out, and surprisingly shows that TV salaries outpaced inflation. (I’ve talked to lots of people who haven’t seen that.) Here are the details from RTDNA.

General Manager News and Notes:

No news this week.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 21, 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

WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
WLS-TV 190 N State St. Chicago, IL, 60601
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson Street Portland, OR 97201
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)
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
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
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
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
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
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Road NW Rochester, MN 55901
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
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station

July 15, 2024

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

TWO items in this UPDATE, the first very sad.

Duff

SCOTT DUFF lost his battle with cancer today. He was just 59. Scott’s been in Honolulu at a three station Gray operations branded as Hawaii News Now for the past two years, Before moving there, Scott spent almost 16 years as the news director for WSFA-TV (NBC) in Montgomery, AL, which remembered him here.

Scott began as a newspaper sports reporter, moved to television in Columbus, OH, (where he worked at two stations) before moving to Kansas City and eventually his first ND job in Topeka.

Our sympathy to his wife, Kathy, his other family, friends and co-workers in Honolulu.

Isaacs

In happier news, congratulations to SCOTT ISAACS who’s been named news director for Cox Media Group’s WFXT-TV (FOX) in Boston. It’s a return to Beantown for Scott, who earlier in his career spent 13 years at WCVB-TV (Hearst/ABC) in a variety of roles. He’s spent the last seven years as ND for Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence. Much more on his new job in this Cox news release. He replaces SARAH BURGESS who resigned in April after six years as ND and 19 at the station.

We’ll have a full newsletter this weekend with a number of other changes.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****

Greetings:

A modest decline in the number of stations looking for a new news director, as THREE jobs were filled this week, with just ONE new opening.

Thus, our list of open ND jobs slips to 39.

(Thanks to loyal readers who provided tips on several of those changes. We welcome your leads.)

There’s a big move for a Texas ND turned GM, while we have an obituary for another ND turned Texas GM.

In Names in the News, more changes at the top of CBS News, and a Virginia GM (himself once a news director) gets some corporate responsibilities.

Read on…and have a great week.

2024 Election briefing series:

Science behind the issues

This July – Zoom

To strengthen journalists’ election season reporting with research-backed evidence and context, SciLine is hosting a series of media briefings on the science behind topics at the top of the political agenda. Each session will review what scientific studies have to say about a hot-button election issue, to help journalists deepen their reporting on policy positions and recognize when candidate statements don’t hew to the facts. Register below:

July 16 (3-4 p.m. EDT): Immigrants in U.S. communities

July 18 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Crime, safety, and policing

July 23 (1-2 p.m. EDT): Jobs, the economy, and wealth inequality

July 25 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Voter demographics, access, and turnout

Sciline, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.

Newly Named News Directors:

Shane M.

News 12 Brooklyn/Bronx, New York, NY…this long vacant opening has been filled by veteran ND SHANE MORELAND. More in this memo from News 12 VP/News AUDREY GRUBER. Shane most recently was ND at WRIC-TV in Richmond, a job he left in November after six years. His entire career history is here. He replaces, I believe, STAN KOWALSKI who moved to News 12 Long Island last year.

Elias

KNDU/KNDO, Kennewick/Yakima, WA…another long vacant ND opening is gone as MATT ELIAS joins this Cowles Media operation as ND. He’s been a producer for competitor KAPP/KVEW-TV and has also worked in Seattle and Sacramento. Matt replaces STEPHANIE ASHLEY who had been the ND there for almost two years before leaving last October.

Douglas

WGEM-TV, Quincy, IL…CHAD DOUGLAS, who anchored and reported for more than 20 years for KHQA-TV in Quincy before leaving for a job in the non-profit sector, is the new ND for the Gray TV owned NBC affiliate. But for the last four years, he’s worked for the Salvation Army. At WGEM, he replaces JOHN EHRART who retired in April after a long career, the last year as ND here.

New News Director Opening:

Cyprian

KATC, Lafayette, LA…after almost three years at this Scripps owned ABC affiliate, NICOLE CYPRIAN is leaving for a big new job. She’ll be the Executive Director at the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at her alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. More in this memo from GM SEAN TRCALEK.