Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

September 24, 2023

Greetings:

TWO new news directors named during this week, with NO new openings.

That means our list of places with open ND jobs drops to 33. And we have ONE Paid Ad this week, for an EP job in New York state.

No GM changes.

There’s ONE obituary for a longtime Miami newswoman who I was lucky enough to have worked with briefly. CARMEL CAFIERO was the first female reporter at Channel 7 in Miami and was a terrific investigative reporter. Read on for three good stories about her.

The non-profit SciLine is back with another list of expert interviews and videos to help provide information for your newscasts, and ads from our regular advertisers WMVision and Stephen Arnold Music.

I had a chance to get together at RTDNA with former ND and GM MARIA BARRS and learned more about her new book advertised below. Sounds great and I’ve pre-ordered a copy.

In Names in the News, some promotions at CBS News, and details (and a picture!) from a reunion of some CBS Newspath veterans.

Finally…it was good to see old friends and meet new ones at the RTDNA conference in Minneapolis this week. Executive Director DAN SHELLEY told me attendance was a post-pandemic record of 225 registrants.

That, of course, is a far cry from the last time the confernece was in Minneapolis, in 2000…the last full conference before 9/11 the next year, which changed so many things.

SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, arranges 1-on-1, broadcast-quality interview opportunities with articulate scientists. Reporters can book 15 mins with them via Zoom or request a SciLine interview clip for your use. SciLine also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.

Experts available for Zoom interviews:

New expert videos – available for download/use in stories:

Media Briefings available for viewing:

Newly Named News Directors:

Buie

WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN…this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate has promoted ALEXANDRA BUIE to news director. She started at the station as a photographer, became a producer, and was named Assistant News Director last year. Alex replaces ROB HEVERLING, an ordained minister, who left to minister a church in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Rob was ND here for two years.

Atwood

KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID…KADE ATWOOD returns to Idaho as ND for this News Press and Gazette operation. For the last 18 months, he’s been the Assistant ND for Sinclair’s KSNV-TV (NBC) in Las Vegas. But before that Kade was ND for KMVT-TV in Twin Falls, ID, for about 3 1/2 years before moving to Las Vegas. At KIFI, he replaces veteran ND BILL CUMMINGS who is retiring. His last day was scheduled to be Friday, 9/22.

Nemitz

And finally, apologies to the new VP/News for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, BRIAN NEMITZ, whose first name I got wrong in last week’s report on his new job. Brian’s spent the last eight years at WLOS-TV (ABC) in Asheville, NC, the last five as ND and has also worked in Miami, Grand Rapids, Pensacola, and Eau Claire, WI. Brian replaces KARI PATEY who’ll be VP/Producer Development for CBS owned stations.

New News Director Openings:

I’m not aware of any new openings this week but happy to be told otherwise if you know something I don’t know.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Morning Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

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Click here for more information and to apply.:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFOR-TV, Miami, FL (listed 9/3/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 8/20/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 8/20/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (relisted 9/10/23)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point, NC (relisted 9/10/23)
WNEP-TV, Scranton, PA (listed 8/20/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WISC-TV, Madison, WI (listed 9/10/23)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (relisted 7/9/23)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 8/13/23)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 9/10/23)
WDIO-TV, Duluth MN (listed 9/24/23)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WPIX-TV, New York, NY (Special Projects EP, listed 8/28/23)
KDAF-TV, Dallas, TX (Digital EP, listed 9/17/23)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 8/20/23)
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul (listed 7/30/23)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 8/20/23)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/6/23)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 8/6/23)
KENS-TV, San Antonio, TX (listed 9/10/23)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 9/10/23)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 8/6/23)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (listed 9/10/23)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, listed 8/20/23)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 9/10/23)
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 9/10/23)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listing modified 9/17/23, see ad above!)
WLEX-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 7/2/23)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 8/20/23)
WOI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 8/20/23)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 7/30/23)
WTOL-TV, Toledo, OH (listed 8/20/23)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 8/30/23)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse-Eau Claire, WI (listed 9/3/23)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 7/2/23)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 9/10/23:

KVUE-TV, Austin, TX (Digital Director)

Listed 8/20/23:

WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)

Obituaries:

Cafiero

CARMEL CAFIERO, a groundbreaking reporter for Channel 7 in Miami (originally WCKT-TV and later WSVN-TV) died Friday at the age of 76. She suffered from pulmonary issues. Carmel was the first female on air reporter when she joined WCKT in 1973 and enjoyed a 43 year career as an investigative reporter and anchor, winning Peabodys and DuPonts along the way. Three stories for you, all worth your time: from WSVN, from The Miami Herald and The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Full disclosure: I worked with her from 1976-77 and took the above picture at a Channel 7 reunion in 2016.

Names in the News:

Kate Z.

CBS News made several appointments this week among senior news management, and a name familiar to many CBS affiliate news managers was involved. KATE ZUCKERMAN was named VP of Affiliate Relations and Special Events Planning. Kate’s 17 year history at CBS is outlined on her Linkedin page. Check out the others with new roles by clicking here.

Speaking of CBS News, special correspondent STEVEN ACKERMANN provided these details and pictures of a reunion held this weekend in Charlotte:

Long before Zoom, Skype and FaceTime and before live streaming and websites, a few folks at CBS News created what is now Newspath. A few of them later went to create NBC Newschannel. These are the folks that made pictures fly through the air (sometimes on actual airplanes and other times on greyhound buses or turnpike couriers). CBS Newspath Regional Producer Bill Jones organized a weekend reunion that included Bob Horner (later President of NBC Newschannel) and former CBS News VP John Frazee.

General Manager News and Notes:

To the best of my knowledge, there were no moves among GM this week. If you know something I don’t, please let me know!

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 24, 2023:

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

KRIV-TV 4261 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77027
KTVU-TV 2 Jack London Sq. Oakland, CA 94607
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WZDC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 **
WDIV-TV 550 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral, FL 33172
WLTV 9405 NW 41st St, Doral, FL 33178 **
WCNC-TV 1001 Wood Ridge Center Drive Charlotte, NC 28217
WRAL-TV 2619 Western Boulevard Raleigh NC 27606
WLOS-TV 110 Technology Drive Asheville, NC 28803
WWMT-TV 590 West Maple St. Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WLNE-TV 10 Orms St. Providence, RI 02904
KFTV 3239 W Ashlan Av. Fresno, CA 93722 **
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Rd. Schenectady, NY 12309
WATE-TV 1306 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Drive, Suite 1 Roanoke, VA 24019
WHNT-TV 200 Holmes Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WICS-TV 2680 E. Cook St. Springfield, IL 62703
WQAD-TV 3003 Park 16th Street Moline, IL 61265
WFIE-TV 1115 Mt. Auburn Road Evansville, IN 47720
KIMA-TV 2801 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901
WLOX-TV 208 DeBuys Road, Biloxi, MS 39531
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
KTVH-TV 100 W Lyndale Ave. Ste A. Helena, MT 59601
KNOP-TV 402 S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101

**: Spanish language station

September 18, 2023

Greetings:

A surfeit (I sneak that word in every year or two) of ND hires this week leads our report. SIX new news directors, with just THREE openings.

Our list of stations with open ND jobs drops to 35. One of those 35 stations is among our TWO Paid Help Wanted ads this week.

Just TWO items in Names in the News, ONE new GM in a top 20 market, and NO obituaries.

And be sure to check out the ad just below.

She’s been a news director (in Dallas), a GM (in Sacramento) and now MARIA BARRS adds author to her resume. It’s a mystery with a reporter (another job Maria had in her career) as the protagonist. Learn more about the book and how to buy it by clicking on the ad.

Hope to see many of you this week at the annual RTDNA conference in Minneapolis.

Experts available for Zoom interviews:

New expert videos – available for download/use in stories:

Media Briefings available for viewing:

Newly Named News Directors:

Goldberg

KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, CA…MATT GOLDBERG will be one of TWO VP/NDs here. This news release explains how CBS believe that will work. Matt joins MIKE DELLO STRITTO as a VP/ND. A past president of IRE, it’s a return to KCBS/KCAL for Matt who worked as an investigative producer there before going to NBC, where he spent the last 20 years, including time at KNBC-TV as the assistant ND.

Nemitz

WCCO-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…it was a busy week at CBS which named ~~BRAD~~ BRIAN NEMITZ as VP/ND here (the only one with that title as far as I know.) Brian’s spent the last eight years at WLOS-TV (ABC) in Asheville, NC, the last five as ND. He’s also worked in Miami, Grand Rapids, Pensacola, and Eau Claire, WI and replaces KARI PATEY who becomes VP/Producer Development for the CBS owned stations

Stevens

WBTV, Charlotte, NC…assistant ND JASON STEVENS ascends to the ND job at this Gray owned CBS affiliate replacing MOLLY KELLEHER who’s off to Gray’s KCTV (CBS) in Kansas City as Assistant ND. Molly told me she’s excited about the growth at KCTV and hopes to help ND JOSH MORGAN continue the progress there. She’s a nine year veteran of WBTV who spent the last 18 months as ND.

Kessie

WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…longtime Biloxi, MS, newsman BRAD KESSIE will be the next ND for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He sent 35 years at WLOX-TV, the last 14 as ND. We have the memo from WOOD GM JULIE BRINKS as well as the note to staff from WLOX GM RICK WILLIAMS. The move gets Brad closer to family in Chicago. He’s also worked in Columbia, MO.

Cannon

WACH-TV, Columbia, SC…CELESTE CANNON is the news news director for this Sinclair Broadcasting FOX affiliate. She’s been the Assistant News Director there for the past two years but first joined the station eight years ago as a director, a job she held at two other places. Celeste replaces LENA SADIWSKYJ. We told you last month that Lena was leaving to return to teaching.

Jirasek

WBND-TV, South Bend, IN…we now know the name of the new ND for this Weigel Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. It’s MOLLY JIRASEK who began her career in the market and most recently has been a producer for NewsNation in Chicago. More here. She also worked as the Assistant ND for WEEK-TV in Peoria. At WBND, she replaces KYLE FOBE who left in July to become ND for WISC-TV in Madison, WI.

New News Director Openings:

WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC…you learned in our item just above (as well as our Wednesday UPDATE) that BRIAN NEMITZ is leaving this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate to become the next VP/News Director for CBS’s WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Brad spent more than five years as ND here and 3 1/2 as the Assistant ND before his promotion.

Good

WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA…JOSH GOOD has left this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate after not quite three years as news director. Before moving to Roanoke, Josh had been the news director for KADN/KLAF-TV (FOX/NBC) in Lafayette, LA for about two years. He’s also worked in Fort Wayne, IN, Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN.

WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS…we told you above that BRAD KESSIE‘s 35 year career at this Gray owned ABC/CBS affiliate is ending with his upcoming move to the ND job at WOOD-TV (Nexstar/NBC) in Grand Rapids, MI. Brad began there as a reporter and has been ND for the last 14 years.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Morning Executive Producer, WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY:

WIVB/WNLO in Buffalo, NY is searching for a hands-on, passionate journalist for the position of Morning Executive Producer.

Click here for more information and to apply.

News Director, WQAD-TV, Moline, IL:

WQAD, the TEGNA-owned ABC affiliate in the Quad Cities, is looking for a passionate news director with experience motivating teams, growing talent and creating an inclusive culture.

The Quad Cities is nestled on both sides of the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois. These cities offer a refreshing combination of low cost of living in a community with world-class museums, universities, four season outdoor activities for the whole family and excellent school systems. It also hosts a PGA Tour event, the John Deere Classic, each July that raises more money for charity than most other tournaments, proving the friendliness connection and pride of its Quad Citizens.

At WQAD, we have our eyes firmly fixed on the future, always looking for new ways to engage, educate and inform our audiences. We are looking for a leader who embraces creative storytelling and investigative journalism as key components of newscasts, as well as digital, streaming and social platforms.

If you want to make a significant mark in your career, this is the steppingstone for you.

WQAD encourages our journalists to pursue their purpose, find and tell truths, listen, amplify diverse voices, and filter out disinformation to create understanding, accountability, enlightenment, and empathy.

Learn more and apply here: