October 20, 2024
Greetings:
We have TWO new ND openings but THREE newly hired NDs in this week’s report. (And we removed one ND opening from our list…we’ll explain below.)
That drops our list of open ND Jobs to 34. ONE of those openings is featured in a paid help wanted ad…and there’s also an ad for an EP job in a top ten market.
Two experienced GM’s are in the news…ONE who is retiring and ONE who UNRETIRED…and went back to a previous job.
In Names in the News, a longtime New York newsman exits the business to be a director of communications for a town, a Baltimore newsman goes to work for the government, and we have links to TWO stories we found interesting.
We’re pleased to welcome WMVision back as an advertiser. Check out the ad just below, as well as those of all our advertisers as they support helps sustain our efforts.
Read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Brown
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, FL…ROBERT BROWN returns to this Graham Media owned independent as its next ND. Robert worked here from 2012-2018 before moving to sister Graham station WKMG-TV (CBS) in Orlando as a producer, eventually rising to Manager of Content and Coverage. More in this news release. At WJXT, Robert replaces KATHRYN BONFIELD who left the station in September after 13 years as ND.
Greg D.
KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR…GREG DEFFENBAUGH heads west to become the ND at this News Press and Gazette NBC/FOX duopoly. The station provided this information about Greg, who’s been the ND for Allen Media’s WREX-TV in Rockford, IL. At KTVZ, Greg replaces CATHY MARSHALL who’s been the ND here since December, 2022, and first joined the station as a morning anchor earlier that year.
Finally, we are removing WTHR-TV (Tegna/NBC) in Indianapolis from our list of open ND jobs. We told you last week that NICOLE BLOCK had left as news director. There is no current plan to replace her, apparently. Director of Content SCOTT HUMS (to whom Nicole reported) will continue to oversee the newsroom.
New News Director Openings:
Hyatt
WIS-TV Columbia, SC…after more than six years as the news director for this Gray TV NBC affiliate, BRAD HYATT has left the station. Messages sent to both Brad and GM ROBBY THOMAS were not returned. Brad first joined the station in 2016 and served a few months as interim ND before his 2018 promotion, He spent much of his career at WBTV (CBS) in Charlotte
Morris
WJET/WFXP-TV, Erie, PA…COREY MORRIS will leave this operation in December after about 18 months as ND. He had been a digital reporter at the station before being bumped up. His background is mostly newspaper and digital. An email sent to his station address was not returned. Nexstar owns WJET and operates WFXP which is owned by Mission Broadcasting.
WREX-TV, Rockford, IL…you learned above that GREG DEFFENBAUGH is the new news director for KTVZ-TV in Bend, OR. Greg was ND here for about three years and earlier worked in Pittsburgh, Denver, Oklahoma City and Des Moines.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KIEM/KVIQ-TV, Eureka, CA:
KIEM/KVIQ in beautiful Eureka, California is currently on the lookout for a dynamic individual to fill the role of News Director. The role demands a great deal of patience and a knack for mentoring, making it essential for the candidate to possess strong leadership and coaching skills.
The person stepping into this role will be responsible for overseeing all news, weather, and sports content production. Responsibility included
– Oversee the daily operations of the News Department.
– Hiring, training, evaluation, and management of news staff.
– Lead news coverage across both broadcast and digital platforms.
– Conducting daily reviews of newscasts to ensure quality, provide constructive feedback, and mentor the news team.
– Allocating assignments to team members and ensuring adherence to deadlines.
– Driving the achievement of targets related to audience ratings and digital platform metrics.
– Work with Engineering and IT departments to meet technological needs
– Undertaking additional responsibilities as needed.
**Qualifications and Skills**
– A bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism or a related field, or equivalent experience.
– Effective in understanding and addressing team needs, fostering a collaborative work environment.
– Strong oral and written communication abilities.
– Proficient in teaching, coaching, and development to enhance team skills and knowledge.
Salary $58,000 -$68,000 commensurate with experience.
Morning Broadcast Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC 2, a leader in innovative news broadcasting, is seeking a Morning Broadcast Executive Producer. This dynamic role is ideal for a leader passionate about enhancing newscasts and nurturing talent.
As the Executive Producer, you will guide the broadcast team to deliver engaging content across platforms, ensuring alignment with our brand pillars. Collaborating with News Managers, you will set the editorial direction, foster a strong newsroom culture, and leverage new technology to keep our content innovative.
You will oversee the onboarding and training of new producers, aiding them with script writing and newscast crafting. By using showcasing skills, you will help create compelling newscasts and ensure cohesive content delivery across all platforms. Your news judgment will be critical in reacting to breaking news and adjusting coverage priorities seamlessly. You will advocate for content that resonates with our diverse audience and addresses community issues, ensuring active community engagement from our content and talent.
The ideal candidate has experience as a producer in a large-market TV news operation, creative writing skills for news promos and teases, and strong copy-editing abilities. Familiarity with Augmented Reality and proficiency in Edius and other editing programs are essential. Exceptional leadership, creative and editorial judgment, and strong communication skills are required.
Preferred qualifications include experience as an Executive Producer and a degree in Journalism or Communications.
To apply: Please send your resume to: Manager of Content and Coverage, MCCKPRC@kprc.com
Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.
Interview an Expert
Zoom – All SciLine events are free
Tuesday, October 22 (9:30-11:30 a.m. EDT)
Voters in six states—Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, and Oregon—will make decisions in this election about using ranked choice voting, or instant runoff voting, in future elections. Meanwhile, some cities and two states already use it—while ten other states forbid its use.
Book a 15-minute, 1-on-1 Zoom interview with Dr. Rachael Cobb (Suffolk University).
She can discuss:
- The basics of how ranked choice voting works – from the perspective of a voter, and from the perspective of election administrators;
- The body of evidence on whether, and to what degree, ranked choice voting affects issues such as:
- political polarization;
- voter engagement and turnout;
- negative campaigning; and
- the cost of election administration.
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
KTVI/KPLR-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 9/8/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 7/28/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 9/15/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/8/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (listed 9/22/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (relisted 10/13/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (AM EP, relisted 10/13/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24, see ad above!)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, listed 9/29/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (listed 9/29/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (Lifestyle show EP, listed 9/15/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 9/15/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 10/13/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 9/29/29)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (relisted 10/13/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (relisted 9/29/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 9/29/24)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (AM EP, listed 10/13/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 9/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 10/13/24)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 9/2/24)
KOLR/KRBK-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 9/8/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, relisted 9/29/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 9/15/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (listed 9/29/29)
KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT (relisted 9/2/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 10/20/24:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 9/29/24:
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital Director)
Relisted 9/29/24:
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)
Listed 9/22/24:
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Digital Director)
Listed 9/15/24:
Spectrum News, Austin, TX (Managing Director)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (Digital Media Director)
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Scott
Longtime New York news manager (News 12, WLNY-TV and Newsday) DREW SCOTT has been named Director of Communication for Brookhaven Town. Much more in this story.
MITCH FRIEDMAN, longtime AND for CBS’s WJZ-TV in Baltimore has left for a new job at the Census Bureau.
I found a few articles that you might like.
Variety has figured out what many of you have likely seen…and perhaps even been involved in. That’s the increased use of local reporters in network news.
The former head of Graham Media, and one time GM for Chicago’s WLS-TV, EMILY BARR, believes that local station managers should spent more time listening to people in their communities . (Hard to do when GMs are running multiple stations hundreds or thousands of miles apart, though.)
General Manager News and Notes:
Lamb
Retirement may not have agreed with BILL LAMB. He retired about two years ago as GM of Fox’s Los Angeles duopoly, KTTV/KCOP-TV. Now…he’s resurfaced as GM of Block Communications WDRB-TV (FOX) in Louisville. If that rings a bell, it’s because he ran that station for 17 years before heading to Tinsel Town.
John H.
He spent 18 years at Hearst with two GM stints, and now JOHN HUMPRHIES is retiring from his job as GM at WYFF-TV (NBC) in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville market. He’s been GM there since 2016. spent four years as GM at Hearst’s WGAL-TV in Lancaster, PA, and had earlier been GSM at WYFF. The company quickly promoted BLAKE BRIDGES who’s been the GSM.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, October 20, 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
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, Texas 77057
KOMO-TV 140 4th Ave. N.Seattle, WA 98109
KTXL-TV 4655 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
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
WDTN-TV 4595 S Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45439
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WIS-TV 1111 Bull St. Columbia, SC 29201
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St, Charleston, WV 25301
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisholm Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Rd. Auburn, IL 62615
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
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
WJET/WFXP-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WTRF-TV 96 16th St, Ste 2, Wheeling, WV 26003
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503 (see ad above!)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506
**: Spanish language station
Our Friday UPDATE told you that Scripps was closings its national Scripps News effort, eliminating about 200 jobs. And President of News, KATE O’BRIAN, is leaving after less than a year in that role. NEW THIS EDITION: Stories 
