January 12, 2025

Greetings:

It appears I missed a BIG discount or sale on GM and upper management hires, as TEN such moves were revealed this week. We have the details below in our GM section.

THREE new news director openings and TWO new NDs were named, all the result of intra company moves. That brings the total of stations with ND openings to 42.

ONE of those openings (in what sounds like a beautiful part of California) is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad.

Sorry to report the death of a longtime photographer who reinvented himself as a web expert. And while you didn’t know him, if you’re reading this newsletter you may owe him a small debt of gratitude.

CBS is making more changes on how it presents weather. That’s in Names in the News, along with the retirement of a long-ago ND who also reinvented himself…and later benefited from the services of his world famous last employer.

Finally, check out the new ad (and new format) from our friends at Sciline, which offers you free Zoom interviews with experts of a variety of topics, and weather consultant TIM HELLER is advertising as well.

Have a great week.

Plantinga

Newly Named News Directors:

Stanley

WHNS-TV, Greenville, SC…MATT STANLEY moves with Gray Media to become the new ND for this FOX Affiliate. Since 2019, he’s been the ND at WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach. GM BRYCE CALDWELL sent this memo to the staff. Matt’s also worked in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Montgomery, AL. At WHNS, he replaces MARYBETH JACOBY who moved to Gray’s WIS-TV in Columbia, SC as ND.

WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV…STEPHEN SHAW returns to this Nexstar/CBS affiliate as its next news director. Earlier in his career he was the Assistant ND here before moving up the Nexstar food chain to ND jobs at WTAJ-TV (CBS) in Altoona, PA, and KSEE-KGPE-TV (NBC/CBS) in Fresno, where he’s been since July, 2023. He replaces BOB SCHAPER who left in October to become ND for Scripps’ WGBA-TV in Green Bay.

New News Director Openings:

Smith

KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA…ALLISON SMITH has been promoted to General Manager for sister Hearst station KETV in Omaha. She’s been ND here since 2018. Allison graduated from high school in Nebraska and worked in news at stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio before moving to KCCI. More on her new job in our General Manager News and Notes section below.

KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA…you read above that STEPHEN SHAW has accepted a transfer within Nexstar to become ND for WOWK-TV in Charleston/Huntington, WV.

WMBF-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC…you also learned above that MATT STANLEY will be the next ND for sister Gray Media station WHNS-TV (FOX) in Greenville, SC.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:


News Director, Redwood News, 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 and execution. You won’t be bogged down by budgets and endless reports. Newsroom experience a must: producers and executive producers are welcome to apply.

Redwood News is situated in Eureka, CA which is the largest city in the two county DMA: Humboldt and Del Norte. Route 101 runs from the top to the bottom of the DMA with breathtaking views of the ocean and weaving in and out of the magnificent Redwoods. There are numerous rivers for kayaking and fishing. The area has a temperate climate, but if it’s heat or snow you seek it’s an hour away inland. The area boasts a significant population of artists and performers and is home to Cal Poly Humboldt University. In recent times Cal Poly has been a feeder to our news staff so you will have a recruiting pipeline.

If you love the outdoors and a laid-back vibe then Eureka is the place to be!

Learn more and apply here!

Salary $68,640

Imagicomm Communications, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, genetic information, ancestry, age, sex, gender, marital status, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, or any other status or characteristics protected by federal, state and/or local laws. Applicants may notify the appropriate local, state or federal agency if they believe they have been the victims of discrimination.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 1/5/25)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 1/12/25)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 1/12/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 1/5/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/12/25)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 1/5/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, relisted 1/12/25)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, released 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 1/12/25)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 1/5/25)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 1/5/25)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listing modified 1/12/25)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, relisted 1/12/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/25)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, listed 1/5/25)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville FL (listed 1/5/25)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 1/5/25)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 1/12/25)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (relisted 1/5/25)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 1/12/25:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Senior Digital Content Producer)

Listed 1/5/25:

WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Digital Director)

Relisted 1/5/25:

KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

Mills

Funeral services for WARREN MILLS will be held Tuesday, January 21, here in Indianapolis. He was 69 and suffered from cancer and kidney disease which returned after a 2014 kidney transplant. (Many of you may owe him a debt of thanks as he did my first website for the newsletter.)

Warren was an early webmaster for WTHR-TV in Indianapolis where he began as a photographer, and also worked in Shreveport, Savannah, and Columbia, MO. This obituary has visitation and service information…but little else. I am hoping it gets updated so keep checking.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

CBS has apparently abandoned (at least temporarily) its partnership with The Weather Channel and turned in house for its weather coverage. Details in this memo from President, Editorial and News Gathering, ADRIENNE ROARK and in this story from Newscast studio.

At Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence, RI, morning producer DAN PAQUET has been promoted to assistant news director.

Petrovich

Former News Director RON PETROVICH has retired from his second career, finishing at the Mayo Clinic, leaving with the title of Emeritus, Communications Director. Check out his post on his retirement AND his first party tale from 2015 of how he benefited a few years ago from Mayo’s medical expertise. He’s a former ND in Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Saginaw.

General Manager News and Notes:

Apparently there was a BIG sale on filling GM and other senior management jobs. We missed out, though I did get a free bag of chips for my birthday at a local sub shop.

There is one apparent opening which I’ve had trouble confirming. RIC HARRIS has apparently left WCAU-TV after almost ten years as GM of that NBC o-and-o. We’ll keep trying to confirm.

Plantinga

We’ll start with Scripps, which promoted LYN PLANTINGA to Senior VP of Local Media. She’ll also keep the day job as GM for WTVF-TV (CBS) in Nashville, which she’s been since 2015 and assumed regional responsibilities last year. Her background is unique, serving at WTVF (at different times, of course) as Assistant ND AND national sales manager. She replaces (and will report to) DEAN LITTLETON, who was promoted to EVP of media broadcast operations last month.

Rogers

TRACEY ROGERS will oversee Nexstar stations in Panama City, Dothan, AL, and Columbus, GA. She’s a long ago news director in Huntsville and Memphis, and has held general manager jobs in Jonesboro, AR, Memphis, and Nashville, and also served as a regional SVP for Nexstar. More on her background here.

MIKE MORSE will run Nexstar stations KSEE/KGPE-TV (NBC/CBS) in Fresno.

JON McGUIRE moves from Columbus, GA, to Charlotte, where he’ll oversee WJYZ/WMYT-TV.

MITZI COLEMAN leaves WTRF-TV Wheeling, WV, where she was GM for about 18 months to WEHT-TV in Evansville, IN, as GM there.

And TINA CASTANO gets a promotion from GM in Elmira and Binghamton, NY, to run stations in Burlington, VT.

But wait! There’s more!

Hearst made TWO GM moves, shifting SHAWN OSWALD from KETV in Omaha to WISN-TV in Milwaukee, and promoted ALLISON SMITH, ND at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, to replace Shawn at KETV.

Not to be left out, Tegna names SCOTT DEMPSEY GM for WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. He’s a former GM for WBTV in Charlotte and a former regional GM for Raycom.

And Sinclair promoted JON KRAMER to GM for WMSN-TV (FOX) in Madison, WI. He’d been the GSM there and is also (ya gotta’ like this) the founder and President of the Wisconsin Billiards Hall of Fame, as detailed in the link above.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 12, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
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)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
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 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd. East; Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
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
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
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
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!)
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station


January 5, 2025

Greetings:

Happy New Year. It will be interesting on many levels, won’t it?

Just ONE new news director in this week’s report, and NO new openings. That means, by my count, there are still 41 stations with ND openings.

Lots of new managers at Tegna stations. We have those moves below.

And lots of new GMs at the company formerly known as Gray Television. (We’ll explain that change in Names in the News.)

We’ll also have tips on something simple you can do to help people who may have lost their jobs.

I expect we’ll have a lot more news next week.

Until then, if you’re battling bad weather as we are here in Indianapolis, be careful out there (to quote Sgt. PHIL ESTERHAUS…look it up, kids).

Newly Named News Director:

Roldan

KIAH-TV, Houston, TX…LIZ ROLDAN will be the next ND for this Nexstar owned CW affiliate. (YOU know that because you read Thursday’s UPDATE). Liz, a Houston native, most recently was the ND for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston, a job she left in September after 3+ years. She spent much of her career in Miami including nine years as ND for WFOR-TV (CBS). At KIAH, she replaces ANGEL COVARRUBIAS who was there 2 1/2 years before leaving in October.

New News Director Openings:

No changes this week.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 1/5/25)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 1/5/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
WMBD-TV, Peoria, IL (listed 1/5/25)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, released 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 1/5/25)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 1/5/25)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/25)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, listed 1/5/25)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville FL (listed 1/5/25)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 10/20/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem NC, (Weekend EP, relisted 10/20/24)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 10/20/24)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 1/5/25)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 10/20/24)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (relisted 1/5/25)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 1/5/25:

WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Digital Director)

Relisted 1/5/25:

KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Too many of us know people (or may be one ourselves) who’ve lost jobs through layoffs, cutbacks, dismissals,, etc. As we enter the New Year, veteran broadcaster HANK PRICE has some good suggestions on how we can help.

Updates on new managers at several Tegna stations.

At WUSA-TV in DC, KELSEY STANGER and JAMES WARNER have joined this CBS affiliate. Kelsey has been an EP at Tegna’s WXIA-TV in Atlanta, while James most recently was the Assistant ND at Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando.

MEGAN SHORT, a ten year veteran of the station, has been bumped up to Assistant ND at news director-less WHAS-TV (ABC) in Louisville. She’s been an EP there.

REAGAN ROY-YOUNG has been named Assistant ND at Tegna’s KYTX-TV in Tyler, TX. She’s been the Marketing Director there but spent several years at another Tyler station as an assignment editor and news manager.

Gray Television is now Gray Media.

King

A correction: Last week we shared a video of KSFY-TV (Sioux Falls, SD) News Director KEVIN KING’s last day before his move to KWCH-TV (CBS) in Wichita. Both moves are in the same company, but we erred in telling you which company. Both stations are owned by Gray Television Media.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lots of GM moves this week at Gray Media (you learned above that’s the new name for Gray).

After more than 44 years at KTUU-TV in Anchorage in a variety of roles, the last seven as GM, NANCY JOHNSON is retiring. She reflects on her career here.

JACQUE HARMS, a former ND in North Platte, NE, moves to KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs as general manager. She most recently was GM for WTOK-TV in Meridian, MS, where she is being replaced by ALISON DAVIS, who will continue as Director of Sales for this ABC/CW/Telemundo operation.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 5, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
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)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
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
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
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
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
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station


December 29, 2024

Thursday, January 2, 2025:

Greetings:

A former Houston news director is about to become….a current Houston news director. That’s our first UPDATE on this second day of the new year.

Roldan

KIAH-TV (Nexstar/CW) in Houston today announced that its next news director will be LIZ ROLDAN. Liz spent the last 3+ years as news director for Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston before leaving in September. Her new job came today, announced in this news release from KIAH GM HUMBERTO HORMAZA.

She replaces ANGEL COVARRUBIAS who left in October after 2 1/2 years as ND.

Before returning to KHOU in her native Houston, Liz spent nine years as ND for CBS’s WFOR-TV in Miami. She also spent 13 years at WTVJ-TV (NBC) in Miami.

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

regards,

 

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

As I suggested last week, not much action this week…so it won’t take long to read this edition.

But I strongly commend to you one of the items in Names in the News below, .and that’s a piece by Nashville investigative reporter PHIL WILLIAMS who works for WTVF-TV there. He’s been the target of vicious attacks from groups who don’t like his reporting.

There are also stories there about a new Assistant ND in Raleigh and a farewell for a longtime South Dakota ND.

Hopefully we’ll have more content next week. Until then, have a safe and Happy New Year.

Newly Named News Directors:

No changes this week.

New News Director Openings:

No changes this week.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, relisted 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 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)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Williams

WTVF-TV (Nashville/CBS/Scripps) investigative reporter PHIL WILLIAMS has been the target of vile attacks from hate groups over some of his reporting. Phil wrote this must read story which I highly recommend to you…particularly if those groups start coming after you or your staff.

WNCN-TV (CBS) in Raleigh has promoted LESLIE NASH to assistant ND. She’s been an EP for the Nexstar owned station, and replaces DEREK ROWLES who was promoted to ND earlier this month.

King

We told you two weeks ago that KSFY-TV News Director KEVIN KING was leaving that Sioux Falls, SD, Nexstar Gray TV owned operation to return to Wichita as ND for the company’s KWCH-TV. Here’s a story posted by KSFY on his last day there.

General Manager News and Notes:

I am not aware of any GM changes this week.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 29, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
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)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
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
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
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
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
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station


December 22, 2024

Greetings:

For the week before several major holidays, a surprising (at least to me) amount of news.

THREE new ND openings, TWO in top 25 markets. And there’s ONE new news director to tell you about.

If my math is correct, 41 stations are still looking for a new news director. That full list is below, and if you see a station that should NOT be on the list, please let me know.

We have the obituary of an engineer turned GM who later became President of his broadcast group.

In Names in the News (and other stuff!) we have details on court wins for an Oklahoma City station AND all journalists in Missouri.

New jobs for several former news directors, and details about the retirement of a longtime Toledo journalist whose first trip after his wedding was NOT a honeymoon with his wife, but a trip to Mexico on a story with me.

I don’t expect much news this week or next, but I do plan on publishing both Sundays.

Best wishes for great holidays to you and yours, and thanks for reading all these years.

Newly Named News Director:

Cheek

WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC…a move within Nexstar sends KRISTIE CHEEK to this CBS affiliate as ND. She’s been the EP at Nexstar’s WNCN-TV (CBS) in Raleigh for the last 3+ years after four years as a producer. She’s worked in multiple markets: her Linkedin page has more. At WNCT, she replaces DAVID BAXLEY. David left the station in November after nine months as ND due to a family situation.

New News Director Openings:

Robin W.

KDFW-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX…you first learned via our Tuesday UPDATE that ROBIN WHITMEYER is retiring after 13 years running the news department for this FOX o-and-o. She’ll step down near the end of February. Robin sent me this brief note looking back at her time there. Before Dallas, Robin spent more than 25 years at WSOC-TV (Cox/ABC) in Charlotte, the last nine as news director.

Gibson

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN…this independent station owned by Circle City Broadcasting is looking for a new news director. BRADY GIBSON has held that job since February when he was promoted from Assistant ND, reporting to VP/News AL CARL. Brady began at WISH as an EP in 2017 and earlier spent 17 years working at WRTV (ABC) in Indianapolis. He also worked in Evansville.

Rudy M.

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…there’s a posting for a news director’s job on the website of this Imagicomm owned FOX affiliate. RUDY MURRIETA has been the ND here since May, 2023, after almost three years as Managing Editor. I reached out to Rudy, the KOKI General Manager, and an Imagicomm executive. No one responded.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

No ads this week. If you want to reach a VERY targeted audience for your news management openings, please email me at rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 9/29/24)
WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 12/8/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/1/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 9/29/24)
WJAR-TV, Providence, RI (listed 11/3/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 11/10/24)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 11/10/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 11/10/24)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 11/10/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 9/29/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, listed 10/27/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM Broadcast EP, relisted 10/6/24)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 11/3/24)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, relisted 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 10/13/24)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 10/13/24)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/27/24)
WESH-TV, Orlando, FL (relisted 10/20/24)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 9/29/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (Senior Content Producer, listed 11/10/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (Digital EP, listing modified 10/6/24)
WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Ashville, (listed 10/20/24)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (EP Lifestyle Show, listed 11/10/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (relisted 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)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 11/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 12/15/24:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)

Relisted 12/8/24:

Tegna, Jacksonville, or Tampa, FL (Florida Digital Director)

Relisted 12/1/24:

KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 11/3/24:

KGW-TV, Portland OR (Digital Director)

Listed 10/27/24:

WGNO/WNOL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Webmaster & Content Dir.)

Listed 10/20/24:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

Elkins

KENNIE ‘KEN’ ELKINS began as an engineer and went on to be President of Pulitzer Broadcasting, a mid-size group owner until the stations were sold (many of them to Hearst). Ken died December 11th at the age of 87. He was GM of KSD-TV (now KSDK-TV) in St. Louis when he was promoted. His obituary is here and a bio (from his induction into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame) is here.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

Congratulations to KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. That Nexstar owned CBS affiliate won a long legal battle with the State Department of Education over access.

And journalists in Missouri are celebrating a win in a court case challenging a blanket rule calling for redaction of ALL names of witnesses and victims in court filings.

Solakian

MICHAEL SOLAKIAN has been named Chief of Hearst’s Washington, DC, bureau. He’s been the Assistant ND for Hearst’s WTAE-TV (ABC) in Pittsburgh since 2021. Michael’s also worked for Hearst stations in Louisville and Baltimore, and began his career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. In DC, he replaces WENDY WILK who is leaving after 20 years for a new role with the Hearst Foundations. More on Michael’s and Wendy’s new roles here.

Rozman

MARIA ROZMAN is the new Senior Director of News for Spectrum Noticias in New York. We told you last edition that she was leaving her job as ND for WKTB, the Gray owned Telemundo station in Atlanta. She said she was moving to New York and promised more news soon. And she delivered. She’s a former ND for Telemundo stations in Washington, DC, and Denver, and worked for CNN and for the Univision station in Denver.

Balta

HUGO BALTA, a onetime ND for public station WTTW-TV in Chicago, is the new executive editor of The Fulcrum. He’s been the director of solutions journalism and DEI initiatives there. More about The Fulcrum from its website. Hugo’s also worked for MSNBC, ESPN, WCBS-TV in New York, and is a two time NAHJ President. More in his varied career via his Linkedin page.

BILL DOBILAS has been promoted to EP for Tegna’s WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta. He’d been the Managing Editor there. Among his many other stops was five years as an ND in Chattanooga.

BRYAN LUHN has been promoted to Director of Media Relations at the University of Houston. He had been the Assistant Director there. Bryan’s a former ND in Charleston, SC, and worked in many other markets. More from his Linkedin page.

Kwapich

PAUL KWAPICH, a 43 year veteran of WTOL-TV (CBS-Tegna) in Toledo, is retiring. He’s held many jobs, including newsroom operations manager and chief photographer. In 1986, I took Paul with me to Acapulco, Mexico, in search of a federal fugitive. We found him, and our story made the front page of the local paper. Paul had been married less than two weeks when we left the country. Remarkably, Paul is still married to CINDY, and she still speaks to me.

General Manager News and Notes:

I am not aware of any GM changes this week.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 22, 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

WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
KIAH-TV 7700 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77063
WTVT-TV 3213 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
KSTP-TV 3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court. Greenville, SC 29615
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)
KFSN-TV 1777 G St, Fresno, CA 93706
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
KOKI-TV 2625 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74129
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
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 **
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
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
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
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
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
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station