November 6, 2022
Greetings:
A little more movement in this week’s report, with ONE new news director opening, and ONE new hire (in market eleven!), leaving our list of open jobs at 21.
TWO of those 21 open jobs are featured in paid help wanted ads, along with an ad for the Kneeland Project, which is seeking a new executive director.
And we welcome Elixir Marketing as a new advertiser, where they believe a strong Brand is the Key Ingredient for sustainable business growth. Check out the ad just below. (And note that longtime broadcaster LES VANN is part of the team, as are former TV types MICHELLE BEECH and DEB THOMPSON.)
We have ONE obituary for a longtime Texas newsman who was the ND at the Telemundo station in Houston.
There’s ONE GM item and lots of items in Names in the News, including finalists for the DuPont Awards, a big move at Gray, and items about TWO former news directors who are doing new things.
All that and more below!
Newly Named News Director:

Hernandez
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ…this Tegna owned NBC affiliate has promoted IVAN HERNANDEZ to Executive ND. Here’s the note from GM KATE MORRIS. He’s been the Assistant ND there since May 2016. Ivan joined KPNX as Senior EP in June 2015, coming from an EP job at KSAZ-TV (FOX) across town. He’s also worked for KVEA-TV (Telemundo) in Los Angeles. Ivan replaces GEORGE DAVILAS who left in August after six years as ND.
New News Director Opening:

Gray
WISC-TV, Madison, WI…SARAH GRAY will leave this Morgan Murphy Media owned CBS station by the end of the year. She’s been the ND here for about three years and had previously been an ND in Wausau, WI. Sarah’s replacement will only be the sixth news director in 42 years! You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by checking out the paid help wanted ad below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Executive Director, The Kneeland Project:
The Kneeland Project is on the search for a new executive director to lead the nonprofit organization that provides continuing education and leadership training to television news managers.
The organization’s longtime executive director, STACY BAUM, is stepping down to focus on her position at Catholic Charities of Denver as the vice president of marketing and community outreach. Stacy remains onboard while the organization conducts a nationwide search for a successor to lead the nonprofit as it prepares to mark its 25th anniversary in 2023.
During the organization’s tenure, the world-class faculty has trained more than 700 current and aspiring news directors and boasts a stellar board of directors and alumni group.
To learn more and apply for the position, click here.
News Director, WISC-TV, Madison, WI:
News 3 Now/WISC-TV has a rare opening for a News Director to lead our team at the family-owned flagship of Morgan Murphy Media in one of America’s best cities. One of the best places to raise a family. One of the best college sports towns. One of the best places to live, period.
Meet Madison.
There have been five news directors at News 3 Now in the past 42 years, so this opportunity doesn’t come along very often. As such it’s critical we find the right executive who can lead this talented and award-winning newsroom comprised of industry veterans, new industry entrants and the professionals in-between.
News 3 Now has a legacy of excellence. We produce 40 hours of television news a week and embrace coverage through our apps, social, award-winning web site and streaming video channels – that all combine to lead the market in total audience.
We are committed to quality journalism. We’ve been honored to win six national Edward R. Murrow awards from the RTDNA in the past five years, including the top prize for overall excellence in 2016 and 2021. We are also leaders in the community with impactful events as well as a legacy of responsiveness to market and societal conditions.
The right candidate will know how to further develop the talents of our team, use all of our station resources and synthesize them to build on our positive momentum and make News 3 Now the dominant news and information source in the Midwest.
Click here to learn more and apply!
News Director, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:
KPRC-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Houston, Texas seeks a strong, dedicated, innovative, multi-platform content focused newsroom leader that grows both people and product. A successful candidate will have a proven track record of empowering people to successfully convert audience focused research into actionable strategic goals and is relentless and consistent in delivering results.
The News Director will oversee the entire operation of the News Department on all platforms (broadcast, digital, social, etc.), create and implement strategic plans for audience growth and newsroom operations, and build and maintain key relationships to foster a positive news image within the community.
The ideal candidate must have a minimum of five years news managerial related experience in television news, be an effective leader with the ability to address conflict quickly and directly and be organized and creative with the ability to motivate the news operation in a competitive market.
A degree in Communication/journalism is preferred.
At KPRC, our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative and recognize and reward achievement. Graham Media offers a generous benefits package that includes 401K and healthcare on day one!
To apply please submit cover letter, resume and references to VP & General Manager, Phil Lane at: jobs@KPRC.com
Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 11/6/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 10/23/22)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 10/30/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (relisted 9/25/22)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (relisted 10/23/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listed 9/11/22)
KAGS-TV, Bryan, TX (listed 9/11/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 10/23/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 10/30/22)
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT (relisted 10/30/22)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, relisted 10/23/22)
WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX (EP Investigations, listed 10/9/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/9/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 10/30/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (2 openings, PM EP & MSJ EP, revised 10/30/22)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 10/30/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (Digital EP, listed 10/16/22)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (AM EP, listed 10/9/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 9/18/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, relisted 9/11/22)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed corrected 9/25/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 9/18/22)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/6/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 10/30/22)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City (relisted 10/30/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 jobs, Spec. Proj. & EP, modified 10/9/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 9/25/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 10/30/22)
KTNV, Las Vegas, NV (relised 10/30/22)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (AM EP, relisted 10/30/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 9/11/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, relisted 10/30/22)
WIVB/WNLO-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 11/6/22)
KGUN-TV, Tucson, AZ (relisted 10/30/22)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 9/25/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 9/25/22)
KREM-TV, Spokane WA (listed 10/9/22)
KMTV, Omaha, NE (relisted 9/18/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (PM EP, listing revised 9/18/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 10/2/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (listing revised 9/18/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 11/6/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 9/18/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (relisted 10/30/22)
KFDX-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (listed 10/23/22)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 10/30/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (relisted 10/30/22)
News Center Maine, Portland/Bangor (relisted 10/30/22)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 10/2/22:
Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Listed 9/18/22:
WPTV, West Palm, Beach, FL (Senior Manager of Investigative Content)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 9/12/22:
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 9/5/22:
AccuWeather, State College, PA (Sr. Producer, Live Broadcast)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 9/5/22:
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)
Obituary:

Vazquez
Wednesday’s UPDATE brought the sad news of the passing of JERRY VAZQUEZ, ND for Telemundo’s KTMD-TV in Houston. He was just 54 years old and died of cancer. Funeral services will be held November 15th in San Antonio. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more on Jerry’s life and career in this story.
Names in the News:

DuPont
TEN local stations are among finalists for The DuPont Awards. This news release has more, while the complete list of finalists is here.
In case you missed it, CNBC is ending SHEPARD SMITH’s newscast, called The News with Shepard Smith. The program debuted two years ago: its last edition will be later this month. The Wall Street Journal has more.

Archer
Our Wednesday UPDATE told you that Gray Television has created its own in-house consulting division and hired two industry veterans to oversee it. CHRIS ARCHER leaves SmithGeiger to be VP/Research & Consulting, while TONY CALFO will be Director of Research for the new unit. He’s a former SmithGeiger employee who most recently has worked at Screen Engine/ASI and Simple Opinions. More details here.

Finch
That wasn’t the only news from Gray this week. The company promoted JAMES FINCH to Vice President of News Services. James is currently Director of News Services for Gray, overseeing vendor partnerships and content sharing. He’ll add supervision of Gray’s in-house news training program and its regional content producers. He’d been an ND for then Raycom’s WBRC-TV (FOX) in Birmingham when Gray bought Raycom.

Jadick
Former Tampa and Louisville news director CHRIS JADICK has a new job. He announced via his Linkedin page that he’s joined WSP USA as a ‘Communications and Engagement Specialist’. That same Linkedin page details Chris’ career path since leaving WFTS-TV (ABC) in Tampa in 2008. He’s also worked at TV stations in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Busiek
Longtime Des Moines (KCCI-TV) news director DAVE BUSIEK is behind a new blog called DAVE BUSIEK on MEDIA which you can check out here. Dave tells me he’s been pleased with the response. It’s free…though there are paid options…and all the proceeds go to the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Dave, of course, is a past (then) RTDNA Board Chair.
General Manager News and Notes:

Manzi
General Manager JOHN MANZI moves to California but stays within Sinclair as he becomes GM for the company’s KRCR-TV in Chico, CA. He’s been running Sinclair’s KSAS-TV in Wichita and has a sales background. His new job marks a return to California for him, as you’ll learn in this news release.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, November 6, 2022:
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
KTTV 1999 S. Bundy Dr. Los Angeles CA 90025
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 (see ad above!)
KTXL-TV, 4655 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
KWCH-TV 2815 E. 37th Street North Wichita, KS 67219
WISC-TV 7025 Raymond Rd. Madison, WI 53719 (see ad above!)
WEHT/WTVW-TV, 800 Marywood Dr., Henderson, KY 42420
WKBT-TV 141 South 6th Street La Crosse, WI 54601
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WBUP/WKBP-TV 1705 Ash Street Suite 5 Ishpeming, MI 49849
KTIV-TV 2929 Signal Hill Drive. Sioux City, IA 51108
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KTVZ-TV 62990 O.B. Riley Rd. Bend OR 97703
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd North, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Delta News 837 Washington Ave Greenville, MS 38701
KAEF-TV 540 E Street Eureka, CA 95501
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 South Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KNOP-TV 402. S. Dewey. North Platte NE 69101
**: Spanish language station