Rick Gevers & Associates

August 14, 2022

Monday, August 15th, 2022 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Big changes are coming to a family owned station in Louisiana.

Daboval

General Manager ROCKY DABOVAL is retiring at Baton Rouge’s WBRZ-TV after 44 years at this Manship owned ABC affiliate, the last 18 years as GM. He’ll leave in January. Here’s the memo sent to the staff this afternoon, and here’s a more detailed story posted to the station’s website.

Schmaltz

At the same time, WBRZ named news director TREY SCHMALTZ to replace Rocky as GM in January. They will work together during the transition period. Trey’s a 12 year veteran of the station who’s been ND since February 2021. Trey tells me the search is on for his replacement: in fact, you’ll see an ad for the job in next weekend’s newsletter.

This is also the ND to GM move we teased in yesterday’s edition.

Speaking of yesterday’s edition, we relocated Gray’s KALB-TV (without their notice OR permission) to the wrong city. It is, of course, in Alexandria, LA.

See you this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

A busy week as our list of open ND jobs continues to shrink.

There are FOUR new NDs to tell you about, with just ONE new opening.

(Okay, new ND may be a stretch since one has been in the job for eleven months, but we’re not perfect.) And ONE of those NDs replaces her boss who was promoted to GM, a trend we like…and we will see again this week.

That’s a tease. I used to be a producer.

There are now 25 ND openings on our list…a number which had been over 40 not too long ago. ONE of those openings is featured in our only paid ad.

And we’re just a month away from the annual RTDNA convention, to be held in Indianapolis. (It will be my 42nd consecutive RTDNA convention…and the first one that I can walk to!) Learn more about the conference in the paid ad just below.

In other news…we have details about the memorial service for longtime University of Missouri professor KENT COLLINS who died last month. That’s below, along with an obituary for a former newsman who started his career as…a priest.

Speaking of RTDNA, a busy week as the organization as it announced both the national Murrow Award winners AND the winners of both the Paul White and John Hogan honors. And we have a story about a former ND turned GM turned…into another career that might surprise you.

All that and more as you read on.

RTDNA22 is a one-of-a-kind news-leadership retreat designed with you in mind. It’s all about Trust and Team in 2022, and we’re heading to Indianapolis, Sept. 14-16, to give you the tools you’ll need in the driver’s seat.

Join us for collaborative sessions where we examine how you can help build trust in your communities — things you can do in your newsroom now and ways to improve your outreach and better connect with your audience. And let us help you build a better team, with tools to help recruitment and retention efforts, keep your team safe in the field, assist that leader behind the wheel with self-care techniques and more.

The online registration deadline, which guarantees your meal preference and other conference personalization, is Aug. 24, so act soon to secure your spot. Walk registration is allowed, too.

Learn more and register at rtdna22.rtdna.org!

Whether you are a news manager with decades of experience or an early career journalist, let us help you refresh your mind, restore your wellbeing, rekindle your creativity and reconnect with some of the brightest minds in journalism. RTDNA22 in Indianapolis is a conference Driven By You, and we hope to see you there!

Newly Named News Directors:

Gearhart

KGTV, San Diego, CA…our Wednesday UPDATE told you that BOBBI GEARHART was headed down I-5 to become the next ND for this Scripps’ owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the note from GM LEON CLARK. She’s been the Managing Editor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles where she’s worked for nine years. More on her background here. At KGTV, she replaces TODD REED who left earlier this summer after four months as ND.

Parker

KADN/KALF-TV, Lafayette, LA…JIM PARKER will be the next ND at this Allen Media Fox/NBC duopoly. GM NANETTE LAVERGNE told the staff via this memo. Jim’s been the ND for KIEM/KVIQ-TV in Eureka, CA, for the past eight months. His Linkedin page has more, but doesn’t include his first TV job in Toledo, where I hired him at WTOL-TV. Jim replaces BRIT STACK who left in February after a year and is now ND for KOAM-TV in Joplin, MO, her home state.

Lemon

KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara, CA…congratulations to longtime news director JIM LEMON who is being promoted to GM for this News Press & Gazette operation. He’s been the ND here for the past ten years, the latest stop in a career that’s found him an ND in a number of places, as you’ll learn here. He replaces MARK DANIELSON, now GM for KTVX-TV (Nexstar-ABC) in Salt Lake City.

Zuchelli

Jim wasted little time replacing himself. He’s promoted executive producer LINDSAY ZUCHELLI to become News Content Manager. Here’s the note he sent to the staff after the announcement. Lindsay’s been the EP here for 3 1/2 years, worked as an EP for a station in San Luis Obispo, and has worked as a producer for both KRON-TV and KNTV in San Francisco.

Purser

KALB-TV, Albany, GA  ALEXANDRIA, LA...I hate to say we dropped the ball on this one, but we did. ALLIE PURSER was named news director for this Gray TV owned NBC/ABC affiliate way back in September. (Thanks to a loyal reader who passed a tip along.) Her station profile tells you that she’s also worked in Madison, WI. Allie replaced AL QUARTREMONT who left in September after six years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

KIEM/KVIQ-TV, Eureka, CA…this duopoly, branded as Redwood News, is searching for a new news director. You learned above that JIM PARKER is off to be ND for KADN/KALF-TV in Lafayette, LA. KIEM is an NBC affiliate, KVIQ is a low power CBS affiliate, both newly owned by Imagicomm Communications. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, Redwood News, Eureka, CA:

Redwood News in beautiful Eureka, California is seeking a News Director.

News Director experience preferred, however experienced executive producers or assistant news directors looking to move into the News Director role are also welcomed to apply.

It’s also a great place for someone who wants to restart their career. This is a hands on situation and not for someone who wants to sit in the office behind a desk.

We are looking for someone who:

• Can oversee the daily operations of the television newsroom.
  Is tech savvy with attention to website content and social media.
  Hire, train, and coach news staff
  Review stories to make sure they are fair and accurate before they go on the air.
  Ensuring adherence to journalistic and legal standards
  Mentor and guide the team

Send resume and cover letter to GM JENNY OLSZEWSKI at: jennyo@redwoodnews.tv

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 6/19/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 7/31/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (listed 7/31/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 7/10/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 8/14/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/17/22)
KENS-TV, San Antonio TX (relisted 7/17/22)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 7/10/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 8/14/22)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 7/31/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 7/17/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 8/14/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (listed 6/5/22)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (relisted 6/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 7/24/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 6/5/22)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (Digital EP, listed 8/14/22)
KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (AM EP, listed 7/10/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listing revised 7/31/22)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/17/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/5/22)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/26/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (MSP EP, listed 7/10/22)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 7/17/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WJYZ-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 8/14/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 6/12/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Weekend EP, revised 7/24/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 7/17/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/5/22)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/3/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP. relisted 7/17/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 5/30/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, revised 7/24/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/10/22)
KFOR/KAUT-TV, Oklahoma City (Overnight EP, listed 7/3/22)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 7/24/22)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (listed 6/19/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/10/22)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (2 openings, listed 7/10/22)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 7/24/22)
KMTV. Omaha, NE (listed 7/17/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (AM EP, listing revised 8/14/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (two openings, AM & PM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (2 openings, one a Digital EP, revised 7/24/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 6/5/22)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (Digital EP, listed 8/14/22)
WGMB/WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 8/14/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (relisted 7/24/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/17/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (listed 6/26/22)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (PM EP, listed 7/17/22)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (listed 6/26/22)
KBZK-TV, Boseman, MT (listed 7/17/22)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 7/17/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (relisted 6/5/22)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 8/14/22:

KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital Content Director)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Content Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Director)

Relisted 8/14/22:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/31/22:

Listed 7/24/22:

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Digital Media)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Media)

Relisted 7/24/22:

Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (Director of Digital Content)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital News Manager)

Listed 7/3/22:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)

Memorial Service:

Collins

A memorial service has been scheduled for longtime University of Missouri faculty member KENT COLLINS, who died last month after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Many of you knew Kent, who spent 40 years teaching students both at Missouri and around the world. Those of you who did NOT know Kent personally almost certainly know someone who benefitted from his counsel and advice.

Friends will gather at 2:00, Saturday, September 24th, at the Reynolds Alumni Center on the University Campus in Columbia, MO.

A reception will be held after the remembrance.

To help gauge attendance, please RSVP by using this form.

Obituary:

Ken H.

KEN HIGHBERGER, who went from the priesthood (six years after ordination) to television, died this week at the age of 77. He worked at stations in Denver and Salt Lake City, where he was an executive producer before ending up at NBC News Channel, based in Charlotte but worked all over the world. More details in this obituary.

Names in the News:

RTDNA had a busy week, announcing both the National Edward R. Murrow Award winners (full list here) and the winners of both the JOHN F. HOGAN and PAUL WHITE awards. PBS’s JUDY WOODRUFF won the White award, while NBC’s RICHARD ENGEL will take home the Hogan honor.

Schwartz

Former News Director (WLS-TV/Chicago/ABC owned) and General Manager (KNSD-TV/San Diego/NBC owned) PHYLLIS SCHWARTZ has ventured into a new…and perhaps unlikely…career. Particularly for someone whose boss once nicknamed her Schwarzkoph. The motivation behind her new career: three battles with cancer. Details here.

General Manager News and Notes:

Gray Television has named TWO people to run its Charlotte CBS affiliate, WBTV, one as GM and one as station manager.

And Lockwood Broadcasting has tabbed CHRIS PROTZMAN to run its Knoxville stations, WTNZ-TV and WKNX-TV. He’s a veteran of the Knoxville market.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 14, 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
KTVT/KTVA-TV 5233 Bridge St. Fort Worth, TX 76103
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
KTVX-TV 2175 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 East Adams Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street, Norfolk VA, 23510
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WHAM-TV 4225 W. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt Street Rochester, NY 14610
WEYI/WSMH-TV, 3463 W. Pierson Road. Flint, MI 48504
KAGS-TV 2800 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77802
KRNV/KRXI-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WPTA/WISE-TV 3401 Butler Road, Fort Wayne, IN
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
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 (see ad above!)
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

August 7, 2022

Wednesday, August 10, 2022 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A veteran newswoman stays in California and gets her first news director’s job.

Gearhart

BOBBI GEARHART will be the next ND for Scripps’ KGTV (ABC) in San Diego. She’s currently the managing editor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, where she’s worked for nine years, beginning as an EP in 2013. GM LEON CLARK advised the staff of its new boss via this email, in which you will learn that Bobbi was graduated from San Diego State University, so a return to San Diego for her.

She’s also worked for another San Francisco station, as well as in Denver, Austin, TX, and Palm Springs. The full story is on her Linkedin page.

Bobbi replaces TODD REED who left the station in late June after four months as ND.

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

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Published reports estimated about 5,000 people attended this week’s combined NABJ/NAHJ convention at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. And 5,000 is about the number of steps attendees need to get TO the convention from the entrance of the hotel.

It’s the first in-person for many since 2019, and you’d hear a lot of ‘Great to see you’ comments which seemed a little more heartfelt this year. I certainly enjoyed seeing some old friends and meeting new ones.

During this last week, a hiring spree found SIX new news directors named to jobs, with just ONE new opening, bringing our list of open jobs to a lower-than-it’s-been-in-a-long-time 26!

Just one Paid Help Wanted Ad this week, for an Assistant ND job out west.

Our streak of no obituaries came to a halt, with SIX deaths to tell you about, including the sudden passing of a Tampa chief photographer and a former GM and network executive. Those are all below.

Lots of GM news from Gray, and just THREE items in Names in the News, one of which is a fun list of TV people who have run for public office.

Check that and all the news below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Bailey

WITI-TV, Milwaukee, WI…this FOX o-and-o has named BRANDICE BAILEY as next news director. She’s currently the Assistant ND for WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, but has held management positions in San Francisco, Houston, and Miami, and has worked in Las Vegas, Chattanooga, and for CNN. She replaces JIM WILSON who left in May after three years as ND (and 30 at the station). He’s now chief photographer for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee.

Betts

WIVB/WNLO-TV, Buffalo, NY…BRIANNE BETTS returns to New York as the next ND for this Nexstar owned CBS/CW duopoly. More in this note from GM JOE ABOUZEID, where you’ll learn two fun facts about her sister AND another degree she has. She’s spent the last eleven years as the Assistant ND at Nexstar’s WCMH-TV (NBC) in Columbus, OH. Brianne replaces LISA (POLSTER) POLIZZI who left in May after five years as ND and seven at the station.

Wideman

WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA…another Nexstar station, another promotion within the company. KATHY WILDEMAN comes from WJBF-TV in Augusta, GA, where she was Operations Manager and Assistant ND. You’ll see in this note to me from GM DAVID HART that it was her second time at WJBF. She has big shoes to fill, replacing KEVIN BRENNAN who retired earlier this year after 22 years as ND for this NBC affiliate.

Martin

WCSC-TV, Charleston, SC…JENNIFER MARTIN will be the next ND at this Gray owned CBS affiliate. She’s been the Assistant ND here for six years (in her second time at the station). She spent 14 years as a producer and EP for WLBT-TV in Jackson, MS. Jennifer replaces JENNIFER DALE who has taken a new job as VP/Recruiting for Gray. Jennifer (Dale, not Martin) was ND here for 4 1/2 years and has also been an ND in Johnson City, TN, and has worked in Mobile, Myrtle Beach and Columbus, GA.

Babcock

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX…another Nexstar station fills an open ND job, one of FOUR. CHRIS BABCOCK advances from Digital Content Director for this NBC station, a job he’s held for the last year. His background, including a stint as editor for a local newspaper, is interesting. Chris replaces TIM GUITERREZ who left the station earlier this year after about 18 months as ND.

Hart

WJBF-TV, Augusta, GA…JOHN HART is the new Director of Digital Journalism and Content for this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. John’s been here for 22 years, first as a sports anchor. He moved to news in 2009. He’s giving up anchoring to be ND, where he’ll replace a long time colleague, SCOTT ELLEDGE who left earlier this year after 13 years as ND. Scott’s now VP/Director of Development for Bahakel.

New News Director Openings:

Lafferty

WJET/WFXP-TV, Erie, PA…SEAN LAFFERTY, who added ND responsibilities to his plate…in addition to his anchor job…is giving up the ND part of his portfolio. The dual role lasted less than a year. He’s been at the station since 1988. He’s also worked at another station in Erie and in Akron. WJET is an ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar which provides services to Mission Broadcasting’s WFXP, a FOX affiliate.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Assistant News Director, KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ:

KNXV, The EW Scripps ABC station based in Phoenix, Arizona is looking for an experienced leader and broadcast journalist to join our news team as Assistant News Director. If you desire to work with a great team of journalism professionals in gathering, producing, and delivering stories on multiple platforms that make a difference in our communities, we want to hear from you!

Our Assistant News Director is responsible for managing daily coverage and operations of the news team and is responsible for consistently executing strategies.

In this role, we require a person who will roll up their sleeves to get the job done, is highly organized, can successfully multi-task, and is focused on fostering creativity and coaching the team for growth and development.

Apply at scripps.com/careers.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 6/19/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 7/31/22, see ad above!)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (listed 7/31/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 7/10/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/5/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/17/22)
KENS-TV, San Antonio TX (relisted 7/17/22)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 7/10/22)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 7/31/22)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/5/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 7/17/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (listed 6/5/22)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (relisted 6/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 7/24/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 6/5/22)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (AM EP, listed 7/10/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listing revised 7/31/22)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/17/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/5/22)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/26/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (MSP EP, listed 7/10/22)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 7/17/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 6/12/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Weekend EP, revised 7/24/22)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 7/17/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/5/22)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/3/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP. relisted 7/17/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 5/30/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, revised 7/24/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/10/22)
KFOR/KAUT-TV, Oklahoma City (Overnight EP, listed 7/3/22)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 7/24/22)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (listed 6/19/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/10/22)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (2 openings, listed 7/10/22)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 7/24/22)
KMTV. Omaha, NE (listed 7/17/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 6/5/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (two openings, AM & PM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (2 openings, one a Digital EP, revised 7/24/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 6/5/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (relisted 7/24/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/17/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (listed 6/26/22)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (PM EP, listed 7/17/22)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (listed 6/26/22)
KBZK-TV, Boseman, MT (listed 7/17/22)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 7/17/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (relisted 6/5/22)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 7/31/22:

Listed 7/24/22:

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Digital Media)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Media)

Relisted 7/24/22:

Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (Director of Digital Content)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital News Manager)

Listed 7/3/22:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/26/22:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)

Listed 6/12/22:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Sadly, lots of obituaries this week.

Lamison

Our sympathy to the folks at Tampa’s WFLA-TV on the sudden passing this week of chief photographer PAUL LAMISON. A 29+ year veteran of that Tegna Nexstar owned NBC affiliate, Paul died Wednesday at the age of 57 of an apparent heart attack. He was well known in the market as a part of the station’s morning team. More in this obituary. Paul is survived by a wife and daughters.

Severino

President JOHN KENNEDY (and others) said “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.” Such it is with claims to have invented Eyewitness News. One who has been called that was longtime TV executive JOHN SEVERINO, who died July 27th at 85. He ran stations in Los Angeles and Chicago, was Presdient of ABC, head of the CBS stations group, and much more. Details from The Hollywood Reporter and in this obituary.

Hogan

JACK HOGAN, a legendary Western Michigan news director who also served as President of (then) RTNDA, died Thursday. He was 89. Jack was the longtime ND for WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids and later worked for the city. One of the many people he hired was meteorologist BILL STEFFEN who years later went across town to WOOD-TV where he wrote this remembrance. Be sure to check out Jack’s references for a post retirement job.

Pritchett

STEVE PRITCHETT began at KVII-TV in Amarillo, TX, as a reporter, producer and anchor. He later became news director there for six years, during which time (according to this obituary) the station was number one. He died Tuesday at the age of 65. After leaving KVII, in 1994 he joined the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, leaving as Vice-President after 22 years.

Hamilton

Longtime Fargo broadcaster DOUG HAMILTON lost his battle with cancer this week. He was 72. Doug was a reporter, producer, anchor and news director for two Fargo stations that are now branded as Valley News Live. This story is from that website. He most recently worked for Prairie Public Radio in Fargo. Doug was also active in the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater.

Walorski

Indiana Congresswoman JACKIE WALORSKI, 58, was one of four people killed in a head-on collision in northern Indiana Wednesday. She was a passenger in a car driven by ZACHARY POTTS, head of the St. Joseph Country Republican Party. Potts and another aide, EMMA THOMPSON, also died, as did the driver of the other car. We tell you this because Walorksi spent four years as a reporter for WSBT-TV in South Bend earlier in her career. She was first elected to Congress in 2012.

Names in the News:

Kiss

Philadelphia’s CBS o-and-o, KYW-TV, has named RICHARD KISS as its next Assistant News Director. He comes from WCAU-TV (NBC owned) in Philadelphia where he was an executive producer. Richard is following new KYW ND KATHY GERROW who left WCAU last month to become ND at KYW. Richard’s also worked at News 12 in New York and for WDSU-TV in New Orleans

There’s a new effort to help journalists improve coverage of crime, public safety, and the courts. It includes a year long mentorship program. More from the Nieman Lab website.

Finally, a fun list thanks to the Columbia Journalism Review: a list of journalists who have run for office,. Check it out here.

General Manager News and Notes:

Ingram

TIM INGRAM‘s departure from Gray Television (reported first in this space last week) spurred a lot of changes, as the company has tagged TEN current GMs for new roles as Regional Vice Presidents/General Managers, where they will continue running their stations and overseeing others. And a GM who already had that title had a few more stations added to his portfolio. The list is too long for this space, but NOT for this Gray TV news release.

Speaking of Gray news releases, here’s a two-fer. The company promoted new general managers at two of its stations, KWCH/KCSW-TV (CBS/CW) in Wichita, and WGGB/WSHM-TV (ABC/CBS) in Springfield, MA. DAVID HERRMANN is the winner in Wichita, while Station Manager/News Director PATIENCE HETTRICK has been bumped up in Springfield. I have not yet been able to confirm if that creates an ND opening there.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 7, 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
KTVT/KTVA-TV 5233 Bridge St. Fort Worth, TX 76103
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
KGTV 4600 Air Way. San Diego, CA 92102
KTVX-TV 2175 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 East Adams Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street, Norfolk VA, 23510
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WHAM-TV 4225 W. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt Street Rochester, NY 14610
WEYI/WSMH-TV, 3463 W. Pierson Road. Flint, MI 48504
KAGS-TV 2800 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77802
KRNV/KRXI-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WPTA/WISE-TV 3401 Butler Road, Fort Wayne, IN
KADN-TV 1500 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
WJET-TV 8455 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

July 31, 2022

Greetings:

We’re a little late this week due to out of town company and (okay, I’ll be honest) the NASCAR race in town.

But we have some interesting items, including what I believe is the first report of a senior management change at Gray. That’s in our GM section below.

Also this week, TWO new news directors (both promotions at Scripps stations) and ONE new opening, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 31.

There are THREE Paid Help Wanted ads, a new one for an Assistant ND job in a top 15 market and two for EP openings.

Once again, happy there are no obituaries this week.

In addition to the Gray TV item teased above, a longtime GM retires in Houston and there’s a new GM in Oklahoma City. That’s in our GM news section.

In Names in the News, a former Casper, WY news director retires from a different job for which he was much better known. We’l tell you about a departure from Extra!, a new job for a former RTDNA chair, and the daughter in law of a longtime broadcast gets promoted at a New York o-and-o.

And if you’re going to NABJ/NAHJ this week, I hope to see you there, perhaps at this reception hosted by the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

The Missouri School of Journalism invites you to attend an
Alumni and Friends Reception
at the NABJ/NAHJ Convention
Featuring
Ron Stodghill, Meredith Chair in Service Journalism
Friday, August 5, 2022 – 6:00–7:30 p.m.
in the Reno Room at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
3555 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
The reception will feature light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

SciLine, a nonpartisan, philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, tees up articulate scientists from universities across the country for windows of media availability. Journalists can sign up to book broadcast-quality Zoom interviews for their exclusive use. SciLine also hosts on-the-record expert panels for reporters, with ample time for Q&A.

1-ON-1 INTERVIEW AVAILABILITIES

Aug. 2: Electric vehicles (Dr. Lewis Fulton, University of California, Davis)
Aug. 9: Teen mental health (Dr. Nick Allen, University of Oregon)
Aug. 25: Delta-8 and other cannabinoids (Dr. Ziva Cooper, UCLA)

UPCOMING MEDIA BRIEFINGS

Aug. 4: Wildfire resilience: buildings, water, and land use (with experts from Headwaters Economics, Oregon State University, and University of Colorado Boulder)

Sign up to get notified about upcoming opportunities.

Follow @RealSciLine on Twitter.

Newly Named News Directors:

Roberts

KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City…this Scripps owned FOX affiliate has promoted interim news director STACEY ROBERTS. Here’s the note from GM TIM ERMISH. Scripps sent Stacey there as interim from her job as Assistant ND for KNXV-TV in Phoenix, where she worked for almost four years following 17 years at KPNX-TV in Phoenix. At KSTU, she replaces MARC STERNFIELD who is now Director of Content at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles.

Williams

KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV…another Scripps station, another promotion. JESSIE WILLIAMS will join this ABC affiliate as ND, coming from sister Scripps’ station WSYM-TV in Lansing, MI. The move reunites her with newly arrived KTNV GM JEFF KIERNAN: they worked together in Milwaukee. Here’s Jeff’s note to the staff. Jessie replaces NANCY BAUER who left the station in June.

New News Director Openings:

Shelley

WPTA/WISE-TV, Fort Wayne, IN…JONATHAN SHELLEY has left this Gray owned NBC/ABC/CW operation. He’s been there for six years following nine as ND for WDSU-TV in New Orleans. He’s also worked in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, and Ft. Myers. His departure comes less than two months after a new GM, CHRIS FEDELE, arrived, bringing to mind this old saying (which we haven’t dusted off in almost three years!):

30 days hath September, April, and any sitting ND who gets a new GM.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ:

KNXV, The EW Scripps ABC station based in Phoenix, Arizona is looking for an experienced leader and broadcast journalist to join our news team as Assistant News Director. If you desire to work with a great team of journalism professionals in gathering, producing, and delivering stories on multiple platforms that make a difference in our communities, we want to hear from you!

Our Assistant News Director is responsible for managing daily coverage and operations of the news team and is responsible for consistently executing strategies.

In this role, we require a person who will roll up their sleeves to get the job done, is highly organized, can successfully multi-task, and is focused on fostering creativity and coaching the team for growth and development.

Apply at scripps.com/careers.

Weekend Executive Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

Would you like to be a leader in a news operation with a commitment to excellence and the resources you need to succeed?

WRAL News, a multiplatform news organization in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market, is seeking an executive producer to oversee the content and presentation of WRAL weekend newscasts. We’re looking for a leader who will coach the weekend staff, write and approve scripts and digital content, enhance weather presentations, and contribute to special coverage.

The ideal candidate will find new and engaging ways of presenting content in our newscasts while working closely with our graphics, promotions, and news management teams. We are looking for a person with outstanding communication and organizational skills, superb news judgment, and a creative mind. Our weekend EP needs to excel at breaking news and have an eye for showcasing.

If you have a vision for graphics and a passion for memorable, creative and captivating newscasts, this is the job for you. You must be willing to work weekends and produce newscasts during the week.

WRAL is locally owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, a pioneering, community advocate company that offers some of the best benefits in the business. We are based in Raleigh, NC, which is consistently named one of the best places to live in America.

Requirements include five years of experience in producing newscasts, two years of news management experience and a four-year college degree.

You can learn more and apply by clicking here.

Executive Producer, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:

Join THE. BEST. newsroom leadership team in country.

(Well, the news director says it is the best. She’s not biased at all.)

This job is all about coaching reporters and producers and elevating already-great newscasts. The newsroom at WBRC Fox6 is a collaborative environment. The team approaches the work with an attitude of service.

You must love severe weather coverage, strategic planning, innovation, and high-energy work environments.

You will work hard and be proud of it. And you will be appreciated! WBRC Fox6 and Birmingham are gems!

Click here to learn more and apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 6/19/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 7/31/22, see ad above!)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (listed 7/31/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 7/10/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/5/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/17/22)
KENS-TV, San Antonio TX (relisted 7/17/22)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 7/10/22)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 7/31/22)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/5/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 7/17/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (listed 6/5/22)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (relisted 6/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 7/24/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 6/5/22)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (AM EP, listed 7/10/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP, listing revised 7/31/22)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/17/22)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/5/22)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/26/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (MSP EP, listed 7/10/22)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 7/17/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 6/12/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Weekend EP, revised 7/24/22, see ad above!)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 7/17/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/5/22)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/3/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP. relisted 7/17/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 5/30/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, revised 7/24/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/10/22)
KFOR/KAUT-TV, Oklahoma City (Overnight EP, listed 7/3/22)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 7/24/22, see ad above!)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (listed 6/19/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/10/22)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (2 openings, listed 7/10/22)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 7/24/22)
KMTV. Omaha, NE (listed 7/17/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 6/5/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (two openings, AM & PM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (2 openings, one a Digital EP, revised 7/24/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 6/5/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (relisted 7/24/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/17/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (listed 6/26/22)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (PM EP, listed 7/17/22)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (listed 6/26/22)
KBZK-TV, Boseman, MT (listed 7/17/22)

MANAGING EDITOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 7/17/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (relisted 6/5/22)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 7/31/22:

Listed 7/24/22:

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Digital Media)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Media)

Relisted 7/24/22:

Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (Director of Digital Content)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital News Manager)

Listed 7/3/22:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/26/22:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)

Listed 6/12/22:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

No obituaries this week.

Names in the News:

Williams

Friday was the last day for PETE WILLIAMS at NBC News, but he makes these pages because he’s a former ND for KTWO-TV in Casper, WY. He’s retiring after almost 30 years at NBC, most of it as the Justice Department correspondent. He also worked for then Wyoming Congressman (and future VP) DICK CHENEY and for the Justice Department. The Today Show offers this farewell.

Shepherd

One time RTDNA Chair TERENCE SHEPHERD moves cross country to become News Director for KPBS, San Diego’s NPR and PBS public media station. He’s been the ND for WLRN in South Florida since 2013. He’s also a former business editor for The Miami Herald. Learn more about Terence’s past and his new job in this story from KPBS.

Gregorish Dempsey

After more than 20 years in the job, LISA GREGORISCH-DEMPSEY is stepping down as executive producer of the syndicated show Extra!. She’s a former VP of News for FOX and once served as an EP for Hard Copy. Lisa’s been working from Florida where she and her husband moved after he recovered from cancer. Lots more details from The Daily Mail which first reported the change.

Shallcross

CATHY SHALLCROSS is moving up at New York’s WCBS-TV where she has been promoted to Director of Streaming and Digital Content. She’s worked there for eleven years, beginning as the 5:00 producer before advancing to EP and Special Projects EP. Cathy’s also worked in Miami and West Palm Beach and is the daughter in law of longtime broadcaster JOE COSCIA, who many of you know.

LAURA MATOVINA, who’s been the Assistant ND for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee, is headed off to a new job. She’ll be the Director of the company’s new producer hub.

General Manager News and Notes:

Ingram

Gray TV SVP TIM INGRAM has parted ways with the company. He’s been in that job since January, 2020, and has spent his entire career working for Gray and its predecessor, Raycom. (Gray acquired Raycom in 2019). Tim was a GM at WVUE-TV in New Orleans for about six years before being promoted, and held GM jobs in a number of other markets, as you will learn by checking out his Linkedin page. Tim told me the parting was amicable and that he is looking at his next step.

Martin

Longtime KPRC-TV (Houston/Graham Media/NBC) General Manager JERRY MARTIN will retire in early September, bringing to an end an eleven year commuter marriage. Jerry’s been back and forth to Indianapolis for those eleven years, where his family stayed after he left the GM gig at WTTV/WXIN-TV. Learn more about Jerry’s past…and future…in this story from the KPRC website.

Sinclair has named DIANA WILKIN as GM of its Oklahoma City operation, KOKH/KOCB-TV (Fox/CW). She’s a veteran GM who most recently has been managing partner at a media consulting firm.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 31, 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
KTVT/KTVA-TV 5233 Bridge St. Fort Worth, TX 76103
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
KGTV 4600 Air Way. San Diego, CA 92102
KTVX-TV 2175 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 East Adams Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street, Norfolk VA, 23510
WIVB-TV 2077 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14207
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WHAM-TV 4225 W. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt Street Rochester, NY 14610
WEYI/WSMH-TV, 3463 W. Pierson Road. Flint, MI 48504
KAGS-TV 2800 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77802
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Dr., Savannah, GA 31404
WCSC-TV 2126 Charlie Hall Blvd. Charleston, SC 29414
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, TX 79922
KRNV/KRXI-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WJBF-TV 1336 Augusta W Pkwy., Augusta, GA 30909
WPTA/WISE-TV 3401 Butler Road, Fort Wayne, IN
KADN-TV 1500 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station

July 24, 2022

Greetings:

Lots of material in this week’s edition, with something for everyone.

We have FIVE new news directors to share, though THREE of them have been in place for a few weeks or even months. ONE of those new NDs is a familiar name who’s been an ND in a number of markets. And there’s ONE new opening.

Those changes drop our list of stations with ND openings to 32.

There are THREE Paid Help Wanted ads, all for EP openings in markets ranging from top ten to top 50.

We have a new advertiser for a start-up business which may be of interest to those of you struggling to hire producers. It’s a unique effort by a former ND. Check out the ad just below.

And Sciline is back…that’s the non profit organization hoping to improve coverage of science issues…they have a new schedule of interviews you can book on a variety of topics.

I’m grateful there are no obituaries this week.

We have THREE items about general managers on the move…two going, and one coming to a new job.

And check out Names in the News. It’s easy to bash consultants, but we have a story about one who has done something praiseworthy. We’ll also tell you about a potential new owner for the Black News Channel, CBS expanding news to its CW and independent stations, a longtime news manager leaving Chicago to return to Texas, and a Denver station that sprung a surprise on its news director during a staff meeting.

Like I said, something for everyone. Have a great week.

SciLine, a nonpartisan, philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, tees up articulate scientists from universities across the country for windows of media availability. Journalists can sign up to book broadcast-quality Zoom interviews for their exclusive use. SciLine also hosts on-the-record expert panels for reporters, with ample time for Q&A.

1-ON-1 INTERVIEW AVAILABILITIES

Aug. 2: Electric vehicles (Dr. Lewis Fulton, University of California, Davis)
Aug. 9: Teen mental health (Dr. Nick Allen, University of Oregon)
Aug. 25: Delta-8 and other cannabinoids (Dr. Ziva Cooper, UCLA)

UPCOMING MEDIA BRIEFINGS

July 28: High heat & health (with experts from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Boston University School of Public Health)
Aug. 4: Wildfire resilience: buildings, water, and land use (with experts from Headwaters Economics, Oregon State University, and University of Colorado Boulder)

Sign up to get notified about upcoming opportunities.

Follow @RealSciLine on Twitter.

Newly Named News Directors:

Lopez

WBZ/WSBK-TV, Boston, MA…Tuesday’s UPDATE told you GERARDO LOPEZ will be the next VP/News Director for this CBS owned duopoly. More in this news release. We told you last week that Gerardo was leaving Scripps’ WTKR-TV (CBS) in Norfolk after less than a year as ND. His resume is too long to run here, but it’s on his Linkedin page. He replaces JESSI MILLER BRADLEY who left the station earlier this year after 18 months as ND and 25 years at the station.

I’m sorry to say we dropped the ball on THREE news director hires over the past few months, all at Cowles stations:

KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA…hired PAUL BERGEN, formerly GM and before that news director at KBMT-TV in Beaumont, TX.

KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, WA… STEPHANIE ASHLEY moves from Fayetteville, AR, where she had been an assistant ND at KNWA-TV. Her Linkedin page has more.

KULR-TV, Billings, MT…DIANA CASANOVA was promoted to ND here. She’d been the EP there for two years. Check out the ‘about’ section on her Linkedin page.

Turpin

WETM-TV, Elmira, NY…this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate has hired JIM TURPIN as its news director. Jim’s a veteran news director with stops in Fresno, Memphis, Norfolk and Wichita. More here. At WETM, he replaces ZACH WHEELER who left the station in unfortunate circumstances last May, Zach had been ND here for just a few months but had worked there for 15 years, the last four as main anchor.

New News Director Openings:

Giffune

WEYI/WSMH-TV, Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, MI…this Sinclair operation is looking for a new news director to replace NEILIE-ANN GIFFUNE who spent almost three years of her ten years at the station as ND. Her background is in sports. Sinclair owns WSMH (FOX) and operates WEYI (NBC) under a shared services agreement with minority owned Howard Stirk Holdings.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Weekend Executive Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

Would you like to be a leader in a news operation with a commitment to excellence and the resources you need to succeed?

WRAL News, a multiplatform news organization in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market, is seeking an executive producer to oversee the content and presentation of WRAL weekend newscasts. We’re looking for a leader who will coach the weekend staff, write and approve scripts and digital content, enhance weather presentations, and contribute to special coverage.

The ideal candidate will find new and engaging ways of presenting content in our newscasts while working closely with our graphics, promotions, and news management teams. We are looking for a person with outstanding communication and organizational skills, superb news judgment, and a creative mind. Our weekend EP needs to excel at breaking news and have an eye for showcasing.

If you have a vision for graphics and a passion for memorable, creative and captivating newscasts, this is the job for you. You must be willing to work weekends and produce newscasts during the week.

WRAL is locally owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, a pioneering, community advocate company that offers some of the best benefits in the business. We are based in Raleigh, NC, which is consistently named one of the best places to live in America.

Requirements include five years of experience in producing newscasts, two years of news management experience and a four-year college degree.

You can learn more and apply by clicking here.

Executive Producer, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL:

Join THE. BEST. newsroom leadership team in country.

(Well, the news director says it is the best. She’s not biased at all.)

This job is all about coaching reporters and producers and elevating already-great newscasts. The newsroom at WBRC Fox6 is a collaborative environment. The team approaches the work with an attitude of service.

You must love severe weather coverage, strategic planning, innovation, and high-energy work environments.

You will work hard and be proud of it. And you will be appreciated! WBRC Fox6 and Birmingham are gems!

Click here to learn more and apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (listed 6/19/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 7/17/22)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 7/10/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 6/5/22)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 7/17/22)
KENS-TV, San Antonio TX (relisted 7/17/22)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 7/10/22)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/5/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WPRI-TV, Providence, RI (relisted 7/17/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (listed 6/5/22)
WAND-TV, Decatur, IL (relisted 6/5/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (relisted 7/24/22)
WKBT-TV, La Crosse, WI (relisted 6/5/22)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KTVT-TV, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (AM EP, listed 7/10/22)
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 7/10/22)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/22/22)
KRIV-TV, Houston, TX (listed 7/17/22) (See ad above!)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 6/5/22)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 6/26/22)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (MSP EP, listed 7/10/22)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted 7/17/22)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WMAR-TV, Baltimore, MD (listed 6/12/22)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Weekend EP, revised 7/24/22, see ad above!)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 7/17/22)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/5/22)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/3/22)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Special Projects EP. relisted 7/17/22)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 5/30/22)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/12/22)
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (PM EP, revised 7/24/22)
WAVY/WVBT-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/10/22)
KFOR/KAUT-TV, Oklahoma City (Overnight EP, listed 7/3/22)
WBRC-TV, Birmingham, AL (listed 7/24/22, see ad above!)
WIAT-TV, Birmingham AL (relisted 6/26/22)
WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro/High Point NC (listed 6/19/22)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/10/22)
WINK-TV, Fort Myers, FL (2 openings, listed 7/10/22)
WBAY-TV, Green Bay, WI (AM EP, listed 6/12/22)
WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA (AM EP, relisted 7/24/22)
KMTV. Omaha, NE (listed 7/17/22)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (listed 6/5/22)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (two openings, AM & PM EP, relisted 7/17/22)
WHEC-TV, Rochester, NY (relisted 7/24/22)
WROC-TV, Rochester, NY (2 openings, one a Digital EP, revised 7/24/22)
KRGV-TV, Weslaco, TX (AM EP, relisted 6/5/22)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (relisted 7/24/22)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/17/22)
WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL (listed 6/26/22)
KFDX/KJTL-TV, Wichita Falls, TX (PM EP, listed 7/17/22)
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY (listed 6/26/22)
KBZK-TV, Boseman, MT (listed 7/17/22)
WRDE-TV, Milton, DE (listed 5/22/22) **

MANAGING EDITOR:

KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 6/12/22)
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 7/17/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (relisted 6/5/22)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 7/24/22:

WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Manager)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (Director of Digital Media)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Director of Digital Media)

Relisted 7/24/22:

Spectrum News NY1 (Senior Producer & Senior Producer-Politics)
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Supervising Producer, Documentary Journalism Center)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Manager of Real Time Depth)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/10/22:

WFMY-TV, Greensboro, NC (Director of Digital Content)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital News Manager)

Listed 7/3/22:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (Digital Content Manager)

Relisted 6/26/22:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)

Listed 6/12/22:

KVEO/KGBT-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Grateful that there are no obituaries this week.

Names in the News:

The Black News Channel may not be dead yet. BYRON ALLEN‘s company is close to completing a deal to buy the cable channel. More in this story from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

CBS has launched newscasts at ten of its CW and independent stations this week. For many of the stations, it’s the first time they’ve aired their own newscasts.

Gumbert

A tip of the cap to JERRY GUMBERT, longtime president and CEO of AR&D in Dallas. He saw a story on MSNBC about a Michigan woman who’d lost her home to a scam. Jerry lives in Texas but is a Michigan native, and he stepped up to right the wrong. Check out this story from WDIV-TV anchor DEVIN SCILLIAN (who worked with Jerry at stations in Texas and Oklahoma.) A kind note to Jerry can be sent here.

Lupenski

TIFFANI LUPENSKI is on the move and returning to Texas. She posted this item on social media detailing her move to Graham Media’s KPRC-TV (NBC) in Houston, where she once interned. She’s been the Director of Content for CBS’s WBBM-TV in Chicago for the past three years, is a former ND in St. Louis, San Diego, and Portland, and has worked as an EP in several large markets.

There are some new managers at Raleigh’s WRAL-TV (NBC):

KIM URSICH moves from morning EP to dayside EP. She’s a nine year station employee who’s worked at another Raleigh station and in Charlotte. Her spot as morning EP was filled by senior AM producer LAUREN THOMSON. The station is also looking for a weekend EP. Check out the paid ad above!

Roberts

The University of Mississippi has hired a new director of its student media center (a job which the University advertised in this space). LARZ ROBERTS joins Ole Miss from Arkansas State University, where he’s worked for 25 years on the faculty teaching print, online, radio and TV courses. Learn more about Larz and the Ole Miss program, which includes the yearbook, campus TV station, radio station, and newspaper, here.

Gauntt

HOLLY GAUNTT is among the new members of the NATAS Silver Circle. She’s been the news director for Scripps’ KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver for the past five years, spent almost two years as ND for KDVR/KWGN-TV in Denver, has been an ND in Seattle and Philadelphia, and worked in several other markets. The station sprung the news on her during a staff meeting, as you’ll see in this video.

General Manager News and Notes:

Natz

Wednesday’s UPDATE shared the news that JACQUES NATZ has left Altice USA’s News 12 Networks, the NYC based local cable news operation, where he was SVP/General Manager for the last two years. Jacques’ a former ND and news manager in many large markets, worked for Hearst as director of digital content development and as a consultant for SmithGeige. His full history is on his Linkedin page.

After almost seven years, SCOTT DEMPSEY has left Gray’s WBTV (CBS) where he was general manager. He served as a regional GM when Raycom owned the station, had earlier been a GM in Savannah and worked in sales in a number of markets.

Congratulations to CORY GYLOCK who’s been named GM for Nexstar’s WLAX/WEUX-TV in La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI. He’s been the GM there since 2020.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 24, 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
KTVT/KTVA-TV 5233 Bridge St. Fort Worth, TX 76103
WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
KGTV 4600 Air Way. San Diego, CA 92102
KSTU-TV 5020 West Amelia Earhart Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84116
KTVX-TV 2175 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104
WITI-TV 9001 N Green Bay Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209
KTNV-TV 3355 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89102
WTLV/WJXX-TV 1070 East Adams Street Jacksonville, FL 32202
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street, Norfolk VA, 23510
WIVB-TV 2077 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14207
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WHAM-TV 4225 W. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt Street Rochester, NY 14610
WEYI/WSMH-TV, 3463 W. Pierson Road. Flint, MI 48504
KAGS-TV 2800 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77802
WSAV-TV 1430 East Victory Dr., Savannah, GA 31404
WCSC-TV 2126 Charlie Hall Blvd. Charleston, SC 29414
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, TX 79922
KRNV/KRXI-TV 1790 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502
WJBF-TV 1336 Augusta W Pkwy., Augusta, GA 30909
KADN-TV 1500 Eraste Landry Rd. Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Rd. West Monroe, LA 71292
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KALB-TV 605 Washington Street; Alexandria, LA 71301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
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
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501

**: Spanish language station