Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

July 28, 2024

Thursday, August 1, 2024:

Greetings:

It didn’t take long for CBS to announce its plans for the post-Norah O’Donnell version of the CBS Evening News.

Details here.

I arrive in Chicago and NABJ later this morning. Hope to see many of you there.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

LOTS of ND changes this week!

SIX (count ’em, SIX) jobs were filled while FOUR positions opened up, including ONE in the number ONE market.

So, our list of open ND jobs drops to 38.

We have TWO ads for very similar…but different…jobs in a top ten market. Check them out below.

If you are going to the upcoming Texas Association of Broadcasters convention, be sure to stop by the Octopus booth and say hi to former Houston news manager SCOTT FITZFERALD. He’ll show you the latest innovations in newsroom technology with Octopus Newsroom. Learn more in the ad below.

NO obituaries this week.

THREE GM changes, including one in Detroit and TWO at Nexstar stations.

The list of National EMMY News and Documentary nominees is out…we have the very long list.

Also in Names in the News, a FOUR time California ND returns to Sacramento but this time he’s working for the state, not covering it. There are TWO management moves for Hispanic news managers who work at English language stations. And TWO former news directors have written what look like intersting new books.

Read on for details!

Newly Named News Directors:

Whitmire

WLS-TV, Chicago, IL…in a move we first reported in a Tuesday UPDATE, DOUG WHITMIRE has been promoted to VP/News for this ABC o-and-o. He’s been the Assistant ND there since 2021, EP for 14 years before that, and joined the station in 2003 as a news writer. Doug replaces the only boss he ever had there, JENNIFER GRAVES, who retired last month after an amazing 22+ years as ND there.

Oliphant

WWJ-TV, Detroit, MI…Wednesday’s UPDATE told you that KENNAN OLIPHANT is moving across Southfield (a Detroit suburb) to become VP/News and Station Manager for this CBS o-and-o. Kennan’s been the Senior Director of News at Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC) since 2022. It’s the first move by newly appointed Regional GM JENNIFER LYONS (more on that below.) PAUL PYTLOWANY, who had been the ND, becomes VP/Director of News Content and Special Projects.

Tierney

KGW-TV, Portland, OR…in a move we did NOT tell you about in an UPDATE (because we just learned about it today!), JOHN TIERNEY has been promoted to ND for this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND for the last six years, and came to KGW in 2014 as the multi-platform EP, overseeing investigative and political reporting. He replaces GREG RETSINAS who was promoted to GM earlier this year.

Wood

WTIC-TV, Hartford CT…TERRY WOOD returns to the ND chair at this Tegna owned FOX affiliate. He’s been the assistant ND for Scripps’ WGBA-TV (NBC) in Green Bay, but earlier had been an ND in Odessa, TX. Terry has lots of major market experience. At WTIC, he replaces DANA ROSENGARD who left in March after less than a year as ND and not quite two years at the station.

Roldan

KXMB-TV, Bismarck, ND…this Nexstar owned CBS/CW affiliate has hired STEVE ROLDAN as its next news director. It’s a return to North Dakota for Steve, who earlier worked in Fargo but has spend the last seven years at KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver. His (not yet deleted) KMGH profile page lists his roles there and his career history. He’s replacing JOE RINALDI who left earlier this year

Downing

KCWY/KGWN-TV, Casper/Cheyenne, WY…these Marquee Broadcasting stations have hired JEREMY DOWNING to oversee the news departments. Here’s the staff memo from Marquee COO GENE STEINBERG. He’s been the assistant ND for KIVI-TV in Boise, and earlier worked as an ND for another Cheyenne station.. He replaces TIFFANY LOGAN. KCWY serves Casper as an NBC affiliate, while KGWN is a CBS and NBC affiliate for Cheyenne.

New News Director Openings:

Collins

WXTV, New York,NY…LUISA COLLINS has left this Univision owned station after three years as VP of Content. The change was first reported by Media Moves. She’s also worked for Entravision and seven years as a news director for Univision in Colorado.

WUSA-TV, Washington, DC…this Tegna owned CBS affiliate is looking for a Morning News Director. LIZ GARCIA had held that role.

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI…you learned above that KENNAN OLIPHANT is leaving this Scripps owned ABC affiliate (where his title was Senior Director of News) to join Detroit’s CBS o-and-o, WWJ-TV, as VP/News and Station manager.

Gulden

WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH…BECKY GULDEN has left this Sinclair owned ABC/FOX operation. She’s been the ND there since August 2020, and earlier and worked there for five years as a producer, EP, and assistant ND (though not at the same time, presumably). You’ll learn in this Linkedin post that she’s joining a local school district as the PIO.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Morning Broadcast Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

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You will oversee the onboarding and training of new producers, aiding them with script writing and newscast crafting. By using showcasing skills, you will help create compelling newscasts and ensure cohesive content delivery across all platforms. Your news judgment will be critical in reacting to breaking news and adjusting coverage priorities seamlessly. You will advocate for content that resonates with our diverse audience and addresses community issues, ensuring active community engagement from our content and talent.

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Evening Broadcast Executive Producer, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX:

KPRC 2, a leader in innovative news broadcasting, is seeking a Morning Broadcast Executive Producer. This dynamic role is ideal for a leader passionate about enhancing newscasts and nurturing talent.

Preferred qualifications include experience as an Executive Producer and a degree in Journalism or Communications.

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Visit Click2houston.com to view learn more.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 7/21/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/1/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (relisted 7/21/24)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (listed 7/28/24)
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 7/21/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 6/2/24)
KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/7/24)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/28/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/14/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 6/16/24)
KFSM-TV, Fayetteville, AR (listed 7/21/24)
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 7/21/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (relisted 7/21/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/28/24)
WPHL-TV, Philadelphia, PA (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP/Special Projects, listed 6/16/24)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Morning Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24 (see ad below!)
KPRC-TV, Houston, TX (Evening Broadcast EP, listed 7/28/24) (see ad below!)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 7/28/24)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 6/23/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 7/21/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/16/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 7/21/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24)
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/1/24)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 7/1/24)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 7/21/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 7/21/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (AM EP, listed 7/28/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 7/21/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/21/24)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 7/1/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 7/21/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 7/21/24:

WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (Digital Director)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (Digital Director)

Relisted 7/21/24:

WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)

Obituaries:

No obituaries this week, fortunately.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

NATAS announced the nominees for the 45th Annual News and Documentary awards. The list is long, so get your favorite beverage before you click here.

Veteran ND JONATHAN SHELLEY is back in a newsroom, at least temporarily. He’s filling in at Tegna’s WZDX-TV (FOX) in Huntsville. He’s been an ND in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Ft. Wayne.

Chapuis

Former ND turned GM ED CHAPUIS has a new job. Ed was kind enough to tip me to his new role in an email. And you can find out what that job is in his Linkedin post. It’s a return to Sacramento for Ed, who most recently was the GM for Scripps’ KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, a job he left in January. He’s twice been an ND in Sacramento as well as in Oakland, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

A number of moves at Spanish language stations as first reported by Media Moves:

PHIL LANDEROS has been promoted to manager of content and coverage at Graham Media’s WKMG-TV (CBS) in Orlando. He’d been the PM EP there.

And VERA CASTILLO joins WSPA-TV (Nexstar/CBS) as an EP, overseeing a lifestyle show. She’d been working for WTVJ-TV (NBC) and co-owned WSCV-TV (Telemundo) as Senior EP of programming.

Two former news directors have new books.

Barnes

One time Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle ND (and consultant) JOE BARNES has released Social Media Safety: What Parents and Teens Need to Know. The Kindle version is available now on Amazon. Joe tells mt the paperback version will be out in mid-August.

And longtime Toledo news manager ANTHONY KNOPPS is out with an interesting new book: “The No-Fail Mission” focuses on the stories of ten men and women who served the “Office of the President.” These military leaders are often found in the background, but they are “in the room” when history happens. Proceeds go to a scholarship fund for military families. Learn more (and order) the book on Anthony’s website.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lyons

We hinted above at JENNIFER LYONS new role as a Regional GM for CBS. She’ll continue to oversee WBBM-TV in Chicago and will now have that same responsibility for WWJ-TV in Detroit. More details here.

Nexstar named new GMs for two of stations, WHNT-TV in Huntsville and KLBK-TV in Lubbock. Both come from sales backgrounds.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 28, 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

WXTV 500 Frank W Burr Blvd Ste 6. Teaneck, NJ 07666
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
Spectrum News Texas (based in Austin, TX)
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64112 (Station Mgr. & ND)
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WJAR-TV 23 Kenney Drive Cranston, RI 02920
WATN-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KATC-TV, 1103 Eraste Landry Road in Lafayette, LA 70506
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
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
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Road NW Rochester, MN 55901
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
KPAX-TV 1049 West Central Ave. Missoula, MT 59801
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KTVQ-TV 3203 3rd Ave N., Billings, MT 59101
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station

July 21, 2024

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Big changes today at the CBS owned station in Detroit (which also resulted in a big change at Scripps’ ABC station there, WXYZ-TV.)

Lyons

JENNIFER LYONS, who been serving as the interim GM for WWJ-TV, has been named Regional General Manager for both WWJ and WBBM-TV in Chicago. She’s been the GM there for almost three years after a long career at WGN-TV (now owned by Nexstar, long owned by Tribune) where she twice served as news director and spent just over a year as VP/News for Nexstar’s News Nation.

Oliphant

Her first move in her new role was to name KENNAN OLIPHANT as VP of News AND Station Manager for WWJ. Kennan won’t have to move, as he has been serving as “Senior Director, News” for WXYZ-TV (Scripps/ABC) for the last two years (and was the Assistant ND before that.) Kennan is a Detroit native, began his career as a writer at WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit before working in several other markets in a variety of roles..

PAUL PYTLOWANY, who’s been running the news department at WWJ, moves to a new role as VP/Director of News Content and Special Projects.

All these changes are detailed in two memos, the first from JENNIFER MITCHELL, President of CBS Stations, and the second from Jennifer Lyons.

Because I am “Working for You” and “On Your Side” and…well, that’s enough…I have thoughtfully combined both memos into one document for your convenience.

You can thank me when next we meet.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 UPDATE:

Greetings:

ONE of the TWO Chicago ND openings has been filled, cutting YOUR chances of working in the Windy City in half. 🙂

Whitmire

DOUG WHITMIRE has been promoted to Vice President of News for ABC o-and-o WLS-TV. He’s a 20+ year veteran of the station who’s been the Assistant News Director since December 2021 and was the executive producer for 14 years before that. Doug first joined the station in 2003 as a newswriter, coming from WTVG-TV in Toledo, which, at that time, was owned by ABC.

At WLS, Doug replaces the only ND he ever had there, JENNIFER GRAVES, who retired earlier this year after 22+ years as ND there.

The other remaining Chicago ND opening is at FOX’s WFLD-TV, where MATT PIACENTE left in February and has yet to be replaced.

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

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

TWO news directors jobs were filled this week, while we’ve added THREE stations to our list of open ND jobs.

Our list of open ND jobs moves to 40. ONE of those openings is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Two noteworthy and new ads this week.

You probably know that Scripps is pioneering a new approach to community-focused reporting, and you’re invited to get a behind the scenes peek. This Thursday, July 25, at 2 p.m. ET/ 11a.m. PT Scripps is hosting a live, virtual event. Check out the ad below to learn more and register for this event.

The Texas Association of Broadcasters convention is nearing. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to witness the latest innovations in newsroom technology with Octopus Newsroom at TAB 2024. Check out the ad just below to learn more.

And if you’re a manager looking to improve your weather coverage, look at the ad for Heller Weather below.

FOUR obituaries this week, including ONE for a current news director, TWO for former NDs, and ONE for a former radio ND who served as President of (then) RTNDA.

No GM changes, and TWO items in Names in the News, including a cutback in local news production at a duopoly in America’s 23rd largest city (though its 91st biggest market.)

Guessing it will be a busy week for news coverage given today’s big announcement by the President. Good luck with your coverage.

Newly Named News Directors:

Isaacs

WFXT-TV, Boston MA…SCOTT ISAACS returns to Boston as ND for this Cox Media Group FOX affiliate. He’s been the ND for Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence for the last seven years. Before that, he worked at Boston’s WCVB-TV (ABC) for 13 years. More in this news release. He may have his hands full: check out this Boston Globe story that ran a few days before he was named. Scott replaces SARAH BURGESS who left in April after 19 years, six as the ND.

Hatten

WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY…KEITH HATTEN joins this Tegna owned ABC affiliate as ND. He’s been the ND for KPAX-TV in Missoula, MT, since late 2021. Here’s the note from GM LISA COLUMBIA. The move gets Keith closer to Indiana: he worked at three stations there for 14 years (and went to Purdue). At WHAS, he succeeds CHRIS GEGG who left for WXIX-TV in Cincinnati earlier this year.

New News Director Openings:

WJAR-TV, Providence, RI…you learned above that SCOTT ISAACS is leaving this Sinclair owned NBC affiliate after seven years as ND to return to Boston as ND for WFXT-TV.

KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT…and, since you LIVE for this type of information, you also know that KEITH HATTEN is leaving this Scripps owned CBS affiliate to become ND for WHAS-TV (Tegna/ABC) in Louisville. Keith was here almost three years.

We’re also adding KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT, to our list of open ND jobs. We told you last week that KEEGAN HARSHA was being promoted to a new job as Statewide ND for Montana. We did not know at the time that he would be replaced as ND at KTVQ.

Finally, please note just below the Paid Help Wanted ad for the ND job at Scripps’ WXMI-TV (FOX) in Grand Rapids, MI. We told you three weeks ago that DAN BOERS had left the station after three years as ND.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

News Director, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI:

WXMI, the E.W. Scripps FOX affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan is searching for an experienced News Director to keep our station moving forward to new heights of success.

This is a newsroom that needs a proven leader who can exceed and grow our high levels of investigative and enterprise journalism.

The right candidate will be someone who understands deep impact local content and can help teach and develop our talented group of journalists into stronger emotional storytellers. We seek someone who can foster a positive, innovative and hard charging newsroom into a digital now mindset. We are looking for a candidate who can effectively plan a news strategy for a continuous measurement world, while still being able to coordinate breaking news, weather and large event coverage.

You must be a digital powerhouse, leveraging the web, OTT, and all social platforms to make sure that local audiences are seeing, talking about and sharing stories generated by our newsroom. You must be a risk taker and someone ready to adapt, change and think out of the box.

If this sounds like you, we would like for you to apply.

Apply Here: