Rick Gevers & Associates

January 3, 2021

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Minium

The family of the late STEVE MINIUM has set up a web page with memorial and funeral information. Click here.

The family promises to record what is described as a small graveside service which it will load to the site after Saturday’s service.

We told you Monday that Steve died after a battle with cancer.  He was 70.

As we told you earlier, Steve was a news director in Cincinnati (WKRC-TV), Birmingham (WBRC-TV) and Las Vegas (KTNV). While in Cincinnati he was promoted to VP/News for Clear Channel and then to SVP of News and Marketing for the company.

He later joined his former GM from Cincinnati, DON PERRY, at KPSP-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Palm Desert, CA, as Executive Director of News, New Media and Brand. Later, Steve worked for Broadcast Image as Director of Special Projects and Recruitment.

What we didn’t tell you on Monday was that Steve started in broadcasting as a motorcycle courier for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.  In the pre-iPhone, pre-WiFi, pre-satellite trucks, pre-microwave truck days, stations in large markets would hire couriers to move newsfilm (look it up, kids!) to the station more expeditiously.  Often the couriers used cars but Steve (and/or his superiors) realized motorcycles could move through traffic more quickly.

Our sympathy to Steve’s family and many friends.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 UPDATE:

Greetings:

We have news of TWO new news directors…one a veteran, and one a first time ND.

Kiernan

JEFF KIERNAN heads to Detroit to be the next news director for Scripps’ WXYZ-TV (ABC). We have the note from GM MIKE MURRI. Jeff’s currently Senior Director of Local Content for Scripps’ WTMJ-TV (NBC) in Milwaukee in his second tour of duty there. He’s also been an ND for CBS owned stations in Chicago, Boston, and Minneapolis. At WXYZ, he replaces RHONDA LaVELLE who left in November after 4+ years as ND.

Nevalga

Meanwhile, JEIMMIE NEVALGA has been named News Director for KOMU-TV, the University of Missouri owned NBC affiliate in Columbia, MO. She is currently the executive producer there. More on her promotion here. Jeimmie (pronounced Jay-mee) has also worked in Chicago and Milwaukee. She replaces RANDY REEVES who remains at the station. Longtime newsman STEVE ACKERMANN has been serving as the news director since Randy stepped down in March.

Finally, a private funeral service for longtime newsman STEVE MINIUM will be held this Saturday. There will be a link available later this evening for people to leave comments and pictures. When that link is available I will post it to my website: www.rickgevers.com

regards,

Rick Gevers

Monday, January 4, 2021 UPDATE:

I’m sorry to share news of the death of a longtime news director and broadcaster.

Minium

STEVE MINIUM died today at his Cincinnati home after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.

He was a news director in Cincinnati (WKRC-TV), Birmingham (WBRC-TV) and Las Vegas (KTNV). While in Cincinnati he was promoted to VP/News for Clear Channel and then to SVP of News and Marketing for the company.

He later joined his former GM from Cincinnati, DON PERRY, at KPSP-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Palm Desert, CA, as Executive Director of News, New Media and Brand. Later, Steve worked for Broadcast Image as Director of Special Projects and Recruitment.

I’ll have more details on Steve’s career and memorial arrangements later this week.

Finally, TWO news director jobs will be filled tomorrow. I plan an UPDATE after both jobs have been announced, likely sometime tomorrow afternoon.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

I hope your holidays were safe, healthy, and pleasant, and that 2021 is everything we all hope it will be.

As anticipated, it was a slow holiday season for news management changes, with just ONE open ND job filled. That brings our list of opening to just 14!

We have ONE paid ad for a morning EP job at a midwest station.

Sadly, THREE obituaries, TWO for former NDs and ONE for the wife of a long-time group head.

And we have THREE items in Names in the News: new managers at TWO Scripps stations, departures of TWO news executives at Spectrum Cable operations, and we’ll update the search for a new kidney for a longtime broadcaster…and how you could help him or someone else in need.

Have a great 2021, but not before reading on!

Newly Named News Directors:

Cifuentes

WUVG-TV, Atlanta, GA…GIANNCARLO CIFUENTES, the regional news director for Univision, will assume ND duties here. He’s already based at the station. As best I can tell, he replaces…himself. He was promoted to the regional job in 2017, and, if the station replaced him as ND, I haven’t been able to find any proof of that.

New News Director Opening:

There are no new openings to the best of my knowledge. Please let me know if there’s something I’ve missed.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Morning Executive Producer, KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE:

Channel 8 News in Lincoln, Nebraska is looking for an Executive News Producer to lead the morning team.

It’s a high quality of life combined with a low cost of living all surrounded by the satisfaction of a unique job challenge. We’re looking for someone who thrives on breaking news, can get content out on multiple platforms with lighting speed and has an entrepreneurial spirit with an investigative drive.

If you question everything and don’t pitch story ideas that come from the headlines, we should talk. You need to have 2 year of line producing or reporting/anchoring experience. Send your resume and news philosophy to: jhardy@klkntv.com.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WPTV, W. Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 12/13/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/13/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-America/News Nation, Chicago, IL (new listing this week)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (AM ‘Content Producer’, new listing this week)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (new listing this week)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 12/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (new listing this week)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 12/13/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, relisted 12/20/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 12/20/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 12/20/20)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 12/13/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 11/15/20:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Heil

PAUL HEIL, who spent two years as news director at WGAL-TV in Lancaster, PA, died last Sunday (12/27/20) of a heart attack. He was 73. You’ll learn here that after leaving WGAL after serving as news director from 1977-1979, he went on to a new career and founded The Gospel Greats radio program. Paul is survived by his wife and two sons.

Nahley

A longtime Columbus, GA, broadcaster, DON NAHLEY, died in his sleep on Christmas Day at the age of 90. He spent 27 years at WRBL-TV as an anchor, and, for some of that time, as news director. This obituary fills in his post-WRBL life which included time at another station and working for the city. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, one daughter, and three sons.

Chapman

KAREN CHAPMAN, wife of longtime station executive GARY CHAPMAN, died December 17 at the age of 75. She was working in real estate in recent years and had earlier served as a pediatric nurse. Gary served as CEO of LIN Television in its various forms for 18 years and was active in the industry serving on many boards. Most recently he has been consulting in television.

Names in the News:

Two management promotions at Scripps’ stations. ALLISON HUNTER is the new Content Manager at WCPO-TV (ABC) in Cincinnati, while GUSTAVO AGUIRRE joins KRIS-TV (NBC) in Corpus Christi, TX, as executive producer. He has been producing in El Paso.

Staff reductions have cost two Spectrum news directors their jobs. RON LOMBARD posted this note on social media after leaving the compamy’s Syracuse operation. And ED BUTTACCIO turned to Facebook with his farewell.

Weiner

Former ND and current CBS Director of Professional Development MARC WEINER’s continuing search for a new kidney received coverage last week on CBS This Morning as part of a story on the National Kidney Registry, which records donors and those in need of a new kidney. For example, you might not be a match for someone but the registry will find someone one who does match…and then find a kidney for the person you want to help.

Smith

It works: Among the people who’ve benefited from the Kidney Registry is SmithGeiger CEO DAVE SMITH. His second (!) kidney transplant came through the registry after his daughter, noted photographer HARPER SMITH, wanted to donate hers but she wasn’t a match. (I asked Dave if I could mention this and here’s his reply: Absolutely YES, love to make everyone aware of the options available.)

General Manager News and Notes:

To my knowledge, no GM moves today. Please let me know if I’ve missed one: rick@rickgevers.com

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 3, 2021:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral FL 33172
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

December 20, 2020

Greetings:

15.

That’s the number of open news director jobs on our list, which is as low as I can remember it in the 20+ years we’ve brought you this newsletter. That’s after a flurry of hires this week, and just ONE new opening.

We have ONE paid ad for an assistant ND job at a strong station in the south.

There’s an obituary for a long ago GM in Columbus, OH and Lexington, KY.

And we have THREE items in Names in the News, including a new scholarship funded by a former network executive who many of you know.

Since the next week is likely to be a very slow week for news, I plan to skip next week’s newsletter (for about the first time in at least ten years.) If I’m wrong about the slow week, we’ll see you Sunday night.

Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season to everyone.

Rick Gevers

Newly Named News Directors:

Nogy

KARE-TV, Minneapolis, MN…STACEY NOGY is now in charge of the newsroom for this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. She’s a 28 year veteran of the station and moves up after STUART BOSLOW (whose title was Director of Content) left for a new job as Director of Innovation for sister station KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston. Stacey’s also worked in San Diego.

Holliday

KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO…we don’t often report ‘interim news directors’ but we’ll make an exception as old friend and longtime anchor ART HOLLIDAY takes that title at this Tegna owned NBC affiliate. Art started here in 1979 as a sports reporter and anchor, moved to morning anchor, and has since anchored almost every newscast at the station. He reports to CAROL FOWLER, the Director of Content. (Full disclosure: Art & I worked together both here and at KOMU-TV in Columbia.)

Carree

WTVD-TV, Raleigh-Durham, NC…BERVETTE CARREE will be the next news director for this ABC o-and-o. It’s a return to North Carolina for her as she has worked for another Raleigh station and in Charlotte and in Greensboro/High Point. She’s currently the Nightside EP for WXIA-TV in Atlanta. Bervette’s also worked in Philadelphia and for CNN. She replaces MICHELLE GERMANO who left in July after almost five years as ND.

Dart

WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA…MELISSA DART gets her first ND job at this Hearst owned NBC affiliate. Hearst often promotes from within, but Melissa is new to the company. She’s been the Assistant ND for Scripps’ WPTV in West Palm Beach. It’s also Melissa’s first job outside of Florida, as she’s worked in Tallahassee, Tampa, and Ft. Myers. She replaces AKILI FRANKLIN who was promoted to ND for Hearst’s WYFF-TV in Greenville, SC after five years as ND here.

New News Director Opening:

Otero

WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC…this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate is looking for a new ND to replace JAIME McCUTCHEON OTERO who left after not quite two years as ND. Jaime had been the Assistant ND before being promoted, and first joined the station as an anchor. She’s also worked in Omaha, Macon, GA, and Sioux Falls, SD.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Assistant News Director, WRBZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:

WBRZ, the only truly local TV station serving Louisiana’s capital city, seeks a bold leader to join the team as Assistant News Director.

Top leadership roles at this family-owned station are not available often. With the original local owners, this legacy station is positioning itself to own the future of not just news, but local broadcasting.

The Assistant News Director will manage day-to-day newsroom operations, mentor and coach budding journalists along with helping to create and implement big ideas.

This evolving newsroom doesn’t lose sight of the job: News. We do the news – period. Our investigative reporting prowess leaves a mark in the community. Local owners demand quality, hard-hitting journalism. It’s delivered 8 hours a day on TV or on online, where it’s usually reported first.

WBRZ, in Baton Rouge, is in the shadows of LSU’s Tiger Stadium football cathedral; The city is home to a rowdy, satirical Mardi Gras parade, an unmatched St. Patrick’s Day parade, renowned Southern University’s Human Jukebox and features lush city parks for outdoor enthusiasts.

Knowledge of Louisiana helpful; TV newsroom management experience required.

Email resume and a brief explanation of your news philosophy to Trey Schmaltz: trey@wbrz.com

Pre-employment drug screening required. EOE.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (listed 12/13/20, see ad above!)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/13/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 12/13/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, relisted this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 12/13/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted this week)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 12/13/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 11/15/20:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)

Obituary:

Von Stade

FRED VON STADE, a former General Manager for Taft Broadcasting in two markets, died in late November, just eight days before his 98th birthday. He spent 31 years with the company, running WKYT-TV in Lexington and later WTVN-TV (now WSYX-TV) before retiring in 1984. More on his life and career in this obituary.

Names in the News:

NATASHA GEIGER has been promoted to Director of Digital Content for Nexstar’s WFRV-TV (CBS) in Green Bay, WI. She had been a producer there.

Ginther

We have a brief update on Sinclair’s MARK GINTHER‘s battle against Covid-19. We reported last week that Mark (and his wife) were battling Covid-19. Mark sent me this brief update last Monday. (And the Viking’s loss today to the rival Chicago Bears likely did not improve his mood.) Before joining Sinclair, Mark was an ND in Dallas, Seattle, and Des Moines and also worked in Minneapolis.

Horner

Congratulations to former network executive BOB HORNER who’s funded a eponymous scholarship through RDTNF. Details in this news release. Bob spent almost 30 years running NBC NewsChannel and earlier held a similar role for CBS News. He also worked in local newsrooms in Missouri, Michigan, Wyoming, and Alabama. Friends can congratulate Bob via email:

General Manager News and Notes:

To my knowledge, no GM moves today. Please let me know if I’ve missed one: rick@rickgevers.com

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 20, 2020:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral FL 33172
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
WCTI-TV 225 Glenburnie Dr, New Bern, NC 28560
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

December 13, 2020

December 15, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

In today’s UPDATE, a network owned station gets a new news director, and a longtime St. Louis anchor moves into management.

Carree

BERVETTE CARREE returns to North Carolina as the next ND for ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham. She is currently the Nightside EP for Tegna’s WXIA-TV in Atlanta, a job she’s held for the last 18 months. More here.

Bervette earlier worked at another Raleigh station and in Charlotte and Greensboro/High Point. She’a also worked in Philadelphia and for CNN. At WTVD, she replaces MICHELLE GERMANO who left the station in July after almost five years as ND.

Holliday

ART HOLLIDAY, who’s worked for Tegna’s KSDK-TV (NBC) in St. Louis for more than 40 years, has been named interim news director. He will report to CAROL FOWLER, whose title is Director of Content. More from the station’s website.

Art started at the station as a sports reporter/anchor, moved to morning news anchor, and held some management responsibilities on that program for part of the time he also anchored it. He’s anchored a number of different newscasts and is currently anchoring the 4:00 news.

Congrats to Art, with whom (full disclosure) I worked both at KOMU-TV at the University of Missouri, and at KSDK (which was KSD-TV when we worked there.)

I anticipate at least one more ND hire to be announced this week, and we will bring that to you in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

Greetings:

Our list of open news director jobs drops to just 16 which is the lowest it has been in quite a while. And THREE of the FOUR new ND’s are in top 30 markets, TWO in top ten. And there’s just ONE new opening.

ONE of those 16 openings is featured in one of our TWO Paid Help Wanted ads.

Lots of important stories in Names in the News, including a new President of MSNBC, a new VP/News for Altice News 12, a new Assistant ND in Atlanta, and a three time ND turned corporate ND is hit by Covid.

And we have a new GM in an Illinois market to tell you about.

All that and more as you read on.

Newly Named News Directors:

Flores

WCAU/WWSI-TV, Philadelphia, PA…it’s a return to the NBC owned stations group for ELIZABETH FLORES who’s the new VP/News here. She’s currently the assistant ND for WABC-TV in New York but earlier worked for NBC’s Miami station, WTVJ-TV for 17 years. Elizabeth replaces ANZIO WILLIAMS who left in August to become Senior VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBC owned stations.

Roldan

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…LIZ ROLDAN returns to her native Houston as the next ND for this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. It’s part of a new three person leadership team here, which includes STUART BOSLOW (now Director of Content at Tegna’s KARE-TV (Minneapolis/NBC) as Director of Innovation and RANDY KLEIN who’s being promoted to Digital Director. It’s all explained here. Liz replaces SALLY RAMIREZ who left this summer and is now an EP of The News with SHEPARD SMITH on CNBC.

Fahey

WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD…the long vacant news director’s job here has been filled by MATT FAHEY, who comes from independent station WHDH-TV in Boston. He was an EP for that former NBC affiliate. Mike’s also worked for NBC’s cable operation, NECN in Boston, as well as in Providence and Baton Rouge. He replaces MIKE TOMKO who left almost a year ago.

McConico

WTVO/WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL…MATT McCONICO is the new ND for this ABC/FOX duopoly. Matt tells me he’s excited to be within driving distance of his parents for the first time in 20 years. He most recently spent four years as the ND for WPMT-TV in Harrisburg. Matt’s a former ND in Reno, and has worked in Ft. Myers, Green Bay, and Eau Claire, WI. At WTVO, he replaces ALEX DeLEON who left in October after three years as ND. WQRF is owned by Nexstar, which operates Mission Broadcasting-owned WTVO under a shared services agreement.

New News Director Opening:

WFOR-TV. Miami FL…as we told you above, LIZ ROLDAN is leaving this CBS o-and-o after nine years as ND to become ND for Tegna’s Houston CBS affiliate, KHOU-TV.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, WRBZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA:

WBRZ, the only truly local TV station serving Louisiana’s capital city, seeks a bold leader to join the team as Assistant News Director.

Top leadership roles at this family-owned station are not available often. With the original local owners, this legacy station is positioning itself to own the future of not just news, but local broadcasting.

The Assistant News Director will manage day-to-day newsroom operations, mentor and coach budding journalists along with helping to create and implement big ideas.

This evolving newsroom doesn’t lose sight of the job: News. We do the news – period. Our investigative reporting prowess leaves a mark in the community. Local owners demand quality, hard-hitting journalism. It’s delivered 8 hours a day on TV or on online, where it’s usually reported first.

WBRZ, in Baton Rouge, is in the shadows of LSU’s Tiger Stadium football cathedral; The city is home to a rowdy, satirical Mardi Gras parade, an unmatched St. Patrick’s Day parade, renowned Southern University’s Human Jukebox and features lush city parks for outdoor enthusiasts.

Knowledge of Louisiana helpful; TV newsroom management experience required.

Email resume and a brief explanation of your news philosophy to Trey Schmaltz: trey@wbrz.com

Pre-employment drug screening required. EOE.

News Director, KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA:

NEWS15, the local FOX and NBC affiliate in Lafayette, LA is looking for a News Director to lead our news department. We are looking for someone with outstanding leadership skills who thrives on teaching, coaching and developing a strong and positive newsroom environment. In addition, the News Director leads and supervises all aspects of news, weather, and sports programming production.

The News Director will oversee a department that generates 40.5 hours of on-air content on the Lafayette market’s NBC and FOX stations. Lafayette is a great place to live and work with a culture all its own, and we are looking for a someone to oversee a department that produces professional and engaging content that reflects that culture in a way that appeals to our own families and communities.

Specific Job Duties:

Institutes training systems for new employees.
Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Prepare the department’s budget and manages expenses to meet established financial goals.

Skills & Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience preferred.
Minimum five years’ experience in news programming production, with at least two years’ experience in a leadership role.

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please visit the below link to apply for the position.

https://www.kadn.com/about-us/jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (relisted this week)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (new listing this week)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted this week)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted 12/6/20)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, listed 10/25/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (relisted 11/22/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted this week:

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 11/15/20:

KTXV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)

Relisted 10/25/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)

Names in the News:

Jones

Perhaps the most significant story of the week, which received a lot of attention in mainstream media, was the appointment of RASHIDA JONES as President of MSNBC. That release says Rashida will become the most prominent Black woman in the cable news industry. She’s a Senior VP there now, and has also worked at the Weather Channel. Rashida’s also a former local ND (WIS-TV) in Columbia, SC, and began her career as a producer for WTKR-TV in Norfolk.

Gruber

Another network move finds AUDREY GRUBER leaving ABC News to become VP/News for ALTICE NEWS 12. Details in this staff email from Altice’s Senior VP and General Manager, JACQUES NATZ. Audrey’s been the EP for News and Branded Content at ABC. She has extensive experience at other New York area network operations as outlined on her Linkedin page.

Kanziger

WGCL-TV in Atlanta has hired BRIAN KANZIGER as its next Assistant News Director. He joins this Meredith owned CBS affiliate from Seattle, where he was an executive producer for Cox Media Groups’s CBS affiliate, KIRO-TV, for the last eight years.. He also worked at WSVN-TV (FOX/Sunbeam) in Miami for nine years.

Ginther

Add Sinclair’s MARK GINTHER to the list of those battling Covid-19. Mark, who’s Director of News and Operations for the company, was diagnosed a few weeks ago but is slowing getting better, according to a Facebook post. His wife, SARAH GARZA, also is suffering from Covid. Many of you know Mark, a former ND in Dallas, Seattle and Des Moines who also spent many years in both TV and radio in Minneapolis.

General Manager News and Notes:

Van Ness

Some management changes at Quincy’s WGEM-TV (NBC). CARLOS FERNANDEZ is stepping down as general manager after 13 years, and Sales Manager BEN VAN NESS will replace him. Carlos will stay on as an advisor for a few months. Details here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 13, 2020:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
WFOR-TV 8900 NW 18th Terrace Doral FL 33172
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor

December 6, 2020

December 8, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another day brings news of a number of news management changes in a top ten market station.

Roldan

Today it’s Tegna’s KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston which has named LIZ ROLDAN as its next news director. She’s a longtime Miami newsperson, having spent the last nine years as ND for CBS o-and-o WFOR-TV.

Liz replaces SALLY RAMIREZ who departed earlier this year after four years as ND. She is now an EP of The News with SHEPARD SMITH on CNBC.

Boslow

In addition, KHOU named STUART BOSLOW as its Innovation Director. He’s currently Director of Content for sister Tegna station KARE-TV (NBC) in Minneapolis. And RANDY KLEIN was promoted to Digital Director for the station. Both are longtime Tegna employees

Learn more about all these changes in this news release from KHOU.

It’s only Tuesday and it’s been a very busy week. Stay tuned!

regards,

Rick Gevers

December 7, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

TWO large market news director jobs have been filled.

Flores

ELIZABETH FLORES is the new VP/News for NBC’s WCAU-WWSI-TV in Philadelphia. More here. It’s a return to the NBC stations group for Elizabeth, who spent 17 years at WTVJ-TV in Miami. She’s currently, she’s been the Assistant ND at WABC-TV in New York.

She replaces ANZIO WILLIAMS who was promoted to Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBC owned stations in August.

Fahey

Meanwhile, the long vacant ND job at Sinclair’s Baltimore FOX affiliate, WBFF-TV, has finally been filled with MIKE FAHEY, currently an executive producer for Boston independent station WHDH-TV. WBFF posted this on its website.

Mike’s also worked for NECN in Boston, Providence and Baton Rouge, LA. He replaces MIKE TOMKO who left back in January.

More on these stories and all the week’s news in our full newsletter next weekend.

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

We have a busy week with lots of stories for you.

First, ONE new news director to tell you about, and TWO new openings, including one in a top 15 market. That brings our list of open ND jobs to 19.

TWO of those open ND jobs are featured in our Paid Help Wanted ads.

Sorry to report the passing of a former west coast assignment editor who became a highly regarded PR person in Las Vegas. That’s our only obituary.

But we have LOTS of items in our Names in the News section, including items about TWO former Michigan news directors who’ve found success in other careers after the newsroom.

All that and more as you read on…

Newly Named News Directors:

Good

WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA…this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate has hired JOSH GOOD as its next news director. Josh is currently ND for KADN/KLAF-TV(FOX/NBC) in Lafayette, LA. He’s also worked in Ft. Wayne and Knoxville. At WFXR, he replaces KAY NORRED who left in September after two years as news director.

New News Director Openings:

LaVelle

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI…our UPDATE earlier this week brought news that RHONDA LaVELLE is leaving this Scripps owned ABC affiliate after about four years as ND. She’s a Michigan native and has spent most of her career there, including a long run at WDIV-TV (NBC) in Detroit. Rhonda also worked at WKBD-TV in Detroit and WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw. Her lone job outside of Michigan was ND at KPRC-TV in Houston.

KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA…you learned above that JOSH GOOD is leaving this Allen Media Broadcast owned FOX/NBC duopoly after about two years as ND. He’s off to Roanoke to be ND for WFXR-TV, the Nexstar owned FOX affiliate there. Learn more about this opening in the Paid Help Wanted Ad just below.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KADN/KLAF-TV, Lafayette, LA:

NEWS15, the local FOX and NBC affiliate in Lafayette, LA is looking for a News Director to lead our news department. We are looking for someone with outstanding leadership skills who thrives on teaching, coaching and developing a strong and positive newsroom environment. In addition, the News Director leads and supervises all aspects of news, weather, and sports programming production.

The News Director will oversee a department that generates 40.5 hours of on-air content on the Lafayette market’s NBC and FOX stations. Lafayette is a great place to live and work with a culture all its own, and we are looking for a someone to oversee a department that produces professional and engaging content that reflects that culture in a way that appeals to our own families and communities.

Specific Job Duties:

Institutes training systems for new employees.
Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees.
Develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critiques newscasts daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Prepare the department’s budget and manages expenses to meet established financial goals.

Skills & Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience preferred.
Minimum five years’ experience in news programming production, with at least two years’ experience in a leadership role.

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please visit the below link to apply for the position.

https://www.kadn.com/about-us/jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer.

News Director, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:

WSLS-TV, the Graham Media Group owned – NBC station in Roanoke, VA seeks a strategic thinking and assertive News Director. Successful candidate will lead, manage/hire/ train/supervise/motivate news department personnel, prepare operating and capital budgets, and negotiate talent contracts. Must have excellent news judgment, a passion for coverage of breaking news, and have strong leadership, organizational, and visionary skills. Successful candidate will have proven track record of growing audience through content and marketing; converting audience research into actionable and measurable results and monitor all of our platforms for accurate editorial content while keeping the brand vision on track.

TOP REASONS TO JOIN WSLS:

Growth, experience, and training. At WSLS, we will work with you to help you reach your full potential through ongoing career development programs. We are also committed to ongoing training throughout your career and to hiring from within – across the GMG family of companies.

Our culture and benefits package. 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!

You will live and work in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, plus you`re only a short drive to major metropolitan areas as well as beaches.

Are you ready to join the team? We encourage you to submit your resume for consideration.

Learn more about the job by clicking here.

Send cover letter, resume, and references to: VP & General Manager, Jaimie León, jleon@wsls.com

No phone calls please

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 11/29/20)
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 11/15/20)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 11/1/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (relisted 11/15/20)
WTXL, Tallahassee, FL (listed 10/4/20)
WFFT-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listing revised 11/15/20)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (listed 11/15/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (relisted 11/22/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (EP Investigations, listed 11/29/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 11/8/20)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Nightside EP, listed 11/15/20)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (Digital EP, listed 11/1/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (Digital Content EP, listed 10/25/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 11/15/20)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 11/8/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (relisted 11/22/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 10/11/20)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (AM EP, relisted this week)
KSEE/KGPE-TV, Fresno, CA (Digital EP, listed 10/25/20)
WFXR-TV, Roanoke, VA (Digital EP, listed 11/8/20)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (relisted 11/22/20)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 10/25/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 10/25/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 11/15/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (relisted 10/11/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (relisted 10/25/20)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted this week:

WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 11/15/20:

KXTV, Sacramento, CA (News Content Manager)

Listed 11/1/20:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)

Relisted 10/25/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

Anderson

ALYSSA ANDERSON, a former assignment editor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles and KVBC-TV (now KSNV-TV) in Las Vegas, lost a short fight against cancer last Saturday, November 28th. Alyssa was 43 and is survived by her husband and their eight year old daughter. She left TV in 2005 and turned to public relations. She was the PR person for The Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas when she passed. Her passing brought this profile in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Names in the News:

Campbell

JEREMY CAMPBELL has joined NY1 (New York, obviously) as Managing Director of Editorial. In a post on Linkedin, Jeremy said he’ll lead a newly created storytelling and planning unit. We told you a few weeks ago that he had left WBIR-TV in Knoxville as ND after a 14 month run there. Jeremy has also worked in Tampa, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Lafayette, LA.

Horn

MATT HORN stays within Meredith as he becomes the new nightside executive producer for WSMV-TV (NBC) in Nashville. He’s been working for Meredith’s KPHO-TV (CBS) in Phoenix as a special projects producer and fill-in EP. Matt’s also worked in Boston, Norfolk, Youngstown and Pocatello, ID, where he began his career as an anchor/reporter.

Miller

WSYM-TV, the Scripps owned FOX affiliate in Lansing, MI, has hired MATT MILLER as its EP as it starts its own news department. No, not the former news director turned Scripps recruiter of the same name, but a different individual with an interesting background. Here’s his Linkedin page with the details.

KRISTEN HODGES heads north to become the EP for WDBJ-TV (Gray/CBS) in Roanoke. She’s spent the last two years as a morning producer for WFTS-TV in Tampa/St. Petersburg. Kristen’s also worked in Chattanooga.

JENNIFER HEDRICH has been promoted to Content Manager for Scripps’ WFTX-TV, the FOX affiliate in Ft. Myers.

Dye

Congratulations to TIM DYE who’s launched his new company, Dye Communications. Learn more about it here in a pretty slick website. Tim’s a former ND in Detroit (WXYZ-TV) and Grand Rapids, MI (WXMI-TV). He’s also worked in Saginaw and for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, where (full disclosure) I hired him as EP when I was the ND there.

Conway

Former news director turned educator MIKE CONWAY shared some good news. His latest book, Contested Ground, about TV news in the Cold War Era, has picked up some honors. More in this email from Mike. He’s now teaching at his alma mater, Indiana University. Mike’s a former ND in Traverse City and Erie, PA, and holds the distinction of being one of the first two recipients of this newsletter.

General Manager News and Notes:

To our knowledge, no GM changes this week.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, December 6, 2020:

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

WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WCAU-TV 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd. Houston TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. Ten Mile Rd. Southfield, Michigan 48075
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WTVD-TV 411 Liberty St Durham, NC 27701
KAKW-TV 2233 W. North Loop Austin,TX 78756 **
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WSLS-TV 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011 (see ad above!)
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KADN/KLAF-TV 1500 Eraste Landry, Lafayette, LA 70506 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
WCBI-TV, 201 5th Street South, Columbus, MS 39701
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
WTVO/WGRF-TV P.O. Box 470. Rockford, IL 61105
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San An`gelo, TX 76903 ***

**: Spanish language station
***: News Director and Anchor