Rick Gevers & Associates

September 6, 2020

Greetings:

We’re early this week to give you plenty of time to read a newsletter chock full of news.

There are THREE newly named News Directors, TWO as the result of promotions. And there are THREE new openings in medium and smaller markets.

As such, our count of open ND jobs stands at 26. TWO of those open ND jobs are among our EIGHT Paid Help Wanted ads this week.

A veteran broadcaster who held several ND jobs, several GM positions, as well as a corporate gig is retiring later this year. That’s in our GM section, also with news of a new GM at a station which covers parts of SIX states and another new GM who went from morning meteorologist to ND to GM at the same place.

And in Names in the News, a new job for a veteran digital EP, new jobs for TWO former news directors, and details on a health scare for a man who taught at both Kansas and Missouri.

Finally, thanks to those of you who helped my friend and former employee LINDA WHITE with a survey for her Ph.D. mentioned here last week. She was pleased with the response, but as with any research project, she could use more. One note: the survey is for current news directors only. Thanks to those of you who asked.

Just click on the graphic below. Linda (and I) appreciate your help.

Newly Named News Directors:

Morales

WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA…NAOMI MORALES moves across Pennsylvania to take her first news director job at this Tegna FOX affiliate. The release is here. She’s been the EP at NBC’s WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, where she’s worked for eleven years. Naomi’s also worked in Tampa and Miami. She replaces MATT MCCONICO who left the station January after 4+ years as ND.

WALA-TV, Mobile, AL…RANDY MERROW, a 29 year veteran of this Meredith owned FOX affiliate, has been promoted to news director here. Here’s the note from GM COREY HANSON. Randy’s been the Assistant ND here for more than 20 years. He started at the station as a senior producer. He succeeds SCOTT FLANAGAN who was promoted to ND for Meredith’s sister station, KCTV (CBS) in Kansas City earlier this summer. Scott was ND here for six years.

Roberson

WRGB-TV, Albany, NY…another promotion moves PERNA ROBERSON to the ND job at this Sinclair Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. Here’s part of a note from Sinclair’s SCOTT LIVINGSTON. Perna’s been the Assistant ND here for the past two years, and has also worked in Birmingham, Atlanta, Little Rock, and Jackson, MS, where she began as a photographer/reporter. She replaces CHRIS GEGG who left earlier his year (after three years as ND) for the same job at WVEC-TV in Norfolk.

New News Director Openings:

Lovell

WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN…LISA LOVELL’s last day at this Tegna owned ABC/CW affiliate will be Friday, September 11th. Lisa told me she couldn’t discuss her next move but will let me know when she can, and I’ll pass that along then. She’s been at the station for 16 years, first as EP and as ND for the last 7 1/2. She’s also been an ND in Binghamton, NY, and previously worked in Scranton, PA.

Norred

WFRX-TV, Roanoke, VA…KAY NORRED has left this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate after just more than two years as news director. She previously was the ND at another Nexstar operation, WRBL-TV in Columbus, GA, for almost three years. Kay’s been an ND for WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, VA and has also worked in Tampa, Sarasota, Tallahassee, and Pensacola, FL.

Lucas

WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL…this Quincy Media owned NBC and ABC operation is looking for a new news director to replace LON LUCAS who wants to be closer to family. Lon has been ND here for about 2 1/2 years and will stay while the search for his replacement continues. He earlier was an Executive Producer in Las Vegas, and has also worked in Toledo, Cincinnati, and Baton Rouge. You can learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

And a reminder that there’s one more ad for a news director position…that for KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO. That’s below, as well.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL:

WEEK, Quincy Media’s successful station in Peoria, Illinois is seeking a veteran, dynamic leader for its news operation. Owning both the NBC and ABC affiliates in the market, WEEK serves Central Illinois with two separate award-winning news operations.

We need someone able to provide outstanding leadership to train, coach and inspire our journalists to create and deliver great stories in a multi-platform environment. Our next news director must know the importance of delivering on the brand promise and forging a strong connection with our viewers and users to grow ratings.

Responsibilities:

Foster a performance culture with an emphasis on winning, excellence and innovation.
Communicate the vision and strategy to newsroom and provide the daily direction on major stories, weather events and breaking news.
Ensure ethical, balanced presentation through compliance with Quincy Media policy, FCC policy, federal and state laws, industry standards and our brand promise.
Strong recruiter and team builder
Prepare and execute annual newsroom financial plan.

Qualifications:

Broad understanding of newsroom operations and equipment.
Advanced oral and written communication skills.
Proven leadership which empowers others. Ability to resolve conflict quickly and directly.
3-5 years’ experience in newsroom management.
Strategic thinking – can identify market opportunities and capitalize on them.
Demonstrated team builder

WEEK is proud to be a Quincy Media station. Learn why our family owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best companies to work for in our industry by visiting: www.careersatquincy.com. Send your resume to:

mdesantis@week.com

Mark DeSantis
VP/General Manager
WEEK-TV
2907 Springfield Rd.
East Peoria, Illinois 61611

Executive Producer, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

Meredith Corporation has an immediate opening for an Executive Producer.

This is a great opportunity to be part of not only putting a quality product on the air, but creating a great work environment for employees. The Executive Producer directs and supervises all aspects of station’s news programs, including development and execution of show content and program format. This position works closely with Producers, Reporters and Assignment Editors in developing and maintaining high quality newscasts. The Executive Producer oversees story selection, pre-production and Producer rundowns. The incumbent proofs and edits scripts on a daily basis. In addition, the Executive Producer helps reporters craft their stories and oversees brand management and content for the show. Prior experience as EP required.

WGCL-TV is a CBS affiliate in the # 10 television market in the United States. The station delivers over 32 hours of weekly news product. WGCL-TV & WPCH TV are owned and operated by the Meredith Local Media Group.

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for more than 115 years. Today, Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including broadcast television, print, digital, mobile, tablets and video – to provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith’s Local Media Group includes 17 television stations reaching more than 10 percent of U.S. households. Meredith’s portfolio is concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in the nation’s Top 25.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

News Director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO:

Are you interested in a rare opportunity to help shape the television journalists of the future? Want to create and produce great television news with bright young journalists so excited about the future they’re willing to pay for the chance to work at your station?

Then consider the news director position at KOMU Channel 8 in Columbia, MO, an NBC affiliate where students at the world’s greatest school of journalism learn to report and produce the news under the watchful eye of a great faculty.

The job is a challenging one. You’ll report to two bosses – the journalism dean and the station manager. And commercial and ratings demands are just as great here as they are at any network affiliate. And management of student learning is as important as supervising good journalism. This is not a “victory lap” kind of job.

Still, the job is special. The students are the best in the country. The facilities are first class, and the faculty editors who help teach the students are terrific.

The benefits are many:

Faculty status.
At least four weeks vacation per year free from KOMU and faculty duties.
Better-than-average health care benefits.
Regular and often intense interaction with leaders of the television journalism profession, seeking our graduates and our research into best practices of local television news.
Professional status and recognition far above the 137th DMA rank of KOMU.

If you want to work in the spotlight at a locally owned TV station that will help determine the future of television journalism, please visit here to access the online application system.

We are an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Assistant News Director, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

The Assistant News Director is one of the most critical positions in the newsroom. The successful candidate need to understand, embrace and implement newsroom long term and short term strategy. This position provides leadership in the newsroom. The Assistant News Director plays a critical role in story development with reporters and reviews scripts for accuracy, legal issues, content, value, relevance, grammar and overall direction. This role is actively involved in recruiting newsroom personnel and oversees hiring for certain job categories. The Assistant News Director serves as the primary point of contact in the newsroom when the News Director is unavailable. This position actively engages in putting content on the web and directs the newsroom to support a multi-platform environment.

CBS46 (WGCL-TV) is the largest of Meredith’s 17 owned or operated television stations broadcasting station, broadcasting 35+ hours of local news weekly as well as top prime and high profile sports programming. Employees enjoy a great work environment and flexible benefits. The station is located in Midtown Atlanta- a great place to work, shop, or live.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

AM Executive Producer, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH seeks a creative, ambitious newsroom leader to transform our morning show and guide a talented team on and off the air. The EP will help craft impactful content that is highly engaging and memorable. If you are a visionary that looks beyond the norm and takes risks, we want you on our team!

Other skills and tasks:

· – Work with the digital and desk teams to identify and assign content appropriately for each platform
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling in crafting great newscasts
· – Oversee multiple newscasts to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Regularly critique newscasts with the staff, both as a team and with individual producers
· Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Work collaboratively with other managers and perform tasks as required by News Director and Digital Director
– Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content

Qualifications:

· – 3+ years newsroom leadership experience preferred as an EP, assistant news director, or news director
· – Experience successfully leading teams through content transformation
· – Strong understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
· – Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, photojournalism, editing, and content management systems a plus
· – Organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time-sensitive deadlines
· – BA/BS in journalism, communications or related a plus

Click here to apply:

Executive Producer of Innovation, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH is looking for a motivated, innovative leader to oversee the creation and management of engaging, compelling content for all platforms. The Executive Producer of Innovation will be part of the newsroom leadership team and will work collaboratively with all dayparts as well as sales and marketing on projects. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other media as we look to meet our audience where they are and elevate our brand. The ideal candidate will identify engaging content opportunities within the newsroom and understand where that content best aligns with emerging product goals and our brand.

The EP of Innovation Will:
· – Manage multiple cross-platforms projects for emerging media such as podcasts, episodics and more
· – Oversee the transformation of early and late evening newscasts, as well as content on all platforms
· – Utilize analytics and data to track success and shape strategy
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling
· – Be a newsroom leader and a bold voice in editorial discussions
· – Challenge the norm
· – Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media to enhance content across platforms
· – Oversee multiple media projects to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Perform other tasks as required by station leadership

Click here to apply:

Assistant News Director, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate already has some management experience, knowledge of newscast production, and an appreciation of the hard work your MMJ’s and photographers provide.

This is your opportunity to take the next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Digital Content Manager, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a Digital Content Manager at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate will lead a team of six digital producers and reporters and oversee the content and development of our web and social media platforms while coordinating the efforts of the news, sales and creative services departments.

A minimum of two years producing digital content and management is required.

This is your opportunity to take your next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (new listing this week)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20, see ad above!)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
KFSM-TV, Ft. Smith, AR (new listing this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised 8/30/20)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, listed 8/30/20, see ad above!)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 8/23/20)
WHTM-TV Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 8/23/20)
WATN-TV Memphis TN (new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA (new listing this week)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing this Week:

WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Content Manager)

Relisted this week:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager, see ad above!)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Names in the News (and other items):

Tavss

JEFF TAVSS is the new Digital Executive Producer for Scripps’ KSTU-TV (FOX) in Salt Lake City. He most recently was the Executive Producer of Digital Media and Special Projects for WPLG-TV (ABC) in Miami, where he began his career as a sports producer. Jeff’s also worked for two other Miami stations and helped NBC Sports’ Olympic team with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Pederson

According to his Linkedin page, ANDY PEDERSON has landed as the 6:00 producer for Nexstar’s WKRN-TV (ABC) in Nashville. We told you in March that he’d left Lockwood’s Charlottesville operation, WCAV-TV, after three months as news director. Andy previously spent 2 1/2 years as ND for KTVE/KARD-TV, in Monroe, LA. He began his career as a photojournalist.

Mecham

Former news director JOHN MECHAM has a new job: This from Linkedin:

I can happily announce I am the new Communications Director for the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies! I started this week. I can work remotely from Seattle for now but will end up back in the DC area probably around the first of the year. We are excited to make the move and start this new adventure!

He’s a former ND in Altoona, Boise, and also worked at stations in Tucson, Seattle, Miami, Pittsburgh and Waterloo, IA.

Nelson

Longtime educator and former news director DICK NELSON is back home and on the mend after falling during a vertigo attack a few weeks ago. That fall sent him to the hospital several days for treatment of a cut on his head that took seven staples to fix. And all the happened in the middle of a move from his home to a condo. Dick taught for many years at both Kansas and Missouri, where he was the ND for KOMU-TV. He was a news director in several other markets and worked in Oklahoma City as well. Friends can cheer up up by sending him an email.

General Manager News and Notes:

Morrissey

One-time news director turned long-time general manager TIM MORRISSEY will retire later this year from his job as GM for WJCL-TV, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Savannah, GA. He’s been GM there since 2014. Tim began his career with Hearst’s WISN-TV (also ABC) in Milwaukee, rising from production assistant to news director. He’s also served as VP of News for the NY Times Broadcast Group, was a GM in Charlotte, Oklahoma City, and Ft. Smith, AR, and news director in Baltimore, Wilkes-Barre, and also worked in New Orleans.

Ossenfort

KELO/KCLO-TV, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, SD…MARI OSSENFORT has been promoted to General Manager for this Nexstar owned CBS operation. This news release says it’s one of the largest coverage areas in the country, covering parts of SIX states. Mari’s been the General Sales Manager her since 2017 and replaces JAY HUIZENGA who is retiring after 40 years at the station, the last 13 as GM.

Webb

And congratulations to JAY WEBB, news director for WHSV-TV (ABC) and WSVF-TV (CBS/Fox) in Harrisonburg, VA, who is assuming additional duties as GM for this Gray Television owned operation. More details here. What the news release doesn’t mention is Jay’s unusual background: before his 2015 promotion to ND, he was the morning and noon meteorologist there. He’s also forecast weather in Roanoke.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, September 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
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
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
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 N Shelby Oaks Dr. #101, Memphis, TN 38133
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WFXR-TV 5305 Valleypark Dr. #1, Roanoke, VA 24019
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd, East Peoria, IL 61611 (see ad above!)
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201 (see ad above!)
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

August 30, 2020

Greetings:

This week’s newsletter is as low on content as last week’s was full. (Average them if you must!)

Just ONE newly named news director, except we don’t have a name. I’ll explain below. And NO new openings to the best of my knowledge.

However, TWO of our 26 news director openings are among our NINE Paid Help Wanted ads this week in markets large and small.

Turn to Names in the News to read about a local news director headed to an EP job for a new prime time cable newscast. And we have one news manager job filled and new listings for several others.

We’ll you about the death of a man who once headed a company that owned 15 TV stations around the country.

Finally, I’m hoping you will take a few minutes to help a friend of mine as she completes her PhD. at Michigan State. LINDA WHITE worked for me in Grand Rapids, and went on to anchor and report in Buffalo and Birmingham. She’s good people and she needs your help with this short survey.

Thanks. I appreciate your helping her out.

Newly Named News Directors:

WABG/WXVT/WNBD/WABG-DT, Greenville, MS…this Cala Broadcasting owned operation (which operates affiliates of all FOUR major networks) has filled its news director opening, according to an email from GM JEAN TURNBOUGH. However, did she not respond to my question about WHO that person is. Whoever it is replaces MARK RIGSBY who left late last year for job in Lafayette, LA.

New News Director Openings:

To the best of my knowledge, there are no new openings this week.

However, please note Paid Help Wanted ads for two ND openings below: KOMU-TV in Columbia, MO, and KTSM-TV in El Paso, TX.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO:

Are you interested in a rare opportunity to help shape the television journalists of the future? Want to create and produce great television news with bright young journalists so excited about the future they’re willing to pay for the chance to work at your station?

Then consider the news director position at KOMU Channel 8 in Columbia, MO, an NBC affiliate where students at the world’s greatest school of journalism learn to report and produce the news under the watchful eye of a great faculty.

The job is a challenging one. You’ll report to two bosses – the journalism dean and the station manager. And commercial and ratings demands are just as great here as they are at any network affiliate. And management of student learning is as important as supervising good journalism. This is not a “victory lap” kind of job.

Still, the job is special. The students are the best in the country. The facilities are first class, and the faculty editors who help teach the students are terrific.

The benefits are many:

Faculty status.
At least four weeks vacation per year free from KOMU and faculty duties.
Better-than-average health care benefits.
Regular and often intense interaction with leaders of the television journalism profession, seeking our graduates and our research into best practices of local television news.
Professional status and recognition far above the 137th DMA rank of KOMU.

If you want to work in the spotlight at a locally owned TV station that will help determine the future of television journalism, please visit here to access the online application system.

We are an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Assistant News Director, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA:

The Assistant News Director is one of the most critical positions in the newsroom. The successful candidate need to understand, embrace and implement newsroom long term and short term strategy. This position provides leadership in the newsroom. The Assistant News Director plays a critical role in story development with reporters and reviews scripts for accuracy, legal issues, content, value, relevance, grammar and overall direction. This role is actively involved in recruiting newsroom personnel and oversees hiring for certain job categories. The Assistant News Director serves as the primary point of contact in the newsroom when the News Director is unavailable. This position actively engages in putting content on the web and directs the newsroom to support a multi-platform environment.

CBS46 (WGCL-TV) is the largest of Meredith’s 17 owned or operated television stations broadcasting station, broadcasting 35+ hours of local news weekly as well as top prime and high profile sports programming. Employees enjoy a great work environment and flexible benefits. The station is located in Midtown Atlanta- a great place to work, shop, or live.

Please visit our website for complete details and to apply online.

Meredith Corporation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.

AM Executive Producer, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH seeks a creative, ambitious newsroom leader to transform our morning show and guide a talented team on and off the air. The EP will help craft impactful content that is highly engaging and memorable. If you are a visionary that looks beyond the norm and takes risks, we want you on our team!

Other skills and tasks:

· – Work with the digital and desk teams to identify and assign content appropriately for each platform
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling in crafting great newscasts
· – Oversee multiple newscasts to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Regularly critique newscasts with the staff, both as a team and with individual producers
· Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Work collaboratively with other managers and perform tasks as required by News Director and Digital Director
– Skillfully use social media and digital tools to research, discover and distribute content

Qualifications:

· – 3+ years newsroom leadership experience preferred as an EP, assistant news director, or news director
· – Experience successfully leading teams through content transformation
· – Strong understanding of the tenets of professional journalism
· – Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, photojournalism, editing, and content management systems a plus
· – Organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time-sensitive deadlines
· – BA/BS in journalism, communications or related a plus

Click here to apply:

Executive Producer of Innovation, WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH:

WBNS in Columbus, OH is looking for a motivated, innovative leader to oversee the creation and management of engaging, compelling content for all platforms. The Executive Producer of Innovation will be part of the newsroom leadership team and will work collaboratively with all dayparts as well as sales and marketing on projects. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other media as we look to meet our audience where they are and elevate our brand. The ideal candidate will identify engaging content opportunities within the newsroom and understand where that content best aligns with emerging product goals and our brand.

The EP of Innovation Will:
· – Manage multiple cross-platforms projects for emerging media such as podcasts, episodics and more
· – Oversee the transformation of early and late evening newscasts, as well as content on all platforms
· – Utilize analytics and data to track success and shape strategy
· – Encourage innovation, risk-taking and powerful storytelling
· – Be a newsroom leader and a bold voice in editorial discussions
· – Challenge the norm
· – Use creative production techniques such as graphics and new forms of media to enhance content across platforms
· – Oversee multiple media projects to ensure the brand promise and strategies are met
· – Identify daily opportunities to have our news get noticed and reach new audiences
· – Perform other tasks as required by station leadership

Click here to apply:

Assistant News Director, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for an Assistant News Director at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate already has some management experience, knowledge of newscast production, and an appreciation of the hard work your MMJ’s and photographers provide.

This is your opportunity to take the next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

Digital Content Manager, WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a Digital Content Manager at our station in Charleston, West Virginia (Mkt 74).

If you have a passion for rugged mountains, wild and scenic rivers and rails-to-trails this is the place to come and raise a family.

The ideal candidate will lead a team of six digital producers and reporters and oversee the content and development of our web and social media platforms while coordinating the efforts of the news, sales and creative services departments.

A minimum of two years producing digital content and management is required.

This is your opportunity to take your next step in television news management and team building.

If you are ready, apply here:

News Director, KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a News Director at our legacy NBC station in El Paso, Texas (Mkt 93.)

The ideal candidate will have experience as a News Director at a broadcast affiliate, understand digital strategy, and have a passion for local news. Leadership and the ability to mentor and coach is a must.

We are looking for someone who is content savvy, who can raise the bar for storytelling.

Candidate must understand how to win while bringing the team along with them. Must be bilingual.

If you are ready, apply here:

Senior Content Producer, AZFamily, Phoenix, AZ:

I. Job Summary

The Senior Content Producer at Arizona’s Family CBS 5 & 3 TV (Meredith Corp.) overseas the flow of news to the newsroom for appropriate coverage both on-air and on our digital and social platforms. Assist the digital managing editor in the day-to-day management of the digital news operation. Candidate must be able to take a step back from the trenches, look at our product from a higher level, make sure we are framing it in the correct context with the appropriate treatment for that specific news event.

Works with the on-air EP to ensure crews are assigned and manage breaking news. Assist the Digital Managing Editor in critically evaluating newsroom processes, structure and workflow to achieve efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including for example: on-air, digital and social media.

II. Essential Job Functions

Assists DME in planning and executing around-the-clock news coverage and related features on a leading local website, multiple mobile applications, and emerging digital media platform. Monitors news sources including station emails, scanners and social media to ensure news is being appropriately covered. Interacts with internal and external peers and/or manager to exchange information related to assigned tasks.

III. Minimum Qualifications

BA in broadcast journalism or related field, or equivalent training and or exp.
At least 2 years working in a major market newsroom.
AP Style knowledge of (CMSs), HTML, CSS, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Avid and iNews are preferred.

Please apply here:

EEO

Executive Producer, WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI:

Meredith is pleased to introduce to you Find Internal Jobs at Meredith. Find Jobs allows you to search/review open internal job postings and Apply to open jobs.
* Include relevant job experience, skills and abilities
* Attach resume, cover letter, and/or design samples

Job Description

WNEM, a Meredith Corporation TV station, is recruiting for an Executive Producer. If you have a passion for producing high-energy, memorable newscasts and are super creative, this job may be just for you. WNEM-TV is in search of an Executive Producer who will lead a team of producers, reporters, and photographers to deliver promotable, compelling, and well- written newscasts, as well as online content. The EP will work closely with the News Director and other news managers to develop and implement strategies to improve product, while managing resources.

Exercise strong news judgment and supervise newscast rundowns
Collaborate with producers on story selection, graphic elements, and pace and flow of news cast
Brainstorm with staff on story ideas, showcasing and presentation
Must be able to produce newscasts
Encourage innovation
Work with News Director on promotable editorial calendar and any special events
Must have strong copy editing skills
Work closely with digital team, producers and reporters on creative content development following up on viewers story ideas via Facebook, Twitter and other online sources, as well as official sources
Motivate staff and encourage “buy in” for station’s news brand, news strategies and action plans
Other duties as assigned.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 8/23/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20, see ad above!)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (2 jobs, EP & Digital EP, listing revised this week)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 7/19/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, new listing this week, see ad above!)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP of Innovation, new listing this week, see ad above!)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 8/23/20)
WHTM-TV Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, listed 8/23/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 8/23/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 8/9/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted 8/23/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 8/23/20:

WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager, see ad above!)

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Obituary:

  Hipp

HAYNE HIPP, who headed the parent company that owned one-time group owner Cosmos Broadcasting, died Thursday in Greenville, SC. He was 80 years old and died of cancer. Cosmos, owned by Liberty Corporation, at one point owned as many as 15 small and medium market TV stations, before being acquired by Raycom in 2005. Hipp was a major civic leader in Greenville as detailed in this obituary.

Names in the News (and other items):

Ramirez

KHOU-TV (Tegna/CBS) News Director SALLY RAMIREZ has landed a new job. She’ll be the EP for CNBC’s new prime time newscast, “The News with Shepard Smith” which debuts September 30th. More in this news release, where you will also learn that SANFORD CANNOLD will be the Senior EP. In June, Sally announced she was leaving KHOU after four years as ND. At that time, it was also revealed that her husband, KHOU anchor RUSS LEWIS was also leaving to return to Oregon to help run a family business.

At WLNS-TV in Lansing, MI, ADAM FISHER has been promoted from Executive Producer to Digital Content Manager. He first joined the station as a producer in 2018.

General Manager News and Notes:

No GM changes or stories this week. If you know of any, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 30, 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
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
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
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922 (see ad above!)
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201 (see ad above!)
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

August 23, 2020

Greetings:

A busy week with SIX newly named news directors, including ONE in market TWO. And FOUR of the SIX are first time NDs. Congrats.

There’s just ONE new opening, leaving our count of open ND jobs at 27.

That opening is featured among our THREE paid help wanted ads just below.

A veteran GM (and former ND) gets new corporate responsibilities at his company, and we have new news managers at TWO stations. We’ll also tell you about a new job for a two-time former news director.

All that and more as you read on…

Newly Named News Directors:

Chen

KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA...our UPDATE on Tuesday told you that PAM CHEN had been promoted to news director for this ABC o-and-o, becoming the first Asian-American to lead an o-and-o news room in Los Angeles. Details in the station’s news release. Pam has been the Assistant ND here since 2004. She’s also worked in San Diego and for another LA station and replaces ROB ELMORE who left this summer after five years as ND to return to Raleigh as GM for WTVD-TV, another ABC owned station where he spent 17 years as ND.

Jones

WLNE-TV, Providence, RI…in one of two ND jobs filled at Standard Media stations this week, DAVID JONES takes over as ND for this ABC affiliate. He most recently was ND at WNYT-TV, Hubbard’s NBC affiliate in Albany, NY. David began his career on-air before moving into management, and also was an ND in Harrisburg, PA. He replaces KELLY JOHNSTON who left the station earlier this year after four years as ND.

Neal

WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC…congratulations to SHARRANDA NEAL who gets her first ND job for this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. More from General Manager RICH O’DELL. She’s a 13 year veteran of the station, joining as a producer and then moving to content manager. Sharranda has also worked for another Columbia station. Current ND JULIE EISENMANN is being promoted to Director of Content for WLTX, and also provides editorial oversight for TEGNA’s national Verify team.

Hardy

KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE…JENNIFER HARDY starts tomorrow as the next news director for this Standard Media owned ABC station. She most recently was ND for Gray’s WWSB-TV (ABC) in Sarasota. Jennifer’s also been an ND in Huntsville and Reno and has worked in a number of other markets. She replaces MIKE SNUFFER who left for family reasons last month after six months as ND.

DeBrosse

KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, LA…the new ND for the Gray Television owned NBC affiliate is GREG DeBROSSE. Greg has been the Assistant News Director for Cox Media Group’s KOKI-TV in Tulsa for the last seven years. You’ll see on his Linkedin page that he’s worked in markets small and large. Greg replaces JENELLE SHRINER who was promoted to ND of Gray’s KOLD-TV in Tucson.

Schutte

WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA…DAN SCHUTTE adds news director responsibilities in addition to his job as primary anchor for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned CBS affiliate. He joined the station in 2006 after working in Duluth and Eureka, CA. He replaces ANDY PEDERSON who departed in March after just three months on the job.

New News Director Openings:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX…VICTOR VENEGAS has left this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He’d been the news director there since December, 2018, when he was promoted from Nightside Executive Producer. He’d earlier worked for another El Paso station. Learn more about this opening by checking out the Paid Help Wanted ad just below.

Also, to clarify our item from last week, ANZIO WILLIAMS‘ correct title in his new job is Senior VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, not VP for Diversity as we reported. And he will continue to work for the NBC owned stations group, not NBC News.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX:

Nexstar Media Group has an immediate opening for a News Director at our legacy NBC station in El Paso, Texas (Mkt 93.)

The ideal candidate will have experience as a News Director at a broadcast affiliate, understand digital strategy, and have a passion for local news. Leadership and the ability to mentor and coach is a must.

We are looking for someone who is content savvy, who can raise the bar for storytelling.

Candidate must understand how to win while bringing the team along with them. Must be bilingual.

If you are ready, apply here:

Senior Content Producer, AZFamily, Phoenix, AZ:

I. Job Summary

The Senior Content Producer at Arizona’s Family CBS 5 & 3 TV (Meredith Corp.) overseas the flow of news to the newsroom for appropriate coverage both on-air and on our digital and social platforms. Assist the digital managing editor in the day-to-day management of the digital news operation. Candidate must be able to take a step back from the trenches, look at our product from a higher level, make sure we are framing it in the correct context with the appropriate treatment for that specific news event.

Works with the on-air EP to ensure crews are assigned and manage breaking news. Assist the Digital Managing Editor in critically evaluating newsroom processes, structure and workflow to achieve efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including for example: on-air, digital and social media.

II. Essential Job Functions

Assists DME in planning and executing around-the-clock news coverage and related features on a leading local website, multiple mobile applications, and emerging digital media platform. Monitors news sources including station emails, scanners and social media to ensure news is being appropriately covered. Interacts with internal and external peers and/or manager to exchange information related to assigned tasks.

III. Minimum Qualifications

BA in broadcast journalism or related field, or equivalent training and or exp.
At least 2 years working in a major market newsroom.
AP Style knowledge of (CMSs), HTML, CSS, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Avid and iNews are preferred.

Please apply here:

EEO

Executive Producer, WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI:

Meredith is pleased to introduce to you Find Internal Jobs at Meredith. Find Jobs allows you to search/review open internal job postings and Apply to open jobs.
* Include relevant job experience, skills and abilities
* Attach resume, cover letter, and/or design samples

Job Description

WNEM, a Meredith Corporation TV station, is recruiting for an Executive Producer. If you have a passion for producing high-energy, memorable newscasts and are super creative, this job may be just for you. WNEM-TV is in search of an Executive Producer who will lead a team of producers, reporters, and photographers to deliver promotable, compelling, and well- written newscasts, as well as online content. The EP will work closely with the News Director and other news managers to develop and implement strategies to improve product, while managing resources.

Exercise strong news judgment and supervise newscast rundowns
Collaborate with producers on story selection, graphic elements, and pace and flow of news cast
Brainstorm with staff on story ideas, showcasing and presentation
Must be able to produce newscasts
Encourage innovation
Work with News Director on promotable editorial calendar and any special events
Must have strong copy editing skills
Work closely with digital team, producers and reporters on creative content development following up on viewers story ideas via Facebook, Twitter and other online sources, as well as official sources
Motivate staff and encourage “buy in” for station’s news brand, news strategies and action plans
Other duties as assigned.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (listed 8/16/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted this week)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 7/19/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted this week)
WHTM-TV Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS (new listing this week)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, listed 8/16/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 8/16/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 8/9/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (relisted this week)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (listed 8/16/20)

More News Management Openings:

New Listing This Week:

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

Relisted 8-16-20:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/19/20:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)

Names in the News (and other items):

Waldvogel

KING-TV, Tegna’s NBC affiliate in Seattle, has filled its vacant executive producer position by hiring MASON WALDVOGEL from KTUL-TV in Tulsa. He’s been the Assistant ND there and has also worked for another Tulsa station. KING’s news director, PETE SAIERS told the staff in this email, which also detailed new responsibilities for EP RUBEN VILLAESCUSA.

Southey

At KOMU-TV (NBC) in Columbia, MO, STEPHANIE SOUTHEY gets a promotion to Digital Editor. She’s a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and has been working in the creative services department at the station. News Director STEVEN ACKERMANN detailed the move in this staff email.

Painter

Former Grand Rapids, MI, and Knoxville News Director TAZ PAINTER has a new job according to this post on his Linkedin page:

I will soon be joining the team at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge as the site’s Public Affairs Manager. I’m excited to help support the important work of the men and women there who make the nation and the world a safer place.

General Manager News and Notes:

Dughi

PAUL DUGHI is moving to a corporate role at Allen Media Broadcasting and stepping aside from his role as GM for the company’s Huntsville station, WAAY-TV. This note from Allen’s COO, ANDY FISHER, explains more about Paul’s new job and introduces his successor, MIKE WRIGHT. More on Mike here, who had been a GM at two Gray stations in Texas until leaving in 2018.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 23, 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
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
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
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
KTSM-TV 3801-D Constitution El Paso, Texas 79922 (see ad above!)
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station

August 16, 2020

Tuesday, August 18, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A flurry of news director moves to share, including one in the number two market.

Chen

At KABC-TV (ABC, obviously) in Los Angeles, PAM CHEN has been promoted to News Director. She first joined KABC in 2004, and has served as Assistant News Director since 2004. Pam’s career path is detailed in the station’s news release. She’s also worked for another LA station and in San Diego.

She replaces ROB ELMORE who left this summer to return to ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham as GM. Rob spent five years as ND at KABC, following 17 years as ND at WTVD.

Briefly:

SHARRANDA NEAL has been promoted to ND for Tegna’s WLTX-TV (CBS) in Columbia, SC. replacing JULIE EISENMANN. We told you this weekend that Julie had vacated the ND job: what we did not know then…and can share now…is that Julie’s been named Director of Content for the station, and will also have some oversight of other Tegna properties.

DAVID JONES is the next ND for Standard Media’s WLNE-TV (ABC) in Providence. He most recently was ND at WNYT-TV, Hubbard’s NBC affiliate in Albany, NY. He replaces KELLY JOHNSTON.

And Standard Media named JENNIFER HARDY ND for KLKN-TV in Lincoln, NE. She left WWSB-TV (Gray/ABC) in Sarasota, FL in June. Jennifer replaces MIKE SNUFFER who left for family reasons last month after six months as ND.

And GREG DeBROSSE joins KPLC-TV (Gray/NBC) in Lake Charles, LA, coming from the Assistant ND job at KOKI-TV (Cox Media Group/FOX) in Tulsa. He replaces JENELLE SHREINER who was promoted to ND for KOLD-TV in Tucson.

We’ll have more on all these hires this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

This week we have FIVE new news director openings. (Last week we had FIVE newly named NDs.) But there’s just ONE newly named ND this week.

Our list of open ND jobs jumps to 32.

Man bites dog? A TV station is suing for racial discrimination instead of being the defendant in such an action. We have TWO management appointments at Nexstar stations, and a new job for a former Tribune executive who started his career as a meteorologist.

We have several new GMs, including ONE in a top 25 market.

And sadly there’s an obituary for a longtime journalism educator with a most interesting background.

Apologies for the late hour for this week’s update. After reading this week’s report, I hope you’ll agree better late than never!

Newly Named News Directors:

Huff

WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…JENNA HUFF moves north (and closer to her native Michigan as she’s been named ND for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. Here’s the note from GM TOM ANTISDEL. For the last nine years, Jenna has been the ND for WFXL-TV in Albany, GA, and five years ago added ND oversight for sister Sinclair operation WGXA-TV in Macon, GA. Jenna’s also worked in Knoxville. She’ll replace 16 year veteran ND TED LINN. We told you in June that he would retire in September.

New News Director Openings:

Williams

WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA…NBC was busy this week, promoting TWO o-and-o NDs to new jobs. Here, ANZIO WILLIAMS has been named VP for Diversity for NBC News Senior Vice-Presdient for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBC owned stations gr0up. This news release explains his role in this new job. He’s been ND here for more than eight years. He previously spent five years as ND for Hearst’s KCRA-TV (NBC) in Sacramento and two years as ND for another Hearst station, WDSU-TV (also NBC) in New Orleans. He’s also worked in Orlando, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami, and Greensboro, NC.

Figueroa

WTVJ-TV, Miami, FL…in the second of TWO promotions for an NBC o-and-o news director, MIGDALIA FIGUEROA is moving to Orlando where she’ll be GM for sister NBC/Telemundo station WTMO-TV. More in this news release. She’s been ND at WTVJ for eight years and has also worked in New York and for the Univision station in Miami.

LaPorte

KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA…JOHN LaPORTE is leaving this Cox Media Group owned CBS affiliate next month to return to Milwaukee, where he worked before becoming ND at KIRO a little more than a year ago. In Milwaukee, John previously served as ND for FOX affiliate WITI-TV. Now, he’ll be the Assistant ND for Weigel’s WDJT-TV (CBS). John’s been an ND in several other markets and worked in a few others: His Linkedin page has more.

Johnston

WLNE-TV, Providence, RI…this Standard Media owned ABC affiliate is looking for a new news director. KELLY JOHNSTON had been the ND for the last four years in her second tour of duty with the station. She began in 1999 in production, moved to news in 2005, eventually become Senior Producer. She left in 2013 to spend time with her family before coming back in 2016 to be ND.

Eisenmann

WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC…this Tegna owned CBS affiliate is advertising for a new news director. My records show that JULIE EISENMANN has been the ND here for the past three years. Before that, she was Assistant ND for sister-Tegna station WXIA-TV in Atlanta. Julie’s been an ND in Savannah and Erie, PA, where she also had reported and anchored, and earlier worked on the assignment desk in Pittsburgh.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

There are no ads this week.

Please email me if you’d like information on advertising your news management opening on the most targeted site on line: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 8/2/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 7/19/20)
WKEF/WRGT-TV, Dayton, OH (new listing this week)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (listed 8/9/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20)
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 8/9/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 7/19/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 7/19/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital EP, listed 8/9/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, relisted 8/9/20)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 8/2/20)
WBTW-TV, Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC (Digital EP, new listing this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted this week)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (listed 8/9/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)
KDRV-TV, Medford, OR (listed 8/2/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA (new listing this week)

More News Management Openings:

Relisted This Week:

KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Listed 8/9/16:

WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Senior Manager of Broadcast Content)

Listed 7/26/20:

WATE-TV, Knoxville, TN (Digital Media Manager)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (Digital Content Director)

Listed 7/19/20:

WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 7/12/20:

KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)

Obituary:

Ralph L.

Longtime journalism educator RALPH LOWENSTEIN died Monday. He was 90 and suffered a massive stroke. He served as dean of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications from 1976 to 1994, and in 1971 forecast a day when people could retrieve large amounts of information online from central computers. The Miami Herald published a lengthy obituary well worth your time. He also taught at Missouri, and fought as a volunteer in Israel’s 1948 war for independence. Our sympathy to his wife and two children.

Names in the News (and other items):

Many stations have been sued for racial discrimination, but in a ‘man bites dog’ turnaround, WISH-TV is suing AT&T. Here’s the story from the WISH website.

KOIN-TV in Portland, OR (CBS/Nexstar) has filled its open Assistant ND job by promoting ALLISON ANSLINGER. I believe she was an EP there, and has previously worked in Boston and Las Vegas.

RICK BOONE joins Nexstar’s KARD-TV in W. Monroe, LA, as Executive Producer. When last mentioned in these pages (July, 2019) he had left a short-lived ND job in Kentucky to return to California to run for the Palo Alto City Council.

Baron

Congratulations to digital whiz STEVE BARON who joins the Local Media Association as Chief Strategy Officer, Steve most recently served as a VP for Tribune. He also worked for Local TV, LLC, as VP of Interactive Content and also worked for WFLD-TV (FOX) in Chicago helping establish a website presence. He began his career on-air, working as a meteorologist in several markets. Full disclosure: I represented Steve during his on-air days.

General Manager News and Notes:

Cuffee

Sinclair Broadcasting has promoted CORTLANDT CUFFEE to be VP and GM for KATU-TV (ABC) in Portland, OR. He’s been running the sales department for KATU and its Univision counterpart. Earlier in his career Cortlandt worked for another Portland station.

There are TWO new General Managers at Nexstar stations.

ANDREW WYATT moves from Nexstar’s WDVM-TV in Hagerstown, MD, to become GM for Nexstar’s first station, WBRE-TV (NBC) in Wilkes-Barre, PA, which the company acquired in 1996. He’s also oversee Mission Broadcasting’s WYOU-TV (CBS) which Nexstar operates under a joint operating agreement.

He’ll be replaced at WDVM by DAVID BANGURA who’s the GM for Nexstar’s Detroit station, WADL-TV.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 16, 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

KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
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
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave. Seattle, WA 98121
WTVJ-TV 15000 SW 27th Street Miramar, FL 33027
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
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WDSU-TV 846 Howard Ave New Orleans, LA 70113
WLNE-TV 10 Orms Street Providence, RI 02904
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
WLTX-TV 6027 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, SC
KLKN-TV 3240 S 10th St, Lincoln, NE 68502
WCTV 1801 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WETM-TV 101 East Water St. Elmira, NY 14901
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001

**: Spanish language station