Rick Gevers & Associates

July 19, 2020

Monday, July 20, 2020 UPDATE:

Hearst continues its trend of promoting from within as it fills a news director opening with a current Hearst ND.

Franklin

AKILI FRANKLIN has been tapped to run the newsroom at WYFF-TV (NBC) in Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville. She’s been the ND for sister Hearst NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans since March 2016.

Akili was the Assistant ND for just three months there before being promoted. She’s also worked for Hearst stations in Birmingham and West Palm Beach as well as for another New Orleans station.

It’s a return to “Your Friend Four” for Akili, who spent eight years there earlier in her career.

Also, careful readers of last night’s newsletter may have noticed that, for the second consecutive week, I typed ND when I meant GM. In the most recent screw-up, that error involved STEVE HAMMEL’s role as the interim GM for Meredith’s WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw, MI, while the company conducts a search for a new GM at that CBS affiliate.

Apologies to Steve and to you. For what you’re paying for this newsletter, you deserve better.

We’ll see you next week.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Just ONE news director opening this week, but it’s good news as the incumbent is moving to his parent network. That change leaves 30 stations looking for a new news director.

There’s ONE Paid Help Wanted Ad this week for an EP position in a small city that’s in a top ten market.

We have an obituary for a former Virginia news director. That’s below.

In Names in the News, a promotion for a Texas EP, an honor for a Michigan educator who worked for two stations in the Wolverine state, and a well known retired consultant is a grandfather for the first time.

And lots of GM moves, including a new President for The Black News Channel, a new GM in Milwaukee whose sister some of you may know, a GM opening in Michigan and a new GM in a small Texas market.

Read on for details!

Newly Named News Directors:

For the second week in a row, there were no news director hires announced this week.

New News Director Openings:

Green

WBZ-TV, Boston, MA…JOHNNY GREEN, JR. is on his way to New York as VP of News Services for CBS News, replacing TIM GAUGHAN who quietly left the network earlier this year. Johnny will oversee CBS Newspath. More here. He’s been the ND at this CBS o-and-o since 2016 and spent almost a year as the Assistant ND before being promoted. Johnny’s also worked in New York Philadelphia, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), New Bern, NC, and Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Are you a show doctor who likes to lead from the line?

Join the nation’s largest media group just outside the nation’s capital – in an election year.

Nexstar Media Group’s WDVM in Hagerstown, Maryland has an IMMEDIATE opening for an Executive Producer. Oversee content decisions on multiple platforms, while still owning an hour on the line.

This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your ability to lead – and your producing talents. Work with a diverse team of professionals around the country…and do it all in market #7.

It’s the best of both worlds… small town feel with access to big city news and entertainment.

If you are up for the challenge, apply here:

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20, see ad above!)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

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

Listed 7/12/20:

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

Listed 7/5/20:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

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

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)

Obituary:

Barrick

I’m sorry to report the death of former news director RIC BARRICK. He was 57 years old and died of complications from diabetes and an infection. Ric was the first news director…and first chief meteorologist…for WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA from 2004-05. He later worked for the city of Charlottesville and most recently worked for Broward County, FL. His former station remembers him here, and Ric’s younger brother MATT posted this on social media.

Names in the News (and other items):

VERONICA HERRERA has been promoted to Senior Manager of Broadcast Content for Scripps’ KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi. (Think Assistant News Director.) She has been an executive producer for this NBC affiliate and earlier worked for another Corpus Christi station.

Sykes

Former Detroit newsman and longtime educator RICK SYKES is joining the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Learn more about his honor here. Rick’s been teaching at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI, since 1996. He spent nine years working for WNEM-TV in Saginaw and then moved to WDIV-TV in Detroit for eight years before taking a PR job and then on to CMU.

Finally, former ND, GM and longtime consultant JIM WILLI and his wife SHERRI are proud grandparents for the first time. TROY JAMES WILLI was born Monday and weighed in at six pounds, 12 ounces. Proud parents are son ZAK and his wife MELINDA who live in a Dallas suburb. Friends can congratulate Jim via email here: jwilli@ar-d.com.

                 Jim Willi & grandson

General Manager News and Notes:

Hair

We told you earlier this week that longtime broadcaster PRINCELL HAIR has been named President of the Black News Channel. Details about his new job (and more on the network, which debuted earlier this year) are here. Princell’s been a news director in several major markets, and held management jobs at CNN and NBC Sports Boston. Learn more about his career history via his Linkedin page.

Brown

ANNE BROWN moves across town to become GM for Weigel’s WDJT-TV (CBS) in Milwaukee. She’s been the director of strategy and marketing for WITI-TV (FOX). She’ll replace MARK STRACHOTA who is retiring. The Milwaukee Business Journal has more. Anne’s also worked in Washington, DC, and Columbus, OH. And here’s a trivia tidbit to help you win a bar bet (if you can find an open bar): Anne’s sister is WTSP-TV (Tampa/Tegna/CBS) News Director KELLY FRANK.

Zoumbaris

WNEM-TV, the Meredith owned CBS affiliate in Flint/Saginaw, MI, is looking for a new general manager. JULIE ZOUMBARIS left the station this week after 2 1/2 years as GM. She had worked for WNEM earlier in her career as well as for two stations in Indianapolis, Dayton, and another Flint station. Longtime GM and former ND STEVE HAMMEL is serving as interim ND GM during the search.

Aguilar

DANNY AGUILAR joins Morgan Murphy Media owned KAVU-TV in Victoria, TX, as General Manager. He most recently held the same job for Tegna’s KIDY/KXVA-TV in San Angelo, TX. He’s also worked in Corpus Christi as Station Manager for Tegna’s KIII-TV.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 19, 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
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St, Greenville, SC 29609
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
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
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

July 12, 2020

Thursday, July 16, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A network o-and-o news director gets a new job with the network.

Green

JOHNNY GREEN, JR., who’s currently the news director for CBS’s WBZ-TV in Boston, has been named VP of News Services for CBS News. That means he’ll oversee CBS Newspath, the affiliate news feed service.

More details here.

Johnny’s been ND for WBZ since August, 2016, when he was promoted after ten months as assistant ND. He’s also worked in New York Philadelphia, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), New Bern, NC, and Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC.

Congrats to Johnny. We’ll have more on this story and all the week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Monday, July 13, 2020 UPDATE:

A new job for a well known newsman.

Hair

PRINCELL HAIR has been named President and CEO of the Black News Channel. He spent sometime helping BNC during the time leading up to its launch earlier this yaar.

More about Princell’s new duties…and lots of details about his background…in this news release.

Yoder

Also, one correction from last night’s newsletter. We told you that GARY YODER was joining WLFI-TV in Lafayette, which is true. But we incorrectly told you he was going there as ND, when in fact he will be the general manager for that Heartland Media owned CBS affiliate.

Apologies to Gary, and to you.

We’ll see you at the end of the week with our full newsletter.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

Once more, we get to tell you about a news director moving to the GM office.

That ONE move is the only ND change this week, leaving our list of open ND jobs at 29.

There are FOUR new GMs to report, and TWO are current or former NDs.

And in Names in the News, we’ll tell you about a FOUR time ND who’s running for Mayor and a management promotion at a Chicago station.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

As far as I know, there were no news director hires announced this week.

New News Director Openings:

Barkley

WYFF-TV, Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville, NC/SC…we told you earlier that ND BRUCE BARKLEY is being promoted to GM for sister Hearst stations KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR. Bruce’s new station posted this on its website. Bruce has been an ND for Hearst for 20 years, the last eight at WYFF and 12 years at WAPT-TV in Jackson, MS before that. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC, and has also worked in Tennessee. Bruce replaces SHAWN OSWALD who was promoted to GM for Hearst’s KETV in Omaha.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

There are no paid help wanted ads this week.

If you need to advertise a news management job with us, email me for details: rick@rickgevers.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (new listing this week)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (new listing this week)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

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

Listed 7/5/20:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

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

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

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

Names in the News (and other items):

ANNA ROBERTS has been promoted to Executive Producer of Digital Content for Nexstar’s WGN-TV in Chicago. She’s a 12 year veteran of WGN and its now defunct cable operation, CLTV. Here’s the memo from ND DOMINICK STASI. Anna has also worked for newspapers in Milwaukee and Billings, MT.

Akins

Former news director JULIE AKINS is running for mayor of Ashland, OR. She’s currently a city councilwoman there. More in this story from The Ashland Tidings. Julie’s a former ND in Las Vegas, Fresno, and for two stations in Medford, OR. She’s also worked in San Francisco.

General Manager News and Notes:

Lots of GM news this week, with FOUR new GMs, TWO with news director backgrounds.

We mentioned BRUCE BARKLEY‘s promotion to GM for KHBS/KHOG-TV in Fayetteville/Ft. Smith, AR. above, in our New News Director opening section.

Boling

Another former ND moving to the big chair is NEAL BOLING who’s being promoted to GM for KHQ-TV in Spokane, WA. He’s been the station manager there for the last six years after four years as news director for this Cowles owned NBC affilaite. Here’s the news release. Neal replaces PATRICIA McRAE (herself a former ND) who will continue as president of the Broadcast Division for the parent company. Neal’s also worked as an ND in Johnson City, TN, and as a producer for two stations in Tampa.

Rothstein

RYAN ROTHSTEIN moves within Hearst to become GM for WPTZ/WNNE-TV in Burlington, VT/Plattsburgh, NY. Ryan has been the sales manager for WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, FL. Details about Ryan and his new job in this item from the WPTZ/WNNE website. He replaces JUSTIN ANTONIOTTI (another former ND) who was promoted to GM for Hearst’s WGAL-TV in Lancaster, PA.

Yoder

Finally, GARY YODER joins Heartland TV as news director general manager of the company’s WLFI-TV (CBS) in Lafayette, IN. Here’s the email from CEO ANDY FISHER. The move gets Gary within 3 1/2 hours of family in Northwest Ohio. Gary most recently was GM for Meredith’s WALA-TV (FOX) in Mobile, AL, but previously spent 15 years at WUPW-TV (FOX) in Toledo, beginning there as an account executive and rising to GM.

Allen

WLFI owner Heartland Media is part of BRYON ALLEN‘s growing media empire. The comic turned media mogul was the subject of this well-worth-your-time profile in The Hollywood Reporter.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 12, 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
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St, Greenville, SC 29609
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
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
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

July 5, 2020

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another news director moves to the general manager chair!

Barkley

This time the congratulations go to BRUCE BARKLEY, who’s been named Presdient and GM of KHBS/KHOG-TV (ABC/CW) in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR. The news release is here.

Those are Hearst stations, as is WYFF-TV (NBC)in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville market in the Carolinas where Bruce has been ND since 2012. Before that, he was the ND of Hearst’s WAPT-TV (ABC) in Jackson, MS for 12 years. He’s also been an ND in Columbia, SC, and has worked in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, TN markets.

At KHBS/KHOG, Bruce will replace SHAWN OSWALD who was promoted to GM for the company’s KETV (ABC) in Omaha.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

**** ***** ****
Greetings:

As you might expect, the holiday week brought few changes.

But we do have ONE newly named news director to share, and THREE new openings, including ONE at a top ten market CBS affiliate.

Those changes leave our list of open ND jobs at 28 positions.

There’s ONE paid ad for a content manager job in Tulsa.

No obituaries, thankfully, and just ONE GM move.

And the only item in Names in the News is a positive health update on a former ND and multi-time general manager.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Munoz

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…JAMES MUNOZ adds news director to his duties at this Morgan Murphy Media owned ABC affiliate. He’s been anchoring there and will continue to anchor the 5:00 news. James has been a news director before in Midland and San Angelo, TX, and has worked on-air in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Amarillo and Lufkin, TX. He replaces ROXANN FISHER who left the station in February after less than six months as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Ramirez

KHOU-TV, Houston, TX…SALLY RAMIREZ is leaving this Tegna-owned CBS affiliate. She’ll stay while the search for her successor goes on. Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF has more. The news of Sally’s departure came as her husband, anchor RUSS LEWIS announced he was leaving to return to Oregon to work in his family’s business. Sally was ND for 4+ years, coming from KGW-TV in Portland, OR, where she was the assistant news director for the last five of her 17 years at that Tegna sister station. She’s also worked in Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, Tucson and El Paso.

Vizcon

WTMO-TV, Orlando, FL…ROBERTO VIZCON is out at this Telemundo affiliate after a little more than two years in his second stint at the station. The first time he was general manager. And the current GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week. The entire soap opera is detailed in this story from Media Moves. Vizcon has worked as a news director for Univision stations in Miami and Puerto Rico.

Sadar

WJCL-TV, Savannah, GA…congratulations to SINAN SADAR who’s the latest beneficiary of a promotion within Hearst. He’s been named director of news talent recruitment for the company. Details here. Sinan’s been ND here for 5+ years, spent more than six years as ND for WPTZ-TV in Plattsburgh, NY, and four years as the Ass’t, ND for Hearst’s KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, NM. Sinan has also worked in Houston (two stations), Cleveland, Albany, NY, and Syracuse.

Paid Help Wanted Ad:

Content Manager, Morning News, KOKI-TV, Tulsa OK:

KOKI-TV/Fox 23 and Cox Media Group are searching for an experienced journalist who has the drive, energy and passion to work as the station’s Content Manager for our 5- hour long morning newscasts.

The successful candidate will execute the station’s strategic plan on all platforms, utilizing research to oversee content and coverage on our TV, radio, digital, and social media platforms. “

KOKI-TV, Fox 23, is Tulsa’s most trusted news source, Covering News That Matters. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which debuted in October of 1980. Since 2012, the station has been owned by Cox Media Group.

Tulsa is known for being a dynamic city with a variety of bustling urban districts, exceptional dining, an unsurpassed love of the arts and one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the nation.”

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (listed 6/21/20)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted this week)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, new listing this week)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listing this week:

KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 6/28/20:

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

Listed 6/14/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

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

Names in the News (and other items):

Vann

A positive health update for longtime GM (and former news director) LES VANN. We told you recently that Les had broken four ribs and injured his sternum while he battled both Parkinson’s Disease and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. But he advised me this week that he’s back home:

General Manager News and Notes:

We mentioned the only GM move we know about above, in our report on the ND opening at WTMO-TV in Orlando. The station’s GM, LUIS ROLDAN, resigned this week, too.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 5, 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
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
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
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

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station

June 28, 2020

Monday, June 29, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Ramirez

Big news today from Houston, where KHOU-TV News Director SALLY RAMIREZ is leaving that Tegna-owned CBS affiliate.

That word came on the same day that her husband, 4:00 PM anchor RUSS LEWIS, announced he was leaving to return to Oregon. Russ plans to work with his father in the family’s business of developing property.

Houston media blogger MIKE McGUFF filed two separate stories on these developments.

Here’s his report on Sally’s departure (which will happen later this year.)

And here’s what he posted about Lewis’ move.

Sally’s been ND there for four years, coming from sister station KGW-TV in Portland, OR, where she was the assistant news director for the last five of her 17 years there. She’s also worked in Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, Tucson and El Paso.

Stanley

And one update on a story we reported yesterday, that of the death of JEANA STANLEY, VP of Finance for Hearst and wife of longtime newsman RANDAL STANLEY. Hearst posted this obituary on its website earlier today.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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Greetings:

A busy week.

We have FOUR newly named news directors to tell you about.

There are THREE newly opened ND jobs, ONE created by the upcoming retirement of a 37 year veteran Indiana newsman.

Those changes leave our count of open ND jobs at 26. ONE of those openings is featured among our TWO paid help wanted ads.

There’s a handful of news managers on the move, and we’re making a rare excursion from our normal course of business to share a link for a column written by my client ALAN SEALLS. That’s in Names in the News.

In our General Manager’s section, we’ve got details of the pending retirement of a Nexstar executive and a new GM in Corpus Christi.

And there are THREE obituaries: one for a veteran PBS and NBC news executive, and the other TWO for wives of news directors, one current, and a former one who played a big role in my career.

That’s all below.

Newly Named News Directors:

Tamez

KMPX-TV, Dallas, TX…CARLOS TAMEZ returns to Dallas as ND for this Estrella owned operation. He’s also oversee newscasts in Houston and Miami. Most recently, he was worked for a 24 hour news operation in Mexico, but he previously worked for the Telumundo station in Dallas. At Estrella, he replaces RUBEN OLAGUE who departed in May after two years. More in this story from Media Moves.

Ortiz

KFSN-TV, Fresno, CA…congratulations to MARTIN ORTIZ who stays within the ABC owned station group and returns to Fresno as ND of that o-and-o. He began his career at KFSN in 2007 as an assignment editor and moved quickly to producer. Martin then headed north to Oakland as a producer for KTVU-TV before rejoining ABC as a producer…and eventually EP…at KGO-TV in San Francisco. In Fresno, he replaces his new boss, MICHAEL CARR, who was promoted to GM in May.

Harper

WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI…JANIS HARPER has started as the next ND for this Gray owned NBC affiliate. We told you last week that Janis had left KTVA-TV in Anchorage, AK, though did not know her destination. She left KTVA on the seventh anniversary of her start, where she began as the Assistant ND and advanced to ND three years later. Janis has also worked in Evansville, Tyler, TX, Roanoke, Louisville, and Lake Charles, LA. In Eau Claire, she replaces LISA PATROW who spent more than two years as ND and earlier had been ND at another Eau Claire station.

Speaking of KTVA-TV, the station continues its search for Janis’ replacement, as you’ll learn in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.

Parker

KTEN-TV, Ada, OK/Sherman, TX/Addison, TX…JOEY PARKER is the new news director for this Lockwood Broadcasting owned NBC/ABC affiliates. He most recently was the anchor and assistant ND at KMIZ-TV in Columbia, MO. Joey’s been an ND in Utica, NY, and Casper, WY, and has also worked in Gainesville, FL, Hastings, NE, Montgomery, and Dothan, AL. At KTEN, he succeeds MARK FARRELL who died in April at the age of 55.

New News Director Openings:

Hardy

WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL…JENNIFER HARDY has left his Gray Television owned ABC affiliate that’s technically part of the Tampa market. Jennifer spent four years as ND here, and earlier was an ND at WAAY-TV (ABC) in Huntsville for more than 2 years and at KOLO-TV (also ABC) in Reno. She’s also worked in Las Vegas (two stations), Tulsa, Spokane, Memphis, and Tucson.

Luque

WJZY-TV, Charlotte, NC…TINA LUQUE is leaving this now-owned by Nexstar FOX affiliate (once a FOX o-and-o) after more than four years as news director. She’s been a news director at WTKR-TV in Norfolk for more than seven years, and WIS-TV in Columbia, SC, for five years. She’s also worked in Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Charleston, SC.

Linn

WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN…fellow Indy 500 mega-fan TED LINN is retiring in September, around the time he turns 66. Ted’s spent 43 1/2 years in our business, more than 37 of them with one company (well, one company that’s had several owners…currently Nexstar, which bought Media General, which bought LIN.) Ted’s been the ND for this CBS affiliate for 16 plus years, and spent the previous 21 years at sister station WISH-TV in Indianapolis, ending up as the Assistant ND. He’s also worked in Dayton, Lafayette, and began his career in radio in Kokomo, IN.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Content Manager, Morning News, KOKI-TV, Tulsa OK:

KOKI-TV/Fox 23 and Cox Media Group are searching for an experienced journalist who has the drive, energy and passion to work as the station’s Content Manager for our 5- hour long morning newscasts.

The successful candidate will execute the station’s strategic plan on all platforms, utilizing research to oversee content and coverage on our TV, radio, digital, and social media platforms. “

KOKI-TV, Fox 23, is Tulsa’s most trusted news source, Covering News That Matters. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which debuted in October of 1980. Since 2012, the station has been owned by Cox Media Group.

Tulsa is known for being a dynamic city with a variety of bustling urban districts, exceptional dining, an unsurpassed love of the arts and one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the nation.”

You can learn more about this opportunity and apply by clicking here.

News Director KTVA-TV, Anchorage, AK:

Looking for an adventure? Keep reading!

KTVA, the CBS affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska needs a News Director.

While the market is 150+ you would not know that when you watch. The creative team of journalists, including regional Murrow and Emmy winners, wants someone to guide them through the next big thing. Oh boy, are there big things that happen here: politics is basically the unofficial state sport, nearly 24 hours of sunlight in the summer, the beauty of the northern lights in the winter and the occasional earthquake.

Alaska has its challenges; the goal of our newsroom is to talk about those issues and offer solutions-when we can. Our goal has been, and continues, to focus on helping our communities be stronger, safer and well-informed. We do this through enterprise storytelling and investigative reporting.

You have the support of a pro-active engineering team and tireless creative services department to get your message to the masses.

It may sound too good to be true; it’s not. Apply here to find out.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 5/10/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

WGN-TV, Chicago IL (listed 6/21/20)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted 5/3/10)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 4/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA (relisted 5/17/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)

More News Management Openings:

New listings this week:

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

Listed 6/21/20:

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Senior Broadcast Manager)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)

Relisted 6/21/20:

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

Obituaries:

Crystal

LES CRYSTAL died this week. He was 85 and succumbed to pneumonia and brain cancer. Les spent more than 20 years as the executive producer of the PBS News Hour. He also served as the President of NBC News from 1977-79 and was the executive producer for the NBC Nightly News from 1973-76. More details about a remarkable career in this obituary from PBS.

Our next two obituaries are for wives of news executives, one current and one former.

Jeana Stanley

JEANA STANLEY, VP of Finance for Hearst and wife of News 12 Networks VP of Operations RANDAL STANLEY died suddenly on Friday. She was just 54 years old. Jeana worked for WUAB-TV and WKYC-TV in Cleveland and WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando. She first joined Hearst as Comptroller for WBAL-TV in Baltimore and later moved to Hearst Television’s corporate staff and then to parent company Hearst. Funeral services are pending in Akron, OH.

Randal Stanley

Randal posted this message on Facebook. Many of you know Randal, who’s been with News 12 for 13 years, first as Vice President and News Director for News 12 New Jersey, before being bumped to the corporate staff in 2018. He is a former ND in Washington (WUSA-TV), Cleveland (WKYC-TV), Buffalo (WGRZ-TV), and Lincoln, NE (KLKN-TV), and has worked in Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Salt Lake City. Our sympathy to Randal and the family.

Muriel Choate

Finally, MURIEL CHOATE died Saturday, June 20th, at the age of 91. She suffered from COPD. Here’s Muriel’s obituary . She was married to DAVE CHOATE for 48 years. Dave’s a former news director for Channel 7 in Miami (originally WCKT-TV, now WSVN-TV) as well as a former NBC Bureau Chief in Miami. He left TV in the late 80’s and spent 17 years running a Broward County Commission on substance abuse.

Dave Choate

A personal note, if you’ll allow. Dave was the Assistant ND at WCKT when I started there as a producer in 1976, my first job out of college. I was young and inexperienced: he was calm, smart, knowledgeable, helpful, funny, and served as a buffer between the newsroom and an ND who was unpopular with the troops. It’s not an exaggeration that everyone in that newsroom loved working for him. Even though it’s been more than 45 years since we worked together, I go out of my way to see him when I am in Miami.

My sympathy to Dave and his four daughters.

Names in the News (and other items):

There are two management promotions at Scripps’ stations.

At WKBW-TV (ABC) in Buffalo, SUE DOBMEIER has been promoted to the Executive Producer of Lifestyle. She used to produced the program (and filled in during the search.) Sue has most recently been the Director of Creative Services here.

And at WTVR-TV (CBS) in Richmond, JAMES JOBES has been upped to Executive Producer. He’s been a producer there since 2012 and earlier worked in Columbia, MO.

Sealls

Some of you may know (or know of) my client, Chief Meteorologist ALAN SEALLS of WPMI-TV in Mobile, AL. He’s worked in Mobile for more than 20 years and was dubbed “Best Weatherman Ever” by Reddit after a video of Alan explaining the latest on Hurricane Irma went viral in 2017. Recently, Alan wrote this column for the Lagniappe weekly newspaper in Mobile entitled: The sky is blue, my skin is brown.

I think it’s worth a few minutes of your time.

General Manager News and Notes:

Jones

BRIAN JONES, who’s been with Nexstar since 2003 and has been Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer since 2008, is retiring August 1. That brings and end to a 40 year career in broadcasting. More on Brian and his career in this news release. Before joining Nexstar, he spent seven years as general manager for CBS owned KTVT/KTXA-TV in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Pineda

RAMON PINEDA joins Scripps as general manager for the company’s KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, TX. He joins the company from Univision where he oversaw sales teams in a variety of markets. He’ll have lots of opportunities to shape the news department there: the station is currently looking for a Senior Director of Local Media Content (you and I might call that news director) as well as a senior broadcast manager and a real time desk manager (which we might call Assignment Manager).

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, June 28, 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
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
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
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
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 (see ad above!)
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
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
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content

**: Spanish language station