Rick Gevers & Associates

March 1, 2020

Greetings:

TWO new news director openings this week. THREE newly named news directors. And we’re removing TWO stations from our list of openings as we anticipate announcements this week on those jobs.

Our list of open ND jobs stands at 33.

There’s a new advertiser this week: Former ND and one time RTDNA chair KEVIN BENZ’s ad below tells you about his coaching business. Click on the ad to learn more.

We have TWO paid help wanted ads this week as well.

ONE obituary, ONE GM on the move, and FOUR items in Names in the News.

Read all about those items and more below!

Newly Named News Directors:

Hoyt

WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN…CJ HOYT will be the next news director for this Nexstar owned CBS/FOX duopoly. Here’s the news release from the station and the note CJ posted to social media. He’s leaving Nexstar’s WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, PA after almost three years. CJ’s also been an ND in Huntsville, Toledo, Evansville, and Lafayette, LA. He’s also worked in Dallas, Knoxville, Greenville, SC, and Lincoln, NE. In Indianapolis, he replaces MATT WAGGONER who left in December (after one year as ND) to take the ND job at KSHB-TV (NBC/Scripps) in Kansas City.

Ginn

KVUE-TV, Austin, TX… CHRISTINA GINN has been named ND for Tegna’s KVUE-TV (ABC). She’s spent the last ten years in network news, most recently as an EP for MSNBC. Christina’s also worked at CNN, but spent the first part of her career in local news, working in Orlando, Nashville (two stations) and Little Rock. She replaces TIM RYAN who left last year to return to Tegna’s KUSA-TV in Denver (NBC) as Director of Content. Tim was ND in Austin for just over two years but earlier worked for 27 years at KUSA, the last 17 as the Assistant ND.

Pederson

WCAV-TV, Charlottesville, VA…congratulations to ANDY PEDERSON who’s on the job at this Lockwood CBS/FOX/ABC. He spent the last 2 1/2 years as ND for KTVE/KARD-TV, in Monroe, LA. Andy began his career as a photojournalist. More on his background here. At WCAV, he replaces VAL THOMPSON who left the station late last year after about five years as news director.

New News Director Openings:

WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA…we told you above that CJ HOYT is off to sister Nexstar station(s) WTTV/WXIN-TV (CBS/FOX) in Indianapolis as ND. He was at this ABC affiliate for about three years.

Rudman

KVAL/KMTR-TV, Eugene, OR…BERT RUDMAN is leaving after the May book. Bert tells me he’s had a good run here but is leaving ‘to enjoy some new opportunities that have come my way.’ Bert’s been ND here for three years, spent four years as an ND in Anchorage, worked in Atlanta and as a network field producer, and began his career on air. Sinclair owns KVAL and operates KMTR under a shared services agreement.

We’ve removed both WTAJ-TV in Altoona, PA, and WDHN-TV in Dothan, AL, from our list of open ND jobs. We anticipate announcements on new hires at both these stations soon.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Investigative Producer, WJLA-TV, Washington, DC:

ABC7-DC seeks an enterprising and aggressive Investigative Producer to join our 7 On Your Side investigative and consumer unit. Knowledge of the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) process, computer-assisted reporting, and data-driven reporting is required along with familiarity of legal issues related to investigative television news reporting. Strong writing skills and knowledge of current events is essential. Dynamic storytelling skills are a must.

Responsiblilites:

Develop and maintain contacts and sources in the community to enterprise story ideas
Identify and pitch investigative angles on both long-form enterprise and big daily news stories
Work closely with Producer and Executive Producer to refine investigative pitches and story scripts
Write online versions of investigative reports and work with Digital Producers on “web extra” content for each investigation
Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

3 years of investigative producing experience preferred
History of award-winning investigative journalism preferred
Must be a strong storyteller with the ability to make the complicated understandable
Must be able to use all available tools to enhance stories, from graphics to social media
Should be able to generate story ideas and determine the legitimacy of viewer tips
Strong writer, storyteller. Must be naturally inquisitive with an interest in holding government officials accountable
While applying please provide an online portfolio link for review.

To learn more about this job and to apply, just click here!

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace!

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

Are you a motivated, innovative leader that wants to work in a newsroom where creativity has no limit?

WBNS 10TV is looking for an Executive Producer of Innovation. You’ll work to create engaging and compelling content for all platforms, plan special projects, work with news, sales and marketing and be the “go to” for new adventures. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other innovative 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. Come help us champion ideas and create new ways of doing business that cut through the noise and inform our community.

If this job is for you, click here to learn more and apply!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 1/19/20)
KCPQ/KZJO-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/2/2020)
WSFL-TV, Miami, FL (listed 2/2/2020)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 2/9/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/9/20)
Spectrum News, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/19/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 2/23/20)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 1/12/20)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 1/26/20)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 1/19/20)
KNPN/KNPG/KCJO-TV, St. Joseph, MO (relisted 2/16/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (Digital EP, listed 2/2/20)
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 2/16/20)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (EP Special Projects, listed 2/16/20)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 1/26/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/16/20)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP and Digital EP, listing revised 2/9/20)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/2/20)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, listing modified 1/19/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/9/20)
KSND-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, relisted this week)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/16/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP/Innovation, listing revised 2/23/20, see ad above!)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 2/23/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 2/16/20)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (new listing this week)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 2/16/20)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, listed 2/23/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 2/23/20)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 1/26/20)
KLST-TV, San Angelo, TX (listed 2/16/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 2/9/16)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 2/23/20:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (Investigative Producer, see ad above!)
E.W. Scripps @ WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (News Manager Apprentice)

Relisted 2/23/20:

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

Listed 2/16/20:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 1/19/20:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Multiplatform Producer)
WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD (Director of Digital Content)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Professor)

Listed 1/5/20:

WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Assignment Desk Manager)

Obituary:

Wolford

HAL WOLFORD died this week. He was a fixture at Evansville’s (IN) WEHT-TV, serving as news director, anchor, and reporter during his 30 years at the station. Hal might be best known for his feature segment, Backroads. His former station reported his passing in this story.

Names in the News (and other items):

Singal

SAM SINGAL joins Spectrum News as Vice President of Content and Editorial. He most recently has been working for Verizon Media but spent 20 years at NBC News and also worked at ABC.

Malave

STEVE MALAVE joins Sarasota’s WWSB-TV (Gray/ABC) as the station’s Assistant News Director. His lengthy background is told via his Linkedin page.

Two producers are moving up to EP jobs within Scripps. At WKBW-TV in Buffalo, TIM MEEHAN got the nod. And INDIGO SILVA was similarly promoted at the company’s Las Vegas station, KTNV-TV.

Collins

He may have been a news director and anchor for two South Bend stations, but MIKE COLLINS is probably best known these days as the PA announcer for the Notre Dame football team. He’s stepping down from that job after 38 years at the end of the 2020 season. Read more about Mike, how he got the job, and the things he learned doing about 239 games in this story.

General Manager News and Notes:

Adams

DAN ADAMS, who’s been GM for Disney/ABC’s KFSN-TV in Fresno for more than ten years, is moving to a newly created job for the o-and-o division. He’ll be the vice president of finance and business planning for Disney’s television division. Dan will assist in the transition with his replacement at KFSN.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, March 1, 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

WNJU-TV, 2200 Fletcher Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KOAT-TV 3801 Carlisle Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman St, Harrisburg, PA 17110
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
KOKI-TV 2625 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa, OK 74129
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
KOLD-TV 7831 N Business Park Dr, Tucson, AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99223
WITN-TV 275 E Arlington Blvd #275, Greenville, NC 27858
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KSBW-TV 238 John Street, Salinas, CA 93901
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Rd, Rockford, IL 61101
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

February 23, 2020

February 25, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

We have TWO news director hires to report today.

  Hoyt

CJ HOYT stays within Nexstar and heads to Indianapolis where’ll be the next ND for WTTV/WXIN-TV (CBS-FOX). CJ has been the ND for WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg, PA, since the summer of 2017, and has also run newsrooms in Huntsville, Toledo, Evansville, and Lafayette, LA. He’s also worked in Dallas, Knoxville, Greenville, SC, and Lincoln, NE.

Here’s the news release from the station and CJ’s email to his staff.

He replaces MATT WAGGONER who left in December to become ND for Scripps’ KSHB-TV (NBC) in Kansas City.

  Ginn

And in Austin, TX, CHRISTINA GINN has been named ND for Tegna’s KVUE-TV (ABC). She’s spent the last ten years in network news, most recently as an EP for MSNBC. Christina’s also worked at CNN, but spent the first part of her career in local news, working in Orlando, Nashville (two stations) and Little Rock.

The station posted this announcement on its website.

Ryan

Christina replaces TIM RYAN who left last year to return to Tegna’s KUSA-TV in Denver (NBC) as Director of Content. Tim was ND in Austin for just over two years but earlier served 27 years at KUSA, the last 17 as the Assistant ND.

More in our complete newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

Greetings:

A very busy week with FIVE new ND openings in a wide range of market sizes. But to my knowledge, NO open jobs were filled this week.

Our list of open ND jobs jumps to 36!

There are THREE paid help wanted ads, all for interesting management jobs in larger markets.

TWO obituaries, one for a former network newsman who spent a few years as a news director in San Francisco. You’ll like the way he described the format of a new network show he was launching. And a former Minnesota GM died last week.

In our Names in the News segment, a recent Ohio news director is on the mend from a head-on car accident which left him with a brain injury. An about-to-exit Florida news director spends 30 minutes talking about the business on a local radio station. A former ND turned educator is honored for his new book, new EPs at several medium market stations, and two management moves at Scripps.

And we have FIVE items in our General Manager section, including GM changes at THREE top 25 market stations.

All that and move below!

Newly Named News Directors:

For a week with a lot of new openings, to my knowledge there are NO new NDs named.

New News Director Openings:

McGarvy

WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH…SEAN McGARVY is heading to parent company Scripps’ corporate staff as a Director of Digital Content Strategy. He’s been the ND for this ABC affiliate since August, 2018, coming from the Assistant ND job at the company’s KMGH-TV (also ABC) in Denver. His Linkedin page explains his other stops.

KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM…GREG SHEPPERD will leave this Hearst owned ABC affiliate March 19th. He told me why in this email:

Shepperd

After 20 years exploring this great country in five markets in four time zones, my husband and I have made the decision to put some roots down with our family in Chicago. I’m so grateful for the wonderful experiences in the last 15 years with the exceptional team at Hearst, and we’re excited about what’s next!

Greg joined KOAT in October, 2015 after three years as ND at sister Hearst’s KHBS-KHOG-TV in Fayetteville. He’s also worked for Hearst in Sacramento and New Orleans and began his career at WCNC-TV in Charlotte.

Chism

WGAL-TV, Lancaster/Harrisburg, PA…another Hearst station, another opening. MICHELLE CHISM has left this Hearst NBC affiliate after about 2 1/2 years as news director. She had been the Assistant ND at Hearst’s WBAL-TV in Baltimore for the previous 2 1/2 years. Michelle’s also worked in Austin, TX (KVUE-TV), Little Rock (KTHV-TV), and Kansas City (WDAF-TV).

Alexander

KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX…we’ve had a news director opening posted for this Scripps station for several months. Now we’ve learned that PAUL ALEXANDER (who’d been the ND there before a promotion to Director of Local Content last fall) has resigned. Paul had been ND there since 2013, and had previously been an ND in Brownsville, TX. He’s began in sports, working as an anchor in Tucson, Austin, TX, San Antonio and St. Louis, a news anchor for the statewide News of Texas, and a news and sports radio talk show host.

KAVU-TV, Victoria, TX…ROXANN FISHER has left this Morgan Murphy Media owned ABC affiliate after about six months as news director. She’s a veteran Texas newswoman who’s worked for several stations in Houston and San Antonio. The local newspaper reports there has been a lot of management changes there.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Investigative Producer, WJLA-TV, Washington, DC:

ABC7-DC seeks an enterprising and aggressive Investigative Producer to join our 7 On Your Side investigative and consumer unit. Knowledge of the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) process, computer-assisted reporting, and data-driven reporting is required along with familiarity of legal issues related to investigative television news reporting. Strong writing skills and knowledge of current events is essential. Dynamic storytelling skills are a must.

Responsiblilites:

Develop and maintain contacts and sources in the community to enterprise story ideas
Identify and pitch investigative angles on both long-form enterprise and big daily news stories
Work closely with Producer and Executive Producer to refine investigative pitches and story scripts
Write online versions of investigative reports and work with Digital Producers on “web extra” content for each investigation
Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

3 years of investigative producing experience preferred
History of award-winning investigative journalism preferred
Must be a strong storyteller with the ability to make the complicated understandable
Must be able to use all available tools to enhance stories, from graphics to social media
Should be able to generate story ideas and determine the legitimacy of viewer tips
Strong writer, storyteller. Must be naturally inquisitive with an interest in holding government officials accountable
While applying please provide an online portfolio link for review.

To learn more about this job and to apply, just click here!

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug Free Workplace!

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

Are you a motivated, innovative leader that wants to work in a newsroom where creativity has no limit?

WBNS 10TV is looking for an Executive Producer of Innovation. You’ll work to create engaging and compelling content for all platforms, plan special projects, work with news, sales and marketing and be the “go to” for new adventures. This person will oversee newsroom projects such as podcasts, digital episodic content and other innovative 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. Come help us champion ideas and create new ways of doing business that cut through the noise and inform our community.

If this job is for you, click here to learn more and apply!

Executive Producer/Special Projects, KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ:

I. Job Summary

Executive Producer/Special Projects at Arizona’s Family CBS5 & 3TV (Meredith Corp.) is a driven, detail-oriented and creative EP who manages our special projects team including investigative/consumer units, sports and community coverage. The EPSP wears many hats generating a large quantity of high quality, branded stories; producing one-time specials; planning and executing our election coverage and contributing to daily newscasts as needs arise. Manages other special projects, including sweeps features, documentaries, station events, and awards entries. Candidate will be a proactive self-starter, managing large numbers of ongoing projects with little supervision while seeking to create new ones. Requires a high-level understanding of TV strategy, tactics, including visual storytelling, graphics, teases, and promotional opportunities. Willing to work long or unusual hours, weekends and holidays as needed. Work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including on-air, web, digital and social media.

II. Essential Job Functions

Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results

50% Produce high quality, promotable, branded stories per station strategy and research priorities.
20% Assist in development and execution of Sweeps coverage
15% Plan and execute special coverage, including elections and community events
10% Produce one-time specials
5% Other duties as assigned

III. Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements

Education: College degree required
7 yrs. experience as an EP, producer, reporter, or equivalent in daily news operation. Exp. with investigative reporting and producing.
Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of libel/slander/privacy laws.
Advanced computer and web publishing skills. Knowledge of editing.
Travel Required (Approximate): 5%

Please apply here:

EEO

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 1/19/20)
KCPQ/KZJO-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/2/2020)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/20)
WSFL-TV, Miami, FL (listed 2/2/2020)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 2/9/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/9/20)
Spectrum News, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/19/20)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (new listing this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 1/12/20)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 1/26/20)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 1/19/20)
KNPN/KNPG/KCJO-TV, St. Joseph, MO (relisted 2/16/20)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (Digital EP, listed 2/2/20)
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted 2/16/20)
KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (EP Special Projects, listed 2/16/20, see ad above!)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 1/26/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/16/20)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP and Digital EP, listing revised 2/9/20)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/2/20)
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (listed 11/24/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, listing modified 1/19/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/9/20)
KSND-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 12/22/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/16/20)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (EP/Innovation, listing revised this week, see ad above!)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (new listing this week)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 2/16/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 1/12/20)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 2/16/20)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
KRNV-TV, Reno, NV (AM EP, new listing this week)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted this week)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 1/26/20)
KLST-TV, San Angelo, TX (listed 2/16/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 2/9/16)

More News Management Openings:

New listings this week:

WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (Investigative Producer, see ad above!)
E.W. Scripps @ WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (News Manager Apprentice)

Relisted this week:

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

Listed 2/16/20:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 1/19/20:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Multiplatform Producer)
WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD (Director of Digital Content)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Professor)

Listed 1/5/20:

WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Assignment Desk Manager)

Obituaries:

Dudnick

HERB DUDNICK died Monday at the age of 86. Here’s the obituary. Herb’s a former ND for KRON-TV in San Francisco and worked briefly at ABC News. But he spent most of his long career at NBC News, where he helped develop the short-lived program NBC News Overnight. You’ll enjoy this blog post which has a fun description (about five paragraphs down) detailing how Herb described the format of Overnight to prospective anchors LINDA ELLERBEE and LLOYD DOBYNS.

Rhodes

KEYC-TV in Mankato, MN, is mourning the death of former GM MARVIN RHODES who died unexpectedly on Friday, February 14. He was 65. Marvin had been only the fifth GM in the station’s history, from 2013-2019. He’s remembered in this obituary from the KEYC website.

Names in the News (and other items):

Knopps

Former WTOL-TV Toledo (Tegna/CBS) news director ANTHONY KNOPPS has a new battle on his hands. He suffered a serious traumatic brain injury after a head-on car accident last July. (How serious? Normally an 80% mortality rate.) Interestingly, symptoms didn’t manifest for almost five weeks. Now he’s working hard on his recovery and trying to educate people about such injuries. More here.

Parcell

Outgoing WFTV Orlando (Cox Media Group/ABC) news director MATT PARCELL is about to retire. But before he exits, he sat for an interview with Orlando news radio station WDBO-FM about changes in broadcast news, what the industry does well, and what it doesn’t. You can hear that 35 minute interview here. Matt spent more than 22 years at WFTV, the last 7+ as news director.

Conway

Another award for news director turned educator/author MIKE CONWAY. The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation has given its 2020 Broadcast Historian Award to Mike’s well reviewed book: Contested Ground: The Tunnel and the Struggle over Television News in Cold War America. More details about the book (and how to buy it!) on Mike’s website.

Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV is adding a 7:00 newscast, which caught the attention of the TV writer for the Delaware County Times. (Apparently he doesn’t know that many markets have 7:00 newscasts.) But he does provide a little context to news in that time period and how most stations’ first newscasts were at 7:00.

Speaking of NBC owned stations, WVIT-TV, the NBC o-and-o in Hartford/New Haven, CT, filled its open EP position with JOSEPH HEGARTY. Joe’s spent the last 13 years working for WGME-TV in Portland, ME, as you’ll learn in this staff email from VP/News JANET HUNDLEY.

WBNS-TV (CBS) in Columbus, OH, filled one of its two open EP jobs by luring VICKI ZEAL from sister Tegna station WVEC-TV in Norfolk, VA. She starts in mid-March. The hunt continues for another position, EP of Innovation, as you will learn in the paid help wanted ad above.

Some hires at Scripps stations to share:

Producer LOGAN McCRARY has been bumped up to executive producer at KOAA-TV in Colorado Spring. And News Manager Apprentice Lisa Reyes will be the Assistant ND at WTXL-TV in Tallahassee. She’s been training at Scripps’ WFTV in Nashville and is the second successful candidate to come out of the program.

General Manager News and Notes:

Barrett

Thanks to our UPDATE Tuesday, you know (or should!) that news director turned general manager JOAN BARRETT is off to her next challenge. She’s the new GM for Tegna’s WCNC-TV (NBC) in Charlotte. Joan shared the news with her staff at Nexstar’s KDVR/KWGN-TV (FOX/CW) in Denver. She’s been the GM there for the last four years, had been an GM (and ND) in Wichita, and has had a wide variety of jobs, beginning on air in Lubbock, TX.

Loving

Joan’s wasn’t the only TEGNA general manager appointment this week. The company named DAVID LOVING to run its Des Moines station, WOI-TV (ABC). He previously worked for Univision for 21 years, most recently as GM of the company’s Houston station. David also oversaw four radio stations in Houston and, during his time at Univision, held senior management jobs in Austin, TX, San Antonio and San Francisco.

White

And the aforementioned Joan Barrett’s departure from Nexstar’s Denver station wasn’t the only general manager  departure from the company this week. LEIGH WHITE has left KTXL-TV in Sacramento after almost 4 1/2 years at this FOX affiliate, most of that time as general manager after starting there as the sales manager. She’s also worked in Charlotte, Knoxville, and for several stations in Jackson, MS.

Poduska

Unlike the popular song from years ago, Kansas City, here we, uh, go (not come) for KCTV General Manager CHUCK PODUSKA. He’s announced his retirement after 38 years with the company, the last 2 1/2 as GM for this CBS affiliate. Chuck came up the bean counter route, having worked at headquarters in Des Moines, as business manager at KCTV, and in Orlando when the company owned a station there. More in this news release.

Palmer

Finally, CHRISTOPHER PALMER has been named VP/GM for Morgan Murphy Media’s WKBT-TV in La Crosse-Eau Claire, WI. Palmer joins from Gray’s WMC-TV in Memphis, where he has been since 2015. He’s previously worked in Toledo, Las Vegas, for WorldNow in New York and in Orlando.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

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

WNJU-TV, 2200 Fletcher Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN 46278
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
KOAT-TV 3801 Carlisle Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87107
WGAL-TV 1300 Columbia Avenue. Lancaster, PA 17603
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
KTUL-TV 3333 S. 29th West Ave Tulsa, Ok 74101
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
KOLD-TV 7831 N Business Park Dr, Tucson, AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99223
WITN-TV 275 E Arlington Blvd #275, Greenville, NC 27858
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave # 1, Altoona, PA 16602
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KSBW-TV 238 John Street, Salinas, CA 93901
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Rd, Rockford, IL 61101
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDHN-TV P.O. Box 6237, Dothan, AL 36302
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
KAVU-TV 3808 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901

**: Spanish language station

February 16, 2020

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

Another day, another UPDATE as Scripps fills a senior management position from within the company.

McGarvy

SEAN McGARVY, who’s been the ND for Scripps’ WEWS-TV (ABC) in Cleveland for the past year and a half, has been tapped to fill the company’s vacant Senior Director of Content position. He’s also worked for Scripps as the Assistant ND at KMGH-TV (ABC) in Denver.

Sean’s also worked in Washington, Indianapolis, Des Moines, and Columbia, MO. Details on those jobs are on his Linkedin page.

His move creates an open ND job in Cleveland, of course.

Siegel

Sean replaces BILL SIEGEL who was promoted to GM for the company’s WSFL-TV (CW) in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, and tasked with starting a news department there.

Our full newsletter this weekend will have more on this story and all the week’s news.

regards,

Rick Gevers

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A former news director turned general manager heads east for her next job.

Barrett

JOAN BARRETT will be the next GM for WCNC-TV, the Tegna owned NBC affiliate in Charlotte. She told her staff at KDVR/KWGN-TV in Denver that she was leaving this morning. And here’s the news release from Tegna.

Joan’s been the GM in Denver for the past four years. She’d earlier spent 14 years at KWCH-TV in Wichita, the last 12 as GM after beginning as the news director for that CBS affiliate. She’s had a long and varied career, beginning on-air in Lubbock, TX.

Collura

As WCNC, she replaces another former ND turned GM, DEBORAH COLLURA, who left WCNC at the end of 2019.

As always, more in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

Rick Gevers

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

We’re a little late this week, but I can’t blame the NBA All-Star game. I’m a partial NBA season ticket holder and even I can’t watch that game. 🙂

THREE new news directors this week and TWO new openings, dropping our list of open ND jobs to 32.

None of those openings are featured in paid help wanted ads, but we do have TWO ads for news management positions in top 35 markets.

We have an obituary for a long ago ND who spent a year as a hostage in the middle east.

There are a number of news managers on the move, including a promotion for one corporate VP/News. And we have THREE items in our GM section, including the pending retirement of a GM at an ABC o-and-o.

Those stories and more below…

Newly Named News Directors:

Tina C.

WFTV, Orlando, FL…our UPDATE Thursday morning first brought you the news that TINA COMMODORE will be the next news director at this Cox owned ABC station. It’s another move within Cox for Tina, who’s spent three plus years as ND for KOKI-TV in Tulsa and worked for the company’s WSB-TV in Atlanta for seven years. She’s also worked in Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati, as well as for CNN. In Orlando, she replaces MATT PARCELL who announced in December that he was retiring after 7 1/2 years as news director.

Godinez

KUVS-TV, Sacramento, CA…LUIS FELIPE GODINEZ started Monday, February 10th, as news director for this Univision station. Media Moves has more here. He’s been the Assistant ND for KDTV in San Francisco and earlier worked at stations in Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. The last ND I show here was PABLO IACUB but he left in September 2017. If there was someone in between, I missed it.

Webb

WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC…it’s a return to this CBS affiliate for RYAN WEBB who will become news director on March 9th. He was an EP here for three years before a two year move to sister Nexstar station WKRN-TV in Nashville where he worked as a producer, senior producer and late news EP. He’s also worked in Knoxville. Ryan replaces ERIC WALTERS who left to become ND at Gray’s WDBJ-TV in Roanoke after three years as ND and 25 at the station.

New News Director Openings:

KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…we told you above that TINA COMMODORE was leaving this Cox owned FOX affiliate to become ND for sister COX station WFTV in Orlando.

Dodd

KSBW-TV, Salinas/Monterey, CA…LAWTON DODD has left this Hearst owned NBC affiliate after 22 years as ND. Here’s part of an email he sent me:

I’ve just finished up my course work/graduated this month from the Executive Leaders Program at the Center for Defense & Homeland Security on the United States Naval Postgraduate School campus. Now it’s time to take some time off.

Lawton’s also worked in Norfolk, Wichita, and Columbia, MO.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Executive Producer/Special Projects, KPHO/KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ:

I. Job Summary

Executive Producer/Special Projects at Arizona’s Family CBS5 & 3TV (Meredith Corp.) is a driven, detail-oriented and creative EP who manages our special projects team including investigative/consumer units, sports and community coverage. The EPSP wears many hats generating a large quantity of high quality, branded stories; producing one-time specials; planning and executing our election coverage and contributing to daily newscasts as needs arise. Manages other special projects, including sweeps features, documentaries, station events, and awards entries. Candidate will be a proactive self-starter, managing large numbers of ongoing projects with little supervision while seeking to create new ones. Requires a high-level understanding of TV strategy, tactics, including visual storytelling, graphics, teases, and promotional opportunities. Willing to work long or unusual hours, weekends and holidays as needed. Work performed is for all media platforms and initiatives, including on-air, web, digital and social media.

II. Essential Job Functions

Accountabilities, Actions and Expected Measurable Results

50% Produce high quality, promotable, branded stories per station strategy and research priorities.
20% Assist in development and execution of Sweeps coverage
15% Plan and execute special coverage, including elections and community events
10% Produce one-time specials
5% Other duties as assigned

III. Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements

Education: College degree required
7 yrs. experience as an EP, producer, reporter, or equivalent in daily news operation. Exp. with investigative reporting and producing.
Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of libel/slander/privacy laws.
Advanced computer and web publishing skills. Knowledge of editing.
Travel Required (Approximate): 5%

Please apply here:

EEO

Assistant News Director, WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI:

WDJT-TV CBS 58 for Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin News is searching for an Assistant News Director.

With over 40 hours of news each week in an aggressive news market that is hosting the 2020 DNC, we are seeking a creative and driven experienced newsroom leader.

Join our growing news team in a dynamic, inclusive, fast-paced newsroom where we bring our viewers the best in quality news, prime, entertainment and sports!

In this role, you will work closely with the News Director to lead the operations and editorial content of the newsroom. Must have excellent news judgment and be able to meet deadlines, communicate effectively, adapt quickly and implement change while under pressure. Mentor producers and reporters, manage scheduling, plan event coverage, update workflows for efficiency, and have a creative approach to breaking and multi-platform news.

Must have prior Executive Producer, Assistant News Director, or News Director experience, a strong producing background, a commitment to serving a diverse audience, a passion for news, and a clear understanding of journalistic ethics and laws are needed to be successful in this role.

Apply today at CBS58 Opportunities!

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 1/19/20)
KCPQ/KZJO-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/2/2020)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/20)
WSFL-TV, Miami, FL (listed 2/2/2020)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 2/9/20)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/9/20, see ad above!)
Spectrum News, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/19/20)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 1/12/20)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/8/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 1/26/20)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 1/19/20)
KNPN/KNPG/KCJO-TV, St. Joseph, MO (relisted this week)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (Digital EP, listed 2/2/20)
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (relisted this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 1/26/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (new listing this week)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP and Digital EP, listing revised 2/9/20)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/2/20)
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (listed 11/24/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, listing modified 1/19/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 2/9/20)
KSND-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 12/22/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (new listing this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 openings, EP and EP/Innovation, revised 12/22/19)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/19/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted this week)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 1/12/20)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted this week)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 2/2/20)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 12/22/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 1/26/20)
KLST-TV, San Angelo, TX (new listing this week)

MANAGING EDITOR:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (relisted 2/9/16)

More News Management Openings:

New listings this week:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (Digital Content Manager)

Listed 1/19/20:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Multiplatform Producer)
WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD (Director of Digital Content)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Professor)

Listed 1/5/20:

WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Assignment Desk Manager)

Listed 12/22/19:

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

Obituary:

Levin

JERRY LEVIN died February 7th. While he was a former ND at WBRC-TV in Birmingham, he was better known as a former hostage of the Hezbollah militants. He was working as the Middle East Bureau Chief for CNN when he was captured in 1984 and spent almost a year in custody. This story details his background and his daring escape from captivity.

Names in the News (and other items):

ANDREA BERRY returns to NBC’s WCAU-TV in Philadelphia as executive producer. She’s spent the last three years as the weekend EP for WABC-TV in New York. In addition to her earlier stint as a producer at WCAU, she’s worked for two stations in Washington, DC.

Trauring

BRIAN TRAURING has been promoted to Executive Vice President for Lilly Broadcasting. He’s been the Vice President of News, Marketing & Content Development there. More details about his new role (and some of his old ones) here. Brian’s a former RTDNA board member, and, more importantly, a longtime IndyCar fan. 🙂

MONICA CHAVARRIA has been promoted to Executive Producer for Scripps’ KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, TX. She has been a producer there.

Apologies to SARAH COWAN. While I correctly reported that she’s been promoted to Assistant ND, I screwed up the station. Sarah was promoted to Scripps’ KGTV in San Diego.

Finally, our friends at Devlin Design Group are justifiably proud of their latest project, the set for the newly launched Black News Channel. This news release details the project, one example of which is shown below.

General Manager News and Notes:

Welch

CAROLINE FOY WELCH is retiring as GM for ABC’s owned and operated WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham after eight years there. Broadcasting and Cable has more in this story. Before moving to WTVD, she spent about 20 years at another ABC o-and-o, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia where she left as VP/Programming. Caroline started at WPVI as a promotion producer.

Meyers

ALLYSON MEYERS will be the next Vice President and General Manager for Sinclair’s KTUL-TV (ABC) in Tulsa. Details in this news release. She’s a former GM for Fox’s WOFL-TV in Orlando. In Tulsa, she replaces PAT BALDWIN who left the station at the end of 2019 after 22 years as general manager there.

Walker

DANNY WALKER has been promoted to General Manager for Heartland Media’s WTVA-TV in Tupelo, MS. He’s been the Director of Sales there. Danny replaces JERRY JONES who retired Friday after almost five years as GM for this NBC/ABC operation and close to 20 years in management positions all over the country.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

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

WNJU-TV, 2200 Fletcher Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN 46278
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
KTUL-TV 3333 S. 29th West Ave Tulsa, Ok 74101
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
KOLD-TV 7831 N Business Park Dr, Tucson, AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99223
WITN-TV 275 E Arlington Blvd #275, Greenville, NC 27858
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave # 1, Altoona, PA 16602
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KSBW-TV 238 John Street, Salinas, CA, 93901
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Rd, Rockford, IL 61101
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDHN-TV P.O. Box 6237, Dothan, AL 36302
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station

February 9, 2020

Thursday, February 13, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A veteran Cox Media newswoman advances within the company to a news director job in a top 20 market.

Tina C.

TINA COMMODORE, who’s been the ND for Cox’s KOKI-TV (FOX) in Tulsa, heads to Orlando where she’ll take over the newsroom for WFTV (ABC). She joined KOKI as ND in November 2016, and was assumed oversight of the Cox radio stations there in February 2018.

Before Tulsa, Tina worked for seven years at Cox’s flagship WSB-TV in Atlanta as Managing Editor and earlier as Manager of Coverage and Content. She’s also worked in Columbus, OH, and Cincinnati, as well as for CNN.

 Parcell

In Orlando, she replaces MATT PARCELL who announced in December that he was retiring after 7 1/2 years as news director.

More on all this week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

Greetings:

Once again we achieved one goal this week. Publishing before best picture!

As I said last week, I’ll take small victories wherever I can get them.

TWO new news directors to tell you about this edition, (although, again, they’ve been NDs before so is it fair to call them new?) And TWO new openings.

Our list of open ND jobs remains at 33. TWO of those open jobs are featured among our THREE Paid Help Wanted Ads.

We have the obituary for the matriarch of an Oklahoma City news family. Two GM moves for Nexstar.

And our Names in the News section that has some unique and interesting items, at least one of which you will only read here.

A former GM and ND pens an exclusive column for us about the challenges he faces and the memories he has of his long time in TV.

There’s a interview with the head of a new cable news channel that’s set to debut Monday.

A Cincinnati station makes a major coverage policy change and then explains it to viewers.

Two new Assistant NDs at Scripps stations and a new EP in Salt Lake City

And a leading consulting firm hires a new consultant from a local station.

Those stories and more below…

Newly Named News Directors:

Breon

KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA…ERIK BREON will be the next ND for this FOX affiliate. It’s a return to Seattle for Erik, who earlier worked for 12 years at KING-TV. Here’s the note he posted on social media, and here’s his complete career background, including his current job as ND for KOLD-TV in Tucson. At KCPQ, he replaces ERICA HILL-RODRIGUEZ who left last summer to move to Los Angeles to be with her wife and landed as ND for KTTV (FOX). While KCPQ is now owned by Nexstar, it’s in the process of being sold to FOX.

Thompson

KARD/KTVE-TV, West Monroe, LA…congratulations to MICHAEL THOMPSON who’s the new ND for this Nexstar operation. Michael has been the Executive Producer for KLTV/KTRE-TV in Tyler, TX. He’s a former ND for KWES-TV in Midland, TX, and earlier worked at KLTV/KTRE. In West Monroe, he replaces ANDY PEDERSON who left for a new job which will be announced soon. And we’ll tell you when it is!

New News Director Openings:

KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ….if you were paying attention above (!) you learned that ERIK BREON is leaving this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate for Seattle and KCPQ-TV. He was ND here for almost three years. More details above.

Cashwell

WITN-TV, Greenville, NC…this Gray TV owned is advertising for a new news director. MELISSA ABRAHAMSEN CASHWELL has been the ND here since October, 2017, when she replaced the late STEPHANIE SHOOP. Melissa first joined WITN in 2005 as a producer. I reached out to Melissa (who is apparently still at the station) Sunday afternoon and will report back to you if/when I hear from her.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Assistant News Director, WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI:

WDJT-TV CBS 58 for Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin News is searching for an Assistant News Director.

With over 40 hours of news each week in an aggressive news market that is hosting the 2020 DNC, we are seeking a creative and driven experienced newsroom leader.

Join our growing news team in a dynamic, inclusive, fast-paced newsroom where we bring our viewers the best in quality news, prime, entertainment and sports!

In this role, you will work closely with the News Director to lead the operations and editorial content of the newsroom. Must have excellent news judgment and be able to meet deadlines, communicate effectively, adapt quickly and implement change while under pressure. Mentor producers and reporters, manage scheduling, plan event coverage, update workflows for efficiency, and have a creative approach to breaking and multi-platform news.

Must have prior Executive Producer, Assistant News Director, or News Director experience, a strong producing background, a commitment to serving a diverse audience, a passion for news, and a clear understanding of journalistic ethics and laws are needed to be successful in this role.

Apply today at CBS58 Opportunities!

News Director, WREX-TV, Rockford, IL:

13 WREX is looking for a dynamic, innovative newsroom leader who is committed to leading a group of talented journalists into the future of our industry.

The news operation at 13 WREX is unique. It’s content-focused and thrives off of journalists willing to think outside the box. We don’t just document what happened – we are storytellers.

We also investigate. WREX launched 13 Investigates in 2018 and is committed to telling important, impactful stories that make a difference in our local communities. The next news director must have a passion for seeking the truth and help identify important stories to cover in our community.

In just the past year, 13 WREX has been named Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association, Outstanding News Operation by the Illinois Associated Press and the regional winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. It’s an honor the station has won in four consecutive years. We’re looking for a candidate who strives for excellence in everything they do.

Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The news director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 4 years of television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism is preferred.

Please send or email your resume to:

Josh Morgan
Station Manager
13 WREX
P.O. Box 530
Rockford, IL 61105
jmorgan@wrex.com

News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:

WBNG-TV in Binghamton, NY seeks a News Director to help guide our news department to new heights of journalistic and ratings success. This is an exciting opportunity to join a great team in one of New York’s most beautiful places to live.

The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and maintaining market leading standards for newsroom operations and content. Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, as well as preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The News Director is expected to work closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.

A minimum of 4 years television news management experience and a college degree in broadcast journalism preferred. Must be able to demonstrate strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles. Must have the ability to make fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.

If you have a passion for excellence, and a burning desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Binghamton, NY, we want to hear from you.

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

Bob Krummenacker
General Manager
WBNG-TV
560 Columbia Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790

Or via email to: rkrummenacker@wbng.com

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (listed 1/19/20)
KCPQ/KZJO-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 2/2/2020)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 1/26/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/20)
WSFL-TV, Miami, FL (listed 2/2/2020)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (new listing this week, see ad above!)
Spectrum News, Milwaukee, WI (listed 1/19/20)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 1/12/20)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/8/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 1/26/20)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted 1/19/20)
KNPN/KNPG/KCJO-TV, St. Joseph, MO (listed 12/15/19)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (Digital EP, listed 2/2/20)
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/8/19)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 1/26/20)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP and Digital EP, listing revised this week)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/2/20)
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (listed 11/24/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, listing modified 1/19/20)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted 12/1/19)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (new listing this week)
KSND-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 12/22/19)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, relisted 12/1/19)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listing revised 12/22/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 openings, EP and EP/Innovation, revised 12/22/19)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/19/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 12/15/19)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 1/12/20)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 12/15/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (PM EP, listing revised 12/15/19)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 2/2/20)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 12/22/19)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (new listing this week)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 1/26/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, listed 2/2/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (relisted this week)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 1/19/20:

WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Multiplatform Producer)
WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD (Director of Digital Content)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Professor)

Listed 1/5/20:

WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Assignment Desk Manager)

Listed 12/22/19:

E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)

Obituary:

ANN OGLE, who was married to one-time Oklahoma City News Director and Anchor JACK OGLE and mother to several offspring who’ve anchored in OKC, died Thursday, February 6th at the age of 85. She was remembered in this obituary on the KFOR-TV website.

Names in the News (and other items):

Vann

I don’t need to tell you ours is a very small business. We have a very personal and heartfelt note this week from someone many of you probably know, former news director and general manager LES VANN. His note was prompted by last week’s obituary for MARTY LONG, wife of former GM JOHN LONG. Les may have some challenges ahead, but he still knows how to write. I hope you’ll take a moment to read this note written by Les intended for you.

The Black News Channel is scheduled to launch this week. The Baltimore Sun talked with BNC VP/News GARY WORDLAW (a former Baltimore ND) about this new venture.

WCPO-TV (ABC/Scripps) in Cincinnati made a major change in its policies on when to use police mug shots. And few, if any, noticed. The station’s Senior Director of Local News Content (old timers would call him the news director) MIKE CANAN discussed the reasons behind the policy change and the reaction to it.

Two appointments at Scripps’ stations to Assistant ND. At KMGH-TV in Denver  KGTV in San Diego,  SARAH COWAN has been promoted from her role as EP for that ABC station. And at KSHB-TV (NBC/Kansas City), TRAVIS SATTIEWHITE has been named AND. He’s been working as an EP at WMC-TV in Memphis and earlier worked at CNN, in Miami and for several stations in Houston.

JULIE MARTORANO joins Scripps’s KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City as the Morning Executive Producer for that FOX affiliate. She moves east from KABC-TV in Los Angeles where she was a producer. Julie’s also worked in Las Vegas and Bakersfield.

Toy

Consulting firm SmithGeiger has added a new consultant, MICHELLE TOY. Michelle’s been working at KTVU-TV (FOX) in Oakland/San Francisco where she is the Managing Editor of Digital and Content. She’s also worked for another San Francisco station and in Palm Springs, CA. More details in this email from SmithGeiger Senior VP CHRIS ARCHER.

General Manager News and Notes:

Nexstar made two GM moves this week:

ANDREW WYATT adds oversight of Washington’s WDCW-TV to his current role as GM of Hagerstown, MD’s WDVM-TV.

And SHARON RACHAL leaves KHQA-TV in Quincy, IL (where she was GM since 2015) to become GM at Nexstar’s WCIA/WCIX-TV in Champaign/Springfield, IL.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 9, 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

WNJU-TV, 2200 Fletcher Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WFTV 490 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN 46278
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
KOLD-TV 7831 N Business Park Dr, Tucson, AZ 85743
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99223
WBTW-TV 101 McDonald Court Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
WITN-TV 275 E Arlington Blvd #275, Greenville, NC 27858
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave # 1, Altoona, PA 16602
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Rd, Rockford, IL 61101 (see ad above!)
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790 (see ad above!)
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDHN-TV P.O. Box 6237, Dothan, AL 36302
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501

**: Spanish language station