Rick’s Weekly Newsletter | Rick Gevers & Associates

February 2, 2020

Thursday, February 6, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

It’s a return to Seattle for a veteran newsman who gets his THIRD news director job in a market where he earlier worked for 12 years.

Breon

ERIK BREON will be the next news director for KCPQ-TV, the FOX affiliate in Seattle. Q13, as it is branded, is currently owned by Nexstar but is in the process for being sold to Fox. Erik posted this on Facebook announcing the news.

He’s been the ND for KOLD-TV (Gray/CBS) in Tucson since April 2017. For the rest of his career moves (and where he spent the 12+ years in Seattle) check out his Linkedin page.

At KCPQ, he will replace ERICA-HILL RODRIGUEZ who left last summer after six years and is now the ND for Fox’s KTTV in Los Angeles.

We’re checking out a number of changes in other markets and we’ll have details in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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Greetings:

We achieved one goal this week. Publishing this newsletter before kickoff.

I’ll take small victories wherever I can get them.

TWO new news directors to tell you about this edition (are they really new when they’ve been NDs before?) And THREE new openings, including ONE in the number one market.

That brings our count of open ND jobs to 33. TWO of those open jobs are featured in Paid Help Wanted Ads.

Also this week:

Details about a memorial service for a longtime Missouri faculty member.
An obituary for the wife of a former Washington, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati GM.
A veteran Magid consultant hangs ’em up at the end of March.
News about TV is going to be harder to find with TWO developments this week.
Scripps fills some news management jobs in Denver and Cleveland.
Nexstar is looking for news managers for its new national newscast.
And new GMs in Phoenix, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge.

Details on all those stories and more below…

Newly Named News Directors:

Balta

WTTW-TV, Chicago, IL…our update earlier this week brought the news of HUGO BALTA‘s appointment of news director for the public television station, The news release has all the details. Hugo, a two time president of NAHJ, filled a newly created title here and essentially replaces MARY FIELD whose title was executive producer. She retired last year after 23 years. Hugo most recently worked at MSNBC as a senior producer. He’s also been an ND for WNJU-TV (Telemundo) in New York, worked at WCBS-TV, and spent seven years at ESPN.

Gegg

WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA…CHRIS GEGG fills the vacant ND job here. He’s leaving Sinclair’s WRGB-TV in Albany where he’s spent the last three years as ND. Chris has also been an ND in Milwaukee and Madison, WI, and has worked in Detroit, Nashville, Tampa, Toledo and Midland, TX. At WVEC, he replaces the man who is now his boss, DOUG WIEDER who was promoted to GM for this Tegna owned ABC station last fall after seven years as ND.

New News Director Openings:

Rodriguez

WNJU-TV, New York, NY…ENDY RODRIQUEZ has left his job as Vice President/News for this Telemundo station after almost 20 years at the station, where he began as an intern in 2001. He was promoted to news director in 2017 from his old job as Assistant News Director. Media Moves has more in this story.

McConico

WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA…this Tegna owned FOX affiliate is looking for a new news director following the departure of MATT McCONICO who left on January 24th after 4+ years as news director. Matt’s also been an ND for KRNV-TV in Reno, and has worked in Ft. Myers (for two different stations), Green Bay, and Eau Claire, WI.

WRGB-TV, Albany, NY…as detailed above, CHRIS GEGG is leaving after three years to become the ND for WVEC-TV in Norfolk. This is a CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair.

Updating our story last wreck about BEN STANFIELD‘s departure from WDHN-TV in Dothan, AL, after two years as ND (he also anchored there). Ben wrote to share that he’s headed to WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, as the morning anchor there.

And please note TWO paid help wanted ads for news directors below. One is for WREX-TV in Rockford, IL, the other for WBNG-TV in Binghamton, NY.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

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

WbngLogo

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 (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 1/26/20)
KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/20)
WSFL-TV, Miami, FL (new listing this week)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 1/12/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 12/8/19)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/20)
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, new listing this week)
Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (Digital EP, new listing this week)
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/8/19)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 1/26/20)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 1/5/20)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (new listing this week)
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)
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)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 1/12/20)
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 (new listing this week)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
WKBN-TV, Youngstown, OH (listed 1/12/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 12/22/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 1/26/20)

MANAGING EDITOR:

Nexstar’s News Nation, Chicago, IL (2 openings, new listing this week)
KOIN-TV, Portland OR (listed 12/1/19)

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)
WJET-TV, Erie, PA (Digital Content Manager)

Obituaries:

Long

We are late in telling you about the passing of MARTY LONG, wife of longtime General Manager JOHN LONG. She lost her 26 year battle with Parkinson’s last August at the age of 72. Details about her life and family in this obituary. There was no public memorial or announcement of her passing, but John did agree to my sharing it with you. John was a GM at stations in Washington, DC, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Marty is also survived by four sons, one of whom, CHRIS LONG is a sportscaster for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Friends can wish John well via an email here.

Gelatt

And we now know memorial plans for longtime University of Missouri professor ROD GELATT, whose passing we shared with you last week. The memorial will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10:00 AM St. Thomas More Newman Center in Columbia. A lunch, at the church, will follow the Mass at about 11:30. There will be visitation on Friday at the church from 6:00 to 8:00. Any memorials can go to Rod’s KBIA Faculty Enhancement Fund, Missouri School of Journalism, 103 Neff Hall, Columbia MO, 65211. Rod was 93 when he died of a rare form of blood cancer. During his 45 years at Missouri, he served as ND for both KOMU-TV and KBIA-FM.

Names in the News (and other items):

Two management hires at Scripps’s KMGH-TV in Denver: KIRSTEN BOYD has been promoted to Assistant ND from her old job as executive producer for this ABC affiliate. And DAVID KLUGH has been upped to the newly created position of Managing Editor there. He’s been the Investigative Manager there for the last year.

JANELLE HAWTHORNE is now the Managing Editor at Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland. She had been working at WJW-TV in Cleveland.

Lawler

Longtime Magid consultant NICK LAWLER is retiring after 33 years at the consulting firm and close to fifty years in the business. That includes news director jobs in Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His farewell note (posted on Linkedin) tells more and suggests there may be more to come. Friends can reach Nick via email here.

There are two fewer places to read about TV industry news with these announcements this week.

Editorial director and publisher CHUCK ROSS announced that he was closing the TVWeek.com website. It’s a descendent of Electronic Media which morphed into Television Week in 2003, and became an online only publication in 2009. Chuck is offering to sell the name, etc. for one dollar to any journalism school which would continue publishing it. Details here in his farewell column.

Boedeker

And news about television happenings in Orlando will be harder to find. That’s because HAL BOEDEKER has accepted a voluntary buyout from the Orlando Sentinel. He’s covered the beat for 25 years and earlier spent five years as the TV critic for the Miami Herald. He outlined the highs and lows (mostly highs) in his last column.

General Manager News and Notes:

Univision Arizona has named JOE DONNARUMMA as General Manager of its properties there. He’ll be based in Phoenix.

Corrente

Gray Television has named a new GM for its New Orleans station, WVUE-TV. RONNA CORRENTE will succeed TIM INGRAM as the head of that FOX affiliate. She’s leaving the same job at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, where she’ll be replaced by JOE SCIORTINO who moves there from GM at KSLA-TV in Shreveport. Details here.

BECKY HILLIER moves from the anchor desk to management as she becomes Station Manager for KULR-TV in Billings, MT. That’s the Cowles owned NBC affiliate there. More about Becky and her new job here.

Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 2, 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 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
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
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
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!)
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Road West Monroe, LA 71292
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

January 26, 2020

Monday, January 27, 2020 UPDATE:

Greetings:

A new job for a veteran journalist as he takes a news director job in the #3 market.

Balta

HUGO BALTA was named ND today for WTTW-TV in Chicago. You may not recognize the call letters: it’s a public TV station there. And it’s a newly created title…Hugo replaces MARY FIELD who retired last summer after 23 years. Her title was executive producer.

More details in the station’s news release. And Chicago media columnist ROBERT FEDER has his story here.

Hugo most recently worked at MSNBC as a senior producer. He’s also been an ND for Telemundo in New York, worked at WCBS-TV, and spent seven years at ESPN. He’s a two time president of NAHJ.

More in our full newsletter this weekend.

regards,

gevers

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

The rapid pace of news director changes that started the new year slowed a bit this week with just TWO new openings. And I’m not aware of any new NDs, so our list of open ND jobs rises to 31.

Again, we have THREE paid help wanted ads for different and unique opportunities.

Among our THREE obituaries are one of a former ND and GM, another of a longtime educator who once served as an ND, and the third is for a longtime Tribune executive and WGN-TV GM.

In Names in the News, you’ll learn of the retirement of a former ND and longtime Cox executive, a new job for a multi-time ND, and I’ll tell you why a longtime Los Angeles newsman wanted me to share the news of his health battle with you.

Read on for all that and more…

Newly Named News Directors:

To the best of my knowledge, no new hires this week. If you know of some, please pass that news along via email: rick@rickgevers.com

And one correction to last week’s report. We told you that STACEY PATTBERG had been promoted to ND for News 12 New Jersey, and that was wrong. Stacey’s the new news boss for News 12 Connecticut. Apologies for both Stacey and N12NJ ND JEREMY SETTLE.

New News Director Openings:

Morgan

WREX-TV, Rockford, IL…congratulations to JOSH MORGAN who’s been promoted to station manager. He joined the station in March, 2013, as news director. During his time at WREX the station won a National Edward R. Murrow Award. Josh had been an EP for WPSD-TV in Paducah, KY, and earlier worked as a producer in Green Bay, WI. WREX is owned by Quincy Media and is an NBC affiliate.

Stanfield

WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL…this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate is advertising for a news director. My records show BEN STANFIELD, an anchor there, was promoted to ND in January, 2018. ~~He is still on the station’s website, so perhaps he is going to give up the ND part of his portfolio~~. He’s off to WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, to anchor the morning news. Ben’s been an anchor at the station for about five years and earlier worked for another Dothan station.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

Senior Multiplatform Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:

WRAL seeking a seasoned journalist to run breaking and day-to-day coverage on our digital platforms. Will plan and produce daily coverage – written, video and multimedia – to assure that WRAL’s audiences on the Web, Mobile, TV, App and Social Media can quickly and easily access and interact with the top local stories of the day.

This person will emphasize identifying and producing engaging stories and develop a team of producers in best practices to meet key digital performance indicators on a daily, monthly and annual basis. Should be adept with both words and digital tools, serving as front-line teacher and troubleshooter in the newsroom-wide use of web-based tools for the creation of digital stories, pictures, live and on-demand video.

You will be part of the newsroom leadership team, a succinct and clear communicator, able to collaborate across platforms, shifts, and locations with contributors both in person and in the field. A mastery of AP style, a basic understanding of television and digital production and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a breaking news environment is required. Newsroom management experience preferred.

A pre-employment drug screening is required. EOE, M/F. All Capitol Broadcasting Company properties are tobacco free. Capitol Broadcasting Company participates in E-Verify.

All candidates must apply online. Just click here!

WbocLogo

Digital Content Director, WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD:

Live, work and play at the beach while building a career at America’s finest small-market broadcast group!

Enjoy life with this family-owned company on the beautiful Delmarva Peninsula, located between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Ideally located at ocean resorts, with an easy drive to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.

This position is responsible for the planning, development and delivery of infrastructure, editorial processes, schedules, and content to maintain the Draper Media digital news properties in their position as the leader in interactive news and feature delivery on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Draper Media’s local news content is produced and distributed for busy, tech-savvy, mobile audiences, and we’re looking for a creative, innovative leader to drive these efforts for our CBS, NBC, and Telemundo affiliates. The Digital Content Manager for Draper Media will serve as a member of the management team and lead the publication and distribution of engaging, compelling content across multiple platforms. This person will play a key role in charting our station’s content and audience growth strategy.

Learn more about this great opportunity and apply here!

Tenure Track Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY:

Here’s your chance to train the next generation of broadcast and online journalists while living in the Bluegrass, one of the most beautiful and hospitable areas of the country.

The University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media is seeking a tenure-track professor to coordinate its daily newscasts and teach courses in broadcast journalism, producing and reporting.

More details and application can be found here!