April 7, 2024

Sunday Apr 7, 2024

Greetings:

Not a lot of news director changes this week, but read on for other items of note.

Just ONE new ND named, and we’ve added TWO stations to our list of open ND jobs, bringing that list to 35 stations. ONE of those openings is featured in one of our THREE Paid Help Wanted ads.

In a most unusual development, CBS has hired Gray Television’s in house consulting and research group to provide those services to its 14 owned stations. We have more below.

And, sadly for me, we have obituaries for TWO former news directors (among other accomplishments) who were friends of mine, DOW SMITH and DAN SPAULDING.

Newly Named News Directors:

Hissong

WAND-TV, Decatur, IL…ROD HISSONG joins this Block Communications owned NBC affiliate. He’s been working for sister Block station WDRB-TV (FOX) in Louisville for the last 4+ years, earlier worked as a reporter in Cincinnati, as an anchor in Ft. Wayne, and for News 12 in New York. At WAND, he replaces JACKLYNN SYLVESTER who left earlier this year to become the Assistant ND for Tegna’s WBNS-TV in Columbus.

SciLine has a wide variety of scientific experts ready to help with your news stories over the next few weeks.

SciLine Briefing:

Climate change and agriculture: air, water, and soil

Tuesday, April 9 (2-3 p.m. EDT) – Zoom

SciLine’s next media briefing will cover the myriad ways agricultural production is—and may soon be affected further—by climate-driven shifts in air quality, including changing carbon dioxide and ozone levels; water quality and quantity; and soil health. Three scientists will make brief presentations and then take questions on the record. SciLine Director Rick Weiss will moderate.

Panelists:

Dr. Courtney Leisner, Virginia Tech
Dr. Mallika Nocco, University of Wisconsin Madison
Dr. Michelle Wander, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

New News Director Openings:

WRC-TV, Washington, DC…a modification here…the station has changed the listing here from an Assistant ND role. That’s the title MATT GLASSMAN held before moving to NBC News as VP of Regional Editorial for NBC News. Matt just wrapped up his time at WRC this week: here’s the story from the station’s website.

One other bit of housekeeping. We’ve added KFSM-TV in Ft. Smith-Fayetteville to our list of open stations…we should have done that when MORGAN SCHAAB transferred to sister Tegna station KSDK-TV in St. Louis as Director of Content earlier this year.

Paid Help Wanted Ads:

News Director, KXNews, Bismarck, ND:

Calling all news managers looking to grow their skillset in a city with plenty of outdoor adventures. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has a News Director opening at KX News in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Our market covers half the state of North Dakota. KX News has studios in Bismarck and Minot.

The right candidate will be a strong mentor who understands the importance of local enterprise stories. We’re searching for a decisive decision maker with a track record of leading newsroom teams.

Learn more here!

Senior Director, CNN NewsSource, Sales and Affiliate Relations:

CNN NEWSOURCE SEEKS A SALES AND AFFILIATE RELATIONS SENIOR DIRECTOR.

Our new team member will focus on helping our local news affiliates tell their stories, leading new business generation and account service. Every great story hW

Check out the details here!

Senior Executive Producer, WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL:

The WINK Senior Executive Producer will oversee the development and training of producers and Executive Producers at Southwest Florida’s leading news operation.

WINK is looking for a leader capable of teaching and mentoring producers, as well as developing Executive Producers on our dayside team. Passion is important for this role, but more important is a sense of purpose.

The top candidate will be someone who demonstrates the ability to lead and teach. Creativity, strong news judgment, superb writing skills and excellent showcasing and production skills are a must.

The Sr. EP oversees all activities that go into the creation of the on-air product, which includes Executive Producers, Producers and Associate Producers.

Integrating social media into the newscasts is an emerging growth area in which the Sr. EP must embrace and lead by example. The Sr. EP must be able to step in and actually produce a newscast. The Sr. EP is the chief advocate for the practical execution of research strategies designed to meet audience expectations. This senior leadership position will help lead a team of experienced journalists that produce more than 70 hours of local news a week.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Southwest Florida is often praised as being one of the healthiest and happiest places in the world with miles of white-sand beaches and a dynamic community. Broadcast Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we are a drug-free and smoke-free environment.

Other News Management Openings:

ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:

KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (listed 4/7/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/24)
KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/11/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 2/25/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 3/24/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 2/11/24)
KWEX-TV, Midland, TX (listed 4/7/24)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:

KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 1/7/24)
WFMZ-TV, Allentown, PA (Philadelphia market, listed 4/7/24)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (PM EP, relisted 1/14/24)
The Hill, Washington, DC (Rising Program, listed 1/21/24)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 3/15/24)
WDCA-TV, Washington, DC (listed 3/15/24)
KAZT-TV, Phoenix, AZ, (2 openings, EP & Digital EP. listed 4/7/24)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 3/15/24)
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 3/3/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/24/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 3/15/24)
KCRA-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 4/7/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (2 openings, AM and Digital, modified 2/4/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 2/25/24)
KSWB/KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listed 3/15/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 3/15/24)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 3/15/24)
WTNH-TV, Hartford, CT (listed 3/3/24)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 4/7/24)
WGAL-TV, Lancaster, PA (listed 4/7/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 2/25/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 3/15/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (Weekend EP, listing revised 4/7/24)
WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY (PM EP, listed 4/7/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 3/15/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 3/10/24, see ad above!)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (relisted 4/7/24)
KETV, Omaha, NE (listed 2/4/24)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (Digital EP, listed 2/18/24)
KXXV-TV, Waco, TX (listed 2/25/24)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX (listed 3/3/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, listed 2/25/24)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 2/4/24)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital EP, relisted 2/18/24)
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WI (listed 4/7/24)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/24)
WDHN-TV, Dothan, AL (News Manager, listed 4/7/24)

MANAGING EDITOR:

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (listed 3/17/24)
WJYZ-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 3/17/24)

More News Management Openings:

Listed 3/17/24:

WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA (Director of Special Projects)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)

Relisted 3/17/24:

WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)

Listed 3/10/24:

KXXV/KRHD-TV. Waco/Bryan, TX

Listed 3/3/24:

WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (News Operations Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Assignment Desk Manager)

Obituary:

Smith

News Director turned General Manager turned educator DOW SMITH died Tuesday, April 2nd, after a short battle with ALS. Dow was 83. He was a news director in Miami, Detroit, and Washington, DC, a GM in Albany, NY, and Birmingham, AL, and went on to teach at Syracuse and several other universities. He also worked in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Columbia, MO, where he received a Masters’ from the University of Missouri.

Spaulding

Another ND and educator turned PR executive passed away early this morning. DAN SPAULDING was 79 and died of complications from Alzheimer’s. He anchored in several markets, taught at Wisconsin-Green Bay and at Missouri (along with his wife TRISHA) where Dan was ND at KOMU-TV. He later was ND at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, MI before turning to PR. His bio from the PR firm has more. But Dan may have been proudest of his job as the “Voice” of the Michigan Marching Band. Trisha shared this very poignant note about that, which speaks to the ravages of Alzheimer’s.

We’ll have details on a Celebration of Life when they are finalized.

Names in the News (and other stuff):

In what seems like a first of its kind arrangement, CBS has hired Gray Television’s in house research and consulting staff to provide services to its 14 owned stations. There are no market conflicts. More details here. Not included in the news release are two new hires to that in-house team, including JENELLE SHRINER, a former Gray ND in Lake Charles, Tucson, and Louisville.

General Manager News and Notes:

SHUNECA HARRINGTON returns to Sinclair as GM for WRLH-TV, the company’s FOX affiliate in Richmond, VA. She began her career as an account executive at Sinclair’s WLFL-TV in Raleigh. Most recently, she’s been Director of Sales for WRAL-TV in Raleigh.

Our List of Open News Director jobs:

Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, April 7, 2024:

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

News 12 Bronx/Brooklyn, 930 Soundview Ave. Bronx, NY 10473
WFLD-TV 205 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Boulevard, Ft. Worth, TX, 75155 **
WXIA-TV One Monroe Place NE Atlanta, GA 30324
WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
WZTV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37228
KUTV 299 South Main Street, #150 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WDAF-TV 3030 Summit Kansas City, MO 64108
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WBMA-TV 800 Concourse Pkwy Ste 200. Hoover, AL 35244
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WHAS-TV 520 W. Chestnut St. Louisville, KY 40202
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
WTOC-TV 1511 Chatham Center Dr. Savannah, GA 31405
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th St. Springdale, AR 72762
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
KESQ-TV 31276 Dunham Way Thousand Palms, CA 92276
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501 (see ad above!)
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX. 79761
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire Quincy, IL 62301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KGNS-TV 120 W. Del Mar Blvd. Laredo TX 78041
KGWN-TV, 2923 E. Lincolnway. Cheyenne, WY 82001
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
KQTV 4000 Faraon St. Joseph, MO 64506

**: Spanish language station

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