August 26, 2011
Greetings:
Another slow week of news director changes, with just ONE new opening and TWO new ND..the newly named NDs fill the two smallest market positions that were open.
That brings our list of open ND jobs to 25.
This week’s new opening is featured in a paid help wanted ad below.
There are two obituaries this week. One is for a longtime CBS News executive while the other is for a man who spent 30 years as an anchor and ND for a Louisiana TV station.
Also this week, we’ve freshened the list of news management openings, and, in Names in the News, details about new EPs for two stations out West.
That’s all below…after this week’s changes:
New News Director Openings:
Lundstad
KULR-TV, Billings, MT…JOEL LUNDSTAD is headed east to become ND for KSAX-TV in Alexandria, MN (more on that below.) Joel tells me the move will put him close to two brothers who live in the Twin Cities. Joel has been ND here since December, 2007, and earlier served as ND for two other Montana stations and one in Bend, OR. He began his career as a reporter and anchor in Great Falls, MT. More on this opportunity in the paid ad below. KULR is an NBC affiliate and is owned by Max Media of Montana.
Newly Named News Directors:
Thomas
WAGM-TV, Presque Isle, ME…LAURA THOMAS has been promoted to ND for this CBS affiliate. Laura’s a native of the area who’s been working at the station since the summer of 2008. She replaces JON GULLIVER who I believe left the station in July.
KSAX-TV, Alexandria, MN…JOEL LUNDSTAD will be the next ND for this Hubbard Broadcasting owned ABC affiliate. As mentioned above, he’s been a longtime ND for three different stations in Montana, as well as one year as an ND in Bend, OR. He replaces CRISTI JESSEE who left last month after almost two years as ND to take the same job at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, CA.
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Help Wanted Ad:
News Director, KULR-TV, Billings, MT:
Position is responsible for all aspects of our award winning news department including oversight of day to day duties, management of the operational budget, and strategic planning.
We’re only interested in the consummate professional committed to market leadership. Accreditation should include journalism degree and 2-5 years experience as an Executive Producer, Assistant News Director, Managing Editor, or News Director. Terrific opportunity with all the glory of Big Sky country in Montana.
Cover letter, resume, and salary history to:
General Manager
KULR-8
2045 Overland Ave.,
Billings, MT 59102
or via email to: bcummings@kulr.com
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. KULR-8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Full details at kulr8.com.
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Other News Management Openings:
Assistant News Director:
WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL (relisted 7/1/11)
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 8/5/11)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (relisted 7/1/11)
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (relisted 7/1/11)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 6/10/11)
WPMT-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 7/29/11)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 6/24/11)
WMTW-TV, Portland, ME (listed 7/1/11)
Executive News Producer:
KTVK-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, relisted 8/5/11)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (AM EP, listed 8/12/11)
KCNC-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, new listing this week)
WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (Dayside EP, relisted this week)
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted this week)
WVIT-TV, Hartford/New Haven, CT (relisted 8/5/11)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (PM EP, listing revised 8/12/11)
WHBQ-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 7/1/11)
WLUK-TV, Green Bay, WI (PM EP, listed 8/12/11)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 8/19/11)
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Obituaries:
Vernardos
Longtime CBS News executive LANE VERNARDOS died last Friday of a heart attack at his retirement home in Maui. He was 67. Lane began his career in radio news and later joined CBS News in Washington as a producer for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. He later became EP of the Evening News three years after DAN RATHER became the anchor. Lane retired in 2000 but served as a consultant for CBS News for a short time and later worked on several reality programs, including Survivor. He’s survived by his wife, four children and his brother.
Cremeens
CARLTON CREMEENS, who served for many years as an ND and anchor for WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, died Wednesday, August 24th at the age of 89. He retired in 1990 after more than 30 years at that CBS station. He’d earlier served as both a radio and TV news director in Little Rock, AR. WAFB remembered him with this story.
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Names in the News:
Lackey
KOVR-TV in Sacramento has a new Nightside EP. MISTIE LACKEY joins this CBS o-and-o from WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach where she was an EP. She’s also worked as a producer for WGCL-TV in Atlanta, WOFL-TV in Orlando, for two stations in Nashville and one in Knoxville.
Messer
ROBBY MESSER has been named the Nightside EP for KVOA-TV in Tucson. He has been working as the Morning EP for KOB-TV in Albuquerque for just over a year. Before that he was the ND for KIVI-TV in Boise. He’s also worked in Green Bay where he was the Assistant ND for WGBA-TV.
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The Full List:
To the best of my knowledge, here is the list of stations with open news director jobs, as of Friday, August 26, 2011.
If you know of any additions/deletions/changes/updates, please email me at: rick@rickgevers.com
NY 1 News 75 Ninth Ave. New York NY 10011
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin St. Dallas TX 75202
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy. Minneapolis MN 55427
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson St. Portland OR 97201
WTNH/WCTX-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tucson AZ 85705
WROC-TV 201 Humboldt St. Rochester NY 14610
WSYR-TV 5904 Bridge St. Syracuse NY 13057
KWWL-TV 500 East Fourth St. Waterloo IA 50703
KOAA-TV 530 Communications Cir. Colorado Springs CO 80905
WGGB-TV 1300 Liberty St. Springfield MA 01104
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St. Lewiston ID 83501
KVII-TV One Broadcast Center Amarillo TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 W. Auburn Rd. Rockford IL 61105
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Dr. Palm Desert CA 92260
WFXL-TV 1211 N. Slappey Blvd. Albany GA 31707
WCJB-TV 6220 NW 43rd St. Gainesville FL 32653
KSWT-TV 1301 Third Ave. Yuma AZ 85364
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Avenue Billings MT 59102 (see ad above!)
WHSV-TV 50 N. Main St. Harrisonburg VA 22802
WLUC-TV 177 US Highway 41 East Negaunee MI 49866
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Manor Grand Junction CO 81502
KSAN/KLST-TV 2800 Armstrong San Angelo TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway Cheyenne WY 82001