August 5, 2018
Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 UPDATE:
Greetings:
What a week!
Today there’s a new leader of a revised news management structure at a top 20 NBC affiliate.
Miller
ADAM MILLER has been named Director of Content for Tegna’s WKYC-TV in Cleveland. He’s spent pretty much his entire career at the Today Show, beginning as a production assistant and rising to Senior Producer, a role he’s held since July 2017. Adam grew up in Northeast Ohio and worked at WKYC as a production assistant years ago.
Here’s the station’s news release, and here’s a slightly more detailed column from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
In addition, DENISE POLVERINE continues as Director of Digital while JON ADKINS has been promoted to Director of News Content.
The news release says Denise and Jon report to Adam, while the Plain Dealer story says Jon essentially replaces BRENNAN DONNELAN, who left the station in March to pursue other projects involving long form story telling. Brennan was ND here for 5 1/2 years.
This weekend’s newsletter will be a busy one!
regards,
Rick Gevers
Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 UPDATE:
Today we have a news director change in a top THREE market.
Lyons
JENNIFER LYONS is stepping down as ND for Chicago’s WGN-TV after four years in the top job and almost 25 years at that Tribune owned station.
She’s taken a job as VP/Communications and External Relations for Catholic Extension, which supports and strengthens poor mission dioceses nationwide.
Longtime Chicago media writer ROBERT FEDER has the details including Jennifer’s note to her staff and GM PAUL RENNIE‘s note to the station.
During her time at WGN, Jennifer was the assistant ND and executive producer. She’s also worked in Des Moines and Davenport, IA.
Ginther
On another front, another longtime media writer, Dallas’s ED BARK, has more on the surprise departure yesterday of KXAS-TV VP/News MARK GINTHER. And KXAS issued a brief statement, saying:
Mark Ginther is no longer employed by NBC 5 / KXAS. We are grateful for his commitment and dedication to the KXAS team. His last day with the station was Monday, August 6.”
Assistant ND JOHN STONE will be the interim ND at KXAS.
It’s been a busy week. We’ll have a full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, August 6, 2018 UPDATE #2:
Updates apparently beget updates….a second one today, just one week after we reported two in one day. And this one has two items.
Ginther
This one’s a bit of a surprise, at least to me, but word out of Texas says KXAS-TV (Dallas/Ft. Worth) VP/News MARK GINTHER has left the station. The staff learned in a meeting with the general manager today.
Mark’s been the ND for this NBC o-and-o for the last three years, spent almost eight years before that as the VP/News for KING-TV in Seattle. He’s also been an ND in Des Moines, was an Assistant ND for WFAA-TV in Dallas and began his career in Minneapolis where he worked in both radio and television.
UPDATED: Late Monday, Dallas TV columnist ED BARK posted this story which explains more about Mark’s departure.
Wolfe
And a news director has been named at Tegna’s WHAS-TV in Louisville. JULIE WOLFE is moving from her job as Assistant ND at sister Tegna station WXIA-TV in Atlanta. More in this memo from VP/GM CHRISTY MORENO.
Julie replaces DAVID SEALS who left the station in March after four years as ND.
More later…
regards,
Rick Gevers
Monday, August 6, 2018 UPDATE:
There’s a news director change in a top 35 market to report to you.
Levy
SCOTT LEVY, who’s been the news director for Meredith’s KCTV in Kansas City since August, 2016, has left the station. That’s the CBS affiliate there. The other Meredith news directors learned of the change in a remarkably terse email from the company’s VP/News GARY BROWN.
Scott’s got his first news director’s job in October, 2012, at WETM-TV in Elmira, NY. Since then, he’s held ND jobs at WTAJ-TV in Altoona and WIVB-TV in Buffalo. He’s also worked for News 12 Bronx/Brooklyn, and in Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City (two stations) and Tulsa.
We’ll have more on this development and all the week’s news in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Great to see many of you at the NABJ conference in Detroit this week. I attended that same conference in that same hotel (the Detroit Renaissance Center) 26 years ago, and, not surprisingly, the building is no easier to navigate now than it was then! (If you were there you know what I mean!)
This week’s newsletter will be easy to navigate, though.
Just ONE newly named news director and, to the best of my knowledge, NO new openings, so our count of open ND jobs drops to 30.
If you’d like to work in news management in a great climate, check out our TWO paid help wanted ads for jobs in Los Angeles.
Speaking of NABJ, that organization has a new executive director whose name will be familiar to you. That’s among the items in Names in the News below.
Newly Named News Directors:
Cyprian
WALB-TV, Albany, GA…NICHOLE CYPRIAN is the next news director for this Raycom Media owned operation. It’s a promotion for Nichole, who’s been the Assistant ND for the past year. More from GM JIM WILCOX in this staff memo. Nichole’s also worked for in Mobile, Jackson, MS, and Memphis. She replaces BARI SOASH who was promoted to ND for sister-Raycom station WTOC-TV in Savannah, GA.
New News Director Openings:
I’m not aware of any new openings this week. If you are, please let me know.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA:
At NBCUniversal, we believe in the talent of our people. It’s our passion and commitment to excellence that drives NBCU’s vast portfolio of brands to succeed. From broadcast and cable networks, news and sports platforms, to film, world-renowned theme parks and a diverse suite of digital properties, we take pride in all that we do and all that we represent. It’s what makes us uniquely NBCU.
Here you can create the extraordinary.
NBCUniversal Owned Station, NBC4 Southern California, is looking for an Assistant News Director with strong news judgment and the ability to lead and inspire a highly talented news staff to reach beyond established goals.
Responsibilities:
* Manage daily coverage, events, and breaking news across NBC4 broadcast and digital platforms
* Implement strategies to increase ratings performance in newscasts
* Provide leadership to news professionals, driving a culture of creativity and excellence in a multi-platform environment
* Responsible for news staff development and training in coordination with other news managers
* Participate in the performance appraisal process for assigned editorial staff in conjunction with the management team and VP of News
* Manage script approval process as delegated to individual managers
* Develop and manage ongoing staff recruitment in all news areas
* Involved with aspects of news content for the station’s website and new media outlets
* Ensure the daily goals and missions are executed, tracked, and communicated to the staff
* Evaluate workflow efficiencies ensuring editorial resources and expectations are clearly defined and met
* Implement and have a working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws impacting newsroom operations
* Enforce newsroom’s policies and procedures
Click here to apply:
Executive Producer, KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA:
At NBCUniversal, we believe in the talent of our people. It’s our passion and commitment to excellence that drives NBCU’s vast portfolio of brands to succeed. From broadcast and cable networks, news and sports platforms, to film, world-renowned theme parks and a diverse suite of digital properties, we take pride in all that we do and all that we represent. It’s what makes us uniquely NBCU.
Here you can create the extraordinary.
NBCUniversal Owned Station, NBC4 Southern California, is looking for an Executive Producer who can lead a team of Platform Managers and Content Producers in providing compelling news coverage.
Responsibilities:
* Manage editorial content for assigned news platforms produced by NBC4, but may be responsible for additional platforms including but not limited to broadcast, digital and web
* Coordinate with production, engineering, and IT teams to ensure seamless show productions as well as with the editorial team to ensure complete local news coverage
* Collaborate with newsroom leadership, other NBC Owned stations, and NBC News for daily coverage and special events planning
* Communicate with news management and assignment desk to shape newscasts and determine the composition and flow of all assigned platforms
* Schedule platform managers and content producers for proper coverage
* Participate in the performance appraisal process for assigned editorial staff
* Work with news leadership to ensure training and coaching is provided for Platform Managers and Content Producers
* Participate in recruitment efforts and facilitate orientation of new employees
* Track market competitive trends
* Develop and implement show content and format changes
* Track coverage costs and ensure fiscal responsibility in the news department
Click here to apply:
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WABC-TV, New York, NY (listed 6/8/18)
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18, see ad above!)
WSNS-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/15/18)
WPTV, West Palm Beach, FL (listed 7/1/18)
WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC (listed 6/17/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 7/1/18)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (listed 6/24/18)
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 6/24/28)
KYTX-TV, Tyler, TX (listed 7/1/18)
WALB-TV, Albany, GA (new listing this week)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (listed 7/29/18, see ad above!)
WGCL-TV, Atlanta, GA (AM EP, relisted 6/8/18)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (AM EP, listed 7/1/18)
KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA (PM EP, relisted 7/8/18)
WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (AM EP, listing modified this week)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (Senior EP, listed 7/1/18)
KARE-TV, Minneapolis MN (listed 7/22/18)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (2 jobs, Special Projects & PM EP, listing revised 7/15/18)
WKYC-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 7/1/18)
WOIO-TV, Cleveland, OH (relisted this week)
WBTV, Charlotte, NC (listed 7/29/18)
WRTV, Indianapolis, IN (listed 7/1/18)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted 7/1/18)
KCTV, Kansas City, MO (AM EP, listing modified 7/15/18)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 7/1/18)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (AM & PM EPs, listed 6/17/18)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (listed 7/15/18)
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN (AM EP, relisted 7/15/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Senior EP, listed 7/8/18)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (THREE EP openings, listed 7/8/18)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 7/1/18)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/22/18)
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI (Senior EP, relisted 7/22/18)
WBTW-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC (listed 7/1/18)
WCTV, Tallahassee, FL (listed 6/3/18)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WMAQ-TV, Chicago, IL (listed 6/17/18)
Names in the News (and other items):
Halsne
Just ONE local broadcast station was among the winners of the National Press Club awards announced this week, and that’s Denver’s KDVR-TV. Proud to tell you my client CHRIS HALSNE won both awards, as detailed in this news release. Chris is in good company: other broadcast winners included the PBS News Hour, CBC, and CBS Sunday Morning.
JESSICA BOBULA returns to Raycom Media as the new Assistant News Director for WIS-TV in Columbia, SC. Jessica moves from KXTV in Sacramento where she was executive producer. She previously worked as a producer for KOLD/KMSB-TV, the Raycom stations in Tucson.
Berry
One time news director and general manager DREW BERRY has been named Executive Director for NABJ. He’s been consulting the organization. Drew’s a former GM in Baltimore (WMAR-TV), ND in Philadelphia (WCAU-TV) and Baltimore (also WMAR), and worked for stations in New York, Dallas, and for a second Philadelphia station. The appointment was announced Friday, July 27th, but the previously printed program already had his information in it.
Wordlaw
Longtime broadcaster GARY WORDLAW is one of several people profiled in this U.S. News & World Report story about people working long past retirement age. Gary’s not THAT far past that age (he’s 66) and tried retirement for six or seven months, but says it was a mistake. He’s now back in a newsroom as the ND for Nexstar’s WVLA-TV in Baton Rouge. Gary’s been an ND in Washington and Baltimore, and a general manager in Seattle, New Orleans, Syracuse, and Tallahassee. He’s also worked in Chattanooga.
General Manager News and Notes:
Not aware of any changes again this week. A reminder that we always welcome your tips via email.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, August 5, 2018:
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
Verizon Fios 1 News 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
KTVT-TV 5233 Bridge Street, Fort Worth TX
WUSA-TV 4100 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC 20016
KPIX-TV 5855 Battery St. San Francisco, CA 94111
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KIRO-TV 2807 Third Ave., Seattle WA 98121
KARE-TV 8811 Olson Memorial Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427
WEWS-TV 3001 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115
WKYC-TV 1333 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
WTNH-TV 8 Elm St. New Haven CT 06510
KTNV-TV 3355 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
WWMT-TV 590 W Maple St, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk, VA 23510
WHAS-TV 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY 12204
KOTV 303 N. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74103
WHIO-TV 1611 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45409
WOWT-TV 3501 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68131
WACH-TV 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201
WTVG-TV 4247 Dorr St. Toledo, OH 43607
KKTV 520 E. Colorado Colorado Springs, CO 80903
KION-TV 1550 Moffett St. Salinas, CA 93905
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KIII-TV 5002 South Padre Island Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78411
KHSL/KNVN-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KPVI-TV 902 E Sherman St, Pocatello, ID 83201
KMVT-TV 1100 Blue Lakes Blvd N. Twin Falls, ID 83301
WABG-TV 849 Washington Ave. Greenville MS 38701
**: Spanish language station