February 13, 2022
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 UPDATE:
A new ND in market #1 and two interesting GM moves in today’s UPDATE.
Rivas
The largest market opening on our list of open jobs was filled today. News 12 Long Island named ROBERT RIVAS as its senior news director. Here’s the memo from News 12’s SVP and GM JACQUES NATZ. Robert’s an 18 year veteran of NBC News, where he held many jobs, and has spent the last eight months as an EP for Alongi Media. Robert replaces JIM WHITEMAN who retired late last year after 35 years at the hyper local cable network.
Howell
A former KCBS-TV (Los Angeles) GM has a new job. JAY HOWELL, who left that o-and-o last July, has landed at Nexstar’s KLAS-TV (CBS) in Las Vegas. Details here. Jay had a whirlwind tour of the CBS o-and-o’s, having run THREE of them in FOUR years, starting at KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento (one year) and KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh (13 months). Many of our older readers will remember Jay’s father, JOHN HOWELL, who was a longtime GM at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh and an ND in several markets.
Swain
Jay left KCBS the same day DEREK DALTON was dismissed from CBS’s Chicago station, WBBM-TV, as part of what some have called a purge of GM’s from the PETER DUNN era. And that ‘purge’ continued today as another of those GMs, AUDREY SWAIN, left CBS’s WJZ-TV in Baltimore after 4+ years. Broadcasting & Cable has more on her departure. ADRIENNE ROARK, who is one of the Presidents of the CBS stations group, will serve as interim GM at WJZ. She’s a former ND and GM.
It’s shaping up as another busy week, which we’ll recap in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
Another week with a lot of news director changes, but the number of stations with an ND opening remains at 45.
That’s after FIVE new news directors and FIVE new openings this week. FIVE of those open jobs make up our FIVE paid help wanted ads.
ONE obituary for the former President of an Illinois station.
Congratulations to NINE local stations who were either winners or finalists for DuPont Columbia Awards. We’ll give you the list AND a chance to watch the honorees.
And there are a handful of new news managers to report in our Names in the News section.
Have a great week!
Newly Named News Directors:
Dello Stritto
KCBS/KCAL-TV, Los Angeles, CA…we told you in a Tuesday UPDATE that MIKE DELLO STRITTO is being promoted to VP/News Director for this CBS owned duopoly. He’s been ND for CBS’s Sacramento duopoly, KOVR/KMAX-TV for about four years. He’s also been an ND in Las Vegas, worked as Managing Editor at KPIX-TV (CBS owned) in San Francisco and started as a reporter. At KCBS, he replaces ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR who becomes VP, CW and independent stations ND, based at CBS’s KTVT-TV in Dallas.
Reed
KGTV, San Diego, CA…our Wednesday UPDATE brought first word of TODD REED’s appointment as news director for this Scripps owned ABC station. New this edition: the staff note from GM LEON CLARK. Todd’s been in SLC for 2 1/2 years and has an interesting background. At KGTV, he succeeds DORIS LEWIS who left in June after 18 months as ND.
Cihock
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX…we had a lot of news in that Wednesday UPDATE. That’s where we told you that HALEY CIHOCK was being promoted to news director for this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. She’s a 22 year veteran of the station who most recently was the Assistant ND. Haley replaces CHAD CROSS who is moving to Dallas as VP/Content Development for the CBS stations group. Chad was ND here for 10 years.
Wheeler
WETM-TV, Elmira, NY…ZACH WHEELER is adding additional duties as news director at this Nexstar owned NBC affiliate. He’s been at WETM 15 years, and has been the main anchor and managing editor for the last 3 1/2. He’s also worked in West Virginia. At WETM, he replaces STONE GRISSOM who left in December after one year as ND. Stone’s Linkedin page says he is now an assistant news director for a Gray station in Texas.
Harvison
KNOE-TV, Monroe, LA…JOSH HARVISON returns to Louisiana as the next ND for this Gray owned CBS/ABC operation. Josh posted this to his Linkedin account. He’s been the news director at sister Gray station WBNG-TV (CBS) in Binghamton, NY for the last two years. Earlier he worked in Shreveport, LA and Jonesboro, AR. He replaces BRAD GINSBURG. We told you last week that Brad was returning to Texas as ND for KVEO/KGBT-TV in Harlingen, TX.
New News Director Openings:
KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA…you learned above that MIKE DELLO STRITTO is moving within CBS to become ND for its Los Angeles duopoly, KCBS/KCAL-TV. Mike’s been ND here since 2018.
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT...you also learned above that TODD REED is also headed to sunny southern California. He’ll be the next ND for Scripps’ KGTV (ABC) in San Diego after 2 1/2 years as ND for this Nexstar owned ABC affiliate. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Blandford
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH…LONI BLANDFORD is giving up the ND chair here to move to the Nexstar recruiting team. Here’s how GM JOE ABOUZEID told the staff. Loni’s been there ND here for 4 1/2 years, coming from then-Nexstar owned WISH-TV in Indianapolis, where she was Managing Editor and EP investigations. She’s also worked in Las Vegas, Nashville, and Greenville, NC. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted ad below.
Bates
KIVI-TV, Boise, ID…J BATES (not a typo nor do I know what…if anything…the J stands for) is leaving this Scripps ABC affiliate to join the Scripps recruiting team. He’s been the news director here for about four years, moving from the digital director position. J started his career on air as a sports anchor and reporter.
WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY…another move you learned about in our New News Director section above finds JOSH HARVISON returning to Louisiana as ND for sister Gray station KNOE-TV. Learn more about this opportunity in the Paid Help Wanted Ad below.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
News Director, KTVX, Salt Lake City, UT:
Nexstar Inc., America’s largest local broadcasting company, is seeking a dynamic and collaborative News Director for one of the fastest growing, and largest geographic DMAs in the United States in Salt Lake City, Utah (Market #29.) The KTVX/ABC4 News Director will lead a staff of committed journalists, and will supervises all aspects of news, news content, weather, and sports programming production.
Work in one of the top “relocation” and “move-in” states in the country. Utah enjoys some of the best outdoor activities in the world, with unique natural wonders and topography, including amazing National and State Parks, and some of the best ski-resorts as well as world class hiking, climbing and biking trails.
Utah is home to many colleges and universities, and has the youngest-age population in the United States. The state is also one of the most business-friendly states in the country. It has become a magnet for SMB entrepreneurs, and digital and tech start-ups. Salt Lake City, Provo-Orem, and Ogden rank as top 10 cities for tech start-ups and starting SMB’s.
ABC4 & CW30 produce 10 hours of news and local content a day, with additional hours on the weekend. The station has the most accurate weather forecasting team (11 years in row) and airs the only weekly political program in the market, Inside Utah Politics. ABC4 is the most highly regarded news station for local, state, and federal political reporting in Utah, including our coverage of candidate debates.
News Director, WBNG-TV, Binghamton, NY:
WBNG is looking for a dynamic newsroom leader to take our team to the next level.
WBNG-TV, the CBS affiliate 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, as well as 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.
WBNG offers a competitive salary and traditional benefits package.
If you think you’re qualified, want to work with a great group of people and live in a great community, apply online by clicking here.
WBNG-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
News Director, WLBT-TV, Jackson, MS:
WLBT is Mississippi’s flagship station and the dominant #1 local TV and digital media in Central Mississippi. We are a Gray Television NBC affiliate that consistently produces award-winning local news coverage. Jackson, MS is market #97 serving a 24 county region. WLBT produces 55 hours of news each week, including newscasts for WDBD Fox 40. The Jackson metro is the economic hub of Mississippi and a great place to work, live, and raise a family.
General Responsibilities:
– Five years of previous experience in newsroom leadership is required, as well as strong communication and organizational skills
– A degree in Journalism or Mass Communications is preferred
– Ability to work closely with other station department heads and managers within the company
– Ability to meet deadlines while handling multiple tasks
Qualifications:
• Utilize required software and systems (ENPS, Edius, Microsoft Teams, Excel). Strong computer knowledge preferred.
• A self-starter with a proven record of success in leadership, production, and distribution of local news, and development of talent.
• Strong leadership skills and excellent news judgment.
• A successful track record utilizing multi-media digital assets maximizing how news is covered and distributed.
• A passion for production and storytelling, combined with an unwavering commitment to journalistic ethics and standards.
• A community-minded spirit and vision to expand the station’s outreach and impact.
• Ability to meet deadlines while handling multiple tasks.
Interested applicants can click here to learn more and apply.
News Director, KBJR-TV, Duluth, MN:
Are you ready to lead an award-winning News Department? Are you ready to maintain our news staff’s reputation as the market leader? Are you ready to ensure that our staff of journalists remains relevant to our viewers? Do you have a vision for how local news will be shaped in the future? Are you a guide, a coach, a teacher, a mentor, a recruiter, and a trusted colleague?
If you fit that description, then the Gray Television station serving northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin has an opportunity for you!
Located on the shores of the greatest of Great Lakes, Lake Superior in Duluth Minnesota, you will find KBJR Inc. situated in a state-of-the-art broadcast facility with resources generally found in larger markets.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you can consider our area paradise with the splendor of natural resources. If you are looking to grow your career professionally and personally, Gray Television excels at providing you with the resources to do so. In Duluth, the winters can be cold, but the hearts are warm, and the spring, summers and fall are a well-kept secret.
So, if you grow to call Duluth home, or merely consider it a step in your career journey, you will not regret your time spent here. If you’re ready to lead, what are you waiting for? Apply now!:
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
SUPERVISING PRODUCER:
KOMU-TV, Columbia, Mo (listed 1/30/22)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/23/22)
KOMU-TV, Columbia, Mo (listed 1/30/22)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 2/13/22:
KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ (Digital Director)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Assignment Desk Manager)
Relisted 2/13/22:
E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH: National Director of News Platform Strategies and Special Projects
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Relisted 2/6/22:
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH: (Digital Content Director)
Listed 1/30/22:
Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, MO: (Director, Documentary Journalism Center)
Relisted 1/30/22:
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (Assistant Professor)
Relisted 1/23/22:
New York 1, New York, NY (Sr. Producer, Mornings on 1)
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA: (Digital Content Director)
Listed 1/9/22:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI: (Senior Manager of Investigative and Enterprise Content)
Listed 12/26/21:
WIS-TV, Columbia, SC: Digital Content Manager
Listed 12/19/21:
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL: Director of Innovation News Center
Obituary:
DENNIS WEST, who was President of WIFR-TV in Rockford, died January 28th at the age of 77. More details about his life and career in this obituary.
Names in the News:
The DuPont Columbia Awards were announced this week, and, if my count is correct FOUR local commercial stations were winners. Congrats to KNTV (NBC owned-San Francisco/San Jose), KNXV-TV (ABC/Scripps/Phoenix), KARE-TV (NBC-Tegna-Minneapolis) and KXTV (ABC-Tegna-Sacramento). And THREE stations were finalists: WBBM-TV (CBS owned-Chicago), KUSA-TV (NBC-Tegna-Denver) and WVUE-TV (Fox-Gray-New Orleans). You can watch all the winners and finalists here.
Capriolo
WDJT-TV in Milwaukee has hired TONY CAPRIOLO as its new assistant news director. Here’s the memo from WDJT news director JESSIE GARCIA. Tony joins the Weigel owned CBS affiliate from WMAQ-TV (NBC) in Chicago, where he was (deep breath) Daypart Manager, Afternoon Newscasts-Special Projects. He’s a 17 year veteran of WMAQ and also worked in Green Bay.
At another Scripps station, KERO-TV in Bakersfield, LIARDA YOAKUM has been promoted to executive producer. Liarda had been a morning producer at this ABC station.
Some new managers at Nexstar stations:
JANICE O’SHEA moves down I-65 to become the dayside EP for WXIN-WTTV (FOX/CBS) in Indianapolis. She’s been the EP and Assignment Manager at WLFI-TV (CBS) in Lafayette, LA IN, and was there seven years in her second stint.
JAKE TACKEBERRY moves to KNWA-TV in Fayetteville/Fort Smith, AR, as assistant ND. He’s been working for KOAM-TV (CBS) in Pittsburg, KS-Joplin, MO.
General Manager News and Notes:
To my knowledge, no GM changes this week. I do expect one job to be filled next week with a well known name. Watch this space! 🙂
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 13, 2022:
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