February 25, 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 UPDATE:
Greetings:
A major change today at Scripps.
O’Brian
The company named KATE O’BRIAN President of News. That’s a new job and will put the former ABC and Al Jazeera executive over all Scripps news operations, including Scripps’ local stations, Scripps News, and Court TV. She first joined the company in 2021 to oversee Newsy and Court TV. Many more details in the company’s news release.
Sean M.
This new role means the end of a ten year run for SEAN McLAUGHLIN as Senior Vice President of Local Media for Scripps. Sean posted this to social media. He’s a former news director in St. Louis, Tulsa (two stations) and Springfield, IL, and has also worked in Minneapolis and Austin, MN, where he worked as a weekend anchor and producer. Details on his Linkedin page.
More in our full newsletter this weekend.
regards,
Rick Gevers
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Greetings:
A busy week of ND changes.
FOUR ND openings, including ONE at a top THREE market network o-and-o.
FOUR new NDs to share, including TWO at Spanish language stations in top ten markets.
Those changes leave 35 stations on our list of openings, with no paid help wanted ads again this week.
But have an ad for a Talent Training workshop from our friends at Talent Dynamics. That’s just below, as well has ads from WMVision and Stephen Arnold Music.
ONE new GM and several articles of interest in Names in the News.
Read on and have a great week.
Talent Training Workshop
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
THE OMNI HOTEL-LAS COLINAS, IRVING TEXAS
We’re hosting a high energy, interactive workshop to help you or your team maximize storytelling impact and enhance viewer connection. Work with a team of experienced talent development experts to expand on-air performance and delivery, and off-air communication skills.
BONUS: All participants are given direct access to their workshop leaders for one month following the workshop for questions and support via email, texts, phone and video conferencing.
Great communication starts in the newsroom- let’s energize your team not newsroom leaders and invigorate the vision for your newscasts.
Maximum enrollment is 25. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Have a question about the event or would like to speak with our performance strategists on the agenda?
Email Gary Brown to set up a call and learn more.
Early bird registration: $495.00
After March 31st: $550.00
To Register: www.talentdynamics.com/dallas-workshop
Newly Named News Directors:
Several changes at Telemundo stations.
KXTX-TV, Dallas, TX…ROSSYRIS SILVA becomes VP of News here, leaving KSTS-TV in San Francisco/San Jose, where she was also VP/News.
SANDRA PEREZ is being promoted from Assistant ND to replaces Rossyris at KSTS.
It’s all detailed in this story from Media Moves.
Spessard
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC…our Tuesday UPDATE told you TODD SPESSARD is headed to this Tegna owned NBC affiliate as its next news director. Details from the station website. Todd most recently was VP/News for Griffin Media, owner of CBS stations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. But that’s not all! Check out his Linkedin page. He replaces CARRIE HOFMANN, promoted to GM for Tegna’s WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC.
Baxley
WNCT-TV, Greenville, SC…DAVID BAXLEY transfers within Nexstar to become the next news director for this CBS affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND for WIAT-TV in Birmingham, and previously was the ND for Nexstar’s WDHN-TV in Dothan, AL. But is background is much broader than that, including a stint as a chief meteorologist. At WNCT, he replaces BERNIE RITTER who’s off to WRIC-TV in Richmond as ND.
New News Director Openings:
Piacente
WFLD-TV, Chicago, IL…we received several tips from reliable sources that MATT PIACENTE has left this FOX owned station. I reached out to Matt via Linkedin, WFLD’s GM, AND a FOX spokesperson without response from anyone. Matt’s been the ND here since April, 2016, following a two year run as ND for NBC’s WVIT-TV in Hartford. He spent 15 years at WMAQ-TV in Chicago and, I believe, worked at all the other Chicago stations.
McGruder
WZTV, Nashville TN…our reporting here is much better, directly from the source involved. After more than eleven years as ND for this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate, BRYAN McGRUDER will retire March 14th. He’s a former ND for WDAF-TV in Kansas City (ten years), WHBQ-TV in Memphis (two years) and WJCL/WGTS-TV in Savannah. He’s also worked in Huntsville and Columbia, MO.
Soash
WTOC-TV, Savannah, GA…BARI SOASH has left this Gray TV owned CBS affiliate after 5+ years as news director. She’s a former ND for the Gray station in Albany, GA, WALB-TV, and worked for other Gray stations in Toledo, and Charlotte. She began her career in Lansing.
Whitney
WTVY-TV, Dothan, AL…another Gray station with an opening, as WHITNEY ARGENBRIGHT has left after just over a year as news director. She’d been the Assistant ND for 2 1/2 years before her promotion. Whitney’s also worked in Albany, GA, and Hattiesburg, MS.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
No paid ads again this week. If you want to highlight your news management opening to the most targeted audience available, let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KNBC/KVEA-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 1/7/24)
WDCW-TV, Washington, DC (listed 2/11/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/4/24)
KOVR/KMAX-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 2/11/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (relisted 1/7/24)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 1/21/24)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (listed 1/7/24)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (listed 2/25/24)
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC (listed 1/14/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 1/7/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 2/11/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 2/25/24)
WCIV-TV, Charleston, SC (listed 1/14/24)
KBOI-TV, Boise, ID (listed 1/14/24)
WGXA-TV, Macon, GA (listed 1/14/24)
KVII-TV, Amarillo, TX (listed 1/14/24)
KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX (relisted 1/7/24)
KTVO-TV, Kirksville, MO (also PM anchor, listed 1/14/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 1/7/24)
WJLA-TV, Washington, DC (PM EP, relisted 1/14/24)
The Hill, Washington, DC (Rising Program, listed 1/21/24)
WSNN-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 1/7/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 2/24/25)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 1/7/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (2 openings, AM and Digital, modified 2/4/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
WXIN/WTTV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 2/25/24)
WKRN-TV, Nashville, TN (relisted 2/25/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listed 2/25/24)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (Supervising Producer, listed 2/4/24)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (AM EP, relisted 1/7/24)
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 1/7/24)
WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 2/4/24)
WPEC-TV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 1/14/24)
KSNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 1/14/24)
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 2/25/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 1/7/24)
WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC (listed 2/4/24)
WGNO-TV, New Orleans, LA (AM EP, listed 1/28/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (Digital EP, listed 1/21/24)
WRGB-TV, Albany, NY (listed 1/14/24)
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 1/28/24)
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA (listed 2/4/24)
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)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (Digital EP, listed 2/25/24)
WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN (relisted 1/14/24)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (listed 2/4/24)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (relisted 1/7/24)
WCTI-TV, New Bern, NC (listed 1/14/24)
WTAJ-TV, Altoona, PA (Digital EP, relisted 2/18/24)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (listed 1/14/24)
WRDW/WAGT-TV, Augusta, GA (listed 1/14/24)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 2/25/24)
WMBB-TV, Panama City, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/21/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KHON-TV, Honolulu, HI (listed 1/28/24)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 1/7/24:
WATN-TV, Memphis, TN (Director of Digital Content)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Names in the News:
Some quick hits:
CBS has created a new position of EP of Daily News AND is expanding its Eye on America franchise, naming JIM AXELROD as chief correspondent. More here.
The Wall Street Journal looks at what it calls the ‘challenging tenure’ of ABC News President KIM GODWIN.
THREE broadcasters, TWO of them network executives who are former local NDs have joined the Poynter National Advisory Board.
MATT LIPSIUS has been promoted to Assistant ND for WTVC-TV in Chattanooga. He’s worked here for eight years as a producer, executive producer, and assignment manager.
General Manager News and Notes:
CHRIS PRUITT, who’s been running Nexstar’s KIAH-TV in Houston, has been named GM of the company’s KRBK-TV (FOX) in Springfield. MO. He’ll also oversee KOLR-TV (CBS) which Nexstar operates for Mission Broadcasting.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 25, 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 **
KDVR/KWGN-TV 100 East Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80203
WZTV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37228
KUTV 299 South Main Street, #150 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WXIX-TV 635 W 7th. Cincinnati, OH 45944
KBLR-TV 450 Fremont St STE 310. Las Vegas, NV 89101 **
WHP-TV, 2300 N Cameron St Harrisburg PA 17110
WVTM-TV 1732 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209
WBMA-TV 800 Concourse Pkwy Ste 200. Hoover, AL 35244
WBRE/WYOU-TV, 62 S. Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WHEC-TV 191 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
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 **
WAND-TV 904 W. South Side Drive. Decatur, IL 62526
WBRZ-TV 1650 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
WFXG-TV, 3933 Washington Rd., Augusta, GA 30907
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Avenue Medford, OR 97504
KBJR-TV 246 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th Street Bismarck, ND 58501
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 Street, Dothan, AL 36303
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