February 5, 2010
Greetings:
Frank Magid
1931-2010
We begin this week with late word of the passing of a legend in television news.
FRANK N. MAGID, founder of the consulting company that bares his name, died in Santa Barbara, CA, today (Friday, February 5) after a battle with cancer. He was 78.
More details in this story and this obituary from the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
UPDATE: The Washington Post reports on his death here.
Our sympathy to his wife and two sons, including Brent, who is now the CEO of the firm.
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On to our regular business…we have THREE new news directors to tell you about this week, and NO new openings.
That means our list of open ND jobs is down to an extremely low 15!
We have two new help wanted ads this week, both great opportunities if you’re tired of snow! One is for a news director’s job in Hawaii, and I’m told the station is anxious to fill this one before the incumbent leaves in May. And the other is for an EP position in San Antonio, TX. Check out both listings below.
Otherwise, it’s a fairly slow week, with one new news management openings and just one item of note in Names in the News.
Remember to email me your items!
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
None that I know of!
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA…STEVE LANGE returns as the new VP/Content for this NBC o-and-o. Steve was the Assistant ND here earlier in his career. He’s a former ND for WBBM-TV in Chicago, Executive Editor at WCBS-TV in New York, and an EP at the EXTRA news magazine. Most recently he’s run his own production company. In addition, KEITH ESPARROS has been named Director, Content. He has been the Assistant ND there and is a former news director at WVUE-TV in New Orleans. The new structure comes following the retirement of longtime KNBC ND BOB LONG who left the station in September.
Maze
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL…ERIC MAZE will be the next ND for this Journal Broadcasting-owned FOX affiliate. Eric’s currently the Assistant ND for KSHB-TV in Kansas City. He’s a former ND in Jefferson City, MO, and has also worked in Kirksville, MO. At WFTX, he replaces FRANK VERDEL who left the station last September after seven months as ND. Eric will be the fifth ND in seven years here.
Malyn
WHAM-TV, Rochester, NY…MATT MAYLN moves with the Newport Television group to become the next ND for this ABC station. Matt’s currently the Assistant ND at Newport’s KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City. He’s a former ND at KOLD-TV in Tucson, and has also been an Assistant ND in Detroit, Memphis, and Las Vegas, and has been an EP in Cleveland and Columbus. He replaces STEVE DAWE who took a job with Rochester’s PBS station after three years as ND.
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HELP WANTED ADS:
NEWS/CONTENT DIRECTOR, KGMB/KHNL-TV, HONOLULU, HI
We have a unique professional challenge and great career opportunity to align with forward thinking broadcasters. You will be responsible for directing a competitive and quality newsroom, providing news content for a statewide (island state) audience for three television stations and online platforms, while living in beautiful Hawaii. You will lead Hawaii’s largest television newsroom while providing 40+ hours of news per week for KGMB (CBS Affiliate), KHNL (NBC Affiliate) and KFVE (Independent, broadcast home of University of Hawaii sports).
Key responsibilities:
• Guide daily and long-range editorial decision-making.
• Ensure high quality standards of journalism and production consistent with goals of the stations.
• Ability and experience in developing and executing news strategy; create and coordinate special news programs which enhance the image of being the market leader; strong production skills a must.
• Fiscal Management: Ability to prepare and implement an operations plan/budget consistent with overall company and station goals.
• Coach, mentor and provide constructive feedback/evaluation to newsroom personnel, provide ongoing critiques for newscasts on a daily basis.
• Online: Innovate and manage content and workflow to effectively and efficiently utilize the station website and mobile platform as the leading source of new media news and information in the market.
• Ensure adherence to accepted standards of journalism and compliance to laws regarding libel/slander.
Education / Experience / Personal Skills required:
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Proven track record of success as a News Director or in a senior news management position (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Excellent people skills; strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead; experience in a multi-cultural setting, preferred.
• Strategic thinker, competitive and passionate for the business of local television news
Forward Cover Letter and Resume to:
Rick Blangiardi
General Manager
KGMB/KHNL-TV
Hawaii Now
420 Waiakamilo Rd. Suite 205
Honolulu HI 96817
or email to: rblangiardi@hawaiinewsnow.com
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WOAI-TV, SAN ANTONIO, TX
JOB DESCRIPTION: Duties and responsibilities include hands-on, take charge leader to oversee the daily execution of WOAI TV newscasts. Duties include but not limited to journalistic, presentation and format quality control of newscasts.
The Executive Producer will be responsible for carrying out the news philosophy, and the goals and objectives of the news department as it relates to on-air presentation. The Executive Producer must have solid journalistic credentials, outstanding writing and production skills, be a superb visual storyteller, and have dynamic creativity and excellent people skills.
Must be able to lead and motivate staff members in a positive way. The Executive Producer will also be instrumental in the development of future news product.
QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience as an Executive Producer or News Director is required. College degree is preferred.
CONTACT:
Tom Bell, News Director
WOAI TV
P.O. Box 2641
San Antonio TX 78299
Or via email: tombell@woaitv.com
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OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 12/12/09)
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, OH (relisted 1/15/09)
KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City, OK (listed 1/8/10)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
News 12 The Bronx/Brooklyn, NY (listed 1/8/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (2 jobs, Special Projects & AM EP, listing revised 1/8/10)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (AM EP, relisted 12/18/09)
KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA (listed 1/15/09)
KXTV, Sacramento, CA (PM EP, listing revised 1/29/10)
KPTV, Portland, OR (two openings, one is EP/Special Proj., listing revised 1/29/10)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (AM EP, listed 12/26/09)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (W/E Supervising Producer, listed 1/8/10)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (new listing this week, see ad above!)
WPEC-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (relisted 12/12/09)
WPBF-TV, West Palm Beach, FL (Digital EP, listed 12/18/09)
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, NM (relisted 1/15/10)
WBRZ-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (PM EP, listed 1/22/09)
MULTI MEDIA CONTENT DIRECTOR:
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/12/09)
ASSIGNMENT MANAGER:
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 12/18/09)
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NAMES in the NEWS:
Ryan
Congrats to old friend SCOOBIE RYAN who is now the Associate Director of the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Telecommunications. She also teaches a variety of courses there. Scoobie’s worked at TV stations in Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, and Columbia, MO, where we worked together at the University of Missouri campus radio station, KCCS (now KCOU-FM). Other old friends can re-connect at: scoobie@uky.edu
And while not really a Name in the News, thanks to those of you who responded to my shameless pandering for Super Bowl tickets in last week’s edition. We had some opportunities but passed on the astronomical prices, and will be watching the game on TV like so many others.
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Here’s a complete list of all stations that I believe have an ND opening, as of Friday, February 5, 2010.
And if you know of updates, corrections, or additions to this list, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com
WGBO-TV 541 N. Fairbanks Ct., #110 Chicago IL 60611
KTVT-TV, 5233 Bridge St. Ft. Worth TX 76103
WXYZ-TV 20777 W. 10 Mile Road Southfield MI 48037
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way Sacramento CA 95815 ***
WZTV-TV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville TN 37228
WAVE-TV 725 S. Floyd St. Louisville KY 40203
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany, NY 12204
KGMB-TV 420 Waiakamilo Rd. # 205 Honolulu HI 96817 (see ad above)
WNWO-TV 300 S. Byrne Rd. Toledo OH 43615
KMTV, 10714 Mockingbird Dr. Omaha NE 68127
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WFFF-TV 298 Mountain View Dr. Colchester VT 05446
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
KMIR-TV 72920 Parkview Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
*** (Spanish language)