February 9, 2025
Greetings:
I think you’ll find this newsletter more interesting than the football game.
We have SIX new news directors (though one was promoted almost two years ago and we don’t…yet…have a name for one) and NO new openings. That means our count of open ND jobs drops below 40 for the first time in a while to 39.
One of those jobs is featured in a Paid Help Wanted ad below and we have a new ad for an Executive Reporter opening.
The deadline for Edward R. Murrow Awards entries is this week.
Many of your viewers are likely caring for their parents. Sciline is offering free interviews about the cost of such care. Details are in its ad below, along with an ad from our friends and supporters at WMV.
TWO obituaries, including one for a former New York City news director who lost her age discrimination suit.
And lots of stories in Names in the News, including several angles on the Trump vs CBS litigation, a new book from a longtime news director turned corporate executive, good news on the health front from a multi-time news director, and several news mangers on the move.
Read on!
The deadline to enter the 2025 Edward R. Murrow Awards is fast approaching.
All entries are due by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Entries can be submitted here.
Among the most prestigious awards in journalism, the Murrow Awards recognize outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital news at the national, local and student levels. With about 5,000 entries annually, the Murrows are among the most competitive, too.
The Murrow Awards honor news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, showcase technical excellence, and highlight the critical role of journalism in serving the community. Murrow Award-winning work embodies the standard of excellence established by Edward R. Murrow in the broadcast news profession.
To be eligible, work must have been published between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. Entrants are strongly encouraged to review the complete rules and category descriptions here before submitting.
Regional winners will be announced in May. All regional winners automatically advance to the national competition, with winners announced in August. National winners will be celebrated at the 2025 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala in October in New York City.
For questions about eligibility, please email awards@rtdna.org
Newly Named News Directors:
Briske
WTVT-TV, Tampa, FL…in the first of TWO updates we brought you this week, you learned that CHERYL BRISKE has been promoted to news director for this FOX o-and-o. Cheryl’s been at WTVT since 1997 in a variety of roles, most recently as Special Projects Executive Producer. Cheryl replaces JOHN HOFFMAN who announced his retirement in December after 15 years as ND and 40 years at the station.
Garber
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN…our second UPDATE told you MIKE GARBER would be the next news director for this Hubbard owned ABC affiliate. New this week: the station’s news release. Mike’s been the Director of Content for Sinclair’s National Desk and he (and his boss, SCOTT LIVINGSTON) sent this note to staff. Mike’s been an ND in a number of cities. He replaces the retiring KIRK VARNER who’s been here for six years, part of his long career.
Snuffer
KATV, Little Rock, AR…we told you last week that KFDX-KJTL-TV (Wichita Falls, TX) ND MIKE SNUFFER had a new job, and now we can tell you it is at this Sinclair owned ABC affiliate. Here’s the note from GM MIKE ROSE. Mike (Snuffer, not Rose!) has been an ND in Harrisburg, IL, and Lincoln, NE, and replaces AMY SULLIVAN who left last July to spend more time with family. Read on for her new job!
Sullivan
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK…as teased above, AMY SULLIVAN is the new ND for this Imagicomm Communications owned FOX affiliate. It’s a return to Tulsa for Amy, who once worked at KJRH-TV. She left KATV in Little Rock (Sinclair/ABC) last July and is a former ND in Harlingen, TX, and Amarillo, TX. More on her background here. At KOKI, she replaces RUDY MURRIETA who left in December after 18 months as ND, and three years as Managing Editor.
Webb
KOTV, Tulsa, OK…in reporting on CHUCK MAULDEN’s retirement as VP ofContent for Griffin Media, we realized we never told you who replaced him as ND at this Griffin owned CBS affiliate. KRISTIE WEBB was promoted in April, 2023, when he was bumped up. Kristie’s worked at KOTV for 24 years, and also worked at sister Griffin station KWTV in Oklahoma City.
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT…the next ND for this Scripps owned CBS affiliate has been hired, but we won’t know who for a few days. The new ND will replaces KEEGAN HARSHA who was promoted to Statewide ND for Scripps last July.
New News Director Openings:
None. Unusual in a week with so many jobs filled.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Executive Reporter, WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA:
Are you an experienced journalist with a passion for storytelling? Do you aspire to break into coaching and teaching leadership?
WSLS 10 invites you to join our team as an Executive Reporter, where you’ll lead a group of reporters/MMJs in crafting impactful stories that resonate with our audience.
In this behind-the-scenes role, you will spearhead and elevate storytelling efforts within our newsroom. This position blends strategic storytelling oversight with mentorship responsibilities, focusing on content development and guiding MMJs and reporters.
Situated in the scenic Blue Ridge region of Virginia, this opportunity at the NBC affiliate serving the Roanoke-Lynchburg market allows a seasoned news professional to shape coverage, nurture reporting talent, and develop leadership skills. The ideal candidate will provide direct guidance to field staff while enhancing the station’s storytelling strategy.
The full job description is here.
Interested applicants should submit their applications and resumes to News Director Scott Flannigan at sflannigan@wsls.com.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (listed 1/26/25)
WTAE-TV, Pittburgh, PA (listed 1/26/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (relisted 11/17/24)
WREG-TV, Memphis, TN (listed 1/19/25)
WBRE/WYOU-TV, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (relisted 1/12/25)
KREM-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 1/5/25)
WOWK-TV, Charleston/Huntington, WV (listed 2/9/25)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 11/3/24)
WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL (relisted 12/1/24)
WANE-TV, Ft. Wayne, IN (listed 1/12/25)
WSYM-TV, Lansing, MI (listed 1/19/25)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Spectrum Noticias, New York, NY (Senior EP, relisted 1/12/25)
KING-TV, Seattle, WA (listed 1/26/25)
Spectrum News, Tampa, FL (National EP, released 12/22/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WTSP-TV, Tampa, FL (Digital EP, listed 1/5/25)
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (relisted 1/12/25)
Spectrum News, Orlando, FL (relisted 1/12/25)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (relisted 1/5/25)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (relisted 12/22/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 12/22/24)
WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN (listing modified 1/12/25)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/25)
WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, WI (Nightside EP, listed 1/5/25)
WTLV/WJXX-TV, Jacksonville FL (listed 1/5/25)
WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted 1/5/25)
KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (listed 1/26/25
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (relisted 1/26/25)
WQAD-TV, Moline, IL (relisted 1/5/25)
More News Management Openings:
Listed 2/9/25:
WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Reporter, title change this week)
WSLS-TV, Roanoke, VA: (Executive Reporter, see ad above!)
Listed 1/19/25:
KTXL-TV, Sacramento, CA (News and Content Manager)
WJET-TV, Erie, PA: (Digital Content Manager)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (Digital Content Executive Producer)
Relisted 1/5/25:
KGW-TV, Portland, OR (Digital Director)
WVLA/WGMB-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 12/15/24:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Streaming/Weekend Executive Producer)
Obituaries:
Scott
Longtime New York City newswoman KAREN SCOTT died Wednesday. She was 75 and had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Karen worked for many years at WNBC-TV before moving to WPIX-TV as news director, a job she held from 1996 until 2009. She later sued WPIX for age discrimination but lost in federal court. She was remembered in this story from WNBC.
Fry
A longtime Phoenix chief photographer, JIM FRY, lost his battle with cancer this week. He was 66 years old. Jim spent much of his career at KTVK-TV but also worked at KNXV-TV. KTVK remembered their former colleague in this tribute.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Hopefully you’ve been following the many stories about CBS possibly settling what many think is a baseless suit filed by DONALD TRUMP over editing of a 60 Minutes interview with KAMALA HARRIS.
If not, here are a few that I thought were compelling.
TVNewsCheck: CBS News no longer capable of standing up for itself.
NY Times: Trump’s suit may lead to more such actions.
Former Graham CEO and WLS-TV GM EMILY BARR: When will the FCC overreach end?
One time RTDNA Chair and longtime ND DAVE BUSIEK: CBS Settlement would stab all journalists in the back.
Labbe
BLAISE LABBE (now a Group ND for Sinclair) has written a new book, The Blessings of Forgiveness. He shared this:
From a childhood marked by systemic racism and family secrets to becoming a respected journalist and community leader, Blaise shares a heartfelt story of overcoming adversity and reclaiming peace. This memoir is perfect for anyone seeking inspiration, personal growth, or healing from past struggles.
Click here to learn more and buy the book:
Matt M.
Happy to report that multi-time news director MATT McCONICO is on the road to recovery from a battle with lymphoma. Here’s his update…and details on his new job. Matt’s been a news director in at least four markets and has worked in others. Linkedin tells the story.
Tegna has filled its statewide Director of Digital position by hiring MICHAEL KRINZMAN. He’s been working at HSN but has news experience.
While we’re in Florida (you know what I mean) the Hearst operated duopoly in Ft. Myers has rebranded as Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC.
Multi-time news director DARYL HUGER has been named news director for South Carolina ETV and public radio.
DAMIAN GREENBURG scores the Boise hat trick as he joins Scripps’ KIVI-TV as assistant ND. If you read this memo from ND NATALIE ALLEN, you’ll see he has an unusual career path.
General Manager News and Notes:
After 4 1/2 years, JULIE ZOUMBARIS is stepping down as GM for Nexstar’s WJET-TV in Erie, PA. She’s also been a GM at WNEM-TV (CBS) in Flint-Saginaw, MI.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, February 9, 2025:
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
WPHL-TV 5001 Wynnefield Ave. Ste 3. Philadelphia, PA 19131
KDFW-TV 400 N. Griffin Street Dallas, TX 75202
WKTB 4675 River Green Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30096 **
WJLA-TV 1100 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22209
WKMG-TV 4466 N John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32804
WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
KSL-TV 55 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
WOAI-TV 4335 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX, 78229
WHTM-TV 3235 Hoffman Street. Harrisburg, PA 17110
WHAS- 520 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
KSEE/KGPE-TV 5035 E McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KCCI-TV 888 9th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50309
WCIV-TV 88 Allbritton Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
WRCB-TV 900 Whitehall Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405 (see ad above!)
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KINT-TV 5426 North Mesa Street El Paso, TX 79912
WSIL-TV 1416 Country Aire Drive Carterville, IL 62918
WMBF-TV 918 Frontage Rd. East; Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
WNCT-TV 3221 South Evans Street. Greenville, NC 27834
KSFY-TV 325 S 1st Ave, Ste 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road, Rockford, IL 61101
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KOSA-TV 4101 E. 42nd. Suite J-7. Odessa, TX 79761
KMID/KPEJ-TV 1550 West I-20 Odessa, TX 79763
KWES-TV 11320 West County Rd. 127. Odessa, TX 79765
KFDX-TV 500 Seymour Hwy. Wichita Falls, TX 76309
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
KECI/KCFW/KTVM-TV, 340 W. Main St. Missoula, MT 59802
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KIEM/KVIQ-TV 5650 S, Broadway St. Eureka CA 95503
KIDY-TV5 S. Chadbourne San Angelo, TX 76902
KYOU-TV 820 West 2nd Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
**: Spanish language station