January 19, 2020
Greetings:
Another busy week with FIVE newly named news directors. And, with NO new openings, that drops our list of open ND jobs to 29.
And that busy week also includes news of a new national prime time newscast to be launched by Nexstar via WGN America. Details on that below, too.
THREE paid help wanted ads, including an opportunity for a tenure track faculty position at the University of Kentucky. And the other two ads…in a sign of the times, perhaps…are for digital positions.
In Names in the News, we have an update on the soon-to-happen launch of the Black News Channel, an Orlando columnist wonders what will happen to a local station now operating under new ownership, and there’s ONE GM move to share.
Before you start obsessing over your picks for the “BIG GAME” (don’t wanna get sued by the NFL), read on!
Newly Named News Directors:
Swenson
Spectrum News NY1, New York, NY…our Monday UPDATE told you that HELEN SWENSON has been named VP, Content for Spectrum News NY1. That’s the 24 hour cable news operation there. More details here. Helen’s been working as an Executive Producer for TEGNA, mostly on developing shows. She’s a former general manager in Birmingham), news director, a consultant for Magid, and also several major markets and for the Weather Channel.
Pattberg
News 12 New Jersey Connecticut…we’re a little tardy in reporting the promotion of STACEY PATTBERG from her job as Assistant ND at News 12 Connecticut to become the news director there. Stacey’s also worked at WTNH-TV in Hartford/New Haven, CT. She replaces DAVE FEUERMAN who retired after the end of 2019. He spent more than 20 years (in two different stints) at N12NJ, and also worked in Washington, Ft. Myers, and Jacksonville.
Stasi
WGN-TV, Chicago, IL…Wednesday’s UPDATE brought the news that DOMINICK STASI had been named news director for this now-owned-by-Nexstar-but used-to-be-owned-by-Tribune CW affiliate. Dominick has been an executive producer at WGN for the past six years. He’s also worked at two other Chicago stations, and in Springfield, MO and Milwaukee. ROBERT FEDER has more.
Lyons
He replaces JENNIFER LYONS who is moving up within Nexstar to become VP/News for WGN America as that cable channel launches a prime time national newscast to run from 8:00-11:00 PM Eastern. The news release has much more. Jennifer has been ND for WGN since 2014 with a brief hiatus in August, 2018 for a PR job. She returned to WGN that October.
Wolfe
WSFL-TV, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, FL…and Tuesday’s UPDATE covered the move of NICOLE WOLFE within Florida…and within Scripps. She’s been named news director for this Scripps’ owned CW affiliate which will launch news this year. Nicole has been the Assistant ND for the company’s WFTS-TV in Tampa and has worked in a number of large markets.
Teater
KTHV-TV, Little Rock, AR…congratulations to SHAYLA TEATER who’s been promoted to ND for this Tegna owned CBS affiliate. Of note: her father, DOUG KRILE anchored at KTHV and she became interested in news while going with him to work. She’s been the Assistant ND there and interim ND since DAVE PARKER left last summer. Shayla’s also worked in Greensboro and Columbia, MO.
New News Director Openings:
To the best of my knowledge, no new openings this week. If you know of some, please pass that news along via email: rick@rickgevers.com
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Senior Multiplatform Producer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC:
WRAL seeking a seasoned journalist to run breaking and day-to-day coverage on our digital platforms. Will plan and produce daily coverage – written, video and multimedia – to assure that WRAL’s audiences on the Web, Mobile, TV, App and Social Media can quickly and easily access and interact with the top local stories of the day.
This person will emphasize identifying and producing engaging stories and develop a team of producers in best practices to meet key digital performance indicators on a daily, monthly and annual basis. Should be adept with both words and digital tools, serving as front-line teacher and troubleshooter in the newsroom-wide use of web-based tools for the creation of digital stories, pictures, live and on-demand video.
You will be part of the newsroom leadership team, a succinct and clear communicator, able to collaborate across platforms, shifts, and locations with contributors both in person and in the field. A mastery of AP style, a basic understanding of television and digital production and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a breaking news environment is required. Newsroom management experience preferred.
A pre-employment drug screening is required. EOE, M/F. All Capitol Broadcasting Company properties are tobacco free. Capitol Broadcasting Company participates in E-Verify.
All candidates must apply online. Just click here!
Digital Content Director, WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD:
Live, work and play at the beach while building a career at America’s finest small-market broadcast group!
Enjoy life with this family-owned company on the beautiful Delmarva Peninsula, located between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Ideally located at ocean resorts, with an easy drive to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.
This position is responsible for the planning, development and delivery of infrastructure, editorial processes, schedules, and content to maintain the Draper Media digital news properties in their position as the leader in interactive news and feature delivery on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Draper Media’s local news content is produced and distributed for busy, tech-savvy, mobile audiences, and we’re looking for a creative, innovative leader to drive these efforts for our CBS, NBC, and Telemundo affiliates. The Digital Content Manager for Draper Media will serve as a member of the management team and lead the publication and distribution of engaging, compelling content across multiple platforms. This person will play a key role in charting our station’s content and audience growth strategy.
Learn more about this great opportunity and apply here!
Tenure Track Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY:
Here’s your chance to train the next generation of broadcast and online journalists while living in the Bluegrass, one of the most beautiful and hospitable areas of the country.
The University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media is seeking a tenure-track professor to coordinate its daily newscasts and teach courses in broadcast journalism, producing and reporting.
More details and application can be found here!
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WFTS-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (new listing this week)
KMGH-TV, Denver, CO (listed 1/12/20)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 1/12/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 12/8/19)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 1/5/20)
Spectrum News, Milwaukee, WI (new opening this week)
WJAC-TV, Johnstown, PA (relisted 1/12/20)
WTXL-TV, Tallahassee, FL (relisted 12/8/19)
KRCG-TV, Jefferson City, MO (relisted 11/24/19)
KTIV-TV, Sioux City, IA (relisted this week)
KNPN/KNPG/KCJO-TV, St. Joseph, MO (listed 12/15/19)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 12/8/19)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (listed 11/10/19)
KDVR-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 1/5/20)
Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, CO (listed 11/24/19)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted 12/22/19)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, listing modified this week)
KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA (AM EP, relisted 12/1/19)
KSND-TV, San Diego, CA (PM EP, listed 12/22/19)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 12/22/19)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 1/5/20)
WVIT-TV, Hartford, CT (Dayside EP, relisted 12/1/19)
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listing revised 12/22/19)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (2 openings, EP and EP/Innovation, revised 12/22/19)
KTNV-TV, Las Vegas, NV (new listing this week)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 12/15/19)
WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, relisted 11/10/19)
WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, PA (Digital EP, relisted 1/12/20)
WKBW-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 1/12/20)
WDTN-TV, Dayton, OH (relisted 12/15/19)
WNEM-TV, Saginaw, MI (PM EP, listing revised 12/15/19)
WCBD-TV, Charleston, SC (relisted 1/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (relisted 1/5/20)
WKBN-TV, Youngstown, OH (listed 1/12/20)
KERO-TV, Bakersfield, CA (relisted 12/22/19)
WVNS-TV, Beckley, WV (relisted 11/17/19)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 1/5/12)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (listed 12/1/19)
More News Management Openings:
Listed this week:
WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC (Senior Multiplatform Producer, see ad above!)
WBOC-TV/Draper Media, Salisbury, MD (Director of Digital Content, see ad above!)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Professor, see ad above)
Listed 1/5/20:
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA (Assignment Desk Manager)
Listed 12/22/19:
E. W. Scripps, Cincinnati, OH (Director of News Content Strategy)
WOWK-TV, Charleston, WV (Digital Content Manager)
WJET-TV, Erie, PA (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 11/17/19:
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (Content Manager)
Names in the News (and other items):
Hair
Longtime broadcaster PRINCELL HAIR is spending a few weeks helping the Black News Channel ready for its February debut. He left his job as Senior VP/GM of NBC Sports Boston at the end of the year. Princell and BNC’s VP/News and Programming, GARY WORDLAW, told me that Princell will help oversee training and rehearsals with the launch set for February 10th. More about the channel in this story from USA Today.
During our conversation Gary updated me on the condition of his son, GARY, JR. We told you two weeks ago that the younger Wordlaw was struck by a hit and run driver on December 30th in Tulsa and seriously injured. That included paralysis from the chest down. Dad told me that his son had surgery on his right leg last week and is set for an operation on the right leg once his infection improves.
The Orlando Sentinel’s HAL BOEDEKER speculates on what’s ahead for Cox’s WFTV (ABC) in Orlando, now that the sale to Apollo Global Management has closed.
MARTHA MYRICK moves up to Assistant ND at Tegna’s KTHV-TV in Little Rock, replacing SHAYLA TEATER (you learned above she was promoted to ND for that CBS affiliate.) Martha had been the EP of Special Content and previously worked in Orlando.
TAWNYA RUSH moves within Scripps to become the EP for KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT. She was working for KMGH-TV in Denver, has worked for another Denver station as well as in Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, and Casper, WY.
General Manager News and Notes:
Pickman
Gray Television wasted little time replacing RICK BLANGIARDI as GM of its Honolulu duopoly, KHNL-TV (NBC) and KGMB-TV (CBS). KATIE PICKMAN, who’s been the Director of Sales there since 2017, gets the job. She’s also worked in Rhode Island. We told you that Rick left earlier this year to run for mayor of Honolulu, but if you read this news release, you’ll see how he’s being honored at the station.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, January 19, 2020:
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
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
WGCL-TV 425 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WFTV 490 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801
KUVS-TV 1710 Arden Way, Sacramento CA 95815 **
WTTV/WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN 46278
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
KVUE-TV 3201 Steck Avenue, Austin, TX 78757
WVEC-TV 613 Woodis Ave Norfolk, VA 23510
WOI-TV 3903 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
KREM-TV 4103 S Regal St, Spokane, WA 99223
WBTW-TV 101 McDonald Court Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
WTAJ-TV 5000 6th Ave # 1, Altoona, PA 16602
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
KRCR-TV 755 Auditorium Dr. Redding, CA 96001
WSAW-TV 1114 Grand Ave, Wausau, WI 54403
KTVE/KARD-TV 200 Pavilion Road West Monroe, LA 71292
KSWO/KAUZ-TV 1401 SE 60th St, Lawton, OK 73501
WBNG-TV 560 Columbia Dr. Johnson City, NY 13790
WCAV-TV 999 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902
WTVY-TV 285 N Foster St # 7, Dothan, AL 36303
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
KHQA-TV 301 S 36th St, Quincy, IL 62301
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KAEF-TV 540 E St Eureka, California 95501
**: Spanish language station