July 1, 2024
Greetings:
Travel delayed our report this week…apologies. But lots of news to make up for the delay.
FOUR new NDs named this week, including ONE which has a particular poignant significance for me, even though I’ve never met her.
We’ll explain below.
And THREE new openings, TWO created when incumbents took new jobs inside the same company.
Our list of open ND jobs slips ever so slightly to 41.
There are TWO GM changes. ONE obituary of a trailblazing broadcast executive.
And in Names in the News, a tribute to yet another retiring ND, a look at CBS News’ new streamline service and a new title and responsibilities for a Montana news director.
We’ll try to be on time next week!
Newly Named News Directors:
Thomas
WXIA-TV, Atlanta, GA…DENISHA THOMAS moves within TEGNA to become ND for this NBC affiliate, where she reports to Director of Content CAROL FOWLER. Here’s the note Carol sent to the staff, and here’s the news release. Denisha has been the ND for Tegna’s WATN/WLMT-TV (ABC/CW) in her hometown of Memphis for almost four years. Her Linkedin page has more.
Simons
WZTV, Nashville, TN…congrats to YVONNE SIMONS who moves much closer to her Michigan family by becoming ND for this Sinclair owned FOX affiliate. She’s spent the last six years as ND for KATU-TV (ABC) in Portland, OR and has a number of other.stops outlined on her Linkedin page. In Nashville, she replaces BRYAN McGRUDER who retired in March after eleven years as ND here.
Calkins
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO…she’s been at the station for more than 28 years and now JANA CALKINS has been named news director for this Nexstar owned FOX affiliate. She’s been the interim ND since SEAN McNAMARA left earlier this year when he was transferred to KDVR/KWGN-TV (FOX/CW) in Denver. Jana’s been the Assistant ND since 2013 and held other jobs since starting as the SUE PARCELL Memorial intern in 1995.
Parcell
A personal note if you’ll allow. Sue Parcell worked at WDAF for ten years until 1987, when I hired her to be our main anchor at WTOL-TV in Toledo. She was terrific. We sent her to China to cover the transfer of two giant pandas to the Toledo Zoo in May of 1988. She became ill in China, retuned to Toledo, and died a few weeks later of a ruptured brain aneurysm. She was only 31 years old. More in this story from The Toledo Blade.
Reams
WTKR-TV, Norfolk, VA…ED REAMS returns home to become ND for this Scripps owned CBS affiliate. Ed’s been the GM for Allen Media’s WREX-TV in Rockford, IL, for the last there years but has lots of news management in his background, as you’ll learn here. He began his career on-air and replaces ALLISON HERMAN who left in May after 18 months as ND.
New News Director Opening:
KATU-TV, Portland, OR…you learned above that YYONNE SIMONS is headed to sister Sinclair station WZTV in Nashville. She’s been here almost six years and the move gets her much closer to family in Michigan.
Boers
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…DAN BOERS has left this Scripps owned FOX affiliate after three years as news director. It’s his second job as a Grand Rapids ND. He left WOOD-TV (NBC) to move to WXMI after 6 1/2 years there. Dan spent 21 years at WOOD in two different stints. He’s also worked in Lansing, MI.
WATN/WLMT-TV, Memphis, TN…we told you above about DENISHA THOMAS‘ transfer to sister Tegna station WXIA-TV (NBC) in Atlanta as ND. She was ND here for almost four years and the vacancy is likely at the top of the to-do list for new GM CHRISTOPHER FRANKLIN (more on his recent promotion below).
Interview an expert:
2024 Election briefing series:
Science behind the issues
This July – Zoom
To strengthen journalists’ election season reporting with research-backed evidence and context, SciLine is hosting a series of media briefings on the science behind topics at the top of the political agenda. Each session will review what scientific studies have to say about a hot-button election issue, to help journalists deepen their reporting on policy positions and recognize when candidate statements don’t hew to the facts. Register below:
July 9 (1-2 p.m. EDT): Climate change and the green energy transition
July 11 (3-4 p.m. EDT): Reproductive health and abortion
July 16 (3-4 p.m. EDT): Immigrants in U.S. communities
July 18 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Crime, safety, and policing
July 25 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Voter demographics, access, and turnout
SciLine, a philanthropically funded, free service for reporters, also runs a free expert matching service that connects reporters rapidly to scientist-sources on deadline.
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (relisted 4/14/24)
WDAF-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/1/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (listed 4/21/24)
WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN (listed 6/2/24)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 6/23/24)
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC (relisted 5/19/24)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (relisted 6/16/24)
WCYB-TV, Tri-Cities, TN & VA (listed 4/28/24)
KWES-TV, Midland, TX (listed 4/7/24)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 4/14/24)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (AM EP/Special Projects, listed 6/16/24)
KHOU-TV, Houston, TX (listed 5/19/24)
KAZT-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 6/23/24)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 5/19/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/5/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (Executive Digital Producer, listed 6/16/24)
WTSP-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
KDVR/KWGN-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, listed 6/23/24)
KUSA-TV, Denver, CO (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (listed 6/23/24)
KATU-TV, Portland, OR (Digital EP, listing modified 4/21/24)
Spectrum News 1, Raleigh NC (listed 5/12/24)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (relisted 6/16/24)
WTHR-TV, Indianapolis, IN (AM EP, relisted 5/19/24)
KTVX/KUCW-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 5/27/24)
KUTV, Salt Lake City, UT (listed 7/1/24)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 5/5/24)
KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (listing modified 7/1/24)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 7/1/24)
WTNH-TV, Hartford, CT (relisted 5/5/24)
WVEC-TV, Norfolk, VA (AM EP, (relisted 6/2/24)
WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/19/24)
WINK-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (two openings, listing modified 6/2/24)
WRIC-TV, Richmond, VA (listed 6/9/24)
KWCH-TV, Wichita, KS (listed 7/1/24)
KVEO/KGBT-TV, Harlingen, TX (relisted 5/5/24)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WI (listed 4/7/24)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (listed 6/9/24)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted 6/2/24;
WTIC-TV, Hartford, CT (Digital Director)
WBNS-TV, Columbus, OH (Director of Digital Content)
Listed 5/5/24:
WJW-TV, Cleveland, OH (News Assignments Manager)
Listed 4/28/24:
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, MO (Digital Director)
Obituary:
TOM VAN AMBURG, a legendary broadcast executive credited for turning ABC’s KABC-TV into a powerhouse, died last week, He was 83. The obituary from The Hollywood Reporter details his career.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
KEEGAN HARSHA, who’s been the ND for Scripps’ KTVQ-TV in Billings, MT for the past three years has been promoted into a new role. His title will be Statewide News Director, overseeing news coverage and assisting the NDs and other Scripps stations there. Keegan is a Montana native who returned home after working on air in Denver.
Variety reports on CBS’s ambitious new streaming news service, CBS News 24/7.
KQDS-TV (Duluth, MN) saluted retiring ND STEVE GOODSPEED on the occasion of his retirement last week.
General Manager News and Notes:
TWO new General Managers this week.
Bucher
LLOYD BUCHER makes a big jump as returns to his native Philadelphia as the next General Manager for WPHL-TV, Nexstar’s CW affiliate there. It’s a transfer within Nexstar: Lloyd is currently running the company’s WJZY/WMYT-TV (FOX/MyTV) in Charlotte, a job he’s held for the last three years. He’s also been a GM in West Palm Beach and worked in Miami and Philadelphia. Lloyd began his career as an attorney.
Franklin
In Memphis, CHRISTOPHER FRANKLIN has been promoted to GM for Tegna’s duopoly there, WATN/WLMT-TV (ABC/CW). He’s been the interim GM there. Christopher has been the marketing director there since 2020 and has more than 25 years experience, much of it with FOX TV stations. More on his interesting career background in this news release from Tegna.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 1, 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
WLS-TV 190 N State St. Chicago, IL, 60601
WFXT-TV 25 Fox Dr. Dedham, MA 02026
KPRC-TV 8181 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074
WRC-TV 4001 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
KATU-TV 2153 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
KGW-TV 1501 SW Jefferson Street Portland, OR 97201
KTVI/KPLR-TV 2250 Ball Drive St. Louis, MO 63146
Spectrum News Texas (based in Austin, TX)
KSHB-TV 4720 Oak Street Kansas City, MO 64112 (Station Mgr. & ND)
WTIC-TV 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Drive NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525
WOLF-TV 1181 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (News Manager)
WHAS-TV 520 W. Chestnut St. Louisville, KY 40202
WATN/WLMT-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KITV 801 South King Street | Honolulu, HI 96813
WZDX-TV 1309 N. Memorial Parkway Huntsville, AL 35801
KTBS-TV 312 E. Kings Highway. Shreveport, LA 71104
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KLEW-TV 2626 17th St, Lewiston, ID 83501
KYTX-TV 2211 ESE Loop 323. Tyler, TX 75701
KNDU/KNDO-TV 216 W. Yakima Ave. Yakima, WA 98902
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KHSL-TV 3460 Silverbell Rd. Chico, CA 95973
KDRV-TV 1090 Knutson Ave. Medford, OR 97504
KQDS-TV 2001 London Road Duluth, MN 55812
KXMB-TV 1811 N 15th St. Bismarck, ND 58501
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
KTTC-TV 6301 Bandel Road NW Rochester, MN 55901
WTWO-TV 10849 N US Highway 41, Farmersburg, IN 47850
WDTV 5 Television Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WTVY-TV 285 North Foster St., Dothan, AL 36303
WGEM-TV 513 Hampshire Quincy, IL 62301
WWNY-TV 120 Arcade St. Watertown, NY 13601
KREX-TV 345 Hillcrest Drive Grand Junction, CO 81501
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