July 14, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 UPDATE:
Greetings:
TWO items in this UPDATE, the first very sad.
Duff
SCOTT DUFF lost his battle with cancer today. He was just 59. Scott’s been in Honolulu at a three station Gray operations branded as Hawaii News Now for the past two years, Before moving there, Scott spent almost 16 years as the news director for WSFA-TV (NBC) in Montgomery, AL, which remembered him here.
Scott began as a newspaper sports reporter, moved to television in Columbus, OH, (where he worked at two stations) before moving to Kansas City and eventually his first ND job in Topeka.
Our sympathy to his wife, Kathy, his other family, friends and co-workers in Honolulu.
Isaacs
In happier news, congratulations to SCOTT ISAACS who’s been named news director for Cox Media Group’s WFXT-TV (FOX) in Boston. It’s a return to Beantown for Scott, who earlier in his career spent 13 years at WCVB-TV (Hearst/ABC) in a variety of roles. He’s spent the last seven years as ND for Sinclair’s WJAR-TV (NBC) in Providence. Much more on his new job in this Cox news release. He replaces SARAH BURGESS who resigned in April after six years as ND and 19 at the station.
We’ll have a full newsletter this weekend with a number of other changes.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
A modest decline in the number of stations looking for a new news director, as THREE jobs were filled this week, with just ONE new opening.
Thus, our list of open ND jobs slips to 39.
(Thanks to loyal readers who provided tips on several of those changes. We welcome your leads.)
There’s a big move for a Texas ND turned GM, while we have an obituary for another ND turned Texas GM.
In Names in the News, more changes at the top of CBS News, and a Virginia GM (himself once a news director) gets some corporate responsibilities.
Read on…and have a great week.
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 16 (3-4 p.m. EDT): Immigrants in U.S. communities
July 18 (2-3 p.m. EDT): Crime, safety, and policing
July 23 (1-2 p.m. EDT): Jobs, the economy, and wealth inequality
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.
Newly Named News Directors:
Shane M.
News 12 Brooklyn/Bronx, New York, NY…this long vacant opening has been filled by veteran ND SHANE MORELAND. More in this memo from News 12 VP/News AUDREY GRUBER. Shane most recently was ND at WRIC-TV in Richmond, a job he left in November after six years. His entire career history is here. He replaces, I believe, STAN KOWALSKI who moved to News 12 Long Island last year.
Elias
KNDU/KNDO, Kennewick/Yakima, WA…another long vacant ND opening is gone as MATT ELIAS joins this Cowles Media operation as ND. He’s been a producer for competitor KAPP/KVEW-TV and has also worked in Seattle and Sacramento. Matt replaces STEPHANIE ASHLEY who had been the ND there for almost two years before leaving last October.
Douglas
WGEM-TV, Quincy, IL…CHAD DOUGLAS, who anchored and reported for more than 20 years for KHQA-TV in Quincy before leaving for a job in the non-profit sector, is the new ND for the Gray TV owned NBC affiliate. But for the last four years, he’s worked for the Salvation Army. At WGEM, he replaces JOHN EHRART who retired in April after a long career, the last year as ND here.
New News Director Opening:
Cyprian
KATC, Lafayette, LA…after almost three years at this Scripps owned ABC affiliate, NICOLE CYPRIAN is leaving for a big new job. She’ll be the Executive Director at the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center at her alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. More in this memo from GM SEAN TRCALEK.
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)
KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA (listed 7/7/24)
WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI (listed 7/14/24)
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)
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KAZT-TV, Phoenix, AZ (listed 6/23/24)
KPNX-TV, Phoenix, AZ (relisted 5/19/24)
WFLA-TV, Tampa, FL (listed 5/5/24)
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)
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)
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)
KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO (AM EP, listing modified 7/1/24)
WNCT-TV, Greenville, NC (Executive Digital Producer, listed 7/7/24)
KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA (listed 6/9/24)
WKBT-TV, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WI (listed 4/7/24)
WTWO-TV, Terre Haute, IN (listed 7/14/24)
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:
Adams
DOUG ADAMS, who served our industry as both a general manager and news director, (and who started as a reporter) died June 30th in Denver. He was 73. Doug started as a radio reporter in Dallas and switched to TV before becoming an ND and later a GM. He later ran symphony orchestras in Dallas and Denver One of his former stations, KXAS-TV in Dallas remembered him here, and his obituary can be found here.
Names in the News (and other stuff):
Ingrid C.
More turnover at CBS News, where INGRID CIPRIAN-MATHEWS is stepping down as CBS News President, a job she held for less than a year. Ingrid worked at CBS for more than 30 years in a wide variety of roles and will stay on as an adviser until her the November election. More on her time at CBS and her departure in this story from Broadcasting and Cable.
Kurtz
News Director turned General Manager MARK KURTZ is assuming additional duties at Lockwood Broadcasting, where he will be Corporate Director of News. He’ll continue to be GM for the company’s WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA (CBS/FOX), He’s a former ND for WAVY-TV in Norfolk and KWES-TV in Midland, TX.
General Manager News and Notes:
A big move for a former news director turned general manager.
Granato
WENDY GRANATO leaves one ABC o-and-o for another as she heads west to take over KABC-TV in Los Angeles. She’s been the GM for KTRK-TV in Houston for almost five years, following five years as the news director there. At KABC, Wendy replaces another news director turned general manager, CHERYL FAIR who retired earlier this year. Here’s the detailed news release from ABC.
Our List of Open News Director jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 14, 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
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-TV 1725 Shelby Oaks Dr N. Memphis, TN 38134
KATV 10 Turtle Creek Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
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
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Macon, GA 31201
KATC-TV, 1103 Eraste Landry Road in Lafayette, LA 70506
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
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