July 18, 2021
Thursday, July 22, 2021 UPDATE:
Greetings:
More big changes at the CBS owned stations group, as it dismisses GMs in Los Angeles and Chicago.
This memo distributed this afternoon to employees explains the changes. as does this Los Angeles Times article (which may require a subscription if you’ve already used your free views). You’ll remember the Times reporting initiated the probe into misconduct at CBS which resulted in the ouster of PETER DUNN and DAVID FRIEND.
Howell
That means JAY HOWELL (right) is out at KCBS/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, where he has been GM for just two years, following one year stints at two other CBS owned stations, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh and KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento. Jay’s career history is outlined on his Linkedin page.
Dalton
In Chicago, DEREK DALTON leaves WBBM-TV after just over three years in the job. He’s a former GM in San Diego and Rochester, NY. Derek’s also had some jobs out of the TV business, as you’ll learn on his Linkedin page.
I suspect we’ll have more on this story in our full newsletter this weekend!
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
NO newly named news directors last week, but FIVE newly named NDs in this week’s edition.
And last week, TWO new openings, and just ONE this week, but it’s in a top five market.
So our count of open ND jobs drops to 37 with TWO of those openings among our THREE paid help wanted ads.
Always grateful when there are no obituaries as is the case this week.
Lots of news in Names in the News, as a former ND turned GM heads to CBS as president of (some) of the its owned stations. The EP of the CBS Evening News has ‘left the building’ (to work in an Elvis reference). A 20 year network owned station Assistant ND is also leaving, there’s a new EP at a Mississippi station, NPR looks at racial discrimination claims against a Denver station, and a new Pew Study says local TV news had a good 2020…but not perhaps a great future.
And there’s some GM items as well…including a former ND returns to her former station as GM, a new station boss in Brownsville, TX, and a longtime Memphis GM is retiring.
All that and more as you read on.
Newly Named News Directors:
Blegen
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL…this COX owned CBS/FOX duopoly has found its next news director at a sister station. LISA BLEGEN, the Assistant ND/Managing Editor at Cox’s KIRO-TV in Seattle, returns to Florida. Details in this staff email from GM BOB LONGO. Lisa’s worked in Orlando and Tampa, and began her career as a reporter as you’ll learn in Bob’s email. She replaces PASCALE HEAD who left in May after three years as ND.
Boan
WLNE-TV, Providence, RI…KELLY BOAN is the new ND for this Standard Media owned ABC affiliate. She most recently was ND for Meredith’s WHNS-TV (FOX) in Greenville, SC, a job she left last month after 16 years there, the last eight as ND, and the last year as both ND and station manager. At WLNE, she replaces DAVID JONES who left after less than a year as ND, and now, according to his Linkedin page, is an Account Manager at Elkordy Global Strategies.
Hendricks
WEEK-TV, Peoria, IL…LEON HENDRICKS has been upped to ND at this Quincy Media owned NBC affiliate. He’s been the Assistant ND for the last three years in his second stint at the station, interrupted by a few years at Caterpillar. WEEK also does newscasts on a digital sub channel. HOI-ABC. Leon replaces GAVIN MALISKA who left in June after less than a year as news director.
Heverling
WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN…ROB HEVERLING returns to Duluth as the ND for this Hubbard owned ABC affiliate. He just spent a few weeks as the interim ND for Scripps’ WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids but had been the ND for Scripps’ WKBW-TV in Buffalo for five years. He’s also been an ND in Little Rock, Fayetteville AR, and for KDLH-TV in Duluth. and has worked in Denver and Cleveland. Rob replaces MIKE SCHRAM who left in April and is now an ND at WILX-TV in Lansing, MI.
Harsha
KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT…in another return to a former market, KEAGAN HARSHA will be the next ND for this Scripps owned CBS affiliate. He’s a Montana native who is currently an anchor/reporter for KDVR-TV in Denver. He’s also worked in Burlington, VT, El Paso, TX, and for another Billings station. Keagan replaces JON STEPANEK who left in May after 28 years as ND to join a marketing company.
New News Director Openings:
Pero
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA…after 20 years at this station, the last 15 years as news director, AARON PERO has left this Nexstar owned MyNetwork affiliated station. He’s worked there twice in his career, first in 1995 as a newscast producer. Aaron left in 2000 for a job at Tech TV, returned to KRON in 2001, and was promoted to ND in 2006.
Paid Help Wanted Ads:
Assistant News Director, KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE:
Channel 8 News in Lincoln, Nebraska is looking for an ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR.
This is Big Ten Country and an affordable place to live with a high quality of life. Central location makes flying anywhere easy. It’s a smaller city but a good news market.
You must have an innovative spirit ready to mold to the changing landscape of local news. You bring ideas and solutions every day.
We are entering a new era of “Nebraska’s Trusted News Source” and I’m looking for the Clark to my Lewis to explore the possibilities here.
The Assistant News Director will run the day-to-day operations of the news team on broadcast, digital, and OTT platforms. The Assistant News Director in this newsroom is geared more toward the assignment desk and managing editor functions than EP duties but will include a mix of both.
Our news team is made up of journalists spanning the past four decades, from an anchor who just celebrated 25 years here to someone who’s starting their career next week. You should seamlessly be able to work with them all.
If you are interested in this rare opening, send your news philosophy, examples of your work, and resume to jhardy@klkntv.com.
No phone calls, please.
News Director, WCIA-TV, Champaign, IL:
#NexstarNation has an immediate opening for an experienced News Director to lead our team at WCIA in Champaign, Illinois (DMA #90.)
This is a #1 station committed to the communities it serves. We provide award-winning local news, producing more local programming than any station in the market. WCIA also produces extensive local special programming including debates, community forums, and sports programming.
The station is the official broadcast partner of The University of Illinois Fighting Illini.
The ideal candidate has a proven track record of success on broadcast and digital platforms. We are looking for someone who is a true communicator, collaborator, and team builder. We want someone who believes in innovation and dynamic storytelling.
You are in the middle of everything. Champaign is just two to three hours driving distance from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis.
More importantly, it’s a great place to live. This is an incredible chance to join the largest TV ownership group.
If you are an excellent leader who understands the true value of local broadcasters, apply here:
News Director, WREX-TV, Rockford, IL:
13 WREX is looking for a dynamic, innovative journalist committed to leading a group of talented journalists into the future of our industry.
Our news operation is content-focused and thrives off of journalists willing to think outside the box. We don’t just document what happened — we are storytellers.
WREX is committed to telling important, impactful stories that make a difference in our local communities. Our next news director must have a passion for seeking the truth and help identify important stories.
WREX has been named Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Assoc., Outstanding News Operation by the Illinois AP and the regional winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. We’re looking for a candidate who strives for excellence in everything they do.
Other duties include hiring, coaching, supervising and evaluating news personnel, preparation and administration of newsroom budgets and capital requests. The news director works closely with other department managers to achieve the company’s overall performance goals.
A minimum of 4 years of TV news management experience and a degree in broadcast journalism is preferred. You must demonstrate a strong working knowledge of community issues and sound journalistic principles with fast, accurate journalistic and logistical judgments.
If you have a passion for excellence, and a desire to lead the best local broadcast news operation in Rockford, Illinois, we want to hear from you.
Please send resume & cover letter to:
Ed Reams
General Manager
13 WREX
P.O. Box 530
Rockford, IL 61105
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WPIX-TV, New York, NY (listed 6/27/21)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted 6/13/21)
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (listed 7/4/21)
WDKY-TV, Lexington, KY (listed 6/27/21)
WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL (listed 6/20/21)
WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, IL (listed 7/4/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (new listing this week, see ad above!)
KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR (relisted 7/4/21)
HOI-ABC, Peoria, IL (listing modified 5/16/21)
KTTC-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
News Nation, Chicago, IL (relisted this week)
WHDH-TV, Boston, MA (EP/Investigations, listed 5/16/21)
WOIO/WUAB-TV, Cleveland, OH (AM EP, listed 5/23/21)
WTTV/WXIN-TV, Indianapolis, IN (relisted this week)
KGTV, San Diego, CA (listed 6/27/21)
WCMH-TV, Columbus, OH (listed 6/13/21)
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 5/31/21)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (EP/Digital Content, listed 5/23/21)
KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, NV (listed 6/13/21)
KXAN-TV, Austin, TX (Digital EP, listed 5/23/21)
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI (relisted 7/11/21)
WGHP-TV, Greensboro-High Point, NC (new listing this week)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (listed 5/31/21)
WKRG-TV, Mobile, AL (listed 6/6/21)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 7/4/21)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (listed 6/6/21)
KVEO-TV, Brownsville, TX (Digital EP, listed 6/13/21)
WSAV-TV, Savannah, GA (relisted 7/4/21)
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (relisted 7/4/21)
WJHL-TV, Johnson City, TN (Digital EP, relisted 6/13/21)
KLKN-TV, Lincoln, NE (AM EP, relisted this week)
KAAL-TV, Rochester, MN (relisted 7/11/21)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WTNH-TV, New Haven, CT (listed 6/27/21)
More News Management Openings:
Relisted this week:
News Nation, Chicago, IL (Social Media Manager)
Listed 7/11/21:
KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO (Senior Manager of Investigative)
WFTX-TV, Ft. Myers, FL (Real Time Desk Manager)
Relisted 6/27/21:
Spectrum Networks NY1 Senior Manager, News and Content
Listed 6/20/21:
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Digital Content Director)
Listed 5/23/21:
WKOW-TV, Madison, WI, (Content Manager)
KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO (Digital Content Manager)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (Digital Content Manager)
Names in the News:
Roark
Our UPDATE Thursday told you of ADRIENNE ROARK’s appointment as President, CBS Stations. New this edition: the email and news release from WENDY McMAHON, President and Co-Head, CBS News and Stations, which explains Adrienne’s new role in greater detail. It also includes Adrienne’s background, including her current job as GM for Meredith’s KPTV in Portland, OR and her past jobs as ND for two CBS o-and-o’s. (And put your resume down…her job at KPTV has already been filled, as you’ll learn below in our GM section.)
Shaylor
Another big change at CBS News: the current executive producer for The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell has left the company. JAY SHAYLOR lasted less than two years in the job following stints at both CNN and ABC’s Good Morning America. The Los Angeles Times has more on his sudden departure from the network’s evening newscast.
Chuck W.
After a remarkable 20+ years as the Assistant News Director for NBC’s KNSD-TV in San Diego, CHUCK WESTERHEIDE is going to take a break. Details in this note he shared with me. Chuck’s also worked in as a producer at WDAF-TV in Kansas City and as a producer and sports producer for two stations in Oklahoma City.
There’s a new EP for WJTV in Jackson, MS. BRYAN CRAWFORD returns to mornings as the new EP. He had been a morning producer before moving to a 4:00 producer role for this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate.
NPR’s Media Correspondent, DAVID FOLKENFLIK looks at claims of racial discrimination by three former Latina journalists at Tegna’s KUSA-TV in Denver.
Finally, a new Pew Study shows increased viewership and revenue for local TV stations in 2020, but predicts a rocky road ahead. Details here.
General Manager News and Notes:
Hanson
As we teased above, and told you in a Thursday UPDATE, COREY HANSON returns to Portland and KPTV/KPDX as its next general manager. She spent 15 years there before taking the GM job at sister Meredith station WALA-TV in Mobile last year. She held a variety of positions in Portland, including executive ND and station manager. As you learned above, she replaces ADRIENNE ROARK who’s headed to CBS.
Walter
He spent 34 years at WREG-TV in Memphis, the last 17 of them as general manager, but RON WALTER has announced his upcoming retirement from this Nexstar owned CBS affiliate. Details in this story from the station’s website.
And another Nexstar GM change…JEFF MILLER has been named GM for the company’s KVEO-TV in Brownsville, TX. He’ll also oversee Mission Broadcasting’s KGBT-TV in Harlingen.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 18, 2021:
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
WCBS-TV 530 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019
KRON-TV 900 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
WCVB-TV 5 TV Place Needham, MA 02494
KMSP/WTTC-TV 11358 Viking Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
KGTV 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
WSMV-TV 5700 Knob Road, Nashville, TN, 37209
KUTV 299 South Main St. # 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WHNS-TV 21 Interstate Court Greenville, SC 29615
WAVY-TV 300 WAVY Street Portsmouth, VA 23704
WTKR-TV 720 Boush Street Norfolk VA 23510
WVTM-TV 1732 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209
WOOD-TV 120 College Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
WNEP-TV 16 Montage Mountain Rd, Moosic, PA 18507
WBRE/WYOU-TV 62 S Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701
WHAS-TV 520 West Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202
WYMT-TV 199 Black Gold Blvd. Hazard, KY 41701
WCHS-TV 1301 Piedmont Rd.. Charleston, WV 25301
WOWK-TV 350 Quarrier St Charleston, WV 25301
WHAM-TV 4225 West Henrietta Rd., Rochester NY 14623
KNVO-TV, 801 North Jackson Rd., McAllen TX 78501 **
KTAL-TV 3150 N Market St., Shreveport, LA 71137
WCIA-TV 509 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820 (see ad above!)
WFFF/WVNV-TV 298 Mountain View Dr, Colchester, VT 05446
KFSM-TV 5101 S. 48th Street Springdale, AR 72762
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
WWTV/WWUP-TV P.O. Box 627, Cadillac Michigan 49601
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd.. Columbus, GA 31907
WTVM-TV 1909 Wynnton Rd Columbus, GA 31906
KVII-TV 1 Broadcast Center, Amarillo, TX 79101
WREX-TV 10322 Auburn Road Rockford, IL 61103 (see ad above!)
KBJR-TV 246 South Lake Ave., Duluth MN 55802
KBMT-TV 525 Interstate 10 South, Beaumont, TX 77701
KULR-TV 2045 Overland Ave. Billings, MT 59102
WDTV 5 Television Drive. Bridgeport, WV 26330
WBKO-TV 2727 Russellville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42101
KSAN/KSLT-TV 2800 Armstrong St., San Angelo, TX 76903
**: Spanish language station