July 19, 2020
Monday, July 20, 2020 UPDATE:
Hearst continues its trend of promoting from within as it fills a news director opening with a current Hearst ND.
Franklin
AKILI FRANKLIN has been tapped to run the newsroom at WYFF-TV (NBC) in Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville. She’s been the ND for sister Hearst NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans since March 2016.
Akili was the Assistant ND for just three months there before being promoted. She’s also worked for Hearst stations in Birmingham and West Palm Beach as well as for another New Orleans station.
It’s a return to “Your Friend Four” for Akili, who spent eight years there earlier in her career.
Also, careful readers of last night’s newsletter may have noticed that, for the second consecutive week, I typed ND when I meant GM. In the most recent screw-up, that error involved STEVE HAMMEL’s role as the interim GM for Meredith’s WNEM-TV in Flint/Saginaw, MI, while the company conducts a search for a new GM at that CBS affiliate.
Apologies to Steve and to you. For what you’re paying for this newsletter, you deserve better.
We’ll see you next week.
regards,
Rick Gevers
**** ***** ****
Greetings:
Just ONE news director opening this week, but it’s good news as the incumbent is moving to his parent network. That change leaves 30 stations looking for a new news director.
There’s ONE Paid Help Wanted Ad this week for an EP position in a small city that’s in a top ten market.
We have an obituary for a former Virginia news director. That’s below.
In Names in the News, a promotion for a Texas EP, an honor for a Michigan educator who worked for two stations in the Wolverine state, and a well known retired consultant is a grandfather for the first time.
And lots of GM moves, including a new President for The Black News Channel, a new GM in Milwaukee whose sister some of you may know, a GM opening in Michigan and a new GM in a small Texas market.
Read on for details!
Newly Named News Directors:
For the second week in a row, there were no news director hires announced this week.
New News Director Openings:
Green
WBZ-TV, Boston, MA…JOHNNY GREEN, JR. is on his way to New York as VP of News Services for CBS News, replacing TIM GAUGHAN who quietly left the network earlier this year. Johnny will oversee CBS Newspath. More here. He’s been the ND at this CBS o-and-o since 2016 and spent almost a year as the Assistant ND before being promoted. Johnny’s also worked in New York Philadelphia, Raleigh, Charlotte (two stations), New Bern, NC, and Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC.
Paid Help Wanted Ad:
Are you a show doctor who likes to lead from the line?
Join the nation’s largest media group just outside the nation’s capital – in an election year.
Nexstar Media Group’s WDVM in Hagerstown, Maryland has an IMMEDIATE opening for an Executive Producer. Oversee content decisions on multiple platforms, while still owning an hour on the line.
This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your ability to lead – and your producing talents. Work with a diverse team of professionals around the country…and do it all in market #7.
It’s the best of both worlds… small town feel with access to big city news and entertainment.
If you are up for the challenge, apply here:
Other News Management Openings:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI (listed 6/21/20)
KOIN-TV, Portland, OR (new listing this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (listed 5/31/20)
KUSI-TV, San Diego, CA (relisted this week)
WGBA-TV, Green Bay, WI (relisted 6/21/20)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA (Digital EP, listed 6/14/20)
WDVM-TV, Hagerstown MD (listed 7/12/20, see ad above!)
KIAH-TV, Houston, TX (listed 6/28/20)
WFLA-TV, Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL (new listing this week)
WWSB-TV, Sarasota, FL (relisted 6/7/20)
KING/KONG-TV, Seattle, WA (relisted this week)
WNCN-TV, Raleigh, NC (PM EP, relisted 7/5/20)
KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV (relisted 6/14/20)
WIVB-TV, Buffalo, NY (Digital EP, listed 6/7/20)
WVLA-TV, Baton Rouge, LA (Digital EP, listed 7/5/20)
KNWA-TV, Fayetteville, AR (PM EP, relisted 5/31/20)
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (listed 6/21/20)
MANAGING EDITOR:
WJAX/WFOX-TV, Jacksonville, FL (listed 6/21/20)
WFTX-TV, Ft, Myers, FL (listed 7/12/20)
More News Management Openings:
New listing this week:
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 7/12/20:
KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 7/5/20:
KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX (Digital Content Manager)
Listed 6/28/20:
KOKI-TV, Tulsa, OK (AM Content Manager)
KTVX-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Managing Editor/Digital News)
Listed 6/14/20:
KRIS-TV, Corpus Christi, TX (Real Time Desk Manager)
KARK/KLRT-TV, Little Rock, AR (Digital Director)
Obituary:
Barrick
I’m sorry to report the death of former news director RIC BARRICK. He was 57 years old and died of complications from diabetes and an infection. Ric was the first news director…and first chief meteorologist…for WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, VA from 2004-05. He later worked for the city of Charlottesville and most recently worked for Broward County, FL. His former station remembers him here, and Ric’s younger brother MATT posted this on social media.
Names in the News (and other items):
VERONICA HERRERA has been promoted to Senior Manager of Broadcast Content for Scripps’ KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi. (Think Assistant News Director.) She has been an executive producer for this NBC affiliate and earlier worked for another Corpus Christi station.
Sykes
Former Detroit newsman and longtime educator RICK SYKES is joining the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Learn more about his honor here. Rick’s been teaching at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI, since 1996. He spent nine years working for WNEM-TV in Saginaw and then moved to WDIV-TV in Detroit for eight years before taking a PR job and then on to CMU.
Finally, former ND, GM and longtime consultant JIM WILLI and his wife SHERRI are proud grandparents for the first time. TROY JAMES WILLI was born Monday and weighed in at six pounds, 12 ounces. Proud parents are son ZAK and his wife MELINDA who live in a Dallas suburb. Friends can congratulate Jim via email here: jwilli@ar-d.com.
Jim Willi & grandson
General Manager News and Notes:
Hair
We told you earlier this week that longtime broadcaster PRINCELL HAIR has been named President of the Black News Channel. Details about his new job (and more on the network, which debuted earlier this year) are here. Princell’s been a news director in several major markets, and held management jobs at CNN and NBC Sports Boston. Learn more about his career history via his Linkedin page.
Brown
ANNE BROWN moves across town to become GM for Weigel’s WDJT-TV (CBS) in Milwaukee. She’s been the director of strategy and marketing for WITI-TV (FOX). She’ll replace MARK STRACHOTA who is retiring. The Milwaukee Business Journal has more. Anne’s also worked in Washington, DC, and Columbus, OH. And here’s a trivia tidbit to help you win a bar bet (if you can find an open bar): Anne’s sister is WTSP-TV (Tampa/Tegna/CBS) News Director KELLY FRANK.
Zoumbaris
WNEM-TV, the Meredith owned CBS affiliate in Flint/Saginaw, MI, is looking for a new general manager. JULIE ZOUMBARIS left the station this week after 2 1/2 years as GM. She had worked for WNEM earlier in her career as well as for two stations in Indianapolis, Dayton, and another Flint station. Longtime GM and former ND STEVE HAMMEL is serving as interim ND GM during the search.
Aguilar
DANNY AGUILAR joins Morgan Murphy Media owned KAVU-TV in Victoria, TX, as General Manager. He most recently held the same job for Tegna’s KIDY/KXVA-TV in San Angelo, TX. He’s also worked in Corpus Christi as Station Manager for Tegna’s KIII-TV.
Our Full List of Open ND Jobs:
Here’s our list of open ND jobs as of Sunday, July 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
KABC-TV 500 Circle Seven Dr. Glendale, CA 91201
WFMZ-TV 300 E Rock Rd, Allentown, PA 18103
KXTX-TV 4805 Amon Carter Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76155 **
WBZ-TV 1170 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
KHOU-TV 5718 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057
WUVG-TV 3350 Peachtree Road #1250, Atlanta, GA 30326 **
WWSB-TV 477 10th St. Sarasota, FL 34236
WTMO-TV 1650 Sand Lake Rd. # 340 Orlando, FL 32809 **
WJZY-TV 3501 Performance Rd. Charlotte, NC 28214
WBFF-TV 2000 W 41st St, Baltimore, MD 21211
WYFF-TV 505 Rutherford St, Greenville, SC 29609
WPMT-TV 2005 South Queen Street York, PA 17403
WNYT-TV 715 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12204
WRGB-TV 1400 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12309
WALA-TV 1501 Satchel Paige Dr. Mobile, AL 36606
WKEF/WRGT-TV 2245 Corporate Place Miamisburg, OH 45342
WJCL-TV 1375 Chatham Parkway, Savannah, GA 31405
WANE-TV 2915 W. State Blvd.Fort Wayne, IN 46808
KYTX-TV 2211 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
KVAL/KMTR-TV 4575 Blanton Rd., Eugene, OR 97405
KRIS-TV 301 Artesian Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 *
WLTZ-TV 6140 Buena Vista Rd. Columbus, GA 31907
KOMU-TV 5550 Old 63 S, Columbia, MO 65201
KTVA-TV 2550 Denali St. # 1604 Anchorage, AK 99503
KPLC-TV 20 Division Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
WCAV-TV 999 2nd Street, S.E. Charlottesville Virginia 22902
WLFI-TV 2605 Yeager Rd. West Lafayette, IN 47906
Delta News 837 Washington Av. Greenville, MS 38701
KIDY/KXVA-TV 5 S. Chadbourne Street San Angelo, TX 76903
KGWN-TV 2923 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001
* Position is Senior Director of Local Media Content
**: Spanish language station