July 2, 2010
July 8, 2010 UPDATE:
A celebration of BILL CRAFTON’s life has been scheduled for Sunday, July 18th, at 4:00 at the Woodland Springs Club House in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, IN. An obituary notice in The South Bend Tribune says the service will be followed by a light dinner.
We told you below that Bill, a former ND in South Bend, Cincinnati, and W. Palm Beach, passed away last Friday, July 2nd. He was 67 years old.
July 6, 2010 UPDATE:
Silver
We have an obituary for another former ND today.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, July 7) for longtime Springfield, MA, newsman KEITH SILVER, who died last Friday at the age of 80. Keith spent more than 30 years at WWLP-TV in Springfield, retiring as its news director in 1995. The station reported on his passing in this story. The Springfield newspaper, The Republican, ran this story.
**** ***** ****
July 2, 2010 UPDATE:
I’m sorry to report that BILL CRAFTON died this afternoon.
Bill’s a former ND in Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, and South Bend. He moved into news management after starting his career on-air. He once co-anchored here in Indianapolis with JANE PAULEY. He also worked for Medstar, and for the last 12-14 years had owned a business selling accessories to motorcyclists.
Bill was 67. He’s been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis over the last few years, and had been blogging about his fight with a terminal illness since October, 2008. His first blog is here. It’s pretty well written, as you might expect.
As of this writing, his blog has not been updated with news of his passing. If/when I learn of arrangements, memorials, etc., I’ll post the details here.
Our sympathy to his family and friends.
**** ***** ***
Greetings:
A busy week for a pre-holiday period, with a handful of ND changes, some interesting items in Names in the News, and a paid ad looking for participants for a forum on new media…and it’s mostly free!
There are TWO new ND openings this week, and TWO new NDs were named. We told you about the biggest of those moves earlier this week, as a Michigan ND heads across the state to Detroit, filling a job that’s been open since September.
We’ve updated our list of news management openings, have an ad for an ND job in South Dakota, and, in Names in the News, a former ND returns to a Big Apple GM’s job, a longtime ND and GM is retiring, a bunch of new EPs have been hired, and we have an obituary for the father of a veteran news director.
All that…and much more…after this week’s changes.
NEW NEWS DIRECTOR OPENINGS:
WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, MI…we told you earlier this week that TIM DYE was leaving this Tribune owned station to become ND for WXYZ-TV in Detroit. More on that below. Tim’s the only ND this FOX affiliate has ever had, joining the staff in 1998 before its 1999 launch of news.
Seebold
KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA…JULIE SEEBOLD has left this Cedar Rapids Gazette owned ABC affiliate for a new job, but she won’t have to move very far. She’s joining the staff at Frank N. Magid Associates as a consultant. Julie was the ND here for just over a year. She’d been an EP and a producer there before her promotion to ND, and began her career as a reporter/photographer in Mason City, IA.
NEW NEWS DIRECTORS NAMED:
Dye
WXYZ-TV, Detroit, MI…as mentioned above, and as we reported to you earlier this week, TIM DYE has been named ND here. Tim’s a Michigan native, and has worked in Grand Rapids, MI, for the last 17 years, first as an EP (and later Assistant ND) at WOOD-TV (his second stint at that NBC affiliate) and later as the first ND for Tribune’s FOX affiliate, WXMI-TV. This move reunites him with WXYZ’s new GM, ED FERNANDEZ: they had worked together at WXMI. Tim has also worked in Saginaw (his home town). Full disclosure: I hired Tim at WOOD-TV, and we remain friends. He’s a solid newsman, a terrific individual, and I’m delighted for him. At WXYZ, he replaces ANDREA PARQUET-TAYLOR who left the station last September after more than five years as ND for this Scripps-owned ABC affiliate.
WMDT-TV, Salisbury, MD…SARAH TRUITT has been promoted to ND for this ABC affiliate. She’s been at the station for seven years, working her way up from producer to EP/Assistant ND. She replaces DAWN MITCHELL who died in late April after suffering a stroke.
**** ***** ****
HELP WANTED AD:
NEWS DIRECTOR, KSFY-TV, SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
KSFY-TV, the ABC affiliate in beautiful Sioux Falls, SD, is looking for a dynamic individual to lead its news department.
The ideal candidate for this job should have the skills, passion, vision and drive to take us to the highest levels of performance. Candidates should possess strong writing, producing, creative, management and leadership skills. Must be creative, innovative, have an extremely hands on managing style, and be able to create and execute a winning strategy across multiple platforms. Should be knowledgeable about FCC rules and civil laws pertaining to news broadcasting and employment and labor regulations. Should work well under pressure and have the ability to train and motivate staff members in a positive way to advance their skills and bring out the very best in each of them.
Most of all, you must be a fierce competitor who plays to win….every day! Three years of news management experience and a college degree is preferred.
Computer skills are required. EOE, M/F/D/V, drug screen and background check required. Send resume and tape to:
Jim Berman
General Manager
KSFY-TV
300 N. Dakota Ave., Suite 100
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
or e-mail: jberman@ksfy.com
**** ***** ****
OTHER NEWS MGMT. OPENINGS:
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR:
KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, PA (listed 6/26/10)
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, OH (listed 6/13/10)
WCNC-TV, Charlotte, NC (listed 6/20/10)
WPTV, W. Palm Beach, FL (listed 5/31/10)
WHAS-TV, Louisville, KY (relisted 6/26/10)
WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA (relisted this week)
WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY (listed 6/20/10)
KECI/KCFW/KTVM, Missoula, MT (listed 5/31/10)
EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER:
KYW-TV, Philadelphia, PA (listed 6/4/10)
The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA (listed 4/9/10)
KCBS/KCAL, Los Angeles, CA (PM EP, relisted 5/14/10)
KTVT-TV, Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX (Special Projects EP, listing revised 4/18/10)
KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT (Morning EP, listed 5/31/10)
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee, WI (AM EP, listed 4/23/10)
WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC (relisted this week)
WOAI-TV, San Antonio, TX (relisted 5/7/10)
KOB-TV, Albuquerque, NM (AM EP, listed 3/27/10)
WTLV/WJXX, Jacksonville, FL (listed 5/21/10)
KJRH-TV, Tulsa, OK (listed 5/31/10)
KOLD-TV, Tucson, AZ (AM EP, listed 6/20/10)
KSLA-TV, Shreveport, LA (Morning EP, listed 6/13/10)
WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI (relisted this week)
MANAGING EDITOR:
KCBS/KCAL, Los Angeles, CA (PM EP, relisted 5/14/10)
NEWS OPERATION MANAGER:
KCBS/KCAL, Los Angeles, CA (relisted 5/14/10)
**** ***** ****
New Media Leadership Forum
Don’t be left behind. Apply today!
The Carole Kneeland Project is seeking applications for the 2010 New Media Leadership Forum.
This entirely new session for experienced, dynamic, and innovative news directors will be held October 13-16, 2010 in Austin, Texas.
You can’t afford to miss these three days!
Thanks to our generous funders, this opportunity is nearly free for you. The Kneeland Project pays for all tuition costs as well as your accommodations. You cover only your transportation and a few meals — we’ll take care of the rest.
We will tackle such issues as:
• Leadership and ethics in a 24/7 socially networked world
• What local news will look like in the next few years and beyond
• Challenges and opportunities in times of change
• Leading Millennials
• How processes and systems must evolve to meet the challenges of our business
Most importantly, you’ll leave the program with a solid plan to guide your leadership decisions starting the day you return to your newsroom. This isn’t theoretical stuff that you’ll put on a shelf and neglect. You’ll walk away with concrete action items to implement immediately that will make a difference in your station…and your life.
Click here for more information and to apply. Applications are due Friday July 23, and only 18 news directors will be selected for this program. Apply today!
For additional information, please contact The Kneeland Project’s executive director Stacy Baum at stacybaum@comcast.net
**** **** ****
NAMES IN THE NEWS:
Davis
DAVE DAVIS is returning to his old job as GM for New York’s WABC-TV in a move announced today. He had held that job until 2007, when he was named Executive VP for ABC News. Dave began his career as a news photographer for KTRK-TV in Houston, eventually became ND at ABC’s WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham, then ND for the company’s dominant Philadelphia station, WPVI-TV. He was then promoted to GM in Philly and then in New York before taking the network position.
There are several new Executive Producers to tell you about:
CRYSTAL BRUCE returns to the East Coast and Media General, joining WSAV-TV in Savannah. She has been producing for KTNV in Las Vegas for the last two years, but worked for Media General’s WCBD-TV before that.
Another new EP at another Media General station: JULIE ROY joined WBTW-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC, last month. She had been working for WEWS-TV in Cleveland. During her time there she served as both the morning EP and Special Projects Producer.
WCTI-TV in New Bern, NC, has named ERIC GREENE as its EP/Assistant ND. Eric most recently was an EP for WPMT-TV in Harrisburg, PA. He’s worked in a number of markets as an anchor and reporter.
Buettner
Congratulations to old friend GIL BUETTNER on his upcoming retirement…at least from TV. Gil’s the Station Manager/General Sales Manager for WJFW-TV, the NBC affiliate in the Wausau/Rhinelander, WI, market. He’s a former ND in Eau Claire and Wausau, WI, and Rochester, NY, and also served as a GM in Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids, MI, and Duluth, MN. He’s also one of the voices of reason offering good advice on Medialine’s message board, Open Line. While he’s retiring from TV, he will work full-time as a flight instructor for Wausau Flying Services. Join me in wishing him well via an email to: gilbuettner@hotmail.com
Mr. Rausch
Finally, condolences to WKRG-TV (Mobile, AL) ND MIKE RAUSCH on the death of his father, LOWELL ‘PETE’ RAUSCH. Mr. Rausch died Wednesday (June 30) at the age of 79 after a long fight against cancer. Mr. Rausch owned a lumber company in his hometown of Napoleon, OH, and Mike worked there before his career in broadcasting, a career which has led him to ND jobs in Orlando, Portland, OR (two stations), Louisville, and Rochester, NY. Mike’s also worked in Nashville, Buffalo, Little Rock, and Ft. Wayne. Your kind note of sympathy will reach Mike via an email to: mike@mikerausch.com
**** **** ****
Here’s our list of all the stations currently looking for an ND, as of Friday, July 2, 2010.
If you know of any changes, additions, corrections, or deletions, please let me know via email: rick@rickgevers.com
KVEA-TV, 3000 W. Alameda Ave. Los Angeles, CA 91523 ***
KNBC-TV 3000 W. Alameda Ave Los Angeles, CA 91523
KIAH-TV, 7700 Westpark Dr. Houston, TX 77063
KCPQ-TV 1813 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109
WZTV-TV 631 Mainstream Drive Nashville TN 37228
WBNS-TV 770 Twin Rivers Dr. Columbus OH 43215
WXMI-TV 3117 Plaza Dr. NE Grand Rapids MI 49525
WFMY-TV 1615 Phillips Avenue Greensboro NC 27405
WTEN-TV 341 Northern Blvd. Albany, NY 12204
KMSB-TV 1855 N. 6th Ave. Tuscon, AZ 85705
WNWO-TV 300 S. Byrne Rd. Toledo OH 43615
KPTM-TV 4625 Farnam St. Omaha NE 68132
WGME-TV 81 Northport Drive Portland, ME 04103
KCRG-TV 501 2nd Ave. NE Cedar Rapids IA 52401
KGAN-TV 600 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids IA 52402
WJHL-TV 338 E. Main St. Johnson City TN 37601
WCBD-TV 210 W. Coleman Blvd. Mt. Pleasant SC 29464
WCTV 1800 Halstead Blvd. Tallahassee FL 32309
KIVI-TV 1866 E. Chisolm Dr. Boise ID 83687
KTRV-TV 1 Sixth St. N. Boise ID 83687
KSFY-TV 300 N. Dakota Ave. #100 Sioux Falls SD 57104 (see ad above)
WGXA-TV 599 Martin Luther King Macon GA 31201
WMGT-TV PO Box 4328 Macon GA 31208
WRBL-TV 1350 13th Ave. Columbus GA 31901
KECI/KTVM/KCFW 340 W. Main St. Missoula MT 59802
KJCT-TV 8 Foresight Dr. Grand Junction, CO 81505
KLDO-TV 226 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo, TX 78040
KGNS-TV 120 W. Delmar Blvd. Laredo TX 78045
KIEM-TV 5650 S. Broadway Eureka CA 95501
*** (Spanish language)